CHENNAI: Tamil poet-lyricist Vairamuthu has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Jnanpith Award, the country’s highest literary award. He is the third Tamil litterateur to receive this honour. Following Akilan (1975) and Jayakanthan (2002). However, he was the first to win the Tamil Poetry Prize; two others received it for their prose. “For me, literature should uplift human beings. I travel in their dreams and emotions. I have two wings. With this award, I feel I have two more wings. I dedicate this award to the Tamil society and its people with a sense of gratitude.” Varamutu told TOI on Saturday. “The Jnanpith should have been given first to the great poet Bharathidasan. Unfortunately, he passed away before the award was instituted. Therefore, the first award was given to Malayalam poet G Shankara Kurup in 1965. Sixty years later, as a poet, I am proud to be bestowed with this award tamil nadu,” Varamuthu said. “I can understand the delay in recognition for Tamil writers as the award is given on a rotating basis. However, Hindi literature has received this award 12 times, Kannada literature 8 times and Malayalam literature 6 times. Tamil as a classical language should get more attention. This is my only regret. I hope more Tamil writers will receive this award in the future,” Varamuthu said. Vairamuthu was born on July 13, 1953 in Theni district. He received his master’s degree in Tamil from Pachaiyappa College, Chennai, where he also received a gold medal. At the age of 18, while still a student, he published his first collection of poems, Vaigarai Meengal. Vairamuthu started working in the Tennessee Government Official Languages Committee. In 1980, he entered the Tamil film industry as a lyricist in the film “Nizhalgal” directed by Bharathiraja. The song “Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhuthu” composed by Ilayaraaja has been praised for its new imagery. This technique of introducing new images, words, metaphors, similes and alliteration earned Vairamuthu the title “Kaviperarasu” (literally meaning poet-emperor). Vairamuthu has composed more than 8,000 songs and won seven national awards for his lyrics. From Sivaji Ganesan to Kamal Haasan, from Rajinikanth to Dhanush and Vijay Sethupathi, he has achieved the rare feat of writing songs across three generations. “Every day, I learn new things and update myself. That’s why I am able to work with different generations,” Vairamuthu added.
