Olappamanna

• Illustration — Kerala Kalamandalam Olappamanna published his first poem in 1942 and his oeuvre comprises 21 books of poetry which include award winning titles such as Kathakavithakal and Nizhalana. Three of his books, Theethailam, Panchali and Nangemakutty are Khanta Kavyams and Amba, is an attakatha. Orkkuka Vallappozhum, the 2009 Malayalam film, has one of Olappamanna's poems, adapted as a song by M. Jayachandran, and sung by himself and Sujatha Mohan. Olappamanna was associated with Kerala Kalamandalam, holding the position of its vice chairman and later chairing the institution during 1978–84. He was also associated with Yogakshema Sabha and Purogamana Sahithya Samkhadana for a brief period and sat in the director board of Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, a writers' cooperative, from 1965 to 1974 and in the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi from 1979 to 1984.

Olappamanna received the Government of Madras Poetry Prize in 1950 for his work, Ashareerikal. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected his poetry anthology, Kathakavithakal, for their annual award for poetry in 1967 and he received the Odakkuzhal Award in 1988, his book, Nizhalana, fetching him the award. The book earned yet another award a year later, the 1989 Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award. Six years after receiving the N. V. Puraskaram in 1992, Kerala Sahitya Akademi honoured him again with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions in 1998; the same year as he received the Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram. He was also a recipient of the Ulloor Award.