| Year | Recipient | Work | Ref. |
|---|
| 1982 | N. K. Desam | Ullekham | |
| 1983 | S. Ramesan Nair | Soorya Hridayam |
| 1984 | S. V. Venugopan Nair | Rekhayillatha Oral |
| 1985 | Nellikkal Muraleedharan | Purappad |
| 1986 | Ashitha | Vismaya Chhihnangal |
| 1987 | Nalini Bekal | Moochilottamma |
| 1988 | N. P. Hafis Muhamed | Poovum Puzhayum |
| 1989 | K. P. Ramanunni | Sufi Paranja Katha |
| 1990 | Paul Kallanode | Aalparppillatha Veedu |
| 1991 | A. V. Sreekanta Poduval | Venuganam |
| 1992 | Karimpuzha Ramachandran | Sloka Kacheri |
| 1993 | Sreedharanunni | Vazhi |
| 1994 | Joy Mathew | Madhyadharanyazhi |
| 1995 | Ashokan Charuvil | Oru Ratrikku Oru Pakal |
| 1996 | M. Krishnan Namboodiri | Akshara Soundaryam |
| 1997 | P. Udaya Bhanu | Atanja Vathil |
| 1998 | K. Raghunath | Samadhanathinnu Vendiyulla Yudhangal |
| 1999 | Sathish K. Sathish | Rose Mary Parayanirunnathu |
| 2000 | Ambikasuthan Mangad | Commercial Break |
| 2001 | Prameela Devi | Vatakaveettile Sandhya |
| 2002 | C. Ashraf | Chila Visudha Janmangalude Viseshangal |
| 2003 | M. Kamaruddin | Puthiya Niyamam |
| 2004 | Haridas Karivallur | Jeevitham Thudakkan Oru Thoovala |
| 2005 | Divakaran Vishnumangalam | Jeevante Button |
| 2006 | Budhanoor Raghunath | Kuthirakkarante Makan |
| 2007 | B. Sandhya | Neelakoduveliyude Kavalkkari |
| 2008 | Susmesh Chandroth | Swarnamahal |
| 2010 | P. M. Govindanunni | Amaratharakam |
| 2011 | P. Vijayakumar | Mahayathra |
| 2012 | Raphael Thaikattil | Munnootti Ambathi Nalilekku Neengunna Yatrakal | |
| 2013 | M. R. Raghava Varier | Malayalakavitha:AdhunikathayumParambaryvum | |
| 2014 | Unnikrishnan Cheruthuruthy | Dehali | |
| 2015 | N. Rajan | Moonnu Mudivettukar | |
| Shahina E. K. | Puthumazha choorulla chumbanangal |
| T. P. Venugopalan | Kunnumpuram Karnival |
| 2016 | Valsalan Vathusseri | Malayala Sahitya Niroopanam | |
| A. N. Krishnan | Atarukal, Atayalangal Arthasamvadam |
| Mini Prasad | Penkathakalude Feminist Vayana |
| S. Girishkumar | Gandhamadanagirinirakalil |
| 2018 | Prabha Varma | Aparigraham | |
| Lopa | Vaikkolppava |
| Kanimol | Nilathezhuthu |
| Aryambika S. V. | Kattilodunna Theevandi |
| 2019 | Unni R. | Vaank | |
| G. R. Indugopan | Kollappatti Daya |
| V. R. Sudheesh | Penkathakalude Feminist Vayana |
| E. Sandhya | Anantharam Charulatha |
| 2020 | Dr. P. Soman | Vyloppilli Kavitha Oru Idathupaksha Vayana | |
| Dr. N. Ajayakumar | Vakkile Nerangal |
| Dr. S. S. Sreekumar | Kavithayude Vidvamsakatha |
| Dr. E. M. Suraja | Kavithayile Kaalavum Kaalpadukalum |
| 2021 | K. V. Sarathchandran | Vithakkunnavante Upama[8] | |
| Rajmohan Neeleswaram | Jeevitham Thunnumpol |
| Emil Madhavi | Kumaru |