Kannadasan

Kannadasan was born to Sathappan and Visalakshi in the year 1927, in Sirukudalpatti, near Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India and was given the birth – name Muthiah. He was the 8th child to his parents and had 10 siblings. 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, AJAX, in Tiruvottiyur before taking up an editorial post in a Tamil Magazine where for the first time he took up the pseudonym Kannadasan.[3]

His friendship with MSV was legendary and the combination of these two geniuses created some of the most important songs of Tamil Cinema.

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 few songs written by other contemporary poets were considered to be written by Kannadhasan. Though, after his death, film lyrics have come a long way, 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 the pioneers of the Indian freedom struggle "Marudhu Pandaiars". The song "Santhupottu" from that film remains popular.

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

• 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

• Mutruperatha Kaviyangal
• Sri krishna anthathi
• Ambigai alagu dharisanam
• Maangani
• Paadi kudutha mangalam
• Thaipaavai
• Kannadhasan Kavithaigal Parts 1-7

• Enathu Suyasaritham
• Enathu Vasantha Kaalangal
• Vanavasam
• Manavasam
• Naan Partha Arasiyal

Kannadasan was the poet Laureate of the Tamil Nadu Government at the time of his death. He wrote two notable autobiographies, titled Vanavasam, a book about his past life whilst he was atheist, with the DMK and a sequel, titled Manavasam a book about his life after he had left DMK.

Kannadasan was a prolific writer and his writing covered a variety of forms- poems, novels, lyrics for Tamil films and books on spirituality. His series titled Arthamulla Indhu Matham (Meaningful Hindu Religion) is known for its simplicity in explaining the principles of Hinduism. He wrote a number of spiritual works in the later part of his life including Yesu Kaviyam the story of Jesus told in the poetic form. Many of Kannadasan's poems have been translated into French.[7] 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 Seethai'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.

He wrote a book about the life of Jesus Christ "Yesu Kaaviyam" rendered in a pristine poetical Tamil. It was published at Tiruchirapalli in the year 1981. The function was presided over by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. M.G. Ramachandran. Yesu Kaaviyam was the last literary work of Kannadasan.

Kannadasan died on 17 October 1981 in Chicago, United States, where he had gone from India to attend a Tamil conference organised by the Tamil Association of Chicago. He was aged just 54 at the time of his death.[8] The song "Kanne Kalaimane" from the film 'Moondram Pirai', released a few months later, was his last song.

The Government of Tamil Nadu erected a memorial hall as "Kaviarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam" at Karaikudi.[6] 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 Sri Mr. Bakthavachalam to Sri Ms.Jayalalitha 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 Sri Kamarajar is still at display in this very house.

• http://www.localnewspaper.in/gallery/gandhi-kannadhasan/
• https://www.dailythanthi.com/News/SirappuKatturaigal/2018/10/16124710/Karna-in-life.vpf
• https://www.vikatan.com/news/coverstory/95177-this-is-how-kannadasan-bought-house-tale-of-t-nagar-episode-14.html
• https://www.vikatan.com/thadam/2018-aug-01/exclusive-articles/143028-gandhi-kannadasan-talks-about-kannadasan.html
• https://www.vikatan.com/news/coverstory/105237-a-poet-turned-politician-kannadasan.html

• Kannadasan on IMDb