Muthaiyah more commonly known as Kavingar Kannadasan to the tamil world was born on 24th June 1927 in Sivagangai district. He was a Tamil poet, lyricist, writer, film producer and a philosopher. He has also contributed to the literary world. He has written over 5,000 songs and has also written various books, in prose and poetry, about various religions. An important contribution he has done to the Hindu society is his book “Arthamulla Hindu Matham” which explains the significant foundation on which the foundation of the Hindu Philosophy is based upon.
Film career:
He always wanted to get into the film industry. He kept failing each time he tried and finally had joined as a journalist and wrote many short stories for a magazine. Later he was given an opportunity to write a song in the year 1949 he wrote his debut song “Kalangadhiru kanne un kanavellam nenevagum” for the movie Kalvanin Kadhali.This was the breakthrough in his carrier after which all the film directors and music directors wanted only him to write songs for their movies. He has written for various music directors old to contemporary who include: Viswanathan Ramamorrthy, M.S. Viswanathan, Veda, Kunnakudi Vaithyanathan, Isai gyani Illayaraja and others. He was given the title kaviyarasu which means king of poetry. He believed that he got the talent of writing only through his love for Kamba Ramayanam.
Two Extreme Views:
At the beginning he was an atheist, much a follower of E.V. Ramaswamy and was part of the Dravidian movement. When he read the book Thirupaavai of Andal from which he wanted to quote some lines for his film song he found a miraculous change within himself. From being an atheist person who did not believe in God he became a person who was extremely devoted to God which is why he named himself Kannadasan which means the devotee of Lord Krishna. This was the period of his life where he began writing various religious texts among which Arthamulla Hindu Matham plays a significant role.
Arthamulla Hindu Matham:
This book plays a significant role in showing the bonding between Kannadasan and the Hindutva philosophy. As much as he lived the life of an agnostic, he became a strong believer of God. His faith in God was so strong that he was able to inspire many thinkers alike. This book deals with how practical Hinduism is to follow and how it acts as a way of life. It speaks about the Karma based on which the lives of people are driven.
Kannadasan on the whole can be called as a harbinger of lyric writing in Tamil cinema. A man who has contributed so much to the society though most popularly in the movie field as a humanist his contributions are recognized by those who have read the several novels and philosophical books he has written. The best tribute to him is to remember all the golden words he has etched in this world and keep revibrating around them. Happy birthday to one of the greatest polymaths of Tamil Nadu.
A.R. kuppuswamy
Columnist