In 1992, Sri. Padmanabhan Nair was awarded the Central Department of Culture’s Senior fellowship to write a book on his late father Pattikkanthodi Ravunni Menon and to publish his rare notes on Kathakali. This was published in 2004, which also won the Odakkuzhal Puraskaram for Malayalam literature in 2005. He was the first recipient of the coveted Kalamandalam award for Kathakali when it was instituted in 1979. In 1992, the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademy award and in 1994, the Central Sangeet Natak Akademy award came in search of him. He was also honoured by most of the Kathakali Clubs in Kerala with awards and receptions, and was also presented the Kathakali award of the Govt.of Kerala in 2006.