Novelist N Prabhakaran wins Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award

NEW DELHI: Prominent story writer and novelist N. Prabhakaran won the 2025 Sahitya Akademi award. The award is for his novel 'Mayamanushyar'. The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a plaque, will be presented in Delhi on March 31. The announcement of awards for various literary works in 24 languages was earlier changed following an intervention by the Union Ministry of Culture. The announcement was made yesterday without making any changes to the initial list.

Prabhakaran is one of the novelists who paved the way for the postmodern evolution of Malayalam short stories. Mayamanushyar was selected by a jury consisting of Dr A. M. Unnikrishnan, Dr K. Jayakumar, and Dr Padmanabhan Kavumbayi. Prabhakaran, a native of Parassinikkadavu, Kannur, has published 20 works, including stories, novels, and screenplays. He has received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for three works, including the noted play Pulijanmam.