Renowned Malayalam writer passes away

Noted Malayalam novelist and short story writer Akbar Kakkattil passed away at a private hospital here this morning.
He was 62 and leaves behind wife and 2 children.
Kakkattil was undergoing treatment for a lung-related ailment for a year and the end came early this morning.
He has 54 books to his credit which includes, four novels, 27 short stories, six collections of essays, seven novelettes, a play, among others.
A two-time winner of the prestigious Kerala Sahitiya Akademi award, he was also recipient of the first-ever award in humour section in 1992 for his 'School Diary'- an anthology of short essays and in the year 2004 his 'Vadakkuninnoru Kudumba Vrithantham' was awarded as the best novel.

He was the Vice-President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Member of Malayalam Advisory Panel of National Book Trust and Malayalam Advisory Board of Kerala Government.

With his unique narrative underlined with humour, he created a world where readers meet the naive innocence of his village folk, who at times indulge in light vanity, but often show compassion and simplicity.
He had worked as a member of the governing body of South Zone Cultural Centre of the Union government and Kerala State Institute of Children's literature.
The writer had also served as member of Curriculum Steering Committee, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi, State Television Jury, State Cinema Jury, Ezhuthachan Puraskara Samiti and Programme Advisory Board of Akashavani, Kozhikode.

He was also a member of Malayalam Advisory Board of Kendra Sahitya Akademi and Convener of Publication Committee, Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
Right from his college days he has been associated with the Film Society movements. Some of his works have been translated in other south Indian languages also. His book on Adoor Gopalakrishnan titled 'Varoo Adoorileykku Pokam' has been translated to Tamil (Adoor Gopalakrishnan - Idam Porul Kalai) and his novel Mrithyuyogam has been translated to Kannada (Mrithyuyoga).
His work 'Sarga Sameeksha', a creative and critical interface of a young writer with the iconic writers of older generation is perhaps first of its kind among Indian languages.

The funeral will be held later this evening.