Criticism forces ONV academy to rethink award conferring on MeToo accused

Thiruvananthapuram: The ONV Cultural Academy has decided to re-examine the decision to honour poet-lyricist Vairamuthu with this year's ONV Kurup literary award after widespread criticism.

Many activists criticised the decision to confer the ONV Kurup award on a person who has been accused of sexual harassment by around 17 women.

In a statement issued on May 28, ONV Cultural Academy chairman and renowned Malayalam movie director Adoor Gopalakrishnan said that they will reconsider the decision. "At the instance of the selection committee, the award is now under reconsideration," the statement said.

The latest development comes after several artists came forward slamming the Academy against its decision to honour the controversial lyricist accused of sexual harassment by around 17 women including singer Chinmayi.

Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu was conferred with the fifth ONV literary award instituted by the ONV Cultural Academy in Kerala on Wednesday.

Following the announcement, director Anjali Menon had taken to Twitter and said that late poet ONV means much to Malayalees and it was distressing that the ONV Academy has chosen an alleged perpetrator for the honour.

Actress Parvathi criticised the jury and opined that it is an immense disrespect to give such an honour in his name to the accused of sexual assault crimes.

Following the massive row, Adoor Gopalakrishnan had earlier said the award is given based on literary merit and not by checking anyone's character in an interview with The Cue.

Despite people in the socio-cultural milieu asking the jury to re-examine the decision, Adoor had said that no re-evaluation of the decision will be made.

Malayalam writer KR Meera had strongly condemned Adoor's statement backing the jury's decision and stated that for ONV Kurup, the virtue of character was very important. The writer took to social media and said ONV's poems and parables, had taken care not to include anything which will harm humanity.

"Adoor Gopalakrishnan has stated that 'then a special award should be given for a person's character'. I am no one to correct Adoor Gopalakrishnan. But attacking women is not a 'lack of virtue of character' as he says. It is a lack of humanity. I request (Adoor) to consider separate awards for art and humanity," KR Meera added.