Award for Akbar Kakkattil
Noted Malayalam writer Akbar Kakkattil, who recently published�'Idam Porul Kalai', the Tamil biography of renowned Malayalam director Adoor Gopalakrishnan (based on a few interviews with the director), has been chosen for the Sambasivan award instituted by the Kuwait-based cultural forum, Kala Kuwait.
Instituted in memory of eminent 'Katha Prasangam' artist late V. Sambasivan, the award, comprising Rs. 20,000 and a citation, will be presented in a function in Kuwait in April.�Earlier prizewinners were eminent writers U.A. Khadar and Vaisakhan.
Akbar was selected for his outstanding contribution to Malayalam literature, the organizers said in a press release in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. A widely-appreciated short story writer, Akbar has to his credit 34 books and had won several literary honours, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award.
His�best-selling books are 'Aakaasathinte Athirukal', 'Naadaapuram', 'Oru Vaayanakkaariyude Aavalaathikal', 'School Dairy', 'Vadakkuninnoru Kudumba Vriththaantham', 'Dharmma Sangkadangngalude Rajavu', 'Cherriya Kathakal', 'Maayakkannan', 'Mruthyu Yogam', 'Sesham Screenil', 'Varu... Adoorilekku Pokaam' and 'Thiranjedutha Kathhakal'.
Akbar Kakkattil's ‘Idam Porul Kalai’ was released in August 2008�at a function held at Mylapore Mind Screen, Chennai in the presence of celebrities like director Vasanth and actress Rohini.�In this�book, Adoor has also written on his�relationships with contemporary film-makers like G. Aravindan and John Abraham. The book was translated into Tamil by Kulachal M. Yousuf.
