An expert panel, comprising journalists M G Radhakrishnan and M Saritha Varma and Athmaraman, selected Leelavathi for the biennial award considering her contributions to Malayalam language and literature, a release said here today.

Jnanpith winning poet late O N V Kurup was the previous winner of the honour, the office-bearers of 'Sammohanam', a gathering of the friends and well-wishers of N Mohanan which instituted the award, said in the release.

The award would be presented to Leelavathi in a function to be held at press club here on October 3, it added.

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