PATHANAMTHITTA: Lyricist Sreekumaran Thampy received this year's Harivarasana Award from Minister K Radhakrishnan. Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan had earlier informed that the award was given in consideration of his contributions to interfaith brotherhood and equality.

Thampy is noted as a lyricist for 85 films including Swami Ayyappan, who wrote screenplays and dialogues, and through albums on Sabarimala Yatra and Ayyappa devotional songs. Among the devotional songs composed by him are 'Mannilum Vinnilum Thoonilum Thurumbilum Daivamirikkunnu', 'Ushasandhyakal Thedivarunnu,’ and 'Akathum Ayyappan Purathum Ayyappan'.

The award consists of a cash prize of Rs one lakh, a plaque and a citation. Thampy was chosen for the award by a committee comprising of famous musician Palkulangara K Ambikadevi, devaswom secretary K Biju and Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner B S Prakash.