O. N. V. Kurup

Last updated

O. N. V. Kurup
Onv.JPG
Born
Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup

(1931-05-27)27 May 1931
Died13 February 2016(2016-02-13) (aged 84)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Education Master's
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Poet, lyricist, professor
Notable workAgni Shalabhangal, Aksharam, Uppu, Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham, Ujjayini, Swayamvaram
Title
SpouseSarojini
ChildrenRajeevan, Mayadevi
Parent(s)O. N. Krishna Kurup
K. Lakshmikutty Amma
Awards

Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (known as O. N. V. Kurup; 27 May 1931 – 13 February 2016) was a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He received the awards Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011, the fourth and second highest civilian honours from the Government of India. In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala, Trivandrum. O. N. V. was known for his leftist leaning. He was a leader of All India Students Federation (AISF). [1] He died on 13 February 2016 at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram due to age-related illnesses, aged 84. [2]

Contents

Biography

O.N.V Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on 27 May 1931 at Chavara, Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala. [3] [4] He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in Chavara, where he attended the government school. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics from SN College, Kollam, he moved to Thiruvananthapuram city where he joined Travancore University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts in Malayalam literature.

O.N.V. was a lecturer at Maharajas CollegeErnakulam, University College – Thiruvananthapuram, Arts and Science College – Kozhikode, and Brennen CollegeThalassery. He joined Government Women's College – Thiruvananthapuram as the Head of Malayalam Department. He was also a visiting professor at Calicut University. He retired from service in 1986. [4]

He received the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, for the year 2007. [5] He was the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win the award. [6] According to a statement by Bharatiya Jnanpith, the trust which presents the award, Kurup began his career as a "progressive writer and matured into a humanist though he never gave up his commitment to socialist ideology". [7]

He was settled at Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, with his wife Sarojini, who was also his student in his early days. ONV Kurup died on 13 February 2016, due to age-related ailments at KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 84. He was cremated with full state honours at Thycaud Santhikavadam crematorium, which was named for him. At the time of his cremation, 84 singers representing the 84 years of his life, led by K. J. Yesudas, paid homage to him by singing his poems and songs. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[ citation needed ]

Poetry

O. N. V.'s first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946. [8] His first poetry collection, Porutunna Soundaryam, came out in 1949. He published a book named Daahikunna Paanapaathram (The Thirsty Chalice) which was a collection of his early poems during 1946–1956. [9]

Poetic works

ONV Kurup reciting one of his poems during an event at Thiruvananthapuram Onvk1.JPG
ONV Kurup reciting one of his poems during an event at Thiruvananthapuram
List of Poetry by Kurup
#NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing
1Daahikunna PaanapaathramThe Thirsty Chalice 1956
2MarubhumiThe Desert
3NeelakkannukalBlue Eyes
4MayilpeeliPeacock Feather1964
5Oru Thulli VelichamA Drop of Light
6Agni ShalabhangalFire Moths1971
7AksharamLetter1974
8Karutha Pakshiyude PaattuSong of a Black Bird1977
9UppuThe Salt1980
10Bhumikku Oru Charama GeethamA Requiem to the Earth1984
11Sharangaka PakshikalIndian Cuckoo Birds1987
12Mrigaya Hunting 1990
13ThonnyaksharangalNonsense Alphabets1989
14AparahnamAfternoon1991
15Ujjayini Ujjain 1994
16VerutheGratis (For Nothing)
17Swayamvaram Swayamvara (matrimony)1995
18Bhairavante ThudiDrum of Bhairavan
19Oyenviyude Ganangal *Songs of O.N.V.
20Valappottukal **Pieces of Bangle
21Sooryageetham **The Song of Sun

*Collection of 1500 songs. **Poems for children

Prose list

List of Prose by O. N. V.
#NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing
1Kavitayile Samantara RekhakalParallel Lines in Poetry
2Kavitayile PratisandhikalCrisis in Poetry
3Ezhuthachan – Oru Padanam Ezhuthachan – A Study
4PatheyamFood carried
5KalpanikamImaginative
6Pushkin – Swatantrya Bodhatinte DurantagathaPushkin - The Tragedy of the Sense of Freedom
7Pokkuveyil Mannil EzhuthiyathuWritten on The Dusty Ground (Autobiographical Writings)

Lyricist

In addition to the valuable contributions, he had given to the Malayalam literature, he was 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 his death and was honored with one national award and fourteen state awards (the most by a Malayalee). He has penned about 1000 songs [10] in about 232 films and numerous songs for plays and albums. His partnerships with Salil Chowdhury and M. B. Sreenivasan were so popular in Malayalam film industry. He has made many hit songs with popular music directors, including G. Devarajan, Raveendran, V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. S. Baburaj, M. K. Arjunan, K. Raghavan, Ilaiyaraaja, Shyam, Johnson, Bombay Ravi, Mohan Sithara, M. G. Radhakrishnan, S. P. Venkatesh, Ouseppachan, Vidyadharan and M. Jayachandran.

