Vairamuthu to ‘return’ ONV Kurup literary award

Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu today announced  that he is returning’ the ONV literary prize, instituted in memory of Jnanpith laureate Malayalam poet late ONV Kurup, following protests from different quarters against the award to the songwriter, who is facing “MeToo” allegation.

He said he was ‘returning’ the award because he did not want the jury to face embarrassment and blamed ‘vendetta’ behind the decision to reconsider the award by the ONV Cultural Academy.

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He requested that the cash prize of ₹3 lakh must be given to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Public Relief fund  as a “token” of his love for Kerala .

“Due to the interference of those with vendetta the award has been subject to reconsideration is what I have come to know. Scholarly jury should not be pushed to embarrassment. Therefore, I only desire to avoid receiving the award amid controversies,” he said.