Tamil lyricist and author Vairamuthu has been selected for the Jnanpith Award, conferred by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust, a private literary organisation founded in 1944 that honours authors for their contribution to Indian literature.
The announcement marks the first time in over two decades that a Tamil literary figure has received the award. Earlier recipients from Tamil literature include the late writers Akilan and Jayakanthan.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated the lyricist on Saturday (March 14, 2026), noting that Tamil literature had waited 24 years for another Jnanpith recognition. Stalin said he had met Vairamuthu earlier in the day and was speaking with him when the news arrived.
According to the Chief Minister, the honour places Vairamuthu alongside Akilan and Jayakanthan in the small group of Tamil writers who have received the award.
Reacting to the announcement, Vairamuthu described the Jnanpith as “greater than the greatest in literature” and said the recognition was particularly significant because it marked the first time Tamil poetry had received the honour.
“I dedicate this award to the soil and to the people,” he said, adding that the recognition had given him renewed energy to continue his literary journey.
Past remarks on Hindu deities sparked outrage
Despite his literary achievements, Vairamuthu has repeatedly drawn criticism for remarks about Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
In 2018, a police case was registered against him after he allegedly made controversial comments about Goddess Andal, a revered Vaishnavite saint-poet. The remarks reportedly described Andal as a devadasi, triggering protests from Hindu groups who said the comments hurt religious sentiments.
Demonstrations were organised by Hindu activists, including religious leaders such as Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar of Manavala Maamuni Mutt, who demanded an apology from the lyricist.
More recently, in 2025, Vairamuthu again sparked controversy with remarks about Lord Ram during a literary event organised by Kambar Kazhagam in Chennai. Referring to the episode in which Ram kills the monkey king Vaali, he suggested that the poet Kamban portrayed Ram as being “out of his mind” due to his separation from Sita.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from political leaders and Hindu organisations. Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran condemned the comments as “anti-Hindu” and questioned why the ruling DMK had not distanced itself from them.
Multiple sexual harassment allegations
Vairamuthu has also faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct that surfaced during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018.
Singer and dubbing artist Chinmayi Sripaada publicly accused the lyricist of sexual harassment, recounting incidents that she alleged took place between 2000 and 2006. She claimed that during an event in Lucerne, Switzerland, he asked her to visit his hotel room and later threatened that her career would be finished when she refused.
After Chinmayi’s statement, several other women came forward with similar accounts.
US-based independent musician Sindhuja Rajaram told media outlets that she had contacted Vairamuthu when she was 18 regarding a hostel curfew issue, but was later summoned to a studio meeting and subsequently received repeated personal calls from him despite expressing disinterest.
Light music singer Bhuvana Seshan also went on record in 2023, alleging that the lyricist pressured her to accompany him to Malaysia for an event in the late 1990s. When she refused, she said he warned that he had the power to “make or break” her career. She further claimed that several opportunities she had lined up soon began getting cancelled.
Chinmayi recently slammed actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan for praising Vairamuthu.
Responding to Kamal Haasan’s praise, Chinmayi sharply criticised what she described as powerful men in cinema and politics ignoring the voices of women who had accused the lyricist of sexual misconduct. Quote-tweeting Kamal’s message, she wrote, “For God’s sake… Men in such power in cinema transitioning to politics, completely turning a deaf ear to women who come on record to say they were molested by ‘his uncle-mentor’, must remind women who vote that men will never be on our side. The weirdest thing – one of the women in his own party publicly named the Poet. End of the day, men WILL stand by their bros, uncles, dads, friends, mentors. Who cares if multiple women were traumatised?”
