Tribute to a favourite poet

As one of the most accomplished living Malayalam poets of our time, Prof. O.N.V. Kurup has been the socially mindful Malayalee's favourite for six decades. Besides his popular appeal and worth for recognitions earned, there are certain distinguishing traits of a remarkable social role-model in ONV Master that inspires me to make these jottings.

As a child I enjoyed his drama songs from the days of the 78 RPM bakelite records in the my father's collection. Later his lyrical movie songs pleasantly haunted my adolescence, and continues to enchant to this day.

His more sombre poetic works came as a genre arousing socio-ethical consciousness, and in a style often discounting ‘forced-rhyme’ in favour of good 'reason', and facilitating impact in recital by rhythmically re-arranged syntax. Through his many philosophical poems he challenges social systems and ills, such as inequalities suffered by the poor and downtrodden, and contemporary human insensitivity to the environment; sometimes bringing back legendary characters to play, and always reiterating the fleeting transience of life.

The allure for ONV poems was an enjoyable journey over these decades, and has helped my insight of the Malayalam language. Greatly indebted to this ‘maestro of good reason’ and upholder of the social conscience of my generation of Malayalees; here is my humble tribute, written in a figurative frame of reference.

Sujit Sivanand

2 June 2009