O. N. V. Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on May 27, 1931 at Chavara, Kollam in Kerala.[2] He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in the village. He attended 'Govt. School Chavara'. He took his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from SN College, Kollam. Then he moved to Thiruvananthapuram city(Trivandrum) and joined Trivandrum University (now Kerala University) and pursued Master of Arts (postgraduate) in Malayalam Literature.

O. N. V. was a lecturer at Maharajas College, Ernakulam University College, Trivandrum. Arts and Science College, Kozhikode and Brennen College, Thalassery. He joined Government Women's College, Trivandrum as the Head of Malayalam Department. He was also a visiting Professor at Calicut University. He retired from service in 1986.[3]

O. N. V. Kurup is settled in Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvanathapuram city, with his wife Sarojini, son Venugopal and daughter Mayadevi.