The 2025 Ezhuthachan Award was presented to K. G. Sankarapillai by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a sculpture, and a citation. The Chief Minister stated that the government gives priority to the quality of literature beyond political considerations. At a time when denial of freedom of expression, book bans, and obstacles to cinema are unfolding in contemporary India, he emphasized that the times demand poets who respond and resist.
Ezhuthachan was the one who initiated the democratization of Malayalam literature, establishing that literature is not the exclusive domain of the elite but also belongs to common people and women. By integrating various linguistic styles, Ezhuthachan gave Malayalam a new identity. The imaginative freedom upheld in Ezhuthachan’s works is being challenged in today’s times, the Chief Minister noted. He warned against attempts to destroy the pluralistic fabric of society and urged vigilance against the misuse of myths to push society backward.
Expressing happiness in presenting the state’s highest literary honor—the Ezhuthachan Award—to K. G. Sankarapillai in recognition of his comprehensive contributions to Malayalam literature, the Chief Minister noted that Sankarapillai has been an active presence in Malayalam poetry and intellectual thought for over six decades, sharing a humanistic vision of equality through his writings.
In his acceptance speech, K. G. Sankarapillai remarked that a deep sense of justice is the foundation of poetry’s longevity. No weapon, however powerful, can wound justice, he said, adding that poetry itself is his freedom, truth, thought, and word.
The award ceremony was held at Durbar Hall, with Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan presiding over the event. Kerala Sahitya Akademi Secretary C. P. Abubacker read out the citation. Mayor V. V. Rajesh, Cultural Affairs Director Divya S. Iyer, Joint Secretary M. Rajani, and others were also present.
