Kannadasan
| "Kaviarasu" Kannadasan | |
|---|---|
| File:Kannadasan.gif | |
| Born | A. L. Muthiah 24 June 1927 Sirukoodalpatti, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Pen name | Karaimuthu Pulavar, Vanangamudi, Kamakappriya, Parvathi Nathan, Arokkiya Saamy |
| Occupation | Poet, novelist, lyricist, politician, film producer, literary editor |
| Notable works | Arthamulla Indumadham |
| Notable awards | National Film Award for Best Lyrics 1961 Kuzhanthaikkaga Sahitya Akademi Award 1980 Cheraman Kadali |
| Children | 15 |
Kannadasan (24 June 1927 – 17 October 1981) was a Tamil poet and lyricist, heralded as one of the greatest and most important writers in the Tamil language. Frequently called Kaviarasu (King of Poets), Kannadasan was most familiar for his song lyrics in Tamil films and contributed around 5000 lyrics apart from 6000 poems and 232 books,[1] including novels, epics, plays, essays, his most popular being the 10-part religious essay on Hinduism, Arthamulla Indhumatham (Meaningful Hindu Religion). He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Cheraman Kadali in the year 1980 and was the first to receive the National Film Award for Best Lyrics, given in 1969 for the film Kuzhanthaikkaga.
Kannadasan worked in Thiraioli, a cine magazine run by 'Papa' Rama.Thiyagarajan in Rayavaram. Pudukkottai Distt and in Chennai. He also worked for "Thirumagal" magazine in Ramachandrapuram, Pudukkottai Distt. M. Karunanidhi conferred the title Kavingar to Kannadasan in a public meeting held at Pollachi in 1949.
Contents
Atheism to Hinduism
Muthiah was a staunch atheist and a follower of the Dravidian atheistic movement. He changed his name to Kannadasan, after the revolutionist 'Jalakandapuram' Kannan. He had a great love for the Tamil language and culture, and excelled in Tamil literature, both prose and poetry. He read the Thiruppavai of Andal, and was amazed at its mystic poetry, which was to have a deep and lasting impact on him. After a lot of introspection, he decided to convert back to Hinduism. He dug deep into understanding Hinduism, and wrote his series of books on Hinduism titled Arthamulla Indhu Matham.
Songwriting
Kannadasan's greatest contribution to Tamil culture is his songwriting. Lyrics with simple words but a profound philosophical message were his trademark style. Before Kannadasan, many lyricsists like Papanasam Shivam, Kambadasan, Vindhan, Maruthakasi, and Ku.Ma.Balasubramanian were sought after in the Tamil music industry, but after the advent of Kannadasan, the scene changed. He quickly became the most sought after lyricist in the industry and remained so until his death. Kannadasan was so popular that though there were many excellent poets like Vaali, Pulamaipithan, Alangudi Somu, Avinasimani, Panchu Arunachalam and Jayakanthan during that period, their hits are wrongly considered by many Kannadasan fans as songs written by him.[citation needed] Though, after his death, film lyrics have come a long way from Vairamuthu to Tamarai, many people still consider Kannadasan to be the best songwriter.[citation needed] He is considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after Subramanya Bharathi.[citation needed]
He was the producer of the historic Tamil film Sivagangai Seemai portraying the pioneers of the Indian freedom struggle "Marudhu Pandaiars". The song "Santhupottu" from that film remains popular.
Notable novels
- Aval oru hindhu pen (1992)
- Sivappukal mukkuththi (1992)
- Swarna saraswathi (1992)
- Nadantha kathai (1992)
- Mica (1992)
- Suruthi ceratha rakangkal (1992)
- Muppadhu nalum pournami (1992)
- Arangamum antharankamum (1992)
- Ayiram thIvu angkayarkanni (1992)
- Theivath thirumanangkal natakam (1992)
- Ayirangaal mandapam (1992)
- Athaivida rakasiyam (1992)
- Kathal konda thennadu (1992)
- Oru kavingnanin kadhai (1978)
- Singkai partha chennai (1992)
- Velangkattiyur vizha (1992)
- Vilakku mattuma sivappu (1992)
- Vanavasam (1981)
- Athaivida ragasiyam (1981)
- Birunthaavanam (1994)
- Cheraman Kathali
- Sandhithen Sindhithean
- Yesu kaviyam
Autobiographies
- Enathu Suyasaritham
- Vanavasam
- Manavasam
Filmography
Lyrics
- Aayirathil oruvan
- Mannadhi Mannan
- Thaai Sollai Thattadhe
- Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
- Paasam
- Karuppu Panam
- Panathottam
- Periya Idathu Penn
- Dharmam Thalaikakkum
- Ananda Jothi
- Neethikkupin passam
- Kudumbathalaivan
- Kaanchi Thalaivan
- Parisu
- Vettaikaran
- Panakkara Kudumbam
- Thiruvilayadal
- Saraswathi Sabatham
- Pattikada Pattanama
- Urimaikural
- En Kadamai
- Nadodi
- Thanga Pathakkam
- Moondram Pirai
- Iruvar Ullam
- Dheerga Sumangali
- Aalayam
- Annai
- Naanum Oru Penn
- Pazhani
Scriptwriter
- Karuppu Panam
Onscreen appearances
- Karuppu Panam
- Ratha Thilagam
- Suryakanthi
- Apoorva Raagangal
- Kavalai Illatha Manithan
- Parasakthi
Poet laureate
Kannadasan was the poet Laureate of the Tamil Nadu Government at the time of his death. He wrote two notable autobiographies, titled Vanavasam, a book about his past life whilst he was atheist, with the DMK and a sequel, titled Manavasam a book about his life after he had left DMK
His contribution to Tamil literature
Kannadasan was a prolific writer and his writing covered a variety of forms- poems, novels, lyrics for Tamil films and books on spirituality. His series titled Arthamulla Indu Matham (Meaningful Hindu Religion) is known for its simplicity in explaining the principles of Hinduism. He wrote a number of spiritual works in the later part of his life including Yesu Kaviyam the story of Jesus told in the poetic form.
He wrote and published several volumes of poetry. He was an admirer of Kambar[2] and wrote a number of poems praising Kambar's artistry,contrary to the satire ("Kambarasam") on the same by C.N.Annadurai. He also spoke at several of the Kambar festivals. He sang the beauty of Seethai's gait and the shoulders of Rama; he spoke of beauty intoxicating and dropped me in a vessel of amrut(liquour)" This is one of Kannadasan's tribute to the poet Kambar.
Death
Kannadasan died on 17 October 1981 in Chicago, United States, where he had gone from India to attend a Tamil conference organised by the Tamil Association of Chicago. A house in Sirukoodalpatti is now a memorial for the Tamil film music's evergreen favourites. The Kannadasan memorial museum was inaugurated on 21 October 1992.[3]
References
[1] http://www.localnewspaper.in/gallery/gandhi-kannadhasan/
- ↑ Gandhi Kannadhasan
