Leelavathy is a writer, literary critic and educationist who started her career as a teacher and retired as a principal. Her contributions to literature are widely acknowledged. She is a prominent contemporary critic who has won many awards and honours, chief among them being Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, Kendra Sahithya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, and Padma Shri Award. Her notable works are ‘Varnaraji’, ‘Kavithadhwani’, ‘Appuvinte Anveshanam’ etc.

Indian politician, writer, former diplomat, and global citizen. Currently serving as a Member of Parliament. He has penned 18 best selling books of fiction and nonfiction. He received the Sahitya Academy award for his book ‘An Era of darkness’. Tharoor is a regular columnist in many national newspapers. In 2006, he retired from the UN as Under Secretary General.

Writer and Activist. Arundathi Roy has penned numerous essays on socio-political issues in India. She won the Booker prize for her famous novel The God of Small Things. She has also received the National Award for the best screenplay in 1989. In 2003, she was awarded “special recognition” as a Woman of Peace at the Global Exchange Human Rights Awards. Roy was featured in the 2014 list of Time 100—the 100 most influential people in the world.

Writer, critic and orator. He has received two awards from Kerala Sahitya Akademi: the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature, and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism. In between, he received the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Kesari Award in 2011 and K. N. Ezhuthachan Smaraka Puraskaram in 2014.

Film director, scriptwriter and producer. One of the most notable directors from India who has a strong International recognition. He has received 16 National awards, 17 Kerala state awards and was honoured by Padma Shri in 1984, and Padma Vibhushan in 2006. In 2004, he received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Active member of “Chitralekha,” Kerala’s first Film Co-operative Society.

An Indian writer who is popularly known as Sethu, Sethumadhavan has published more than 35 books. He has served as the chairman and CEO of South Indian Bank. Sethu is one of the pioneers of modern Malayalam fiction who brought a radical transformation and sensibility through his writings. He was honoured with Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and the like. His notable works include ‘Pandavapuram’, ‘Marupiravi’, ‘Sanidasa’, ‘Doothu’, ‘Guru’ etc. He has received the State Film Award for best story for the movie ‘Poothiruvathira Ravil’.

Historian, author and translator. Based in Tamil Nadu, he is noted for collecting and publishing the works of Tamil writer Pudhumaipithan. Currently serving in the advisory board of Tamil iyal virudhu, a Canadian based organisation. Constantly collaborates with National daily, ‘The Hindu’. He was awarded the V. K. R. V. Rao prize in Social Science Research in 2007.

Director of Krithi 2020, Writer, researcher, film director, scientist and media person. He has contributed to all branches of creative literature and popular science as well. He was the editor-in-charge of Year-Books and Bhashaposhini, Malayala Manorama. Apart from this, he has worked as a popular science journalist, editor of national and literary journals and many more. He had organized the Sasthra Sahitya Samithi. A few of his famous works are ‘Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram’, ‘Spandamapinikale Nandi’, ‘Nizhalppadukal’ etc. He is a recipient of several coveted honours such as Kerala Sahithya Academy Award, Odakkuzhal Award and National Sahithya Academy Award.

Short story writer based in Kerala. Brilliantly employed the lyrical quality of Malayalam language and aesthetics for portraying his perception of loneliness and helplessness. He recieved the renowned Ezhuthachan Puraskaram and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Mahatma Gandhi University conferred him the Honoris Causa degree of the Doctor of Letters in 2018.

Journalist, author, teacher and rural reporter. He is the founder and editor of the People’s Archive of Rural India. He has been writing for the national newspaper, The Hindu, for close to 6 years. University of Alberta has given him an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2011. He received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2007.

Prominent poet in Telugu language. He was awarded the Saraswati Samman in 2018 for his poetry collection—’Pakkaki Ottigilite’.

Author, screenwriter and film director famously known as M T. His literary oeuvre contains some of the pathbreaking literary works in Malayalam which includes the likes of ‘Randamuzham’, ‘Naalukettu’, ‘Asuravithu’, ‘Maanju’ ‘Kaalam’etc. He won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for his novel ‘Naalukettu’, He was awarded the highest literary award in India, Njanapeedam, in 1995 for his overall contribution to Malayalam literature. In 2005, he received Padma Bhushan award.

Writer known as the pioneer of modernity in Malayalam literature. He is also a diplomat and social activist. His magnum opus, ‘Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil’ fetched him widespread critical and cultural acclaim. He has received many honours including Vayalar Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Crossword Book Award and the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram. Mukundan had served as the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

Writer, poet, orator, film writer, social activist and lyricist. President of Yuva Kala Sahithi. One of the jury members of the reality show ‘Mambazham’. His prolific cultural research report, ‘Nilayude Theerangalilude’ was made into a documentary in ‘Dooradarshan’. Leelakrishnan ‘s notable works include ‘Ekantham’, ‘Thathrikuttiyude Smarthavicharam’ etc.

Indian writer, film critic and scriptwriter. Worked as a teacher and freelance journalist. His notable works are based on the emotional issues related to sexual politics, marginalised communities etc. He was honoured with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala State Film Award, Padmaprabha Literary Award, and Muttathu Varkey Award. His famous works include ‘Ayussinte Pusthakam’, ‘Disa’, ‘Kamamohitham’, ‘Atmavinu Sariyennu Thonnunna Karyangal’, ‘Vellivelichathil’ etc.

