Thamarai

Thamarai (born 10 November 1975) is an Indian poet and lyricist who writes in Tamil. She is a prominent figure in the Tamil literary world and has worked in Tamil cinema.

She made her debut in the Tamil film industry through the 1998 film Iniyavale, which was directed by Seeman and had music composed by Deva.

Life and career Thamarai was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on 10 November 1975. She graduated from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, in production engineering 1992-1996 Batch and worked for six years in Coimbatore. With her passion for poetry, she decided to move to Chennai, where she worked as a freelance journalist in an organization named Bhagya and wrote essays, stories and poems. Through her literary works, she became popular and got noticed. Director Seeman assigned her as lyricist for the song "Thendral Enthan" for his Tamil film Iniyavale. Subsequently, she wrote lyrics for films such as Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen ("Malligai Poove") and Thenali ("Injirango Injirango"). Her work together with music director Harris Jayaraj in Minnale marked the turning point in her film industry career, primarily noted for her song "Vaseegara" in the movie.

After Minnale, the trio, composed of director Gautham Vasudev Menon and music director Harris Jayaraj, teamed up several times again (Kaakha Kaakha, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, Pachaikili Muthucharam and Vaaranam Aayiram) and were a very successful collaboration in the film field, until the break-up between Menon and Jayaraj happened. Since then, she is teaming up with A. R. Rahman, who replaced Jayaraj. Menon, Jayaraj and Thamarai teamed up again in July 2014 for the Ajith Kumar film Yennai Arindhaal. The film's album was released on 1 January 2015, and it was well-received by critics. She wrote" Neeraambal Poovae" from the movie Nannbenda, where she again worked for Harris Jayaraj. The song is sung by Arjun Menon.

Personal life Thamarai was married to Thozhar Thiyagu. They have a son. Thamarai is a vegan and an advocate of animal rights.

