Noted poet PN Gopikrishnan bags Odakkuzhal award 2023

Kochi: Noted Malayalam poet PN Gopikrishnan has bagged the prestigious Odakkuzhal Award this year for his poetry collection ‘Kavitha Mamsabhojiyanu’.

The award ceremony organised by the Guruvayoorappan Trust will be held on February 2, 2024, the death anniversary of Malayalam poet G Sankarakurup. Professor M Lilavati, the Trust President, will present the award to Gopikrishnan during the ceremony.

The event will also feature a keynote lecture by Dr EV Ramakrishnan, a distinguished literary critic. The Odakkuzhal Award carries a substantial cash prize of Rs 30,000, along with a commemorative citation and a unique sculpture.

The award jury lauded Gopikrishnan’s work, stating: “His poems are not mere fleeting expressions, but rather, they are magical inscriptions that transcend the limitations of language itself. They delve into the very essence of human experience, serving as profound reflections of social realities and insightful visions that pierce through the layers of our contemporary world.”

Established in 1968 by Mahakavi G Sankarakurup, India’s first Jnanpith laureate, the Guruvayoorappan Trust has a long-standing tradition of recognizing and celebrating literary excellence in Malayalam. The Odakkuzhal Award, bestowed annually upon the most outstanding literary work of the year, stands as a testament to the Trust’s unwavering commitment to fostering and promoting Malayalam literature.