Renowned Tamil lyricist and poet Vairamuthu has received the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025 at a grand ceremony held in the national capital. Presented by former Union Minister Karan Singh, the country’s highest literary honor recognizes Vairamuthu’s immense contributions to Indian literature. Addressing reporters after the ceremony, the lyricist delivered a powerful message of gratitude to the Tamil people while also sharing a remarkably calm and measured response to the criticisms surrounding his nomination.
Vairamuthu dedicates the honour to every Tamil
Speaking to reporters after receiving the award in New Delhi, Vairamuthu expressed his gratitude, stating the honour belongs to the entire Tamil community. As reported by Nakkheeran, he said, “The Jnanpith is the highest honour in Indian literature. It can be considered the Nobel Prize of Indian literature. After 24 years, this award has come back to Tamil. I dedicate this honour to every Tamil. Every Tamil should celebrate this as an award for their own home. Parents and teachers should pass on the greatness of this award and the richness of Tamil to the younger generation.”His heartfelt words quickly went viral on social media, with many praising his emotional tribute to the Tamil language.
Vairamuthu reflects his belief
Vairamuthu also said that this recognition should not be considered the final yardstick of Tamil’s literary legacy. He said, “Tamil’s greatness does not become complete with the Jnanpith, nor does it end with this award. This is only a continuation of a long journey. Tamils should continue to share their knowledge, civilisation, culture, and way of life with the world from one generation to the next.” His speech conveyed his conviction that Tamil literature has always been upright and will continue to grow irrespective of any individual accolades.
Vairamuthu responds to criticism with a measured message
Addressing the criticism surrounding the award, Vairamuthu chose to respond calmly. He said, “If there is no opposition, it is not really an award. It is right to accept criticism. Whether it is right or wrong should not be decided by the creator but by the readers.”With seven National Film Awards and a Sahitya Akademi win under his belt, Vairamuthu’s Jnanpith recognition marks a monumental, historic milestone for modern Tamil poetry on the national stage.
