The recent announcement of the ONV Literary Award to Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu has raked a new controversy, with several actors, writers and women’s rights activists criticising the jury’s decision to confer the award on a person facing multiple #MeToo allegations. In 2018, during the Me Too 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 veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan on their decision to present Vairamuthu, a Me Too accused, with the prestigious award. She said it’s a huge disrespect to ONV Kurup.
He note on Instagram read: “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 immense disrespect to give such an honour in his name to the accused of sexual assault crimes." The head of the jury for ONV award Adoor Gopalakrishnan said that they will reconsider the decision. “ At the instance of the selection committee, the award is now under reconsideration,” read a statement, the report added.The academy's decision to honour Vairamuthu with the award was announced on May 26. Soon after, it was heavily criticised, with many publicly opposing the decision. Earlier, Adoor, who had backed the choice of Vairamuthu, had said that the award is given for excellence in writing. It wasn't done so after examining a person's character.“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 had said to Malayalam web portal, The Cue.