Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup

Dr.Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (27 May 1931 – 13 February 2016), popularly known as O. N. V. Kurup or simply and endearingly O. N. V., 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). He died on 13 February 2016 at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram due to age-related illnesses, aged 84.

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. 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 (Trivandrum) where he joined Travancore University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts in Malayalam literature.

O.N.V. was a lecturer at Maharajas College – Ernakulam, University College – Trivandrum, Arts and Science College – Kozhikode, and Brennen College – Thalassery. 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 received the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, for the year 2007. He was the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win the prestigious award. 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".

He was settled at Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, with his wife Sarojini, who was also his student in his early days. His son Rajeev works with the Indian Railways Authority, and daughter Dr. Mayadevi is a noted gynaecologist in Aster Medicity, Cochin. 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. 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.

Poetic works

Prose list

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 honoured with one national award and fourteen state awards (the most by a Malayalee). He has penned about 1000 songs 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, Shyam, Johnson, Bombay Ravi, Mohan Sithara, M. G. Radhakrishnan, S. P. Venkatesh, Ouseppachan, Vidhyadharan and M. Jayachandran.( Ilayaraja)

Civilian honours

• 2011 – Padma Vibhushan
• 2007 – Honorary Doctorate (honoris causa) by University of Kerala
• 1998 – Padma Shri

Literary awards

O. N. V. has won numerous awards for his literary works.

• 2015 – Medal of Pushkin (Медаль Пушкина)
• 2011 – Kamala Surayya Award for Dinantham
• 2011 – Thoppil Bhasi Award
• 2010 – COSINE Award
• 2009 – Ramashramam Trust Award
• 2007 – Ezhuthachan Award
• 2007 – Jnanpith Award for his overall contributions to Malayalam literature (Announced on 24 September 2010)
• 2006 – Vallathol Award
• 2003 – Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Sahitya Award
• 2002 – P. Kunhiraman Nair Award for Ee Purathana Kinnaram
• 1993 – Aasan Prize
• 1990 – Odakkuzhal Award for Mrigaya
• 1982 – Vayalar Award for Uppu*1979-Pandalam Keralavarma Janmasathabdi Smaraka Award (Poetry)
• 1981 – Soviet Land Nehru Award for Uppu<
• 1975 - Kendra Sahitya Academy Award (Malayalam) for Aksharam
• 1971 - Kerala Sahitya Academy Award (Poetry) for Agni Salabhangal

Film awards

National Film Awards

• 1989 - Best Lyricist – Vaishali

Kerala State Film Awards

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

• 2016 – Best Lyricist (Film – Kambhoji)
• 2008 – Best Lyricist (Film – Gulmohar)
• 1990 – Best Lyricist (Film – Radha Madhavam)
• 1989 – Best Lyricist (Film – Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnathil, Purappadu)
• 1988 – Best Lyricist (Film – Vaishali)
• 1987 – Best Lyricist (Film – Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathrikal)
• 1986 – Best Lyricist (Film – Nakhakshathangal)
• 1984 – Best Lyricist (Film – Aksharangal, Ethiripoove Chuvannapoove)
• 1983 – Best Lyricist (Film – Adaminte Variyellu)
• 1980 – Best Lyricist (Film – Yagam, Ammayum Makkalum)
• 1979 – Best Lyricist (Film – Ulkkadal)
• 1977 – Best Lyricist (Film – Madanolsavam)
• 1976 – Best Lyricist (Film – Survey Kallu)
• 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

Kurup served and headed various office of state and central government organisations. Notably:

• Executive Member,ExecutiveBoardoftheSahityaAkademi,NewDelhifrom1982–86.
• 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).

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 by 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.