List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Tamil

Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil

Award for contributions to Tamil literature
Awarded for| Literary award in India
Sponsored by| Sahitya Akademi, Government of India
Reward(s)| ₹1 lakh (US$1,300)
First awarded| 1955
Last awarded| 2022
Highlights
Total awarded| 64
First winner| R. P. Sethu Pillai
Most Recent winner| Dr. M. Rajendran IAS
Website| Official website
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Sahitya Akademi Award winners by language

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Sahitya Akademi Translation Prizes

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Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar

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Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar

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The Sahitya Akademi Award is the second-highest literary honor in India. The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, aims at "promoting Indian literature throughout the world". The Akademi annually confers on writers of "the most outstanding books of literary merit". The awards are given for works published in any of the 24 languages recognised by the akademi.[1] Instituted in 1954, the award recognizes and promotes excellence in writing and acknowledge new trends. The annual process of selecting awardees runs for the preceding twelve months. As of 2015, the award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh (US$1,300).[1][2]

The inaugural edition of the award recognised works in twelve languages – Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. In Tamil, the first recipient of the award was R. P. Sethu Pillai, who was honored for his collection of essays entitled Tamil Inbam in 1955. Posthumous recipients of the award include Kalki Krishnamurthy (1956), Bharathidasan (1969), Ku. Alagirisami (1970), Aadhavan Sundaram (1987), C. S. Chellappa (2001), Melaanmai Ponnuchamy (2008). As of 2022[update], the award has been presented to 64 writers.

## Rules and criteria for submissions[edit]

Although the Akademi is under the control of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, it functions as an autonomous body. To be eligible for the award, the work must be an "outstanding contribution to the language and literature to which it belongs". It can be a "creative" or a "critical" work; translations, anthologies, abridgments, compilations, annotation, and research papers are ineligible. To contest in a particular year, the work must have been published during the last five years, prior to the preceding year.[a] In case of tiebreakers, the literary contribution and "standing" of the authors would be taken into consideration. Only Indian nationals are eligible for the award. The award will be not be given if there are no more than two contestants in the final round. The works of authors who have been awarded earlier by the Akademi – translation prize, Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar are exceptions though – are ineligible. Further, the author must not be a recipient of the Bhasha Samman or the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. The works of members of the executive board of the Akademi are ineligible for the award. Incomplete works may be considered for the award only if a part of the work, under which it competes, is deemed "complete". A posthumous publication is eligible only if the author has been deceased for over five years starting from the current year. The Akademi does not consider direct submissions from authors or publishers.[1]

## Selection process[edit]

The Akademi will prepare a "ground list", shortlisted from a set of eligible books in each of the recognized languages. Each language will have an "Advisory Board" member, who will shortlist and form and send a panel consisting of not more than five members to the President of the Akademi.[1]

The preliminary panel consists of ten referees, who are nominated by the President upon requests received from the members of the "Advisory Board". The recommendations received from members of the "Advisory Board" of each languages will be compiled and sent to the corresponding referees, who in turn will select two entries. A committee of three members, selected by the President, out of a panel of seven names recommended by the Language "Advisory Board", chooses the awardee in each language. The jury members are selected by the President after considering the recommendations in this behalf by the members of the Language Advisory Board concerned. The Akademi purchases the books recommended by the referees in the preliminary round and sends them to the jury members and the Convener. The jury members arrive at the winners, based on consensus or by majority. The jury also has the right to declare that no book is eligible for the award during a particular year b.[1]

## List of recipients[edit]

Kalki Krishnamurthy was the first posthumous winner of this award. Dr. M. Rajendran IAS is the recent winner of this award. Key  †  | Denotes posthumous recipients

