ONV Award To Vairamuthu: Actors, Singers & Writers Criticise Jury

The announcement of the ONV Literary Award to lyricist Vairamuthu triggered a big controversy. Amid multiple #metoo allegations the writer is facing, many actors, singers, writers, and women rights activists started heavily criticizing the jury’s decision to confer the prestigious award to him.

The ONV Cultural Academy is heard to be re-examining the decision. Back in 2018, singer Chinmayi leveled sexual harassment allegations against Vairamuthu when the global #metoo movement started. Later, 16 other women came out with similar allegations against the writer.

Actress Parvathy wrote on her Instagram page, ‘ONV Sir is our pride. His contribution as a poet and lyricist is incomparable. How it has nourished our culture. Our hearts and minds have benefited through his body of work. This is exactly why it is of immense disrespect to give such an honor in his name to the one accused of sexual assault crimes. Seventeen women have come out with their stories. We don’t know how many more have been wronged.’

Director Anjali Menon, filmmaker Geetu Mohandas, actor Rima Kallingal and Chinamyi Sripada expressed their anguish after the ONV Award if announced for Vairamuthu.

ONV Award instituted in memory of poet ONV Kurup who passed away in 2016. Tamil Nadu chief minister ML Stalin congratulated Vairamuthu for this prestigious honor.