
Vishnupuram Saravanan bags Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 for Tamil
Writer Vishnupuram Saravanan has been awarded the Bal Sahitya Puraskar of the Sahitya Akademi for 2025 in the Tamil language category for his children's novel Otrai Siragu Oviya. Published in 2019 by Books for Children, an imprint of Bharathi Puthakalayam, the novel blends elements of fantasy, ecology, and socio-political themes.
Mr. Saravanan hails from Vishnupuram in Tiruvarur district. He is currently associated with children's magazine initiatives of the Tamil Nadu School Education Department. He has previously worked in Tamil media for nearly a decade and has authored several children's books.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said that he was deeply honoured by the recognition. 'This book is very close to my heart. My friends often say that even if I write many more, Otrai Siragu Oviya will always remain the best.'
The Sahitya Akademi also announced the Yuva Puraskar 2025 in Tamil to writer Latshmihar for the short story Koothondru Kooditru. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated both awardees in a post on X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
2 from Odisha selected for Yuva Puraskar award, 1 for Bal Sahitya Puraskar
Bhubaneswar: Two from Odisha will receive the prestigious Yuva Puraskar, while another has been selected for the Bal Sahitya Puraskar this year by Kendra Sahitya Akademi. The names, announced on Wednesday, include Subrat Kumar Senapati who won Yuva Puraskar in Odia language for his short stories collection, 'Kadambabana', while Fagu Baskey was selected for the same award in Santali language for his poetry collection, 'Ala Saon inj'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rajkishore Parhi was chosen for the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his poetry collection, 'Kete Phula Phutichhi', in Odia language. While congratulating the recipients, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in an X post, "My best wishes to Rajkishore Padhi and Subrata Kumar Sahabi for the award. This success is not only your personal success but also a matter of pride and honour for the Odia language and literature. May you further enrich the treasure trove of Odia literature with your creations in the coming days." An elated Senapati said, "I am delighted to be selected for the award and my responsibility as a writer will increase after this honour. Through my writings, I try to shed light on the untold emotions of people and characters who were not widely covered in Odia literature, like transgenders, gay and lesbians." Senapati is currently a faculty member at SOA University's Institute of Agricultural Science in Bhubaneswar. Baskey from Bholagadia village in Mayurbhanj district emerged as one of the most promising voices in contemporary Santali literature. He is widely known for his contribution to the digitisation of the Santali language and promoting Santali literature on digital platforms. "I am really happy that my book was selected for the award. This is a recognition of indigenous literature on a national platform," Baskey said. Each award includes a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a citation plaque (memento) and a shawl. A special ceremony will be held in New Delhi where the three will receive the awards.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Meet ‘traffic solutions' Suresh: This Tamil actor's ideas are changing Chennai's OMR
Suresh Chandra Menon is explaining the need for a U-turn at a particular stretch in the OMR when a lorry hurtles towards him, on the wrong side of the road. Soon, a few other vehicles pile up behind the lorry. Within minutes, there is a traffic jam. Sensing chaos, Suresh jumps into action. He strides to the middle of the road, blocks traffic on one side for a few seconds and lets the lorries go. It is a quickaction that has averted a major traffic pile up. The actor-cinematographer, most famous among Tamil film audiences for his role in 1993's Pudhiya Mugam (which translates to 'new face'), now has a new face. On the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), where he resides, Suresh Menon is widely known as a 'traffic planner'. 'Traffic is not just a road issue,' he says, 'It has a huge bearing on people's time and money. Smoother traffic regulation can lead to higher savings for the city's residents.' This journey started almost 15 years back, when one of Suresh's initial suggestion – for a roundabout near Raj Bhavan – was implemented by the city's traffic authorities. 'There used to be five signals at that place, and having a roundabout meant that people could proceed smoothly instead of waiting,' he says. Making the flyover near IIT-Madras two-way instead of one way was his next suggestion, and he reasons, 'That way, there would be a little more movement and less traffic congestion at Madhya Kailash.' Suresh's ideas are a result of much work. 'I would have done 30-40 rounds at each junction, during all times of the day, to get an idea of the traffic flow. Based on my study, I work on a possible solution, put it down on a piece of paper and send it to the Additional Commissioner of Traffic, who will in turn consider it based on other factors. Over the years, I think the traffic authorities have gotten more confidence when I go to them these days,' he says. Keep moving While he travels across the city for work – Suresh is busy with a directorial project now apart from acting in a few films– his 'passion project' lies somewhere in the ever-busy OMR that now has active Metro Rail construction going on. And this, combined with IT offices urging employees to report back to workplaces in a post-pandemic scenario, has resulted in more traffic chaos. 'We have done seven U-turns, based on a 60-page document that covers every junction from Navalur till Madhya Kailash. Right now, we can drive this entire stretch in 50 minutes during non-peak hours, without wasting time at any signals. You might need to move slowly if there's a big vehicle in front of you or near the U-Turns, but you keep moving. That's the key.' Suresh's solutions have primarily been for the OMR, but his recent suggestion has also improved traffic issues near the Kamakshi Hospital junction at Pallikaranai. 'People don't realise that these simple solutions save them a lot of fuel and many man hours, not to mention the pollution caused while idly waiting at signals. Every 10-12 minutes is a litre of petrol or diesel. Every minute counts when you're stuck in traffic,' says Suresh, who has now suggested a solution near Thoraipakkam's Chennai One campus, where, he says, a traffic signal is operational just for visitors to the IT park. So, why is the actor so passionate about traffic? 'You can sit and keep complaining about things or you can find a way. I think I chose the latter. What I'm doing is not rocket science; it's just based on common sense. As citizens, we have to realise that these small things make a difference to our quality of life and our children get a more pollution-free Chennai to live in.' A new face Suresh Chandra Menon's most memorable film outing was in 1993's Pudhiya Mugam, starring Revathy and Vineeth. A thriller that had the protagonist undergoing plastic surgery to possess a new identity, the film had music by AR Rahman, whose melodies in it are popular till date. Thirty two years later, Suresh looks back at it fondly. 'I was not supposed to act in it but I had to, because the top heroes of that time were not willing to work with a new director. It was the first film to be shot in Sri Lanka after the riots. Arvind Swamy and Vikram dubbed for it.' Subsequently, Suresh has done a few roles in films and was involved with the television industry. 'I was off the media industry for more than 10 years, till I took up a role in Suriya's Thaana Serndha Kootam (2018). Since then, I've done about 20 films, in various languages. I think I'm a bad actor, because there are very few roles I can fit into, like a cop or villain or heroine's father.' Currently, Suresh is directing a project, after almost three decades. 'The shoot is over and we plan to release it in the next few months. The story revolves around Gen-Z; I feel every 18-25 year old will relate to it.'


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Feedback is vital to grow as an actor: Akshitha Bopaiah
Actress Akshitha Bopaiah, whose last outing was Trivikrama has signed a new project, Kamal Sridevi, directed by Sunil. "My character is a very fierce and unapologetic independent girl, but she is also grappling with some societal pressure. Throughout the film, her journey is about embracing her truth with greater courage and finding strength in love and community. The tempo of the story keeps shifting, as there are seven major characters in it. I also got to work with seniors like Kishore and Ramesh Indira, and got appreciation for my work, which is wonderful." One should understand the nuances of the character when saying yes to a role. That's the most important thing Akshita The actress, despite having several movies in the pipeline, like Dear Wife and Flirt, did not have any releases in the recent past. She says, "I have also finished shooting for a Tamil movie . Being a young actor who wants to build a career, it's frustrating when the audience is not able to see my work. Only then can I get feedback and mould my career accordingly."