Talented but controversial Lyricist Vairamuthu turns 72 today.

Vairamuthu Ramasamy was born on 13 July 1953. He was introduced to films as a lyricist by Illaiyaraja in the 1980 film Nizhalgal directed by Bharathiraja. In a career spanning 45 years, he has written more than 7500 songs and poems and is the winner of seven national awards for Best Lyricist – the most for any Indian lyricist. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri Padma Bhushan and a Sahitya Akademi Award.

Vairamuthu showed an early love for literature and was greatly infludenced by the works of Periyar, Annadurai, Subramania Bharathi, Bharathidasan and Kanadasan. He began composing poems at the age of 10 and at age 14 he wrote a group of Venba poems after being inspired by the Thirukural.

At age 19, while still a student, he published his first anthology of poems – Vaigarai Megangal – which became prescribed as part of the curriculum at Women’s Christian College while Vairamuthu was still a student.

Vairamuthu’s debut in Nizhalgal for the song Pon maalai pozhuthu was delayed and his first released song was Badhrakali for the film Kali, also for Illaiyaraja’s music. From 1980 to 1986, Vairamuthu worked with other music composers but reserved his best work for Illaiiyaraja, together creating some of the best loved songs of that period.

In 1986 he scripted his first film, Ameerjan’s Natpu and collaborated with him again in Thullasi, Vanna Kanavugal and Vanakkam Vathiyare.

After Punnagai Mannan, Vairamuthu and Illaiyaraja parted ways and this saw Vairamuthu’s career falter.

In 1991, K. Balachander signed him on to write lyrics for three of his productions – Vaaname Ellai, Annamalai and Roja. Roja saw Vairamuthu collaborate for the first time with A.R.Rahman and they both won national awards for their efforts in Roja.

This duo formed a long-term relationship, going on to work with many successful soundtracks for over 30 years, supplementing each other to win many national awards.

In 2018, Vairamuthu came under the spotlight as the #MeToo Movement gathered momentum. Multiple allegations of sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour and the use of sexual innuendo were brought against him by – among others – playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada, journalist Sandhya Menon and Hayma Malini Yugendran, the daughter-in-law of Malaysia Vasudevan. Vairamuthu has refuted all allegations and reiterated his position last month, saying that he is prepared to defend himself in court if proof is produced. A.R. Rahman’s wife has also become embroiled in this issue.

A.R, Rahman has stopped collaborating with Vairamuthu – They last worked together on the 2018 film Chekka Chivantha Vaanam,

Vairamuthu is married to Tamil scholar and former Professor Ponmani. They have two children – Madhan Karky and Kabilan, both of whom are well-established lyricists and writers.