A torrential downpour of Tamil at the function organised to release poet Vaali's book 'Tamizh Kadavul' was a treat to the huge audience that had gathered at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, past Saturday.
After the welcome address by Alliance Srinivasan of Alliance Publishers, Vaali honoured play back singer P.B. Sreenivos, Magnet A. Rajaram (producer who first used Vaali's song for his film), Embar Vedham, poet Poovai Senguttuvan, poet Gnanaselvan and poet Jayantha with a purse. Justice M. Chokkalingam delivering his presidential address appreciated the efforts of Vaali in presenting Kachiappa Sivachariar's ‘Kandha Puranam' in simple Tamil.
Words of praise
The book was released by music director Ilaiyarajaa (not many are aware of his poetic skills). Receiving the book, producer A.V.M. Saravanan had words of praise for the design of the book including its cover and Vaali's good handwriting. He added that Vaali was a multifaceted person, who had donned the roles of an actor, painter, lyricist, director, story and dialogue writer and that Vaali had stood the test of time.
Director K. Balachander, who was the other recipient of the book, said that he was proud to have been associated with Vaali since his debut. He was amazed by Vaali's in-depth knowledge of the Tamil language that helped him author works such as ‘Avatara Purushan,' ‘Pandavar Bhoomi,' ‘Ramanuja Kaviyam,' ‘Arumuga Andhadi' and now ‘Tamizh Kadavul,' which has been published for the first time in the writer's own handwriting. Orator Nagai Mukundan, Saivite scholar Dr. Era. Selvaganapathy, who has written the foreword for the book, and actor Parthepan paid glowing tributes to Vaali's poetry.
For the youth
Parthepan requested Vaali to write poems that would inspire youngsters to eschew violence. He made special mention of Maniyam Selvan's painting for the book's cover Ilaiyarajaa interspersed his speech with quotes from Tiruvachagam and his own Vennbas. He said that Vaali had nothing more to achieve and that this book was a step in his search of the truth (God). It is always a treat to listen to Tamil scholar Nellai Kannan and that day it was no different. In his acceptance speech, Vaali thanked all those who had shaped him.
He declared Kannadasan as ‘poet ultimate' and his song “Mayakkama Kalakkama” as the essence of the Gita. He also declared that it was Ilaiyarajaa who taught him the grammar of Vennba and reminisced his early days of struggle fighting poverty. Orator P.N. Pasrasuraman compered the three-hour event.
