The Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1955, by the Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters), to writers and their works, for their outstanding contribution to the upliftment of Indian literature in each of the official languages of India.
Here is the Complete list of winners for Tamil–
| Year | Name | Work |
| 2016 |
Vannadasan
|
Oru Siru Isai (Short stories) |
| 2015 | A. Madhavan | Ilakkiya suvadugal (A collection of essays) |
| 2014 | Poomani | Agngnaadi (A novel) |
| 2013 | Joe D Cruz | korkai (A novel) |
| 2012 | D. Selvaraj | Thol (A novel) |
| 2011 | Su. Venkatesan | Kaval Kottam (A novel) |
| 2010 | Nanjil Nadan | Soodiya Poo Soodarka (A collection of short stories) |
| 2009 | Puviarasu | Kaioppam (Poetry) |
2008
|
Melanmai Ponnusamy | Minsarapoo (Short story) |
| 2007 | Neela Padmanabhan | Ilai Uthir Kaalam (A novel) |
| 2006 | Mu. Metha | Akayathukku Aduthaveedu (Poetry) |
| 2005 | G. Thilakavathi | Kalmaram (A novel) |
| 2004 | Tamilanban | Vanakkam Valluva (Poetry) |
| 2003 | Vairamuthu | Kallikattu Ithikasam (Novel) |
| 2002 | Sirpi Balasubramaniam | Oru Giraamattu Nadi (Poetry) |
| 2001 | C. S. Chellappa | Sutanthira Daagam (Novel) |
| 2000 | Thi. Ka. Sivasankaran | Vimarsanangal Mathippuraikal Pettikal (Literary criticism) |
| 1999 | S. Abdul Rahman | Aalapanai (Poetry) |
| 1998 | Sa. Kandasamy | Visaranai Commission (Novel) |
| 1997 | Thoppil Mohamed Meeran | Chaivu Narkali (Novel) |
| 1996 | Ashoka Mitran | Appavin Snehidar (Short stories) |
| 1995 | Prapanchan | Vanam Vasappadum (Novel) |
| 1994 | Ponneelan | Pudhiya Dharsanangal (Novel) |
| 1993 | M. V. Venkatram | Kathukal (Novel) |
| 1992 | Kovi. Manisekaran | Kutralakurinji (historic novel) |
| 1991 | Ki. Rajanarayanan | Gopallapurathu Makkal (Novel) |
| 1990 | Su. Samuthiram | Veril Pazhutha Pala (Novel) |
| 1989 | La Sa Ra | Chintanadi (Autobiographical Essays) |
| 1988 | V. C. Kulandaiswamy | Vazhum Valluvam (Literary criticism) |
| 1987 | Aadhavan Sundaram | Mudalil Iravu Varum (Short stories) |
| 1986 | Ka. Naa. Subramaniam | Ilakkiyathukku oru Iyakkam (Literary criticism) |
| 1985 | A. S. Gnanasambandan | Kamban: Putiya Parvai (Literary criticism) |
| 1984 | Lakshmi Thiripurasundari | Oru Kaveriyai Pola (Novel) |
| 1983 | T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan | Bharathi: Kalamum Karuthum (Literary criticism) |
| 1982 | B. S. Ramaiya | Manikkodikalam (Literary history) |
| 1981 | M. Ramalingam | Puthiya Urai Nadai (Criticism) |
1980
|
Kannadasan | Cheraman Kadali (Novel) |
| 1979 | Thi. Janakiraman | Sakthi Vaithiyam (Short stories) |
| 1978 | Vallikannan | Pudukavithaiyin Thottramum Valarchiyum (Criticism) |
| 1977 | Indira Parthasarathy | Kuruthip Punal (Novel) |
| 1976 | No award | |
| 1975 | R. Dhandayudham | Tharkkala Tamizh Illakkiyam (A literary criticism) |
| 1974 | K. D. Thirunavukkarasu | Thirukkural Needhi Illakkiyam (A literary criticism) |
| 1973 | Rajam Krishnan | Verukku Neer (A novel) |
| 1972 | D. Jayakanthan | Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (A novel) |
| 1971 | Na. Parthasarathy | Samudaya Veedhi (A novel) |
| 1970 | Ku. Alagirisami | Anbalippu (A collection of short stories) |
| 1969 | Bharathidasan | Pisirantaiyar (A play) |
| 1968 | A. Srinivasa Raghavan | Vellai Paravai (A poetry) |
| 1967 | K. V. Jagannathan | Virar Ulagam (A literary criticism) |
| 1966 | Ma. Po. Si. | Vallalar Kanda Orumaippadu (A biography) |
| 1965 | P. Sri Acharya | Sri Ramanujar (A biography) |
| 1964 | No award | |
| 1963 |
Akilan
|
Vengaiyin Maindhan (A novel) |
| 1962 | Mi. Pa. Somasundaram | Akkarai Cheemaiyil (A travelogue) |
| 1961 | Mu. Varadarajan | Agal Vilakku (A novel) |
| 1960 | No award | |
| 1959 | No award | |
| 1958 | C. Rajagopalachari | Chakravarti Tirumagan (A retelling of the Ramayana) |
| 1957 | No award | |
| 1956 | Kalki Krishnamurthy | Alai Osai (A novel) |
| 1955 | R. P. Sethu Pillai | Tamil Inbam (A collection of essays) |
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