'''Kannadasan (1927-81)'''


Prodigious Tamil poet, lyricist (over 5000 film
songs) and producer. Key figure in the early
[[DMK Film]] propaganda genre, often credited
with reintroducing a classical Tamil literary
‘tradition’ to contemporary film audiences.
Born as A.S. Muthaiah in Amaravatipudur, TN.
Joined the journal Tirumakal (1944) which
published his first poems. Published his own
journals, the weekly Tenral, the monthly
Mullai and the film journal Tenral Tirai; also
edited the monthly Kannadasan and
newspaper Katitam. Joined [[Modern Theatres]]’
story department (1947). Début as lyricist for
[[Ramnoth]]’s Kanniyin Kathali (1949) but
worked mainly as a dialogue writer until G.R.
Rao’s Illara Jyothi (1954). Joined the DMK
(1947-64); responsible for some of their main
propaganda lyrics in e.g. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.S._Krishnan|N.S. Krishnan]]’s
Panam (1952), [[T.R. Sundaram]]’s Thirumbi
Paar (1953) and [[Yoganand]]’s [[MGR]] classic
[[Madurai Veeran]] (1956). Founded
Kannadasan Pics producing Malai Itta Mangai
(1958), [[Sivagangai Seemai]] (1959), Kavalai
Illatha Manithan (1960), Vanambadi (1963),
etc. Became an independent star attraction
after his successful lyrics in [[Bhimsingh]]’s early
films, usually set to music by the
Vishwanathan-Ramamurthy team (e.g. Ponal
pokattum poda in Palum Pazhamum, 1961).
Left the DMK after an argument with
Karunanidhi, an incident often cited to
indicate the degree to which personal rivalries
between film people affected the DMK Party
structure. Kannadasan later became a member
of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. One of
his last films is [[Balu Mahendra]]’s [[Moondram]]
Pirai (1982). Other writings include 21 novels,
10 volumes of religious discourses and over
4000 poems (cf. Kannadasan, 1970).

[[Music]]

[[Producer]]