Kulanthai Shanmugalingam

Kulanthai M. Shanmugalingam (also spelled Kulandai; ; 15 November 1931 – 17 January 2025), also known by his birth name Mayilvaganam Shanmugalingam, was a Sri Lankan dramatist and playwright that worked primarily in the Tamil language.

Shanmugalingam was well known for his shunning of publicity and accolades, becoming a household name in the Jaffna Peninsula for his work ethic and for his dedication to preserving art, rather than seeking awards or public recognition. He rarely made public appearances or gave interviews and vehemently refused a presidential award conferred by the University of Jaffna. He became familiar with Jaffna only after the age of ten.

Shanmugalingam became a playwright in part because one of the foremost Tamil writers of that time, Sitpi Saravanapavan, was unable to provide their acting troupe with scripts because of his hectic schedule. His drama Heaven with Hell also speaks volumes about him being a canny operator in Tamil theatre history. The play was released in book form and it depicted the aspects of important topics such as migration and social mobility within Tamil society while also combining philosophical aspects such as detachment and attachment. The book Heaven with Hell was translated into English by S. Pathmanathan and it was launched in February 2022 in Jaffna.

Death Shanmugalingam died at Jaffna, Sri Lanka, on 17 January 2025, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was one of Sri Lanka's oldest living playwrights.