Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup

Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (known as O. N. V.; 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). He died on 13 February 2016 at KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram due to age-related illnesses. He was 84.

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. 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.

Kurup was a lecturer at Maharajas College – Ernakulam, University College – Thiruvananthapuram, Arts and Science College – Kozhikode, and Brennen College – Thalassery. 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. He was the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win the 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 settled at Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, with his wife Sarojini, who was also his student in his early days. O. N. V. 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, they paid homage to him by singing his poems and songs. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Poetry 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 + List of Poetry by Kurup # Name Translation in English Year of publishing 1 Daahikunna Paanapaathram The Thirsty Chalice 1956 2 Marubhoomi The Desert 3 Neelakkannukal Blue Eyes 4 Mayilpeeli Peacock Feather 1964 5 Oru Thulli Velicham A Drop of Light 6 Agni Shalabhangal Fire Moths 1971 7 Aksharam Letter 1974 8 Karutha Pakshiyude Paattu Song of a Black Bird 1977 9 Uppu The Salt 1980 10 Bhoomikku Oru Charama Geetham A Requiem to the Earth 1984 11 Sharangaka Pakshikal Indian Cuckoo Birds 1987 12 Mrigaya Hunting 1990 13 Thonnyaksharangal Nonsense Alphabets 1989 14 Aparahnam Afternoon 1991 15 Ujjayini Ujjain 1994 16 Veruthe Gratis (For Nothing) 17 Swayamvaram Swayamvara (matrimony) 1995 18 Bhairavante Thudi Drum of Bhairavan 19 Oyenviyude Ganangal * Songs of O.N.V. 20 Valappottukal ** Pieces of Bangle 21 Sooryageetham ** The Song of Sun Collection of 1500 songs. **Poems for children

Prose list + List of Prose by O. N. V. # Name Translation in English Year of publishing 1 Kavithayile Samantara Rekhakal Parallel Lines in Poetry 2 Kavithayile Pratisandhikal Crisis in Poetry 3 Ezhuthachan – Oru Padanam Ezhuthachan – A Study 4 Patheyam Food carried 5 Kalpanikam Imaginative 6 Pushkin – Swatantrya Bodhatinte Durantagatha Pushkin - The Tragedy of the Sense of Freedom 7 Pokkuveyil Mannil Ezhuthiyathu Written 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 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 2011 – Padma Vibhushan 2007 – Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala 1998 – Padma Shri

Literary awards O. N. V. has won numerous awards for his literary works. 2015 – Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Award 2015 – Medal of Pushkin 2013 – P. Kesavadev Literary Award 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 2002 – Deviprasadam Trust Award 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 Akademi Award (Malayalam) for Aksharam 1971 – Kerala Sahitya Akademi 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)

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards ONV won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award for the Best Lyricist seven times: 1982 – Best Lyricist – Chillu, Olangal 1983 – Best Lyricist – Koodevide, Parasparam 1984 – Best Lyricist – Aalkkoottathil Thaniye 1986 – Best Lyricist – Nakhakshathangal, Panchagni 1987 – Best Lyricist – Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal 2001 – Best Lyricist – Meghamalhar, Pularvettam 2008 – Best Lyricist – Gulmohar, Thalappavu

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