Tamil poet, lyricist and novelist Vairamuthu wins 2025 Jnanpith Award
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Renowned Tamil poet, lyricist and novelist Vairamuthu has been awarded the prestigious Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to literature spanning poetry, novels and film lyrics.
With this recognition, Tamil literature receives the country’s top literary honour once again after several decades. Vairamuthu becomes only the third writer from Tamil literature to receive the award, following Akilan, who won it in 1975, and Jayakanthan, who received it in 2002.
Vairamuthu began his literary career with the poetry collection Vaigarai Megangal, published in 1972. Over the decades, he has authored more than 40 books, including poetry collections and novels, establishing himself as a prominent literary voice in Tamil.
Alongside his literary achievements, he has had a prolific career in cinema, writing around 7,500 songs for Tamil films. He also holds the distinction of being the only person in India to have won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times.
His widely acclaimed novel Kallikkattu Ithikasam received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003. In recognition of his contributions to literature and the arts, the Government of India has also conferred on him the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
The latest honour further cements Vairamuthu’s position as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Tamil literature and Indian cultural life.