Grand start to ONV’s 84th birthday fete

3-day event will have music concerts, poetry sessions

Lighting of 84 clay lamps, a music concert, and staging of a play on Tuesday marked the inaugural of a four-day event in the city to celebrate the 84t{+h}birthday of Jnanpith Award-winning poet O.N.V Kurup.

The evening saw people from the literature field, film producers, politicians, and admirers of Mr. Kurup gathering at the Senate Hall of the University of Kerala to kick-start the event.

The evening began with a Thayambaka performance, followed by a recital of Mr. Kurup’s noted poem

Ethra Sundaram Ente Malayalam . Poet Sugathakumari, in her inaugural address, traced her long literary association with him, and how the poet in his inimitable style spoke for the oppressed, besides taking up issues concerning humanity. Pro-Vice Chancellor N. Veeramanikandan presented a lamp to the poet. The day’s programme concluded with the staging of

Ningalenne Communistaaki .