Eminent Malayalam critic and academician Dr M Leelavathi has been chosen for the prestigious N Mohanan Suvarna Mudra Award 2016, instituted in memory of well-known short story writer N Mohanan. The honour comprises a gold medal of one sovereign. 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,

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

M Leelavathi

M. Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam writer, literary critic, and educationist.She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery.

During her long literary career, she won several awards including Kendra Sahithya Academy Award and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, and Sukumar Azhikode. Leelavathy is a recipient of Padma Shri Award.