|

List of recipients, year, and work[3] Year  | Recipient  | Work  | Notes

|
|
|

1955  | R. P. Sethu Pillai | Tamil Inbam | A collection of essays
1956  | Kalki Krishnamurthy †  | Alai Osai | A novel
1957  | No award
1958  | C. Rajagopalachari | Chakravarti Tirumagan | A retelling of the Ramayana
1959  | No award
1960  | No award
1961  | Mu. Varadarajan | Agal Vilakku | A novel
1962  | Mi. Pa. Somasundaram | Akkarai Cheemaiyil Aarumathangal | A travelogue
1963  |  Akilan | Vengaiyin Maindhan | A Historic novel
1964  | No award
1965  | P. Sri Acharya | Sri Ramanujar | A biography
1966  | Ma. Po. Si. | Vallalar Kanda Orumaippaadu | A biography
1967  | K. V. Jagannathan | Virar Ulagam | A Literary criticism
1968  | A. Srinivasa Raghavan | Vellai Paravai | A poetry
1969  |  Bharathidasan †  | Pisirantaiyar | A play
1970  | Ku. Alagirisami †  | Anbalippu | A collection of short stories
1971  | Na. Parthasarathy | Samudaya Veedhi | A novel
1972  | D. Jayakanthan | Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal | A novel
1973  | Rajam Krishnan | Verukku Neer | A novel
1974  | K. D. Thirunavukkarasu | Thirukkural Needhi Illakkiyam | A literary criticism
1975  | R. Dhandayudham | Tharkkala Tamizh Illakkiyam | A literary criticism
1976  | No award
1977  | Indira Parthasarathy | Kuruthip Punal | Novel
1978  |  Vallikannan | Pudukavithaiyin Thottramum Valarchiyum | Criticism
1979  | Thi. Janakiraman | Sakthi Vaithiyam | Short stories
1980  |  Kannadasan | Cheraman Kadali | Novel
1981  | M. Ramalingam | Puthiya Urai Nadai | Criticism
1982  | B. S. Ramaiya | Manikkodikalam | Literary history
1983  | T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan | Bharathi: Kalamum Karuthum | Literary criticism
1984  | Lakshmi | Oru Kaveriyai Pola | Novel
1985  | A. S. Gnanasambandan | Kamban: Putiya Parvai | Literary criticism
1986  | Ka. Naa. Subramaniam | Ilakkiyathukku oru Iyakkam | Literary criticism
1987  | Aadhavan Sundaram †  | Mudalil Iravu Varum | Short stories[4]
1988  | V. C. Kulandaiswamy | Vaazhum Valluvam | Literary criticism
1989  |  La Sa Ra | Chintanadi | Autobiographical Essays
1990  | Su. Samuthiram | Veril Pazhutha Pala | Novel
1991  | Ki. Rajanarayanan | Gopallapurathu Makkal | Novel
1992  | Kovi. Manisekaran | Kutralakurinji | historic novel
1993  | M. V. Venkatram | Kathukal | Novel
1994  |  Ponneelan | Pudhiya Dharsanangal | Novel
1995  |  Prapanchan | Vanam Vasappadum | Novel
1996  | Ashoka Mitran | Appavin Snehidar | Short stories
1997  | Thoppil Mohamed Meeran | Chaivu Narkali | Novel
1998  | Sa. Kandasamy | Visaranai Commission | Novel
1999  | S. Abdul Rahman | Aalapanai | Poetry
2000  | Thi. Ka. Sivasankaran | Vimarsanangal Mathippuraikal Pettikal | Literary criticism
2001  | C. S. Chellappa †  | Sutanthira Daagam | Novel[4]
2002  | Sirpi Balasubramaniam | Oru Giraamattu Nadi | Poetry
2003  |  Vairamuthu | Kallikattu Ithikasam | Novel
2004  |  Tamilanban | Vanakkam Valluva | Poetry
2005  | G. Thilakavathi | Kalmaram | A novel
2006  | Mu. Metha | Akayathukku Aduthaveedu | Poetry
2007  | Neela Padmanabhan | Ilai Uthir Kaalam | A novel
2008  | Melanmai Ponnusamy | Minsarapoo | Short story[5]
2009  |  Puviarasu | Kaioppam | Poetry
2010  | Nanjil Nadan | Soodiya Poo Soodarka | A collection of short stories[6]
2011  | Su. Venkatesan | Kaval Kottam | A novel[7]
2012  | Daniel Selvaraj | Thol | A novel[8]
2013  | Joe D Cruz | korkai | A novel
2014  |  Poomani | Agngnaadi | A novel
2015  | A. Madhavan | Ilakkiya suvadugal | A collection of essays
2016  |  Vannadasan | Oru Siru Isai | Short stories
2017  | Inkulab | Kaandhal Naatkal | Poetry
2018  |  S.Ramakrishnan | Sanjaaram | Novel
2019  | Cho.Dharman | Sool  | Novel
2020[9] | Imaiyam | Sellaatha Panam | Novel
2021  | C. S. Lakshmi (Ambai)  | Sivappu Kazhuthudan Oru Pachai Paravai | Short Stories
2022[10] | Dr. M. Rajendran IAS | Kaala Paani | Novel[11][12]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ To compete in 2016, the work must have been published between 2009 and 2014.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Akademi Awards". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
2. ^ "Poets dominate 2009 Sahitya Akademi Awards". The Hindu. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
3. ^ "Akademi Awards (1955–2015)". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
4. ^ a b Awarded Posthumously
5. ^ "2008 Sahitya Akademi Award list". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
6. ^ "Sahitya Akademi award for Nanjil Nadan". The Hindu. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
7. ^ சு.வெங்கடேசனுக்கு இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான சாகித்ய அகாதமி விருது
8. ^ "Sahitya Akademi award for D.Selvaraj" (PDF). Sahitya Akademi. 21 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
9. ^ "Sahitya Akademi Awards-2020 (Official Website)". March 2021.
10. ^ "Sahitya Akademi Award 2022" (PDF). Sahitya Akademi. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
11. ^ "Sahitya Akademi award for M Rajendran IAS". Ministry of Culture. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
12. ^ "Sahitya Akademi award for M Rajendran IAS". The Hindu. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

