INTRODUCTION
- Ottaplackal Neelakandan Velu Kurup commonly known as O.N.V.Kurup is an Indian poet and lyricist who writes in the Malayalam language.
- He is known as one of the leading poets of the modern world.
- He is is also referred as a “Poet of the People” for his simple and accessible style of writing.
- He has been awarded the famous “Jnanpith Award” which is India’s highest literary honour,for his overall contribution to Malayalam literature.
- He has also been awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India for his contributions to Indian literature and culture.
A WALK THROUGH HIS LIFE
- He was born on 27 May 1931 in Chavara, Kollam, Kerala, India.
- His Father O.N.Krishna Kurup was a School Teacher and his Mother K.Lakshmikutty Amma was a Homemaker.
- He graduated from Thiruvananthapuram Government Arts College with a degree in English.
- He then obtained a Master’s degree in Malayalam literature from the University of Kerala.
- He began his career as a Lecturer at the University College in Thiruvananthapuram.
- He then worked as the Editor of Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam daily newspaper.
- Kurup’s writing career began in the early 1950s and he has since then written numerous poems, short stories, plays and lyrics.
- He is best known for his poems which deal with themes of nature, love, social change and revolution.
- He has also written several songs for popular Malayalam films such as Chemmeen, Padayottam and Ulsavapittennu.
- He also wrote the screenplays for several Malayalam films, including ‘Sphodanam’ (1971), ‘Kodi Muttam’ (1977), ‘Adimakal Udamakal’ (1987) and ‘Paleri Manikyam’ (2009).
- He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972 for his collection of poems, Sargasangeetham.
- He received the “J.C. Daniel Award” and the “Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award” for his contributions to Malayalam literature and cinema.
- Kurup has been awarded numerous other awards including the “Padma Shri in 1984″,” Padma Vibhushan in 2011″ and the” Jnanpith Award in 2007″.
- He has also served as the Secretary of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.
- He has also held the positions of President of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and Vice-Chancellor of the Sree Sankaracharya University.
- Kurup continues to actively participate in literary events and is a source of inspiration for the younger generations.
- Kurup has been a major influence on modern Malayalam literature and has served as a mentor to many young writers and poets.
- Kurup was 84 years old when died on 13 February 2016 in Thiruvananthapuram due to age-related difficulties .
ONV, kurippu, kuripu