Veteran poet Poovai Senguttuvan passes away in Chennai
Poovai Senguttuvan passes away due to ill health just a week after the release of his book
Poet and lyricist Poovai Senguttuvan, greatly respected by the Tamil literary and film community, passed away this evening (September 5) in Chennai due to ill health. He was 90.
Identified by Kaviyarasu Kannadasan, Poovai Senguttuvan had written thousands of film songs and standalone songs, stories, screenplays, dialogues for films, stage plays, dance dramas, radio programmes, television serials, and countless more.
Among the timeless songs he wrote are Thaayir Sirandha Koyilumillai, Naan Ungal Veettu Pillai, Iraivan Padaitha Ulagai, Thiruparankundrathil Nee Sirithaal Thiruthani Malai Meedhu Edhirolikkum, Thiruppugazhai Paada Paada, Karunaiyum Nidhiyum Ondraai Serndhaal, and many others.
Until the very end, he continued to write without pause. His final book, Vazhkkai Enum Nerkkodu (“Life, a Straight Line”), was released only a few days ago. The event, presided over by director S. P. Muthuraman, was attended by producer A. L. Alagappan, poet Arivumathi, actor Thambi Ramaiah, and others, who congratulated him. Despite being frail in health, Poovai Senguttuvan personally attended this function, which was remarkable.
He was the only one who rendered all 133 chapters of Saint Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural in simple style as musical songs (133 songs). Former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam warmly praised this work and sent him a letter of appreciation. The songs were released as a music album titled Kural Tharum Porul (“The Meaning Given by Kural”) by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, bringing honour to the poet. Many media houses praised the work as well.
He received countless awards, including Kalaimamani (1980), the Kannadasan Award (1997), and the Mahakavi Bharathiyar Award (2020).
Poovai Senguttuvan is survived by his sons Poovai Dayanidhi and S. Ravichandran, his daughters Vijayalakshmi and Kalaiselvi, and grandchildren. His wife had already passed away. Notably, his wife’s younger sister’s husband is producer A. L. Alagappan, and her sister’s sons are actor Udhaya and director A. L. Vijay.