Awards

Civilian honours

Literary awards

O. N. V. has won numerous awards for his literary works. [14] [15]

Film awards

National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
O. N. V. Kurup with singer Yesudas Onvk2.JPG
O. N. V. Kurup with singer Yesudas

ONV won the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Lyricist fourteen times:

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

ONV won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award for the Best Lyricist seven times: [25]

Filmfare Awards
Asianet Film Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vayalar Ramavarma</span> Indian poet and lyricist (1928–1975)

Vayalar Ramavarma, also known as Vayalar, was an Indian poet and lyricist of Malayalam language. He was known for his poems which include Sargasangeetham, Mulankaadu, Padamudrakal, Aayisha and Oru Judas janikkunnu and for around 1,300 songs he penned for 256 Malayalam films. He received the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1972 and was the winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist in its year of inception which he received three more times. He was also a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1962.  His collaborations with G. Devarajan produced the golden era of Malayalam film music and many songs written and composed by these duo remain the ever green classics in Malayalam. Ramavarma is regarded as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed lyricist in the history of Malayalam cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalam cinema</span>

Malayalam cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language, which is widely spoken in the state of Kerala and Lakshadweep islands of india.Malayalam cinema includes the commercial film industry, sometimes known as Mollywood, as well as independent cinema made in Malayalam.According to recent trends and critical acclaim, the Malayalam film industry (Mollywood) is often considered the "best" film industry in India, known for its high quality storytelling, strong performances, and focus on social issues, even though the largest film industry in terms of viewership remains Bollywood

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. J. Yesudas</span> Indian singer

Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian music and a cultural icon of Kerala. Yesudas is estimated to have recorded more than 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Marathi as well as Arabic, English, Latin, and Russian, in a career spanning six decades. He is often referred to as Gaanagandharvan. Yesudas holds the record for singing 11 songs in different languages in a single day. He has also composed a number of Malayalam film songs during the 1970s and 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. T. Vasudevan Nair</span> Indian author, screenplay writer and film director (1933–2024)

Madath Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair was an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was a prolific and versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, and was one of the masters of post-Independence Indian literature. Randamoozham, which retells the story of the Mahabharata from the point of view of Bhimasena, is widely credited as his masterpiece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jnanpith Award</span> Indian literary award

The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English, with no posthumous conferral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Sankara Kurup</span> Indian Malayali poet and literary critic

G. Sankara Kurup, also referred to as Mahakavi G, was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first recipient of the Jnanpith Award―the highest Indian literary honor. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1968 to 1972 and received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award, in 1967. He was also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Devarajan</span> Musical artist

Paravoor Govindan Devarajan (1927–2006), popularly known as G. Devarajan or Devarajan master, was an Indian music composer and Carnatic singer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Indian film music. He scored music for more than three hundred Malayalam films, many dramas, and twenty Tamil and four Kannada movies. His collaborations with Vayalar Ramavarma produced the golden era of Malayalam film music and many of his compositions remain ever green classics in Malayalam. His music in the Tamil film Annai Velankanni has received many accolades. Devarajan received Kerala Government's Best Music Director award five times, among other honours. In 1999, he was honoured with the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai</span> Indian novelist and short story writer(1912-1999)

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, popularly known as Thakazhi after his place of birth, was an Indian novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. He wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over 600 short stories focusing on the lives of the oppressed classes. Known for his works such as Kayar and Chemmeen, Pillai was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award. He was also a recipient of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, awarded in 1984 for the novel Kayar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhu (actor)</span> Malayalam actor

Madhavan Nair, commonly known by his stage name Madhu, is an Indian actor, director, producer, former college lecturer and former film studio owner, who works in Malayalam cinema and a certain number of Hindi and Tamil films. He was a prominent lead actor during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and has acted in more than 400 films. Madhu has also directed 12 films, produced 15 films and at one time owned the Uma Film Studio. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013 for his contributions towards the arts. He was honored with the J. C. Daniel Award by the Government of Kerala in 2004, for his outstanding contributions to Malayalam films. He is the president of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) Kerala Unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kavalam Narayana Panicker</span> Indian dramatist

Kavalam Narayana Panikkar was an Indian dramatist, theatre director, and poet. He has written over 26 Malayalam plays, many adapted from classical Sanskrit drama and Shakespeare, notably Kalidasa's Vikramorvasiyam, Shakuntalam (1982), Bhasa's Madhyamavyayogam (1979), Karnabharam, Uru Bhangam (1988), Swapnavasavadattam, and Dootavakyam (1996). He was the founder – director of theatre troupe, Sopanam, which led to the foundation of Bhashabharati: Centre for Performing Arts, Training and Research, in Trivandrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri</span> Indian lyricist and poet

