THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: N Ajithkumar has been selected for this year’s P K Kalan Award, taking into consideration his excellence in the fields of language, literature, folklore, stage art and cinema. The award has been instituted in the name of former Kerala Folklore Academy chairman and Gaddika artist P K Kalan. The award is for those making remarkable contributions to the field of folk art form. It comprises a cash prize of `1 lakh, a certificate and a statuette.
Ajithkumar holds a doctorate in folklore study and had carried out a post-doctoral research in Kali worship under UGC. He had conducted research and study in language, literature, folklore and stage art. He had also researched in the evolution of style of writing in Malayalam quatrains, depiction of post-independent India in the writings of O V Vijayan and a critical study on Ulakudaya Thampuran Pattu. He has around 15 books in folklore and classical art forms to his credit, together with as many as 10 essays in various journals.