Decision to honour Vairamuthu with ONV Award is being reviewed: Adoor Gopalakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unnerved by an avalanche of criticism, ONV Cultural Academy headed by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has decided to review the academy decision to honour Tamil poet and popular lyricist Vairamuthu with the year's prestigious ONV award.
Ever since the award announcement, criticism has been pouring in from several quarters, questioning the rationale behind honouring Vairamuthu against whom several women had raised sexual harassment allegations in the past.
"Following the recommendation of the award jury, the ONV Cultural Academy has decided to review the decision to present the award to Vairamuthu," said a one sentence communication sent out by Adoor Gopalakrishnan here on Friday. Adoor had initially played down the criticism by saying that the ONV Award for his creative contribution and the same should not be construed as a certificate for 'good conduct'.
Members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in Malayalam cinema were to first come out with criticism against the jury decision. Actresses Parvathy, Rima Kallingal, director Anjali Menon, director-actress Geethu Mohandas took to social media, terming the academy decision unacceptable. The critics are of the view that Vairamuthu, being a person accused by 17 women of sexual harassment shouldn't be honoured with the award in the name of Malayalam's greatest literary figure.
The award has honoured senior Malayalam literary figures like Sugatha Kumari, MT Vasudevan Nair and Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri. The award comprises of citation, a plaque and a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh.
Vairamuthu has received seven national awards for his film songs. He is also a recipient of Padmasri and Padmabhushan wards. Three Indian universities have awarded him with honorary doctorates.
Upon the declaration of the award, Vairamuthu vairamuthu said: I am honoured to receive the prestigious ONV Award. This award from Kerala, the land I highly respect for its soulful literature, gives me immense happiness. I see this as a crown placed on Tamil by its sister language.