THE ROYAL PROSCENIUM

Kaviperarasu Vairamuthu, the unavoidable celebrity of contemporary Tamil literature is one of my all-time favourite poets. My introduction to Variamuthu's poems happened at my age of 17 through my school library. Me and my friend Nagarajan [am fan; he is fanatic] used to talk about Vairamuthu's verses often those days.

It is hard for today's young generation to believe that his work Vaigarai Megangal was taken into curriculum Women's Christian College, while he was still a student in Pachaiyappa's college. Many hostel rooms were found with his poems posted in walls and windows. He started his career as a star and the surprising thing is since then he has never looked back in these 25 years.

Many of his poems fantasized me that I bought his poem collection book when I was in school, saving my pocket money [Rs.300 is really a big amount for a middle class school boy before 7 years]. Also, most often, I gave Vairamuthu's books as gifts to my friends for the occasions like birthdays.

Still, I have a manier things to critisize him too. His poems are not deeper enough to raise internal discussions. His overestimated novel Kallikaattu Ithihaasam which fetched him Sahitya Akademi award disappointed me to the core which prevented me from reading its Irattai Kaapiyam Karuvachi Kaaviyam.

Wikipedia claims "His poetry reflects his staunch commitment to the progressive ideas of the Dravidian movement on the one hand, and a playful romanticism on the other". After reading almost all his poems, I don't find any major impacts of the failing Dravidian movement in his works except a few blowing "Kalaingar" trumpet incidentally.

His place in Tamil film lyrics is made sure in a very short period just after his debut song "Ponmalai Pozhudhu" in Bharathiraja's Nizhalgal. His talent can be understood from that he withstand in film industry even after the relationship friction with Ilayaraaja. After 90's the A.R.Rahman-Vairamuthu duo gave a lot of good lyrics to Tamil cinema which also fetched him National award for five times.

He can be termed as "Rajinikanth" in Tamil Literature where manier "Kamalhaasans" are awaiting recognition and fame. None can question his crown of Tamil fim lyrics. But his real position as a poet is yet to be analysed without worship/ hatred.

My poem "ORUTHI NINAIKAIYILAE..." about female infanticide was selected as "Muththirai Kavidhai" by him in "Vaasagar Kavithai Thiruvizha" conducted by leading Tamil Weekly KUNGUMAM. My wife (girl firend, then) in overflowing joy, cried and screamed in phone, that all my waiting since 2000 for a publication is only for this royal footage.

The so-called evening discussion which he arranged for the prize winners in the competition at Ponmani Maaligai became a formal meeting due to the over crowd [which I expected]. The only consollation about the function is the 10 people who wrote "Muththirai Kavidhai" were allowed to read their poem in stage before Vairamuthu.

The crowd of nearly 100 poets applauded when I told that "I have written this poem with Vairamuthu's impact, follwing Vairamuthu's style, targeting at Vairamuthu. If Vairamuthu succumbed to this, then it is Vairamuthu's victory" after reading my poem. Those words are from my heart.

In the function, Vairamuthu told "Every poet should have the THIMIR that he was born to write the world's best poem". That is his poetry.