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{{Short description|Tamil poet and lyricist (1927–1981)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name            = Kannadasan
| image           = Profile_picture_of_Kannadasan.jpg
| imagesize       =
| alt             =
| caption         = Kannadasan
| pseudonym       = Karaimuthu Pulavar<br />Vanangamudi<br />Kanakappriyan<br />Parvathinathan<br />Arokiyasamy
| birth_name      = Muthiah
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|df=yes|1927|06|24}}
| birth_place     = [[Sirukoodalpatti]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1981|10|17|1927|06|24}}
| death_place     = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| occupation      = Poet, novelist, lyricist, politician, film producer, literary editor
| citizenship     =
| education       =
| alma_mater      =
| period          =
| genre           =
| subject         = Poetry and literature
| movement        =
| notableworks    = Arthamulla Indhu Madham<br />Yesu Kaaviyam
| partner         =
| children        = 15
| awards          = {{Awards|[[National Film Award for Best Lyrics]]|1968|[[Kuzhanthaikkaga]]|}}{{Awards|[[Sahitya Akademi Award|Sahitya Academy Award]]|1980|Cheraman Kadali|}}
| signature       =
| website         =
| portaldisp      =
| spouses         = Ponnazhagi (Ponnammal)<br />(m. 1950–1981; his death); 7 children <br />Parvathi<br />  (m. 1950–1981; his death); 7 children <br />Valliammai<br />  (m. 1957–1981; his death); 1 daughter
}}
'''Kannadasan''' ({{audio|Ta-கண்ணதாசன்.ogg |pronunciation}}; 24 June 1927&nbsp;– 17 October 1981) was a poet, film song lyricist, producer, actor, script-writer, editor, philanthropist, and is heralded as one of the greatest and most important lyricists in India. Frequently called '''''Kaviarasu''''', With over 5000 lyrics, 6000 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]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=October 17, 2016 |title=Remembering Kannadasan on his 35th death anniversary: A look at 10 evergreen songs the legend gave us|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/remembering-kannadasan-on-his-35th-death-anniversary-10-evergreen-songs-346915-2016-10-17|access-date=2021-11-25|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref> including novels, [[epic poetry|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]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e07vBwAAQBAJ&q=kannadasan+filmography&pg=PA204|title=PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013: Tamil Films that have earned National and International Recognition|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|date=2014-11-03|publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="National Awards Winners 1968: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1968">{{cite news |last1=Times of India |first1=Entertainment |title=National Awards Winners 1968: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1968 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511142357/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/2005/108 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511142357/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/2005/108 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> Like many great poets he also suffered from cyclothymia, which comes under bipolar disorder spectrum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PRIME PubMed {{!}} The seeds of creativity and the soil of poet Kannadasan |url=https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21431020/The_seeds_of_creativity_and_the_soil_of_poet_Kannadasan_ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.unboundmedicine.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Kannadasan was born to Sathappan Chettiar and Visalakshi Aachi in a [[Nagarathar|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 movement|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''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://naattukkottaichettiar.blogspot.in/|title=Naattuikottai Chettiar chettiar|website=naattuikottaichettiar.blogspot.in|access-date=2017-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nagarathaar Heritage|title=Kannadaasan Biography {{!}} Kaviarasu {{!}} Sirukoodalpatti|date=2017-04-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q11nirUmlwA|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=2017-08-28}}</ref>''
==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.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} He is considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after [[Subramanya Bharathi]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
He was the producer of the historic Tamil film ''[[Sivagangai Seemai]]'' portraying Marudhu Pandaiars, one of the pioneers in the Indian freedom struggle. {{citation needed|date=November 2021}} The song "Santhupottu" from that film remains popular. {{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
==Spiritual books==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
* ''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==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
* ''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==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
* 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.<ref name=":0"/>
==Selected filmography==
{{Main|List of songs written by Kannadasan}}
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
===Lyrics===
