Tamil Literary Garden of Toronto, Canada has Honored Tamil Writer S. RAMAKRISHNAN with ‘Lifetime Literary Achievement Award‘ in Tamil for the year 2011, “IYAL VIRUDHU” as pronounced in Tamil, for his life time achievement in literary contribution to the Tamil Literature.
As you are probably aware, starting in 2001, the award is given annually to a person whose contribution to Tamil literature is valuable, substantial and deeply influential. The awards committee, reviewing all the nominations, takes into consideration all aspects of Tamil Studies, including scholarship, pedagogy, and translations etc., He is the eleventh recipient of this prestigious international award.
In connection with this the Famous Tamil Publishing house ‘Uyirmai’ is organizing a Grand Felicitation to the Writer on the 2nd February 2012 at KAMARAJ MEMORIAL HALL, Teynampet, Chennai-18.
Super Star Mr.Rajinikanth will preside over the function and deliver the memento to writer S.RAMAKRISHNAN. Other eminent personalities who would be part of the event are, ‘kavi perarasu’ Vairamuthu, Mr.Indra Parthasarathy, Mr.Bharathi Krishnakumar, Professor. Mr. Gnanasambandham, Mr.Vijayshankar ( Editor Frontline ), Mr.S.A.Perumal, Mr.Iraiyanbhu I.A.S., Mr.Balakrishnan I.A.S.,
Profile
S. Ramakrishnan is an influentially important writer of modern Tamil literature.
He is a full-time writer who has been active over the last 25 years in diverse areas of Tamil literature like short stories, novels, plays, children’s literature and translations.
Born in 1966, he is a native of Mallankinar village of Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu. He has travelled all over India and having experience of living in its different parts of the country.
His short stories are noted for their modern story-telling style in Tamil. He had, as Editor, brought out the literary publication, Atcharam for five long years. Now, his web site www.sramakrishnan.com serves as a serious literary movement for young readers since it has become an important web site where contemporary literary innovations, world literature and world cinema congregate in a fertile ambience. An inspiring aspect of this site is that it has secured 23 lakh visits from readers all over the world. His short stories and articles have been translated and published in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and French.
A great story-teller, he has organized over thirty story-telling camps for school children, all over Tamilnadu. He has authored four books for children. He has organized a special story-telling camp for children with dyslexia-related learning disabilities. He has also organized screenplay writing camps for short film directors and students of cinema creation in important cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, etc.
His novel Upa Paandavam, written after a deep research into Mahabharata, was not only selected as the best novel in Tamil, it was widely well received by the readers. The novel Nedum Kuruthi, which spoke of the dark and tragic existential experiences of the tribe of oppressed people cruelly stamped as criminal tribe by the British, secured the Ghanavaani award for the Best Novel. His novel Yaamam, written with Chennai city’s three hundred years history as back drop, is another widely appreciated creation. His Urrupasi is a novel that conveys the stirring mental agonies of a young man who was unemployed because he took his degree majoring in Tamil language.
He became a celebrated author to lakhs of readers through his series of articles like Thunai Ezhuthu, Desanthari, Kathavilaasam, Kelvikurri and Chiridhu Vellicham which appeared in the highly circulated Tamil weekly, Ananda Vikatan. He is the first writer in Tamil to have created a broad circle of readers for his columns. The compilation book of the articles, Thunai Ezhuthu, has created a new history by selling almost a lakh of copies.
A connoisseur of world cinema, he has compiled an introductory compendium on world cinema with thousand pages called Ulaga Cinema. He has written four important books on cinema viz. Ayal Cinema, Pather Panchali, Chithirangalin Vichithirangal and Paesa Therindha Nizhalgal.
The short film Karna Motcham with his screenplay won the National Award for Best Short Film and went on to win, so far, 27 important awards in Indian and International Film Festivals. Another short film Matraval has won three coveted awards as the best Tamil Short Film.
He has worked as Screenplay and Dialogue writer in Tamil films like Baba, Album, Chandaikkozhi, Unnale Unnale, Bhima, Dhaam Dhoom, Chikku Bukku and Modhi Vilaiyadu , Avan Ivan with over ten films to his credit. Some of these films have successfully crossed 100 days of continuous screening in theatres.
He has written and published five novels, ten collections of short stories, 24 collections of articles, four books for children, three books of translation and nine plays. He also has a collection of interviews to his credit.
Among the many important awards won by him are Tagore Litearay Award for his novel Yamam. Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award for Best Young playwright, Iyal Award from Canada, Award for Best Novel from Government of Tamilnadu, Award of Literary Thoughts, CKK Literary Award, Best Novel Award of Progressive Writers’ Union, Jnanavaani Award and Young Achiever Award, Periyar Award. Salem Tamil Sangam award and also the winner of Kannadasn Award.
Three Doctorates and 13 M.Phil. Degrees have been awarded to scholars for researching into his writings. His books have been prescribed as part of syllabi of 2 Universities and 9 Autonomous Colleges.
S. Ramakrishnan lives in Chennai with wife Chandra Prabha and sons Hariprasad and Aakash.