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, popularly known as Kaithapram, is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, music therapist and performer of Carnatic music. He debuted with the movie Ennennum Kannettante in 1986. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist two times. He was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 2021 by the Government of India for his contribution to the field of art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrashekhara Kambara</span> Indian poet, playwright

Chandrashekhara Basavanneppa Kambara is a prominent Indian poet, playwright, folklorist, film director in Kannada language and the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi also president of the Sahitya Akademi, country's premier literary institution, after Vinayak Krishna Gokak (1983) and U.R. Ananthamurthy (1993). He is known for effective adaptation of the North Karnataka dialect of the Kannada language in his plays, and poems, in a similar style as in the works of D.R. Bendre.

Anoop Menon is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and lyricist. He worked in television before acting in Malayalam films and has acted in more than 75 films.

Sankara Pillai Guptan Nair or S. Guptan Nair was an Indian scholar, academic, critic and writer of Malayalam literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University College Thiruvananthapuram</span> Constituent college of the University of Kerala

University College, Thiruvananthapuram, often abbreviated as UCT, is a public college situated in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Established in 1866, it is one of the oldest colleges in Kerala. The college has been accorded "College with Potential for Excellence" (CPE) status by the University Grants Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri</span> Indian writer (1926–2020)

Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, popularly known as Akkitham, was an Indian poet and essayist who wrote in Malayalam. He was known for a simple and lucid style of writing, exploring themes of profound love and compassion in his works. Some of his prominent works included Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam, Balidarshanam, and Nimisha Kshetram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. Leelavathy</span> Indian writer and academic

Mundanat Leelavathy is a Malayalam writer, literary critic and educationist. She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, M. K. Sanu and Sukumar Azhikode. Leelavathy is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award.

<i>Pranayam</i> (2011 film) 2011 Indian film

Pranayam (transl. Love) is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film written and directed by Blessy. The film stars Mohanlal, Jaya Prada, and Anupam Kher. The plot revolves around the love bond between the characters of Mathews (Mohanlal), Grace, and Achutha Menon (Kher). The music for the film was composed by M. Jayachandran. The film opened to positive reviews from critics and was also average at the box office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pirappancode Murali</span> Indian politician (born 1943)

Pirappancode Murali is a noted poet, lyricist, playwright, library activist and politician from Kerala, India. He represented Vamanapuram constituency in 10th (1996) and 11th (2001) Kerala Legislative Assemblies. He wrote lyrics for over fifty plays and wrote ten plays. He was one of the founders of theater troupe Sangha Chetana. He got many awards including Government of Kerala Award for Best Lyricist and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Playwright.

References

  1. "General Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparison for 20-Trivandrum Constituency of KERALA". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  2. "Malayalam lyricist ONV Kurup no more; celebs offer condolences". International Business Times, India Edition. 13 February 2016.
  3. "ഒ.എന്.വി.കുറുപ്പ്‌ | നിറവിന്റെ സൗന്ദര്യം". Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 "O.N.V.Kurup". Kerala Tourism Development Corporation . Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  5. "Malayalam, Urdu writers claim Jnanpith awards". The Hindu . 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  6. "Jnanpith goes to Malayalam poet-lyricist Kurup". The Indian Express . 25 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  7. "Jnanpith for Malayalam poet Kurup, Urdu scholar Shahryar". The Times of India . 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  8. "News". Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  9. "Authors and their works". www.malayalamresourcecentre.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. "MSI Malayalam Song Search – Writers = ONV Kurup". malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  11. "Govt announces Padma Awards". NDTV.com. 25 January 2011.
  12. "D.Litt for ONV" (PDF). Keralauniversity.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  13. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  14. "++++++ official website of INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATION DEPARTMENT +++++". Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  15. "Welcome to Kerala Tourism - Official Website of Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  16. "Kadammanitta award to be presented to ONV on April 2". The Hindu. March 30, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  17. "Honour for Wordsmith". The Hindu. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  18. "Kesavadev Award for O N V Kurup". The New Indian Express. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  19. "ONV and Mukundan gets Kamala Surayya award". Mathrubhumi. 2 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  20. "O N V Kurup wins Thoppil Bhasi Award". The Times of India . 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  21. "ONV receives Ezhuthachan Puraskaram". The Hindu . 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  22. "O.N.V. Kurup gets Jnanpith Award". The Hindu . 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  23. "O.N.V. receives Vallathol Award". The Hindu . 17 October 2006. Archived from the original on 5 November 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  24. "Awards, Trusts and Scholarships: 2: Deviprasaadam Trust". Namboothiri.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  25. "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 - 2012" (in Malayalam). Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  26. "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.