Vairamuthu returns ONV award as panel announces decision to reconsider choice

Tamil lyricist-poet Vairamuthu has decided to return the ONV award. In a video message, he said his decision comes after the committee decided to reconsider its decision.

Lyricist-poet Vairamuthu on Saturday announced that he will be returning the ONV award conferred on him recently. His decision comes a day after the ONV Cultural Academy said it will reconsider its decision after many pointed out how can a man accused of sexual harassment by so many women receive such an honour.

Vairamuthu has penned songs in many of the best works of K Balachander. (Youtube)

The award, instituted in memory of poet ONV Kurup, is awarded to poets from Malayalam and other Indian languages. This was the first time a non-Malayali was being conferred with this award.

In a video he shared on Twitter, Vairamuthu said: “I’ve come to learn that the ONV award conferred upon me is being reconsidered after the interference of a few people who hold grudges against me. This will insult me and poet ONV Kurup. I also feel that since the jury will be pushed into a sticky situation, I’ve decided to return my award amidst so many controversies.”

Interestingly, Vairamuthu has decided to return the award even before receiving it. He also said that the ₹2 lakh prize money that comes with the award be donated towards Kerala Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.

The ONV honour for Vairamuthu faced severe backlash because he has been accused by 17 women of sexual harassment. In 2018, during the #MeToo movement, singer and dubbing artist Chinmayi Sripaada named Vairamuthu. 16 other women had called out the veteran lyricist.

On Thursday, actor Parvathy slammed the jury headed by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan on their decision to present lyricist Vairamuthu, a Me Too accused, with the prestigious award. She said it’s a huge disrespect to ONV Kurup.

“Vairamuthu was considered by the jury for his excellent writing. I do not know if the jury knows he is a person facing such charges. My personal opinion is that awards should not be decided on the basis of character. As chairman of the Cultural Society, I do not interfere in the decisions of the jury,” Adoor Gopalakrishnan had said to Malayalam web portal The Cue.