MANGALORE, Oct 28 (The Hindu): The Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy has chosen three persons for its honorary award for 2008 in three categories. They are: Ibrahim Tannirbavi, playwright; U.A. Kasim Ullal, columnist and poet; and Mohammed Kulai, writer.

Announcing the award at a press conference here on Tuesday, president of the academy M.B. Abdul Rahman said that it would be presented to them at a function at the Town Hall here on November 13. Each of them would be given Rs. 10,000 in cash, a certificate and a memento. The academy will be presenting the award for the first time since its inception in February this year.

Rahman said that Tannirbavi had directed more than 50 plays, written scripts for more than 500 and acted in 60 dramas. He was a recipient of the district-level Rajyotsava Award given by the Dakshina Kannada Sahitya Parishat.The president said that Ullal had been writing columns in Beary and had published “Video Cassette”, a short novel. In addition, he had written a book titled “Niskaratho Kirma Adl Chelrad Pinne Adre Artha.” Ullal had served as general secretary of the Kendra Beary Sahitya Parishat and general secretary of the Muslim Lekhakara Sangha.

Rahman said that Kulai had come out with “Pernal”, a collection of short stories. He had written “Doctor”, “Mahasabhe” and “Kasi-bangar” dramas in the Beary language.

Rahman said that recently the academy had organised three competitions on Beary literature. Winners in the poetry, elocution and short-story writing competitions had been selected and would be given prizes on November 13.