O. N. V. Kurup facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
O. N. V. Kurup
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| Born |
Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup
27 May 1931 |
| Died | 13 February 2016 (aged 84) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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| Education | Master's |
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| Occupation | Poet, lyricist, professor |
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Notable work
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Agni Shalabhangal, Aksharam, Uppu, Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham, Ujjayini, Swayamvaram |
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| Spouse(s) | Sarojini |
| Children | Rajeevan, Mayadevi |
| Parent(s) | O. N. Krishna Kurup K. Lakshmikutty Amma |
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Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (born May 27, 1931 – died February 13, 2016), often known as O. N. V. Kurup, was a famous poet and songwriter from Kerala, India. He wrote in Malayalam, a language spoken in Kerala.
O. N. V. Kurup won the Jnanpith Award in 2007. This is the highest award for literature in India. He also received two of India's top civilian honors: the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2011. In 2007, the University of Kerala gave him an honorary doctorate. He was known for his ideas that aimed to help all people. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 84 due to health issues.
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Biography
O. N. V. Kurup was born in Chavara, Kollam, Kerala, on May 27, 1931. His parents were O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma. He was only eight years old when his father died.
He spent his early years in Chavara and went to the government school there. Later, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from SN College, Kollam. He then moved to Thiruvananthapuram (also called Trivandrum). There, he studied Malayalam literature at Travancore University, which is now Kerala University.
After his studies, O. N. V. Kurup became a lecturer. He taught at several colleges, including Maharajas College in Ernakulam and University College in Trivandrum. He also taught at Arts and Science College in Kozhikode and Brennen College in Thalassery. He later became the head of the Malayalam Department at Government Women's College in Thiruvananthapuram. He also taught as a visiting professor at Calicut University. He retired from teaching in 1986.
In 2007, he received the Jnanpith Award, India's top literary honor. He was the fifth person from Kerala and the second Malayalam poet to win this important award. The award committee said that Kurup started as a writer who supported change. He grew into a writer who cared deeply about people. He always believed in ideas that helped society.
O. N. V. Kurup lived in Thiruvananthapuram with his wife, Sarojini. She was one of his students when he first started teaching. His son, Rajeev, works for the Indian Railways. His daughter, Mayadevi, is a well-known doctor who specializes in women's health. His granddaughter, Aparna Rajeev, is a Malayalam singer.
Poetry
O. N. V. Kurup's first poem was 'Munnottu' (meaning 'Forward'). It was published in a local magazine in 1946. His first book of poems, Porutunna Soundaryam, came out in 1949. He also published a collection of his early poems from 1946 to 1956. This book was called Daahikunna Paanapaathram (The Thirsty Chalice).
Poetic works
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*Collection of 1500 songs. **Poems for children
Prose list
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Lyricist
Besides his poetry, O. N. V. Kurup was also a very important songwriter. He wrote lyrics for Malayalam films, plays, and music albums. He worked with the Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) on many plays. These plays were important in the social movements of Kerala.
His first film as a lyricist was Kalam Marunnu in 1956. This was also the first film for the famous composer G. Devarajan. O. N. V. Kurup continued writing songs until he passed away. He won one national award and fourteen state awards for his lyrics. This is the most awards won by any Malayalee lyricist. He wrote about 1000 songs for around 232 films. He also wrote many songs for plays and albums. He often worked with popular music directors like G. Devarajan, Raveendran, and Ilaiyaraaja.
Awards
O. N. V. Kurup received many awards for his amazing work.
Civilian honors
- 2011 – Padma Vibhushan (India's second-highest civilian award)
- 2007 – Honorary Doctorate from University of Kerala
- 1998 – Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian award)
Literary awards
- 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
- 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
- 1989 - Best Lyricist – Vaishali
O. N. V. Kurup won the Kerala State Film Award for 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)
Other Film Awards:
- 2009 – Best Lyricist Award – Pazhassi Raja
- 2011 – Best Lyricist Award – Paattil Ee Pattil – (Pranayam)
- 2001 – Best Lyricist Award -Meghamalhar
- 2002 – Best Lyricist Award -Ente Hridayatinte Udama
Positions held
O. N. V. Kurup held important positions in various government and cultural organizations.
- He was an Executive Member of the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi from 1982 to 1986.
- He served as the Chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam in 1996. This is the state academy for classical performing arts.
- In 1999, he became a Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Academy.
He also represented India at many international events:
- He visited the USSR as part of an Indian Writers Delegation to celebrate the 150th birthday of Leo Tolstoy.
- In 1987, he represented India at the Struga Poetry Evenings in Yugoslavia.
- He attended the CISAC Asian Conference in Singapore in 1990.
- He visited the USA in 1993 for the FOKANA Conference.
- In 1995, he visited the USA again to open a literary seminar at the Kerala Centre in New York.
- He presented poems about famous composers Beethoven and Mozart at the University of Bonn in Germany.
- In 1998, he was an Indian delegate at the CISAC World Conference in Berlin.
Death
O. N. V. Kurup passed away on February 13, 2016. He was 84 years old and died from age-related health problems at KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was cremated with full state honors at Thycaud Santhikavadam crematorium, a place he himself had named. During his cremation, 84 singers, led by K. J. Yesudas, sang his poems and songs. This honored each year of his life. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
See also
- O. N. V. Literary Award
