Kannadasan

Muthiah Sathappan Chettiar, better known as Kannadasan (; 24 June 1927 – 17 October 1981), was a poet, film song lyricist, producer, actor, script-writer, editor, philanthropist, and is heralded as one of the greatest and most important lyricists in India. With over 5,000 lyrics, 6,000 poems, and 232 books, Kannadasan is widely known by the sobriquet "Kaviarasu" ("king of poets") and he is also considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after Subramania Bharati. including novels, epics, plays, essays, his most popular being the 10-part religious book on Hinduism, Arthamulla Indhu Matham (Meaningful Hindu Religion). He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Cheraman Kathali in the year 1980 and was the first to receive the National Film Award for Best Lyrics, given in 1969 for the film Kuzhanthaikkaga. Like many great poets he also suffered from cyclothymia, which comes under the bipolar disorder spectrum.

Personal life Kannadasan was born to Sathappan Chettiar and Visalakshi Aachi in a Nattukottai Nagarathar family in Sirukoodalpatti, near Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and was given the birth name Muthiah. He was the eighth of ten children to his parents. He was adopted by Chigappi Aachi for a sum of INR 7000 at an early age, who brought him up and was responsible for his early stages of school education. He completed his schooling till the 8th standard in Sirukudalpatti and Amaravathipudhur. He worked for a private company in Tiruvottiyur before taking up an editorial post in a Tamil Magazine where for the first time he took up the pseudonym Kannadasan. He died on 17 October 1981.

Songwriting Kannadasan's greatest contribution to Tamil culture is his songwriting. Before Kannadasan, many lyricists like Papanasam Sivan, Kambadasan, Vindhan, A. Maruthakasi, and Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam 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 some songs written by other contemporary poets were considered to be written by Kannadhasan. Though, film lyrics have come a long way since his death, many people still consider Kannadasan to be the best songwriter. He is considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after Subramanya Bharathi.

He was the producer of the historic Tamil film Sivagangai Seemai portraying Marudhu Pandaiars, one of the pioneers in the Indian freedom struggle. The song "Santhupottu" from that film remains popular.

Spiritual books

Arthamulla Indhu Matham Yesu Kaviyam Bagavath geethai Ponmazhai Bajagovindam Sri Krishna Kavasam Sri Venkatesa Suprabatham - Andal Thirupaavai Ambigai Alagu Dharisanam Krishna Anthathi Sankara Pokisham

Notable novels

Cheraman kathali Aval oru hindhu pen Sivappukal mukkuththi Ratha pushpangal Avalukakga oru padal Swarna saraswathi Nadantha kathai Misa Suruthi seratha rakangal Mupadhu naalum pournami Arangamum antharangamum Kadal konda thennadu Ayiram thivu angkayarkanni Kamini kanchana Kutti kathaigal Oru kavinani kathai Velangkudi thiruvila Ayiramkal mandapam Birundhavanam Aachi Vilaku matuma sivapu Aathanathu aathimanthi Anarkalai Athaivida ragasiyam Paarimalai kodi Oru Nathiyin kathai Sembagathaman kathai Manampola vaalvu Sivakangai seemai Santhithen sinthithen Oomaiyin Kottai Sarasuvin soundarya lagari Artham ulla indhu matham

Poetry

Mutruperatha Kaviyangal Sri krishna anthathi Ambigai alagu dharisanam Maangani Paadi kudutha mangalam Thaipaavai Kannadhasan Kavithaigal Parts 1-7 Yesu Kaaviyam Pon Mazhai

Autobiography Enathu Suyasaritham. Enathu Vasantha Kaalangal. Vanavasam. Manavasam. Naan Partha Arasiyal. He wrote and published several volumes of poetry. He was an admirer of Kambar, 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 Sita's gait and the shoulders of Rama; he spoke of beauty intoxicating and dropped me in a vessel of amrut (nectar)" 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 organized by the Tamil Association of Chicago. He was aged only 54 at the time of his death. The song "Kanne Kalaimane" from the film Moondram Pirai, released a few months later, was his last song.

Legacy The Government of Tamil Nadu built a memorial hall as "Kaviarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam" at Karaikudi. The road adjoining Natesan Park in T. Nagar, Chennai was previously called as Hensman Road is where Kannadasan resided from 1958 and it was renamed "Kannadasan street" in his honour after his demise. It was in this house where 7 Chief Ministers from M. Bhaktavatsalam to J. Jayalalithaa had visited Kannadasan. Kannadhasan once owned 14 cars which were parked on either side of the road in front of house and the last remaining one which was given by K. Kamaraj is still at display in this very house.

As part of Kannadasan's birth centenary commemorations in 2026, an eggshell mosaic portrait of the poet made from more than 1,000 eggshells was created as a tribute. During the commemorative event, a proposal was made to the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish Kannadasan Research Chairs in universities to study his contributions to Tamil cinema and literature, and to translate his literary works into world languages, including Chinese and Spanish.