Filmography Year Film Song(s) Music composer 1998 Iniyavale "Thendral Enthan"Deva Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen "Malligai Poove"S. A. Rajkumar Pudhumai Pithan "Onnu Rendu"Deva 1999 Kallazhagar "Thoonda Thoonda" Viralukketha Veekkam "Viralukketha Veekkam" Kannodu Kanbathellam "Ae Kuruvi" Pudhu Kudithanam "Nilavukku Yennadi" Unnaruge Naan Irundhal "Enthan Uyire" 2000 James Pandu "Vennila Ethuvum"S. A. RajkumarVeeranadai "Singanadai"Deva"Usuravechan Mama" Thenali "Injerungo Injerungo"A. R. Rahman 2001 Minnale "Vaseegara"Harris Jayaraj"Iru Vizhi Unadhu""Ivan Yaaro" Maayan "Alli Kulathu"Deva"Oru Naadu" Aandan Adimai "Enna Enna Paada"Ilaiyaraaja Nandhaa "Kalli Adi Kalli"Yuvan Shankar Raja Love Marriage "Roja Malare"DevaSamrat Asoka All songs Anu Malik Majunu "Hari Gori"Harris Jayaraj Kadhale Swasam "Kadhale Kadhale Swasam", "Manam Valikkudhe" & "Summa Iru"D. Imman 2002 Thamizh "Vikkuthey Vikkuthey"Bharadwaj 123 "April Mazhai"Deva Ezhumalai "Un Punnagai"Mani Sharma Run "Panikaatrey"Vidyasagar Namma Veetu Kalyanam "Minnuthu Minnuthu"S. A. Rajkumar Album "Nilave Nilave"Karthik Raja April Maadhathil "Yea Nenje"Yuvan Shankar Raja Jaya "Jinjinna Jinjinna" & "Nilave Nilave"Bharani Mutham "Laiko Laiko" Vetri All SongsHarris Jayaraj 2003 Chokka Thangam "Vellai Manam"Deva Anbu "Thavamindri Kidaitha"Vidyasagar Saamy "Idhu Thaana"Harris Jayaraj Ice "Nenjil Nenjil Un Per" & "Ore Oru Ganam"Devi Sri Prasad Whistle "Azhagiya Asura"D. Imman Kaakha Kaakha All SongsHarris Jayaraj Alai "En Ragasiya"Vidyasagar 2004 Engal Anna "Mudhal Mudhalaga"Deva Jai "Medhu Medhuvai"Mani Sharma Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan "Malargale Malargale"Yuvan Shankar Raja Thendral "Adi Thozhi" & "Ye Penne"Vidyasagar Varnajalam "Nee Vendum" Kadhal Dot Com "Imaikkatha Vizhigal"Bharadwaj Kuthu "Ennai Theendi Vittai"Srikanth Deva Perazhagan "Oru Azhagana"Yuvan Shankar Raja Arasatchi "Arakonathil Aarambam" & "O Muhalai Muhalai"Harris Jayaraj Oru Murai Sollividu "Eppadi Solvathu"Bharadwaj Bose "Doli Doli"Yuvan Shankar Raja Manathil "Ennai Kadhalikamal"Bharani 2005 Jithan "Ennai Thedi"Srikanth Deva ABCD "Dhavam Ondru"D. Imman Thotti Jaya "Uyire En Uyire" & "Yaaridamum"Harris Jayaraj Ghajini "Oru Maalai" & "Rahathulla" Kanda Naal Mudhal All SongsYuvan Shankar Raja Sandakozhi "Ketta Kodukkira Boomi" Kadhalanathey "Kadhal Kaara"Deva 2006 Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu All SongsHarris Jayaraj Vallavan "Vallava"Yuvan Shankar Raja Nenjil Jil Jil "Kaadhal Thaana"D. Imman Nenjirukkum Varai "Oru Murai Piranthen"Srikanth Deva 2007 Pachaikili Muthucharam All Songs except "Unakkul Naane"Harris Jayaraj Azhagiya Tamil Magan "Kelamal"A. R. Rahman Kannamoochi Yenada All SongsYuvan Shankar Raja 2008 Bheemaa "Siru Paaravaiyaale"Harris Jayaraj Vaitheeswaran "Kangalum Thoongathey" & "Mudhal Mudhal"Srikanth Deva Subramaniapuram "Kangal Irandal"James Vasanthan Vaaranam Aayiram All Songs except "Yethi Yethi"Harris Jayaraj 2009 Yaavarum Nalam All SongsShankar-Ehsaan-Loy Pasanga "Oru Vetkam Varudhe"James Vasanthan Saa Boo Thiri "Putham Pudhidhai"Abbas Rafi Aadhavan "Yeno Yeno Panithuli"Harris Jayaraj 2010 Kutty "Yaro En Nenjai"Devi Sri Prasad Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa All Songs except "Aaromale"A. R. Rahman 2011 Thoonga Nagaram "Koorana Paarvaigal"Sundar C. Babu Engeyum Kadhal "Engeyum Kadhal" & "Lolita"Harris Jayaraj Rowthiram "Maalai Mangum Neram"Prakash Nikki Vandhaan Vendraan "Kanchana Mala"Thaman S Vedi "Enna Aachi"Vijay Antony Vellore Maavattam "Unnai Unnai"Sundar C. Babu 2012 Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal All SongsG. V. Prakash Kumar Maattrraan "Yaaro Yaaro"Harris Jayaraj 2013 Settai "Arjuna Arjuna"Thaman S Endrendrum Punnagai "Ennai Saaithaalae"Harris Jayaraj 2014 Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal "Anbae Anbae" & "Vizhiyae Vizhiyae" Bramman "Un Kannai"Devi Sri Prasad Damaal Dumeel "Pogadhae Pogadhae"Thaman S Irumbu Kuthirai All Songs except "Hello Brother"G. V. Prakash Kumar Yaan "Nee Vandhu Ponadhu"Harris Jayaraj 2015 Yennai Arindhaal All Songs except "Adhaaru Adhaaru" Nannbenda "Neeraambal Poovae" Romeo Juliet "Thoovaanam"D. Imman Naanum Rowdy Dhaan "Neeyum Naanum"Anirudh Ravichander 2016 Gethu "Adiyae Adiyae" & "Thaen Kaatru"Harris Jayaraj Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum "Akkam Pakkam Par"Santhosh Narayanan Pencil "Kangalilae" & "Yaarai Polum Illa Neeyum"G. V. Prakash Kumar Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai "Mohini" Iru Mugan "O Maya"Harris Jayaraj Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada "Raasali" & "Thalli Pogathey"A. R. Rahman 2017 Bogan "Senthoora"D. Imman Si3 "Mudhal Murai"Harris Jayaraj Bongu "Sollava" & "Vaanam"Srikanth Deva Magalir Mattum "Ghandhari Yaaro"Ghibran Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru "Oru Veetil" 2018 Thaanaa Serndha Koottam "Engae Endru Povathu"Anirudh Ravichander Nagesh Thiraiyarangam "Kangal Rendum"Srikanth Deva Nimir "Epodhum Unmael" & "Nenjil Mamazhai"B. Ajaneesh Loknath 2019 Viswasam "Kannaana Kanney"D. Imman Dev "Anangae Sinungalama" & "Oru Nooru Murai"Harris Jayaraj Aruvam "Aruvam Theme"Thaman S Airaa "Megathoodham"K. S. Sundaramurthy Enai Noki Paayum Thota All SongsDarbuka Siva 2021 Maara All SongsGhibran Bhoomi "Kadai Kannaaley"D. ImmanAnnaatthe "Ennuyire" 2022 Anbarivu "Thanga Sela"Hiphop Tamizha"Kannirendum"Valimai "Enna Kurai"Yuvan Shankar RajaMudhal Nee Mudivum Nee "Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee"Darbuka SivaCobra"Tharangini"A. R. Rahman"Uyir Urugudhey"Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu"Kaalathukkum Nee Venum" "Muthu's Journey""Marakuma Nenjam""Unna Nenachadhum""Mallipoo" 2024 Marakkuma Nenjam "Saaral Aagindra Mazhai"Sachin Warrier"Netrum Indrum""Vaanilai" Siren"Netru Varai"G. V. Prakash KumarIndian 2"Neelorpam"Anirudh RavichanderBrother "Akka Song"Harris Jayaraj Nirangal Moondru "Megham Pol Aagi" Jakes Bejoy Dhruva Natchathiram "Oru Manam"Harris Jayaraj"Naracha Mudi""Arugil"

Television 2003 Penn 2003 Ninaivugal 2009 Latchiyam 2013 Chithiram Pesuthadi 2013 Kurinji Malar

Awards Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist – Thenali (2000) Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – Paavender Bharathidasan Award (2006)

Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008) Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Lyricist – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Lyricist – for the song for "Thalli Pogathey" from Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016) Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Lyricist – for the song "Yaar Azhaithathu" from Maara (2021) Vijay Awards Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008) Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012) Other awards and recognition Cinema Express Award for Best Lyricist – Nandhaa (2001) ITFA Best Lyricist Award – Kaakha Kaakha (2003) Meera Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008) Zee Cine Awards - Best Lyricist for "Kaanana Kanney" - Viswasam (2020)

Nominations Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Kaakha Kaakha (2003) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Ghajini (2005) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Subramaniapuram (2008) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Pasanga (2009) Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Pasanga (2009) Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – 7aum Arivu (2011) Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Yennai Arindhaal (2015) SIIMA Award for Best Lyricist – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2017) SIIMA Award for Best Lyricist – Viswasam SIIMA Award for Best Lyricist – Maara