Tamil poet Vairamuthu named 2025 Jnanpith Award winner

Key facts

• Vairamuthu has been conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, announced by Bharatiya Jnanpith on Saturday.
• He becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the Jnanpith Award after Akilan and Jayakanthan.
• The Jnanpith Selection Committee chaired by Pratibha Ray selected Vairamuthu for his originality, creative depth and distinct poetic voice.
• Vairamuthu has authored over 37 books including poetry collections, novels and travel writings such as Kallikattu Ithikasam, Karuvachi Kaviyam, Thanni Desam and Moondraam Ulaga Por.
• He has won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times.
• Vairamuthu received the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
• He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kallikattu Ithikasam.
• The Jnanpith Award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Goddess Saraswati and a citation.