Veteran lyricist Poovachal Khadar has been selected for the first P. Bhaskaran Master award instituted by the Kerala Mappila Sangeetha Academy. The award carries a plague and citation. Mappila Sangeetha Nataka Academy president Abid Thangal and Secretary N. Basheer told the reporters that the awards will be presented by State Cultural Minister M.A. Baby at a programme in November, in connection with the anniversary of the academy.


Two new awards had been instituted this year by the Academy in memory of music composer M S Baburaj and G. Devarajan. The first Devarajan Master award will be shared by music directors Joy Vincent and Suresh Sivapuram while Playback singer Jyotsna has been selected for the M.S. Baburaj award.

The other awards announced by the academy includes Mahakavi Moyinkutty award that goes to noted mappilappattu singers Kannur Salim and Feroz Babu while the Monisha award in memory of cine star Monisha goes to Heera Nambudiri.