Remembering the Iconic “Kaviyarasu” Kannadasan on his birth anniversary

Kaviyarasu Kannadasan was born on 24 June 1927 in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, and has more than 5000 lyrics, 6000 poems and 232 books to his credit. He was the first lyricist to win a national award for Best Lyricist – for the 1969 film Kuzhanthiakaga.

Kannadasan once embraced the Dravidian atheistic view but was fascinated by the Tamil language. His study of the language led to him embracing the way of life now labelled as Hinduism.

Kannadasan’s flair for the Tamil language and his ability to compose spontaneously with mind-boggling speed led to him being regarded as Tamil Nadu’s most talented poet since Subramania Bharathi.

He became Tamil cinema’s most sought after lyricist because of the level of poetry used in the lyrics, combining the rhyming patterns of western poems with the unique rhyming patterns of the Tamil language. He had an unstoppable sense of humour and there are dozens of stories surrounding his caustic wit in composing some of his film songs.

He was a very close friend of M.S. Viswanathan although the two of them were frequently at loggerheads with each other. Their bond was a special bond and one that was envied by those who knew them.

Through his association with Viswanathan, Kannadasan also grew very close to Illaiyaraja and his last song – Kanne Kalaimaane from Moondaarm Pirrai was for Illaiyaraja’s music.

Kannadasan passed away on 17 October 1981 at the age of 54. He was in Chicago, USA at the time, attending a Tamil conference organised by the Tamil Association of Chicago.

The Government of Tamil Nadu renamed the street where he lived as Kannadasan Street shortly after his demise.