Thinakkal Padmanabhan (born February 5, 1931), popularly known as T.
Padmanabhan, is an Indian short story writer of Malayalam literature.
Considered by many as one of the greatest short fiction writers in Malayalam language, Padmanabhan is credited with bringing modern Malayalam literature nearer to the subjective intensity of the lyric.
He is a recipient of several awards including the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary award of the Government of Kerala.
He declined some of the earlier awards he was selected for which include Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1973), Odakkuzhal Award (1995) and Sahitya Akademi Award (1996).
Mahatma Gandhi University conferred on him the honoris causa degree of the Doctor of Letters in 2018.