The ONV Literary Award for 2026 has been conferred on writer M. Mukundan. The annual award, which carries a cash prize of ₹3 lakh and a citation, was instituted by ONV Cultural Academy and has been given out since the last three years.
Mr. Mukundan was unanimously selected for the award by a selection committee which included writer and literary critic M. Leelavathy, writer and poet Prabha Varma, and poet Alankode Leelakrishnan.
The jury noted that Mr. Mukundan is a literary figure who stood as the protagonist in transforming Malayalam fiction and novel writing into a creative and expressive art form. Mayyazhipuzha’s famed storyteller has always held a prime position in the Malayalam psyche through the depth of his narratives. His writings have earned him a prominent place not only in Malayalam literature but amongst the leading literary figures across the nation, it said.
The award will be presented at a cultural evening on May 27, the 95th birth anniversary of the late poet, ONV Kurup, in Thiruvananthapuram, said Adoor Gopalakrishnan, president of ONV Cultural Academy, in a statement here.
Published – May 16, 2026 06:46 pm IST
