Muthiah Sathappan Chettiar, better known as Kannadasan (; 24 June 1927 – 17 October 1981), was a poet, film song lyricist, producer, actor, script-writer, editor, philanthropist, and is heralded as one of the most important lyricists in India. With over 5,000 lyrics, 6,000 poems, and 232 books, Kannadasan is widely known by the sobriquet "Kaviarasu" ("king of poets") and he is also considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after Subramania Bharati. including novels, epics, plays, essays, his most popular being the 10-part religious book on Hinduism, Arthamulla Indhu Matham (Meaningful Hindu Religion). He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Cheraman Kathali in the year 1980 and was the first to receive the National Film Award for Best Lyrics, given in 1969 for the film Kuzhanthaikkaga. Like many great poets he also suffered from cyclothymia, which comes under the bipolar disorder spectrum.
Personal life Kannadasan was born to Sathappan Chettiar and Visalakshi Aachi in a Nattukottai Nagarathar family in Sirukoodalpatti, near Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and was given the birth name Muthiah. He was the eighth of ten children to his parents. 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 in Tiruvottiyur before taking up an editorial post in a Tamil Magazine where for the first time he took up the pseudonym Kannadasan. He died on 17 October 1981.
Religious views Muthiah was a keen follower of the Dravidian atheistic movement. He had a great love of Tamil language and its culture and excelled in Tamil literature, both prose and poetry. He read the Thiruppaavai of Aandaal and was amazed at its mystic poetry, which had a deep and lasting impact on him. After a lot of introspection, he decided to go back to Hinduism. He renamed himself as Kannadaasan, meaning the servant of Lord Krishna (In Tamil, Kannan means Krishna and in Sanskrit, daasa means servant'. He dug deep into understanding Hinduism, and wrote his series of books on Hinduism titled Arthamulla Indhu Matham.
Songwriting 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 some songs written by other contemporary poets were considered to be written by Kannadhasan. Though, film lyrics have come a long way since his death, 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 Marudhu Pandaiars, one of the pioneers in the Indian freedom struggle. The song "Santhupottu" from that film remains popular.
Spiritual books
Arthamulla Indhu Matham Yesu Kaviyam Bagavath geethai Ponmazhai Bajagovindam Sri Krishna Kavasam Sri Venkatesa Suprabatham - Andal Thirupaavai Ambigai Alagu Dharisanam Krishna Anthathi Sankara Pokisham
Notable novels
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 Artham ulla indhu matham
Poetry
Mutruperatha Kaviyangal Sri krishna anthathi Ambigai alagu dharisanam Maangani Paadi kudutha mangalam Thaipaavai Kannadhasan Kavithaigal Parts 1-7 Yesu Kaaviyam Pon Mazhai
Autobiography Enathu Suyasaritham. Enathu Vasantha Kaalangal. Vanavasam. Manavasam. Naan Partha Arasiyal.
Selected filmography
Lyrics Singari Aayirathil Oruvan Mannadhi Mannan Thaai Sollai Thattadhe Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan Paasam Karuppu Panam Panathottam Paava Mannippu Periya Idathu Penn Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum Anandha Jodhi Needhikkuppin Paasam Kudumba Thalaivan Kaanchi Thalaivan Parisu Vettaikaaran Panakkara Kudumbam Palum Pazhamum Thiruvilayadal Saraswathi Sabatham Pattikada Pattanama Urimaikural En Kadamai Nadodi Thanga Pathakkam Lakshmi Kalyanam Paasa Malar Moondram Pirai Iruvar Ullam Dheerga Sumangali Aalayam Annai Kunkhumam Naanum Oru Penn Pazhani Varumayin Niram Sivappu Billa Thee Deiva Magan Kalathur Kannamma Paarthaal Pasi Theerum Paadha Kaanikkai Annai Velankanni Thillu Mullu
As actor, writer and producer Year Film Actor Writer Producer Notes 1952 Parasakthi 1954 Illara Jothi 1954 Sugam Enge 1956 Madurai Veeran 1956 Tenali Raman 1957 Mahadhevi 1958 Maalaiyitta Mangai 1958 Nadodi Mannan 1959 Sivagangai Seemai 1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan 1960 Mannathi Mannan 1960 Sangilithevan 1961 Thirudathe 1962 Vanambadi 1962 Sumaithaangi 1963 Ratha Thilagam 1964 Karuppu Panam as blackmailer1968Lakshmi Kalyanam 1972 Thiruneelakandar 1973 Suryagandhi as singer in song "Paramasivan Kazhuthilirundhu" 1975 Apoorva Raagangal as himself 1979 Velum Mayilum Thunai 1979Sigappukkal Mookkuthi 1981Thillu Mullu 1981 Deiva Thirumanangal
Poet laureate
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 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and a sequel, titled Manavasam a book about his life after he had left DMK.
Contribution to Tamil literature 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. Many of Kannadasan's poems have been translated into French. 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 Sita'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.
Death Kannadasan died on 17 October 1981 in Chicago, United States, where he had gone to attend a Tamil conference organized by the Tamil Association of Chicago. He was aged only 54 at the time of his death. The song "Kanne Kalaimane" from the film Moondram Pirai, released a few months later, was his last song.
Legacy The Government of Tamil Nadu built a memorial hall named "Kaviarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam" at Karaikudi. The road adjoining Natesan Park in T. Nagar, Chennai where Kannadasan resided from 1958, previously called Hensman Road, was renamed "Kannadasan street" in his honour after his demise. It was in this house where 7 Chief Ministers from M. Bhaktavatsalam to J. Jayalalithaa 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 K. Kamaraj is still at display at the house.
As part of Kannadasan's birth centenary commemorations in 2026, an eggshell mosaic portrait of the poet made from more than 1,000 eggshells was created as a tribute. During the commemorative event, a proposal was made to the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish Kannadasan Research Chairs in universities to study his contributions to Tamil cinema and literature, and to translate his literary works into world languages, including Chinese and Spanish.
See also List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Tamil List of Indian writers List of Tamil-language writers
References
External links
Gandhi Kannadasan Talks About Kannadasan. 1 August 2018. Vikatan. A Poet Turned Politician Kannadasan. Vikatan.