Vairamuthu
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Controversies
Andal
HIGHLIGHTS
The court was reportedly hearing a PIL seeking action against Vairamuthu for ‘hurting Hindu sentiments’ by calling Hindu deity Andal as a ‘devadasi’.
What began as a demand for the poet to apologize quickly snowballed into a larger controversy
The lyricist received massive support from a group of 17 Tamil writers after the protests against him intensified.
Madras high court declared that Tamil writer and film lyricist Vairamuthu said nothing objectionable about seventh century goddess Andal, reported ANI. The court was reportedly hearing a PIL seeking action against Vairamuthu for 'hurting Hindu sentiments' by calling Hindu deity Andal as a 'devadasi' (female servant of god) in an essay he wrote earlier this month.
What began as a demand for the poet to apologize quickly snowballed into a larger controversy, with several Hindu religious sects joining in to give it a Hindutva political colour.
The protesters criticized him for making a 'derogatory remark' on the lone female Alvar among the 12 saints revered for their contribution toward Vaishnavism.
Amidst this raging controversy, Varaimuthu spoke to TOI and defended himself by claiming that Andal was like his mother and he would never do anything to disrespect her.
"I did not use the reference even in the minutest extent to malign her. Just as my mother breast-fed me, Andal fed me with her Tamil and made me what I am today. How will I denigrate my mother?" he argued.
The lyricist received massive support from a group of 17 Tamil writers after the protests against him intensified.
"He has already given clarification for the reference even though he has not done anything wrong. We have to condemn attempts by divisive forces to sensationalize the issue by instigating orchestrated protests," the writers said.
Honours
2021: ONV Literary Prize
May 27, 2021: The Times of India
Well-known Tamil poet-lyricist, Vairamuthu has been chosen for the fifth ONV Literary Prize, instituted in memory of Jnanpith laureate Malayalam poet late ONV Kurup.
The award, being given to poets from Malayalam and other Indian languages by the ONV Cultural Academy here, comprises a cash prize of ₹ 3,00,000 and citation. An expert jury, comprising Malayalam University vice chancellor Anil Vallathol and poets Alankode Leelakrishnan and Prabha Varma, selected the winner. Noted critic M Leelavathi had bagged the award last year. PTI