Social scientist, historian, professor and writer who is presently serving as the vice-chairman of Kerala State Higher Education Council. Raman Gurukkal has written several articles in various magazines and newspapers on current affairs. ‘History of Kerala: Prehistoric to the Present’, ‘Social Formations of Early South India’, ‘Rethinking Classical Indo-Roman Trade: Political’, ‘History and Theory of Knowledge Productions: An Introductory Outline’ are a few of his prominent works. He was honoured with Teacher Fellowship, Braj Dev Prasad Memorial Prize, National Teacher Fellowship, Oravakkal Mathen Memorial Prize etc.

Former judge of the Supreme Court of India. He has served as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala and Gauhati. His notable judgements include cases of freedom of speech, Aadhar and National Judicial Appointments commision. He hails from Andhra Pradesh.

Sanskrit scholar based in Kochi. His focus is on dramaturgy. Paulose has been contributing continuously for Sanskrit studies, aesthetics, natyashastra and Kutiyaatom. He has penned many books on Kutiyattam and in 2007, became the first vice chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam after it was deemed university.

Retired professor, writer, poet, critic, biographer, journalist, translator, orator, social activist and humanist. He has inspired and motivated generations of youth. Sanu is a permanent member of International body of Human Rights. He was honoured with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award etc. A few of his notable works are ‘Sree Narayana Guru’, ‘Anubhoothiyude Nirangal’, ‘Ivar Lokathe Snehichavar’ etc. He is the founding member of ‘Mithram’, a school for mentally handicapped in Mulanthuruthy village, Ernakulam.

Writer in Malayalam literature based in Kochi. He has penned some of the most notable novels, essays and short stories in Malayalam. Madhavan a football columnist and travel writer. He is a member of Kerala Sahitya Akademi. He has received various awards like the Odakkuzhal Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Muttathu Varkey Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award and Crossword Book Award.

Narayana Bhattathiri is an artist, designer and calligrapher based in Trivandrum. He won the prestigious Jikji award from the South Korean government. Bhattathiri’s works are exhibited across the globe in various libraries and museums. His drawings for ‘Randamoozham’ and ‘Neermathalam Pootha Kalam’ are especially renowned.

Prominent short story writer from Kerala. Real name is Ahmed. Parakkadavu used to work in Bahrain and UAE prior to his career in literature. Notable works are ‘Mounathinte Nilavili’, ‘Guruvum Njanum’, ‘Murivetta Vaakkukal’, ‘Idiminnalukalude Pranayam’, ‘Iratti Mittayikal’ . He was honoured with S K Pottekkatt Award, Fokhano Award, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer Memorial Award etc. His works were translated into Arabic, Hindi, and English among others.

Bilingual writer, translator and author. He was the professor and director of the School of Letters, Mahatma Gandhi University. He edited the prestigious literary journal Haritham. Raveendran has published a monograph of Kamala Das in the Sahitya Akademi series on ‘The Makers of Indian Literature. ‘Adhunikatayude Pinnampuram’—a Malayalam critical study of modernity in India, is also his notable work.

Poet, lyricist, journalist and television presenter. Academy award winning poet. The multi-faceted litterateur has published nine collections of poems, three novels in verse, four books on contemporary socio-political milieu and literature, four collections of essays in criticism, a study on the media, and a travelogue. He has received numerous state and national awards for his literary works and has got international recognition.

Writer, critic and professor of Malayalam. He has penned 9 books on different topics like aesthetics, political philosophy, history, cinema and literature. He holds a position as a jury member of the Kerala State Film Award Committee(1989) and is also Chairman of the Jury in the John Abraham Award Committee. He was awarded with the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 2012 and the Kerala Library council award in 2015.

Poet, lyricist and novelist based in Kerala. He is an acclaimed lyricist of contemporary Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for poetry and is a five-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics.

Economist and finance professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He served as Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund from 2003-2006. He was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Rajan won the prestigious Fischer Black Price in 2003. His book ‘Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy’ won the Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year award in 2010. In 2016, he was named by Time in its list of 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Notable Karnataka novelist and lecturer of philosophy. His novels are unique in narration, story and structure. In 2015, Bhyrappa was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2016. He has received numerous state and national awards for his works.

Short story writer and film writer. His works are noted for their accurate, poignant portrayal of the life of common people. He is honoured with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for ‘Komala’. Famous works are ‘Komala’, ‘Idukki Gold’, ‘Ottavathil’, ‘Swasam ‘ etc. His prolific screen plays are ‘Nidra’, ‘Annlayum Rasoolum etc.

Poet, lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter. Received National Award for Best Book on Cinema in 1989. A recipient of the prestigious Vallathol Award and numerous Kerala State Film awards under various categories. Honoured with J C Daniel Prize in 2017.

Writer and activist based in Kottayam. He has been leading various protests to help marginalized, downtrodden people and the Dalit community. He published his first book ‘Janathayum Janadipathyavum: Dalit Vijnanthinte Rashtriya Padangal’ in 2017.

Novelist and translator. Author of two best selling Malayalam novels, ‘Francis Itty Cora’ and ‘Sugandi Enna Andal Devanayaki’. Worked for Indian Railways. Retired from service as Southern Railway Chief Controller to focus on literature. Ramakrishnan was heavily influenced by Tamil literature and he also introduced Tamil literature to Kerala through his translations. Other well-known works are ‘Alpha’, ‘Hmm’ etc. He was honoured with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Vayalar Award.

Filmmaker, cinematographer and founding member of Indian Society of Cinematographers. He has received National and Kerala state award for best cinematographer innumerous times. He has worked with renowned directors like Mani Kaul, John Abraham, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Pamela Rooks, Padmarajan, Bharathan and M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

Writer and Humorist. Receiver of Sahitya Academy award in 1984. Noted for his thought provoking essays on life issues flavored with a pinch of humor. He set new dimensions to Kashmiri literature.