# ''[[Singari]]''
# ''[[Aayirathil Oruvan (1965 film)|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 (1964 film)|Vettaikaaran]]''
# ''[[Panakkara Kudumbam]]''
# ''[[Palum Pazhamum]]''
# ''[[Thiruvilayadal]]''
# ''[[Saraswathi Sabatham]]''
# ''[[Pattikada Pattanama]]''
# ''[[Urimaikural]]''
# ''[[En Kadamai]]''
# ''[[Nadodi]]''
# ''[[Thanga Pathakkam]]''
# ''[[Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968 film)|Lakshmi Kalyanam]]''
# ''[[Paasa Malar]]''
# ''[[Moondram Pirai]]''
# ''[[Iruvar Ullam (1963 film)|Iruvar Ullam]]''
# ''[[Dheerga Sumangali]]''
# ''[[Aalayam (film)|Aalayam]]''
# ''[[Annai (1962 film)|Annai]]''
# ''[[Kunkhumam (1963 film)|Kunkhumam]]''
# ''[[Naanum Oru Penn]]''
# ''[[Pazhani (1965 film)|Pazhani]]''
# ''[[Varumayin Niram Sivappu]]''
# ''[[Billa (1980 film)|Billa]]''
# ''[[Thee (1981 film)|Thee]]''
# ''[[Deiva Magan]]''
# ''[[Kalathur Kannamma]]''
# ''[[Paarthaal Pasi Theerum]]''
# ''[[Paadha Kaanikkai]]''
# ''[[Annai Velankanni]]''
# ''[[Thillu Mullu]]''
===As actor, writer and producer===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !!  Film !! Actor !! Writer !! Producer !! Notes
|-
| 1952 || ''[[Parasakthi (film)|Parasakthi]]'' || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1954 || ''[[Illara Jothi]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1954 || ''[[Sugam Enge]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1956 || ''[[Madurai Veeran (1956 film)|Madurai Veeran]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1956 || ''[[Tenali Raman (film)|Tenali Raman]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Mahadhevi]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Maalaiyitta Mangai]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} ||
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Nadodi Mannan]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Sivagangai Seemai]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} ||
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Kavalai Illaadha Manithan]]'' || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} ||
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Mannadhi Mannan]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Sangilithevan]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Thirudathe]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Vanambadi]]'' || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Sumaithaangi]]'' || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} ||
|-
| 1963 || ''[[Ratha Thilagam]]'' || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Karuppu Panam]]'' || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||as blackmailer
|-
|1968||''[[Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968 film)|Lakshmi Kalyanam]]'' ||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{no}}||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Thiruneelakandar]]'' || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Suryagandhi]]'' || {{yes}} || {{no}}|| {{no}} ||as singer in song "Paramasivan Kazhuthilirundhu"
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Apoorva Raagangal]]'' || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} ||as himself
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Velum Mayilum Thunai]]'' || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} ||
|-
|1979||''[[Sigappukkal Mookkuthi]]'' ||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{no}} ||
|-
|1981||''[[Thillu Mullu]]'' ||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{no}} ||
|-
| 1981 || ''Deiva Thirumanangal'' || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} ||
|}
==Poet laureate==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
Kannadasan was the poet laureate of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Kannadasans-lyrics-held-a-mirror-to-life/article16076779.ece|title=Kannadasan's lyrics held a mirror to life|last=Krishnamachari|first=Suganthy|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> He wrote and published several volumes of poetry. He was an admirer of [[Kambar (poet)|Kambar]], and wrote a number of poems praising Kambar's artistry, contrary to the satire ("Kambarasam") on the same by [[C. N. Annadurai|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 from India to attend a Tamil conference organized by the Tamil Association of Chicago. He was aged 54 at the time of his death.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/tamiltngov/memorial/kannadasan.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606215257/http://www.tn.gov.in/tamiltngov/memorial/kannadasan.htm |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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 as "Kaviarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam" at [[Karaikudi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://tndipr.gov.in/memorials/kaviarasarkannadasanmanimandapam.html|title=Kaviarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam|website=TN DIPR|access-date=2016-12-05|archive-date=23 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823120503/http://tndipr.gov.in/memorials/kaviarasarkannadasanmanimandapam.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 of Tamil Nadu|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 in this very house.<ref>{{cite web |title=தி.நகரில் கண்ணதாசன் வீடு வாங்கியது எப்படி? அங்காடித் தெருவின் கதை 14 |url=https://www.vikatan.com/news/coverstory/95177-this-is-how-kannadasan-bought-house-tale-of-t-nagar-episode-14.html |website=[[Vikatan]] |language=ta|trans-title=This is How Kannadasan Bought House - Tale of T Nagar-Episode 14}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of Indian writers]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1823946|name=Kannadasan}}
* [https://www.vikatan.com/thadam/2018-aug-01/exclusive-articles/143028-gandhi-kannadasan-talks-about-kannadasan.html Gandhi Kannadasan Talks About Kannadasan]. 1 August 2018. [[Vikatan]].
* [https://www.vikatan.com/news/coverstory/105237-a-poet-turned-politician-kannadasan.html A Poet Turned Politician Kannadasan]. [[Vikatan]].
{{National Film Award Best Lyrics}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Tamil}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Best Lyrics National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Tamil-language lyricists]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Indian lyricists]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil film poets]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil]]