Odakkuzhal Award is an annual Malayalam literary award given to a writer for his/her excellent work in the past year. The award is instituted by the renowned Malayalam Poet G. Sankara Kurup in 1969 to commemorate his victory of the Jnanpith Award in 1965.
The award carries a monetary award of ₹30000, a plaque, and a citation.
The First Recipient of this award is Balakavi Raman in 1968 for his work Narayaneeyam and the Last Recipient of Odakkuzhal Award in 2022 is Ambikasuthan Mangad for his shortstory collection Pranavayu ('പ്രാണവായു').
List of Odakkuzhal Award Recipients:
| Year | Recipient | Works |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Balakavi Raman | Narayaneeyam (Tamil translation) |
| 1969 | Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup | Tulsidasa Ramayanam (Malayalam translation) |
| 1970 | O. V. Vijayan | Khasakkinte Itihasam |
| 1971 | Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon | Vida |
| 1972 | N. Krishna Pillai | Thiranjedutha Prabandhangal |
| 1973 | Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri | Nimisha Kshetram |
| 1974 | K. Surendran | Maranam Durbalam |
| 1975 | V. K. Govindan Nair | V. K. Govindan Nairude Krithikal |
| 1976 | Nalankal Krishna Pillai | Krishna Tulasi |
| 1977 | Lalithambika Antharjanam | Agnisakshi |
| 1978 | Kainikkara Kumara Pillai | Naatakeeyam |
| 1979 | M. Leelavathy | Varnaraji |
| 1980 | P. Bhaskaran | Ottakkambiyulla Thamburu |
| 1981 | Vilasini | Avakasikal |
| 1982 | Sugathakumari | Ambalamani |
| 1983 | Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri | Mukhamevide |
| 1984 | G. Kumara Pillai | Sapthaswaram |
| 1985 | N. N. Kakkad | Saphalamee Yathra |
| 1986 | Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan | Kalimuttam |
| 1987 | Yusufali Kechery | Kechery Puzha |
| 1988 | Olappamanna | Nizhalana |
| 1989 | M. P. Sankunni Nair | Chhathravum Chamaravum |
| 1990 | O. N. V. Kurup | Mrigaya |
| 1991 | P. Narayana Kurup | Nishagandhi |
| 1992 | Thikkodiyan | Arangu Kanatha Nadan |
| 1993 | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | Vanaprastham |
| 1994 | N. S. Madhavan | Higuita |
| 1996 | Anand | Govardhanante Yathrakal |
| 1997 | M. P. Veerendra Kumar | Athmavilekkoru Theerthayathra |
| 1998 | Asha Menon | Paraga Koshangal |
| 1999 | Chandramathi | Rain Deer |
| 2000 | Sachidanandan | Thiranjedutha Kavithakal |
| 2001 | Ayyappa Paniker | Ayyappa Paniker Kavithakal |
| 2002 | Mundur Krishnankutty | Enne Veruthe Vittalum |
| 2003 | Zacharia | Thiranjedutha Kathakal |
| 2004 | P. Surendran | Chinese Market |
| 2005 | Njeralathu Surendran & KP Nair | Naatyacharyante Jeevithamudrakal |
| 2006 | C. Radhakrishnan | Theekkadal Kadanju Thirumadhuram |
| 2007 | N. K. Desam | Mudra |
| 2008 | K. G. Sankara Pillai | K. G. S. Kavithakal |
| 2009 | Sreekumaran Thampi | Ammakku Oru Tharattu |
| 2010 | Unnikrishnan Puthoor | Anubhavangalude Nerrekhakal |
| 2011 | Subhash Chandran | Manushyanu Oru Amukham |
| 2012 | Sethu | Marupiravi |
| 2013 | K. R. Meera | Aarachaar |
| 2014 | Rafeeq Ahammed | Rafeeq Ahammedinte Kruthikal |
| 2015 | S. Joseph | Chandranodoppam |
| 2016 | M. A. Rahman | Oro Jeevanum Vilappettathaan |
| 2017 | Aymanam John | Aymanam Johninte Kathakal |
| 2018 | V Ramakrishnan | Malayala novalinte desakalangal |
| 2019 | N. Prabhakaran | Mayamanushyar('മായാമനുഷ്യര്') |
| 2021 | Sarah Joseph | Budhini ('ബുധിനി') |
| 2022 | Ambikasuthan Mangad | Pranavayu ('പ്രാണവായു') |
| 2023 | P.N. Gopikrishnan | Kavitha Mamsabhojiyanu ('കവിത മാംസഭോജിയാണ്') |
SideNotes:
- Instituted By – Guruvayurappan Trust (1968).
- First Malayali to win the Jnanpith Award – G. Sankara Kurup.
- G. Shanakara Kurup is also known as – 'Mahakavi G'
- Birth place of G. Shanakara Kurup – Nayathode (Ernakulam).
- First Mystic Poet in Kerala – G. Sankara Kurup.
- First Malayali poet to become a member of Rajya Sabha – G. Sankara Kurup (1968).
- Jnanpith award winner who became a member of Rajya Sabha – G. Sankara Kurup.
- Autobiography – Ormmayude Olangalil.
- Major works of Ambikasuthan Mangad –
- Enmakaje – debut novel based on the sufferings of Endosulfan sufferers in Enmakaje village in Kasargod district, and is used as a textbook in seven universities.
- Rathri, Randu Malsyangal, Sadharana Veshangal, Neeraaliyan, Othenante Vaal, Jeevithathinte Mudra, Marakkappile theyyangal ( Cherukad Award).