Archive · 10 Nov 2025
Annie Ernaux's 'Une femme' Wins Romain Rolland Prize for Tamil Translation
A French book called 'Une femme' written by Annie Ernaux has won a special award in India.
This award is for translating books from French into Indian languages.
The Tamil version of 'Une femme', translated by S.R. Kichenamourty and published by Kalachuvadu Publications, won the prize.
This shows that Tamil translations of books from other countries are becoming very good.
Annie Ernaux is a famous writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The award celebrates the hard work of translators and publishers who help people in India read books from France.
It also shows that stories about life, family, and memory can connect people everywhere.
The winners will get to visit book fairs in Paris to celebrate their achievement.
This award helps build friendships between India and France through the power of books.
Annie Ernaux's 'Une femme', translated into Tamil by S.R. Kichenamourty, won the 8th Romain Rolland Book Prize for Translation.
The award is given for the best translation of a French title into any Indian language, including English.
The Romain Rolland Prize is supported by the French Institute in India and Apeejay Trust, with Oxford Bookstores as a sponsor.
This is the second time Kalachuvadu Publications and S.R. Kichenamourty have won this award, previously in 2019.
The winning publisher and translator will be invited to book events in Paris in 2026.
- Who
- Annie Ernaux (author), S.R. Kichenamourty (translator), Kalachuvadu Publications Pvt Ltd (publisher)
- What
- Won the 8th Romain Rolland Book Prize for Translation for the Tamil translation of 'Une femme'.
- When
- The award was announced recently; the ceremony for the winning publisher and translator will be in 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- For outstanding translation of French literature into an Indian language, highlighting Indo-French cultural exchange and the universal resonance of Ernaux's work.
Significance of the Prize
Significance for Publishers and Translators
Cultural Exchange
Significance of the Prize
The Romain Rolland Prize symbolizes Indo-French friendship, celebrating translators and publishers who build bridges between cultures, bringing French literature to Indian readers.
Significance for Publishers and Translators
The prize encourages more translators and publishers to bring French literature to India, fostering a stronger connection between French and Indian, particularly Tamil, literature and promoting literary exchange.
Reach of Literature
Significance of the Prize
Annie Ernaux's 'Une femme' resonates universally due to its themes of memory, love, and resilience, reaching new readers in India through its Tamil translation.
Significance for Publishers and Translators
The Tamil translation of 'Une femme' is expected to be of great interest to Tamil readers due to its themes of working-class mobility and mother-daughter relationships, and this award will lead to closer interactions between French and Indian literature.
- Award Name
- 8th Romain Rolland Book Prize for Translation
- Winning Book
- Une femme by Annie Ernaux
- Translator
- S.R. Kichenamourty
- Publisher
- Kalachuvadu Publications Pvt Ltd
- Language
- Tamil
- Organizers
- French Institute in India, Apeejay Trust
- Previous Awardee (Same Translator/Publisher)
- Andreï Makine’s La vie d’un homme inconnu (2019)