English
English
English
Acclaimed Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu has been conferred with Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, recognising his decades-long contribution to Tamil literature, poetry and film lyrics.
Vairamuthu becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the prestigious award
New Delhi: Distinguished Tamil poet, writer and film lyricist Vairamuthu has been conferred the prestigious 60th Jnanpith Award, the highest honour in Indian literature. The announcement was made on Saturday by Bharatiya Jnanpith, recognising his significant contribution to Tamil literature over several decades.
Vairamuthu becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the prestigious award after noted authors Akilan and Jayakanthan, further highlighting the richness of Tamil literary tradition.
Dhurandhar 2 advance booking opens; Ranveer Singh film set to beat 1st film’s ₹28 crore opening
The Jnanpith Selection Committee, chaired by noted writer Pratibha Ray, chose Vairamuthu for the honour in recognition of his remarkable body of work marked by originality, creative depth and a distinct poetic voice.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, the writer has contributed extensively to poetry, novels, essays and film lyrics. His works are widely admired for their portrayal of human emotions, social themes and deep sensitivity towards nature and culture.
Vairamuthu has authored over 37 books, including poetry collections, novels and travel writings. Some of his well-known works include Kallikattu Ithikasam, Karuvachi Kaviyam, Thanni Desam and Moondraam Ulaga Por (The Third World War).
His writings have gained wide readership across Tamil-speaking audiences for their powerful imagery and storytelling. Apart from literature, he has also achieved immense recognition as a lyricist in Tamil cinema, winning the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times.
Tamil Nadu: Man beaten to death after urine accidentally splashes on woman in Chennai
Born on July 13, 1953, in Vadugapatti village in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, Vairamuthu grew up in an agricultural family. His parents, Ramaswamy and Angammal, were farmers. Despite humble beginnings, he went on to become one of the most influential voices in contemporary Tamil literature.
Over the years, Vairamuthu has received several major honours, including the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. He also won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kallikattu Ithikasam.
The Jnanpith Award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Goddess Saraswati and a citation, presented annually for outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
