janpeet award

[Kaviyogi Vedham]

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Tamil writer Vannanilavan has an anecdote about Vairamuthu. Twenty years ago, Vairamuthu visited him with a platter of fruit and gifts. “I came to know that you are on the Sahitya Akademi committee. I want your blessings,” he said. When Vannanilavan replied, “That’s not me; the writer on the Sahitya Akademi committee is Vallikannan.” Hearing this, the lyricist left, taking away the platter with him.

In short, Vairamuthu will do anything for awards. He was a friend of Karunanidhi and often sang his praises. He translated Modi’s poems and organised an event for him. He does not hesitate to present himself as a DMK man and at the same time support the BJP.

The Jnanpith award given to Vairamuthu this year prompted Tamil critic D. Dharmaraj to write: “Everyone knows that Vairamuthu has no role in literature. Everyone knows that he will do anything for awards. There is no need to talk about that. But we need to contemplate only one thing today. Who are these juries? How did they decide on this award? Why did they insult Tamil like this?”

The harsh criticism by Tamil writers this year is unprecedented. Writers like Sunil Krishnan and Karthik Balasubramanian, both winners of the Yuva Puraskar Award, are writing letters filled with contempt directly to the Jnanpith Committee.