Tribute to Kaviarasar Kannadasan - Part 1
This is a 2 part series.
Part 1 - History of Thiru Kannadasan and about his works.
Part 2 - We travel to Sirukudalpatti and bring some photos of this great legend. Keep visiting the website for the second part.
Original Name: A. L. Muthiah
Parents - 8th child of Sathappa Chettiar - Visalatchi Achi and born on June 24, 1927
Native Place - Sirukudalpatti, Tamil Nadu
Kovil - Mathoor Arumbakoor
A.L.Muthiah was adopted by A.N.Palaniappa Chettiar and Sigappi Achi of Karaikudi and he was called by the name Narayanan. But he was not interested in either of these names and he kept his own name as Kannadasan.
Education: High school at Amaravathi pudur, upto 8th Std.
Family - Spouse(s) - Ponnazhagi and Parvathi, Children 13
First Job - He worked for low wages in the Ajax Factory in Thiruvottriyur.
First Literary Job: In 1944 as Editor of "Thirumakal" magazine which was published from Ramachandrapuram
First literary work: 'Mangkani'
Pennames: Vanangamudi, Alasa, Kamagapriya,Parvathinathan,Kaaraimuthu Puthalvar
Cinema Entry
In 1949 he joined in "Sandamarutham" as Editor. This magazine was run by the famous Modern Theatres Groups Salem. He was asked by Mr.TR.Sundaram, the owner of Modern Theatres to write screenplay and he switched from there to song writing. He was introduced to songs writing by director Ramnath who was a very famous director and had several hits to his credit. He asked Kannadasan to write a song for his directorial film "Kanniyin Kadhali". The very first song was "Kalangathiru maname, un kanavellam ninaivagum oru thiname" (Do not loose hopes, oh! Mind, your dreams will realize one day ). This song was composed by the veteran music director SMSubbiah Naidu and sung by KVJanaki, the Tamil cinema embraced a new budding lyricist to her fold.
Occupation:
Poet, Novelist, Lyricist, Politician, Film Producer, Editor. Kannadasan was most familiar for his song lyrics in Tamil films and contributed around 5000 lyrics besides 6000 poems and 232 books, including novels, epics, plays, essays, his most popular being the 10-part religious essay on Hinduism, captioned Arthamulla Indhumatham (English: Meaningful Hinduism).
Politics Involvement
Kannadasan apprenticed politics in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, as one of its founder members from 1949 to 1960. In 1961, he left the DMK party with his colleague E.V.K. Sampath and both established the short-lived Thamil Thesiya Kadchi, which merged with the ever-powerful and resourceful Congress Party subsequently. When the DMK party said adieu to one of its founding principles [aka, agitation for a separate state for Dravidian language(s) speakers], Kannadasan had the last laugh and he ripped the then DMK leaders, including the founder C.N. Annadurai and his lieutenant and current DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, with the only weapon in which he was an unrivaled master. Rib-tickling derisive Tamil poetry was the weapon Kannadasan used for ridicule on his former pals turned political foes.
Notable award(s)
National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1961 for the moviee "Kuzhanthaikkaga"
1978 - Tamilnadu Government State Poet honoured by MGR
Sahitya Akademi Award - 1980 "Cheraman Kadali "
Last Cinema Song Lyrics : Kanne Kalaimane for the movie Moondram Pirai in 1983
Kannadasan died on October 17, 1981 (aged 54) in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Cremation in Chennai with Full Honors from the government and led by MGR
A house in Sirukudalpatti is now a memorial for the Tamil film music's evergreen favourites. In Our next series we bring some memories of Sirukudalpatti. Stay Tuned.
