O. N. V. Kurup

O. N. V. Kurup (Ottaplavil Neelakandan Velu Kurup) is a famous Malayalam poet from Kerala, India. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest living poets in India. O. N. V. Kurup is also a film lyricist in Malayalam cinema. He received the Padmashri Award of government of India in 1998. He is also called O. N. V., without the surname. O. N. V. is known for his leftist leaning. He was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the Lok-Sabha elections in 1989, and was the runner-up.

Biography

O. N. V. Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on May 27, 1931 at Chavara, Kollam in Kerala. He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in the village. He attended 'Govt. School Chavara'. He took his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from SN College, Kollam. Then he moved to Thiruvananthapuram city (Trivandrum) and joined Trivandrum University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts (postgraduate) 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.

O. N. V. Kurup is settled in Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvanathapuram city, with his wife Sarojini, son Rajeev, and daughter Mayadevi.

Poetry

O. N. V.'s first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946. 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 O. N. V. # Name Translation in English Year of Publishing 1 Dahikunna Panapatram The Thirsty Chalice 1956 2 Marubhumi The Desert 3 Neelakkannukal Blue Eyes 4 Mayil Peeli Peacock Feather 1964 5 Oru Thulli Velicham One Drop of Light 6 Agni Shalabhangal Fire Moths 1971 7 Aksharam The Letter 1974 8 Karutha Pakshiyude Pattu Song of a Black Bird 1977 9 Uppu The Salt 1980 10 Bhumikku Oru Charama Geetam A Dirge to the Earth 1984 11 Shaarngka Pakshikal 1987 12 Mrigaya Hunting 1990 13 Thonnyaksharangal Nonsense Letters 1989 14 Aparahnam Afternoon 1991 15 Ujjayini Ujjain 1994 16 Veruthe Gratis (For Nothing) 17 Swayamvaram Swayamvara 1995 18 Bhairavante Thudi Drum of Bhairavan 19 Oyenviyude Ganangal * Songs of O. N. V. 20 Valappottukal ** Pieces of Bangle

*Collection of 1500 songs. **Poems for children

Prose list

List of Prose by O. N. V. # Name Translation in English Year of Publishing 1 Kavitayile Samantara Rekhakal Parallel Lines in Poetry 2 Kavitayile Pratisandhikal Crisis in Poetry 3 Ezhuthachan - Oru Padanam Ezhuthachan - A Study 4 Patheyam Food carried 5 Kalpanikam Imaginative 6 Pushkin - Swatantrya Bodhatinte Durantagatha

Awards

Awards from State / Central Governments

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

• Padma Shri in 1998
• Vayalar Ramavarma Award for Uppu in 1982
• Kendra Sahitya Academy Award (Malayalam) for Aksharam in 1975
• Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 1971 for Agni Salabhangal

Kerala State Film Awards

He won the Kerala State film awards twelve times, for the best lyricist.

• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1973 (film - SwapnaNadanam)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1976 (film - Aalinganam)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1977 (film - Madanolsavam)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1979 (film - Ulkkadal)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1980 (film - Yagam, Ammayum Makkalum)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1983 (film - Adaminte Variyellu)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1984 (film - Aksharangal, Ethiripoove Chuvannapoove)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1986 (film - Nagakshathangal)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1987 (film - Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathrikal)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1988 (film - Vaishali)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1989 (film - Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnathil, Purappadu)
• State Film Award for Best lyricist in 1990 (film - Radha Madhavam)

Other awards and recognition

A noted poetic work of Mr. Kurup titled Uppu won the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1981 and also the Vayalar Rama Varma Award in 1982. O. N. V. represented India in the Struga Poetry Festival, Yugoslavia (1987), presented poems on Beethoven and Mozart in the Department of German, Bonn University, Indian delegate to the CISAC World Conference held in Berlin (1998). He was the Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Academy in 1999. Among the responsibilities that came his way so far, he was member of the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi from 1982 to 1986, and was the Chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam.

Notes

External links

• O. N. V. - Master of verse
• O. N. V. Kurup honoured
• Swaralaya to honour O. N. V.