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A search for budding poets

Pa. Vijay on Kavithai Sollungal, youth and his poetry

PHOTO: K. ANANTHAN

CLARION CALL Pa Vijay (centre) with Sankareshvari and Ajay Awasthi.

In an age when people are busy writing an obituary for creativity, ten thousand people in Tamil Nadu proved they had it in them to write poetry. The forum — Kavithai Sollungal, a contest organised by Reliance World Mobile on its 1234 voice portal.

Barefoot and jostling for space in a temple to catch a glimpse of the almighty, R. Gopinath of Salem wonders, "What is God?" He thinks of the girl without hands who resolutely held a brush in her mouth to paint and concludes that confidence is God.

Sankareshvari from Tuticorin makes a clarion call to the youth to let go of their defeatist attitude and realise the power within. These two poets are among the five winners of Kavithai Sollungal. Of the 10,000 who attempted to take part, 1,500 managed to listen to the instructions, recite their creations over the phone and submit it.

The judge, lyricist Pa Vijay, best known for his soul-stirring lyrics in Autograph and Thavamaai Thavamirindhu, had a tough time choosing the first and second prize winners. Their prize? Sankareshvari and C. Swaminathan from Mettupalayam, who shared the first prize, won themselves a two-night, three-day trip to Singapore, while the three who came second — R. Gopinath, S. Gurugnambika from Srivilliputhur and K. Amuthan from Chennai took home a 29-inch colour television each. Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Awasthi, Business Head, Rest of Tamil Nadu, Reliance Communication, said the contest was a confluence of technology, artistes and art lovers. Because of the homogenous technology (no difference in rural and urban areas) a lot of people from interior Tamil Nadu took part, he added.

Pa. Vijay, who won the National Award for his Ovvoru Pookalume in Autograph, said judging the contest was a great learning experience. "Some people did not recite well, but their words was packed with emotion. The contest showed that if given a good platform, our youth could do very well." sHe said he wanted the event to be held in Coimbatore because it is the capital of puthukavidhai (new-age poetry). "Youth must believe in everything but luck and recommendation," he said.

Asked why meaning-rich songs were hard to come by, he said opportunities must present themselves. "People thought that young lyricists could not write such songs. I was waiting for a chance. Cheran Sir gave me that in Autograph."

After the National Award, the lyricist decided to avoid using English words and songs with double entendre.

Pooh-poohing claims that enthusiasm for Tamil was dwindling among this generation, he said they are very eager to express themselves. "What they lack is the enterprise to come up with new forms. They stick to the old format," says Vijay.

In the past couple of years, he has written more than 800 songs and more than 20 movies are in the pipeline.

He has also managed to keep a regular series going in magazines and published nearly a dozen books. What keeps him going? "The need for acceptance and recognition. I want to write as long as the fire in me is alive. Our poetry must be taken to the world," he says.

His goal? "Another national award."

SUBHA J RAO

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