First in Kerala – PART IV | Awards, Films & Sports

Aug 2020|🟢Current|2 min read|38 entries
First in KeralaKeralaKerala HistoryStatic GK

Key Takeaway

This post discusses the fourth part of the comprehensive list of First in Kerala.

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com

Awards & Honours(5)

NationalFirst Malayali to win Padma Vibhushan
V.K. Krishna Menon(1954)
First Malayali to win Padma Bhushan
Vallathol Narayana Menon(1954)
First Malayali to win Padma Shri
Perakath Verghese Benjamin(1955)
First Malayali Religious Leader to receive the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri
Dr. Cardinal Antony Padiyara(1998)
First to receive V.K. Krishna Menon Award
Justice K.G. Balakrishnan

Arts & Literature(3)

First Malayali to win Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
First Malayali to win Kendra Sahithya Academy Award
R. Narayana Panicker
First Malayali to get Saraswati Samman
Balamaniamma

Sports(1)

First Keralite Winner of Arjuna Award
C. Balakrishnan(Mountaineering, 1965)

First Malayali athlete to win(4)

Arjuna Award
T.C. Yohannan(Long Jump, 1974)First Malayali Woman Winner of Arjuna Award–K.C. Elamma(Volley Ball, 1975)
First Malayali to win Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
K.M. Beenamol(2002-2003)
First Malayali Winner of Dronacharya Award
O.M. Nambiar(1985)
First Malayali to win medal in Youth Olympics
H.S. Prannoy(Badminton, Silver, 2010)

International(4)

First Booker Prize Winner from Kerala
Arundhati Roy(The God of Small Things, 1997)
First Malayali Magsaysay Award Winner
Verghese Kurian
First Oscar Winner of Kerala
Resul Pookutty(Best Sound Mixing, Slumdog Millionaire, 2009)
First Asian to win Jit Gill Memorial Award instituted by the World Bank for Social Service
Dr. Samuel Paul(2006)

Films & Entertainment(10)

First Malayalam Movie
Vigathakumaran
First Malayalam Sound Movie
Balan
First Malayalam Color Film
Kandam Becha Coat
First actor to win Bharat Award (National Film Award)
P.J. Antony
First Malayalam Playback Singers
Govinda Rao & Sarojini Menon
First Private TV Channel of Kerala
Asianet
First Malayalam Channel to telecast English news
Jeevan TV(2002)
First Political Drama to be staged in Kerala
Pattabaakki
The drama “Pattabacki” is written by
K. Damodaran
First Full-fledged Sanskrit drama in South India
Ashcharya Chudamani

Click here to Know More about First in Malayalam Film Industry(6)

SportsFirst Sports School
Thiruvananthapuram
First Sports Council President
Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja
First Malayali Olympian
C.K. Lakshmanan(110m Hurdles, 1924)
First Malayali Olympian from Independent India to participate in an individual event
Suresh Babu(Long Jump, 1972)
First Malayali Woman to participate in an Olympic Event
P.T. Usha(100m, 200m, 1980)
First Professional Football Club In Kerala
FC Kochin(1990)

First professional football club in India as well(5)

First Indian to Control Olympic Boxing Competition
P. K. Muraleedharan(2004)
First Cricketer from Kerala to represent India at the international level
Tinu Yohannan.To know more about Kerala & Sports,Click HereKeep Reading:First in Kerala – PART I | Administration & JudiciaryFirst in Kerala – PART II | Education, Press & LiteratureFirst in Kerala – PART III | Science, Technology & EconomyFirst in Kerala – PART V | Museums, Parks & PanchayatsFirst in Kerala – PART VI | HistoryFirst in Kerala – PART VII | Miscellaneous📝SideNotes:Kerala Sports Day– October 13
Father of Kerala Sports
G.V. Raja(Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja)
Kerala & Santhosh Trophy
4 times.(1973, 1993, 2001 ,2004 & 2018)First– 1973
Last
2018

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