India’s renowned poet ONV Kurup passes away

Muscat: India’s renowned poet-lyricist ONV Kurup, who has penned many songs and poems in the south Indian language Malayalam died Saturday. He breathed his last at a private hospital in Thiruvanathapuram. He was 84.
Considering his contribution to literature, he was awarded the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 2007 and is also a recipient of Padmasree (1998) and Padmavibhoosham (2011).
ONV was the second Malayalam poet to win India's highest literary honour and the fifth Jnanpith laureate from Kerala.
He was a member of Kerala Sahithya Academy from 1982 to 1987 and has also served as the chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam from 1996 to 2001.
He has also won the National Award for Best Lyricist for his work in the 1989 movie "Vaishali" and Kerala State Film Award thirteen times for the movies "Gulmohar," "Radha Madhavam," Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathrikal," and "Yagam," among many others.
Born to ON Krishna Kurup and K Lakshmikutty Amma in 1931 at Chavara, Kollam, Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup is a graduate in Economics from SN College, Kollam and is a post graduate in Malayalam literature.
ONV Kurup is survived by his wife Sarojini, son Rajeev, daughter Dr Mayadevi and grandchildren.
-- With inputs from agencies.