Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 April 1912 Thakazhy, Alleppey, Kingdom of Travancore, British India (present-day Alappuzha, Kerala, India) |
| Died | 10 April 1999 (aged 86) Thakazhy, Alappuzha, Kerala, India |
| Pen name | Thakazhi |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Genre | Novel, short story |
| Subject | Social aspects |
| Literary movement | Realism |
| Notable awards | |
| Spouse | Kamalakshy Amma |
| Parents | Poypallikalathil Sankara Kurup Aripurathuveettil Parvathy Amma |
| Relatives | Guru Kunchu Kurup (Paternal Uncle), Raj Nair (Grandson), Velikkakath Parameshwara Kaimal (Paternal Grandfather) |
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999), popularly known as Thakazhi after his place of birth, was an Indian novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. He wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over 600 short stories focusing on the lives of the oppressed classes. Known for his works such as Kayar (Coir, 1978) and Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956), Pillai was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award. He was also a recipient of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, awarded in 1984 for the novel Kayar.