Vairamuthu

Some Lesser Known Facts About Vairamuthu

• Vairamuthu was born to an agriculturalist Tamil family.

• In 1957, his family relocated to Vadugapatti in Theni district after the construction of the Vaigai Dam forced the evacuation of fourteen villages.

• During childhood, he engaged in agriculture along with academics and simultaneously developed an interest in Tamil language, literature and poetry.

• By age ten, he started writing poems, and at fourteen, he composed venba verses inspired by Thiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural.

• In the 1960s, he was influenced by the Dravidian movement and leaders like Periyar, Annadurai, Karunanidhi, Bharathi, Bharathidasan and Kannadasan.

• He became recognised as a student poet and orator during his school years, actively writing and presenting Tamil literary works.

• During undergraduate studies at Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai, he published his first poetry anthology Vaigarai Megangal in 1972 at the age of nineteen.

• The book was later included in the curriculum of Women’s Christian College, making him part of syllabus while still a student.

• He completed his Master’s degree in Tamil literature at Madras University after his undergraduate program.

• In the mid-1970s, he worked as a translator of legal documents at the Tamil Nadu Official Language Commission under Justice Maharajan.

• In 1979, he published his second anthology of poems titled Thiruthi Ezhuthiya Theerpugal while continuing his professional career.

• In 1980, director Bharathiraja introduced him as lyricist in the film Nizhalgal with music by Ilaiyaraaja.

• His first written song was Pon Maalai Pozhuthu from Nizhalgal, while the first released song was Batrakali Uttamaseeli from Kaali.

• He resigned from his translation job and began working full-time in the Tamil film industry as a lyricist.

• During the early 1980s, he collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja and Bharathiraja on successful films like Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaadhal Oviyam, Muthal Mariyathai and Kadalora Kavithaigal.

• He won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist for Alaigal Oivathillai and his first National Award for Muthal Mariyathai.

• He also worked with directors like Mani Ratnam in Idhaya Kovil (1985) and K. Balachander in Thanneer Thanneer and Achamillai Achamillai.

• In 1986, he debuted as screenwriter with the film Natpu and later worked on Thulasi, Vanna Kanavugal and Vanakkam Vathiyare.

• By the late 1980s, he parted ways with Ilaiyaraaja and worked with other composers like Devendran, Hamsalekha, Chandrabose and Bollywood musicians.

• In 1991, K. Balachander signed him for Vaaname Ellai, Annamalai and Mani Ratnam’s Roja with debutant composer A.R. Rahman. The song Chinna Chinna Aasai from Roja won him his second National Award and introduced Rahman to Indian cinema.

• Over the next 25 years, Vairamuthu collaborated extensively with Rahman and Mani Ratnam on films like Bombay, Alai Payuthey and Kannathil Muthamittal.

• He also worked with directors like Shankar, Bharathiraja, K.S. Ravikumar and Rajiv Menon on films including Gentleman, Indian, Muthu and Minsara Kanavu.

• He continued writing for various composers such as Deva, Bharadwaj, Harris Jayaraj, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vidyasagar, D. Imman and Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy.

• Vairamuthu has written lyrics for over 150 music directors across a career spanning more than four decades.

• He also wrote poems featured as dialogues in films like Duet, Iruvar and Aalavandhan, and composed lyrics for TV serials and jingles.

• He has authored 37 books, including poetry collections and novels, some translated into multiple languages, including English, Hindi and Russian.

• In 1991, four of his books were released on the same day in Madurai by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He has spoken at international Tamil conferences in countries such as the USA, the UK, Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

• Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee conferred him the title Kavi Samrat, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam honoured him as Kaapiya Kavignar.

• Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi conferred him the title Kaviperarasu, meaning “Emperor of Poets.”

• In 2018, US-based artist Sindhuja Rajaram spoke publicly about her experience with the lyricist from 2002 to 2006.

• Sindhuja said the incident took place when she was 18 and trying to join a women’s hostel run by Vairamuthu. She described uncomfortable phone calls, repeated requests to meet, and remarks that made her uneasy, which eventually pushed her to stop responding.

• Another artist, identified as Ananya, said Vairamuthu offered her opportunities in music and later asked her to accompany him to Malaysia for non-professional reasons.

• When she refused, he warned that he would block her career. Both women said the incidents affected them deeply and motivated them to support Chinmayi.