ONV Kurup

O.N.V Kurup, who was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, lost his father when he was eight. He completed his schooling from Chavara Govt. School, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics from SN College, Kollam. Later, he moved to Thiruvananthapuram and joined Travancore University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts in Malayalam literature.

ONV was a lecturer at Ernakulam Maharajas College, Trivandrum University College, Kozhikode Arts and Science College, and Thalassery Brennen College. He joined Government Women's College - Trivandrum as the Head of Malayalam Department. He was also a visiting professor at Calicut University. He retired from service in 1986. He was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the Lok-Sabha elections in 1989.

He received the awards Padmasri in 1998 and Padmavibhushan in 2011, the fourth and second highest civilian honours from the Government of India. In 2007 he was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala, Trivandrum. He received the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour, for the year 2007. He is the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win the prestigious award.

He was settled at Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvanathapuram, with his wife Sarojini. His son Rajeev works with the Indian Railways Authority, and daughter Dr. Mayadevi is a noted gynaecologist in Durham, United Kingdom. Malayalam playback singer Aparna Rajeev is his granddaughter.

O. N. V.'s first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946.[9] His first poetry collection named Porutunna Soundaryam, came out in 1949. He published a book named Dahikunna Panapatram (The Thirsty Chalice) which was a collection of his early poems during 1946-1956.

Poetic works

List of Poetry by Kurup

1, Daahikunna Paanapaathram - 1956
2, Marubhumi
3, Neelakkannukal
4, Mayilpeeli - 1964
5, Oru Thulli Velicham
6, Agni Shalabhangal - 1971
7, Aksharam - 1974
8, Karutha Pakshiyude Paattu - 1977
9, Uppu - 1980
10, Bhumikku Oru Charama Geetham - 1984
11, Shaarngka Pakshikal - 1987
12, Mrigaya - 1990
13, Thonnyaksharangal - 1989
14, Aparahnam - 1991
15, Ujjayini - 1994
16, Veruthe
17, Swayamvaram - 1995
18, Bhairavante Thudi,
19, Oyenviyude Ganangal
20, Valappottukal
21, Sooryageetham

List of Prose

1, Kavitayile Samantara Rekhakal
2, Kavitayile Pratisandhikal
3, Ezhuthachan - Oru Padanam
4, Patheyam
5, Kalpanikam
6, Pushkin - Swatantrya Bodhatinte Durantagatha

As a lyricist

In addition to the valuable contributions he had given to the Malayalam literature, he is one of the leading lyricists in Malayalam film/drama/album industry. He was the part of many dramas by Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) which has a major remark in the revolutionary movements of Kerala. Kalam Marunnu (1956) was his first film which was also the first film by the famous Malayalam composer G. Devarajan. Since then he has been active in film until date and was honoured with one national award and thirteen state awards (the most by a Malayalee). He has penned for about 900 songs[11] in about 232 films and a numerous songs for plays and albums. His partnerships with Salil Chowdhury and M. B. Sreenivasan was so popular in Malayalam film industry. He has made many hit songs with popular music directors, including G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. S. Baburaj, Raveendran, M. K. Arjunan, K. Raghavan, Shyam, Johnson, Mohan Sithara, M. G. Radhakrishnan, S. P. Venkatesh, Ouseppachan, Vidhyadharan etc..

Awards

Awards from State / Central Governments:

O. N. V. has won two major awards from the Kerala State and two from the Indian government.

2011 - Padma Vibhushan
2007 - Jnanpith Award Announced on 24th September 2010
1998 - Padma Shri
1982 - Vayalar Award for Uppu
1975 - Kendra Sahitya Academy Award Malayalam for Aksharam
1971 - Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for Agni Salabhangal

National Film Awards:

1988 - Best Lyricist - Vaishali
Kerala State Film Awards

He won the Kerala State film awards for the Best Lyricist thirteen times:

2008 - Best Lyricist (Film - Gulmohar)
1990 - Best Lyricist (Film - Radha Madhavam)
1989 - Best Lyricist (Film - Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam, Purappadu)
1988 - Best Lyricist (Film - Vaishali)
1987 - Best Lyricist (Film - Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathrikal)
1986 - Best Lyricist (Film - Nakhashathangal)
1984 - Best Lyricist (Film - Aksharangal, Ethiripoove Chuvannapoove)
1983 - Best Lyricist (Film - Adaminte Variyellu)
1980 - Best Lyricist (Film - Yagam, Ammayum Makalum)
1979 - Best Lyricist (Film - Ulkkadal)
1977 - Best Lyricist (Film - Madanolsavam)
1976 - Best Lyricist (Film -
1973 - Best Lyricist (Film - Swapnam)

Filmfare Awards:

2009 - Best Lyricist Award - Pazhassi Raja
2011 - Best Lyricist Award - Paattil Ee Pattil - (Pranayam)

Asianet Film Awards:

2001 - Best Lyricist Award -Meghamalhar
2002 - Best Lyricist Award -Ente Hridayatinte Udama

Other awards and recognition:

1981 - Soviet Land Nehru Award for Uppu (A noted poetic work of Dr. Kurup)
1982 - Vayalar Rama Varma Award for Uppu
2003 - Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award"
2007 - Honorary Doctorate (honoris causa) by University of Kerala
2008 - Ezhuthachan Award
2009 - Ramashramam Trust Award
2010 - COSINE Award

Positions held:

ONV has served and headed various office of state and central government organisations. Notably:
Executive Member, Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi from 1982-86.
Chairman, Kerala Kalamandalam - the State Akademi of Classical performing Arts(1996).
Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Academy in 1999.
He also has been the part of various delegation at international events. Some of the notable among them being:
Visited USSR as member of an Indian Writers Delegation to participate in the 150th birth anniversary of Leo Tolstoy.
Represented India in the Struga Poetry Evenings, Yugoslavia (1987)
Attended CISAC Asian Conference in Singapore(1990).
Visited USA to participate in FOKANA Conference(1993).
Visited USA to inaugurate literary seminar in Kerala Centre, New York (1995).
Presented poems on Beethoven and Mozart in the Department of German, University of Bonn.
Indian delegate to the CISAC World Conference held in Berlin (1998).

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Prepared by: Winston Morris