O N V AND JNANPITH

എങ്കിലുമിന്നിനിപ്പാടാതെ വയ്യയീ

മംഗലസോപാനസന്നിധിയിൽ സാമ-

സംഗീതമായ് ഞാനലിയട്ടെ! ഹർഷാശ്രു

ഗംഗയായ് വീണൊഴുകട്ടെ! പാടട്ടെ ഞാൻ....

Congratulations to our own poet O N V Kurup and noted Urdu poet Akhlaq Khan Shahryar for their Jnanpith- country's highest literary honour  He needs no introduction as his poems speak for him in volumes. Great News

ചിതയിൽ നിന്നുഞാനുയർത്തെഴുനേൽക്കും

ചിറകുകൾ പൂ പോൽ വിടർത്തെഴുനേൽക്കും

(ONV)

Ottaplavil Neelakandan Velu Kurup (Malayalam: ഒറ്റപ്ലാവില് നീലകണ്ഠന് വേലു കുറുപ്പ്) is a famous Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won Jnanpith Award,the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He is acknowledged by the people of Kerala as one of the greatest living poets in India. O. N. V. Kurup is also a lyricist in Malayalam cinema. He received the Padmashri Award from the Government of India in 1998. In 2007 he was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate by University of Kerala, Trivandrum. He is also called O. N. V., without the surname. O. N. V. is known for his leftist leaning.[1] He was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the Lok-Sabha elections in 1989.[2]

N. V. Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on May 27, 1931 at Chavara, Kollam in Kerala.[citation needed] He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the public 'Government School, Chavara'. 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 (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.[3] o.n.v. Kurup has got 2007's Njana Peedam Award on 24 September 2010.

He is now settled in Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvanathapuram, with his wife Sarojini, son Rajeev, and daughter Mayadevi.

[edit] Poetry

O. N. V.'s first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946.[4] 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.[5]

 Poetic works
List of Poetry by O. N. V.
# Name Translation in English Year of Publishing
1 Dahikunna Panapatram The Thirsty Chalice1956
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 Ujjain1994
16 Veruthe Gratis (For Nothing)
17 Swayamvaram Swayamvara1995
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.
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 from State / Central Governments
O. N. V. has won two major awards from the Kerala State and two from the Indian government
• 2007 - Jnanpith Award Annonced on 24th September 2010
• 1998 - Padma Shri
• 1982 - Vayalar Award for Uppu
• 1975 - Kendra Sahitya Academy Award Malayalam for Aksharam
• 1971 - Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for Agni Salabhangal
 National Film Awards
• 1989 - Best Lyricist - Vaishali
 Kerala State Film Awards
He won the Kerala State film awards for the Best Lyricist thirteen times:
• 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 - Nakhashathangal)
• 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 - Aalinganam)
• 1973 - Best Lyricist (Film - Swapna Nadanam)
Asianet Film Awards
• 2001 - Best Lyricist Award -Meghamalhar
• 2002 - Best Lyricist Award -Ente Hridayatinte Udama
 Other awards and recognition
• 1981 - Soviet Land Nehru Award for Uppu (A noted poetic work of Dr. Kurup
• 1982 - Vayalar Rama Varma Award for Uppu
• 2007 - Honorary Doctorate (honoris causa) by University of Kerala
• 2008 - Ezhuthachan Award
• 2009 - Ramashramam Trust Award
 Positions Held
ONV has served and headed various office of state and central government organisations. Notably:


1. Executive Member, Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi from 1982-86.
2. Chairman, Kerala Kalamandalam - the State Akademi of Classical performing Arts(1996).
3. 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:


1. Visited USSR as member of an Indian Writers Delegation to participate in the 150th birth anniversary of Leo Tolstoy.
2. Represented India in the Struga Poetry Evenings, Yugoslavia (1987)
3. Attended CISAC Asian Conference in Singapore(1990).
4. Visited USA to participate in FOKANA Conference(1993).
5. Visited USA to inaugurate literary seminar in Kerala Centre, New York (1995).
6. Presented poems on Beethoven and Mozart in the Department of German, University of Bonn.
7. Indian delegate to the CISAC World Conference held in Berlin (1998).
1.  "O.N.V. Kurup honoured". The Hindu. September 21, 2006. http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/21/stories/2006092101590200.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
3. O. N. V. Kurup Kerala Tourism
4. Poetry for the soul
5. Authors and their works
6. Literary Awards PRD, Govt. of Kerala
7. wards for O. N. V. Dept. of Tourism, Kerala
8 "D.Litt for ONV". http://www.keralauniversity.edu/universityherald/herald_june2007.pdf.