Vairamuthu 'returns' ONV Kurup literary prize, gives prize money for relief fund

Popular Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu has returned the ONV literary prize, instituted in memory of Jnanpith laureate Malayalam poet late ONV Kurup, following protests from various quarters against the award to the songwriter, who is facing "MeToo" charges.

Chennai: Famous Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu on Saturday returned the ONV literary prize after various sections of women society protested against the award to the songwriter who is facing "MeToo" charges.

He requested that the cash prize of Rs three lakh announced by the academy be given to the Kerala Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

He said that he did not want the jury to face embarrassment and blamed 'vendetta' behind the decision to reconsider the award by the ONV Cultural Academy.

He also announced his contribution of Rs two lakh towards the same, as a "token" of his love for Kerala and its people.

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Wondering if the protests were aimed at "belittling" him and Kurup, Vairamuthu said he wanted to make sure that the "scholarly jury should not be pushed to embarrassment.

"Therefore, I only desire to avoid receiving the award amid controversies," he said.

Indicating that he was very straightforward, Vairamuthu said "there is no need to rub my truthfulness."

"Therefore I have taken a strong decision and I am announcing it with love and clarity. I am returning the ONV Literary Prize to the ONV cultural academy," he said in a video posted on his official Twitter handle.

"I am being a man of truth throughout my life and do not try testimony my truth ever," he said in the video message.

On Friday, the ONV Cultural Academy had said it has decided to review the decision to grant the fifth ONV Literary Prize to Vairamuthu.

The academy's decision came in the wake of mounting protests from various quarters to give the award to the Tamil songwriter and poet who is facing "MeToo" accusations.

Actors Parvathi Thiruvothu and Geetu Mohandas and singer Chinmayi Sripada, who was among the 16 women who accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment, had objected to the Kerala honour for the lyricist.

Sripaada termed Vairamuthu as a sexual predator in the #MeToo movement in 2018.

After the award was announced, Sripaada in a series of tweets, spoke about her #MeToo incident.

Vairamuthu had earlier denied the allegations levelled against him, calling them "totally false" and "motivated".

Vairamuthu further thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and all those who had greeted him earlier for being chosen for the award.

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He also said, "let the relationship between Tamil and Malayalam flourish."

Meanwhile, Vairamuthu's son Madan Karky defended his father in a tweet by saying, "If a group of people hate your family and throw baseless accusations on your dad or mom, and your parent denies those accusations, who will you trust? I trust my dad. If the concerned people believe they have truth on their side, let them take it to the legal authorities."

Earlier, an expert jury, comprising Malayalam University vice-chancellor Anil Vallathol and poets Alankode Leelakrishnan and Prabha Varma, selected the winner and it had been announced that the date of the award presentation would be announced later because of the covid-19 situation.

Noted critic M Leelavathi had bagged the award last year.

Also a novelist, Vairamuthu was conferred the Padma Shri in 2003 and Padma Bhushan in 2014.

(with agency inputs)

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