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Sahitya Akademi Award recipients

* Assamese
* Bengali
* Bodo
* Dogri
* English
* Gujarati
* Hindi
* Kannada
* Kashmiri
* Konkani
* Maithili
* Malayalam
* Marathi
* Meitei
* Nepali
* Odia
* Punjabi
* Rajasthani
* Sanskrit
* Santali
* Sindhi
* Tamil
* Telugu
* Urdu

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Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil

1955–1975|

* R. P. Sethu Pillai (1955)
* Kalki Krishnamurthy (1956)
* C. Rajagopalachari (1958)
* Mu. Varadarajan (1961)
* Mi. Pa. Somasundaram (1962)
* Akilan (1963)
* P. Sri Acharya (1965)
* M. P. Sivagnanam (1966)
* K. V. Jagannathan (1967)
* A. Srinivasa Raghavan (1968)
* Bharatidasan (1969)
* Ku. Alagirisami (1970)
* Na. Parthasarathy (1971)
* D. Jayakanthan (1972)
* Rajam Krishnan (1973)
* K. D. Thirunavukkarasu (1974)
* R. Dhandayudham (1975)

1976–2000|

* Indira Parthasarathy (1977)
* Vallikannan (1978)
* Thi. Janakiraman (1979)
* Kannadasan (1980)
* M. Ramalingam (1981)
* B. S. Ramiah (1982)
* T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan (1983)
* Lakshmi (1984)
* A. S. Gnanasambandan (1985)
* Ka. Naa. Subramanyam (1986)
* Aadhavan Sundaram (1987)
* V. C. Kulandaiswamy (1988)
* La Sa Ra (1989)
* Su. Samuthiram (1990)
* Ki. Rajanarayanan (1991)
* Kovi. Manisekaran (1992)
* M. V. Venkatram (1993)
* Ponneelan (1994)
* Prapanchan (1995)
* Ashokamitran (1996)
* Thoppil Mohamed Meeran (1997)
* Sa. Kandasamy (1998)
* S. Abdul Rahman (1999)
* Thi. Ka. Sivasankaran (2000)

2001–present|

* C. S. Chellappa (2001)
* Sirpi Balasubramaniam (2002)
* Vairamuthu (2003)
* Tamilanban (2004)
* G. Thilakavathi (2005)
* Mu. Metha (2006)
* Neela Padmanabhan (2007)
* Melanmai Ponnusamy (2008)
* Puviarasu (2009)
* Nanjil Nadan (2010)
* S. Venkatesan (2011)
* D. Selvaraj (2012)
* Joe D'Cruz (2013)
* Poomani (2014)
* A. Madhavan (2015)
* Vannadasan (2016)
* Inkulab (2017)
* S. Ramakrishnan (2018)
* Cho Dharman (2019)
* Imayam (2020)
* C. S. Lakshmi (2021)
* M. Rajendran (2022)

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