Akhil P Dharmajan wins Yuva Puraskar
The Yuva Puraskar of Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters) recognises outstanding works in 24 major Indian languages and is given to writers under the age of 35.
The award includes a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a copper plaque.
Dharmajan expressed happiness over the selection of his novel for the award through his social media post. "I don't know how to express my happiness! Ever since I found out, my hands and feet were trembling. To every person who brought me here, my heartfelt gratitude," his Facebook post said.
The novel, which was first published in 2020, tells the story of Ram, an aspiring filmmaker who moves from Alleppey to Chennai to chase his dreams and ends up encountering a vibrant cast of characters — most notably Anandhi, the receptionist at his film school and Malli, a transgender woman whose struggles add emotional depth to the narrative.
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