Akhil P Dharmajan wins Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for ‘Ram c/o Anandi’

Malayalam novelist and scriptwriter Akhil P. Dharmajan has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2025 for his novel 'Ram c/o Anandi'. The honour, conferred by the Sahitya Akademi, recognises promising young writers, and this year, 23 authors across various Indian languages have been selected for the award.

Reacting to the announcement, Dharmajan expressed his overwhelming joy on Facebook, writing, “It’s the Sahitya Akademi award. I truly don’t know how to express this joy in words. Ever since I heard the news, my hands and legs have been trembling.”

In addition, Sreejit Muthedath has been named a recipient of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his children’s novel 'Penguinukalude Vankarayil' (On the Continent of Penguins). He is among 24 writers honoured for excellence in children's literature.

The awards were announced following a meeting chaired by Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik. A three-member jury for each language recommended the winners based on works published between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, under the Akademi’s established rules and procedures.

Both honours include a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 50,000. The awards will be presented at a special ceremony to be held at a later date.

Dharmajan’s Ram c/o Anandi stands out as a significant contribution to contemporary Malayalam literature, while Muthedath’s work adds to the growing recognition of imaginative writing for children.