Background
Vedanayagam Pillia was born in Trichy on October 11, 1826 to Savarimuthu Pillai and Arockia Mariammal. His father was his first tutor and later he learned Tamil and English under a tutor named Thayagaraja Pillai.
Vedanayagam Pillia was born in Trichy on October 11, 1826 to Savarimuthu Pillai and Arockia Mariammal. His father was his first tutor and later he learned Tamil and English under a tutor named Thayagaraja Pillai.
Tamil poet, novelist and social worker who is remembered for the authorship of Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram, recognized as the "first modern Tamil novel". The novel reflects Vedanayagam"s own ideals of women"s liberation and education. On completing his education, Vedanagam joined the judicial court of Trichinopoly as record keeper and soon was elevated as a translator.He learnt Sanskrit, French and Latin during his tenure and then cleared his law examinations
Vedanayagam"s contribution to carnatic music is immense.
His songs are still a popular choice among singers in concerts.One can find a profusion of Sanskrit words in his Tamil compositions. On the lines of Tyagaraja"s "Nidhichala sukhama" he wrote "Manam Peridha, Varumanam Peridha?" Some of the popular songs of Pillai are ''Naale Nalla Nall," ''Nee Malaikkade Nenje," ''Tharunam, tharunam.
He was a secular person and his songs never addressed to any particular religious deity.He suitably titled his collection of songs as " Sarva Samaya Samarasa Kirtanaigal".