New Delhi, March 14 (NationPress) The prestigious 60th Jnanpith Award, recognized as India’s highest literary accolade, will be awarded to the esteemed Tamil poet, lyricist, and author R. Vairamuthu for the year 2025.

This announcement was made by Bharatiya Jnanpith on Saturday.

Vairamuthu has been honored with this award in acknowledgment of his remarkable contributions to Tamil literature, characterized by profound creativity and a unique poetic expression.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the Bharatiya Jnanpith Selection Committee, presided over by the renowned author Pratibha Ray. The committee included distinguished writers and scholars such as Madhav Kaushik, Damodar Mauzo, Suranjan Das, A. Krishna Rao, Prafulla Shiledar, Kesubhai Desai, Janaki Prasad Sharma, K. Srinivas Rao, and Maheshwar.

Born on July 13, 1953, in Tamil Nadu, R. Vairamuthu is celebrated as one of the leading figures in modern Tamil literature. His works are acclaimed for their evocative depiction of human emotions, social issues, and a profound affinity for nature.

Throughout a literary journey exceeding four decades, he has significantly impacted poetry, lyrics, and prose. His writings are widely appreciated for their originality, emotional resonance, and cultural depth.

Vairamuthu has penned over 37 books, encompassing poetry anthologies and novels. Among his notable works are Kallikattu Ethikasam, Karuvachi Kaaviyam, Thanni Desam, and Moondraam Ullaga Por (The Third World War).

Throughout his career, he has garnered numerous prestigious accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Lyrics on seven occasions. Additionally, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014 by the Government of India.

In the same year he received the Padma Shri, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for his famous novel Kallikattu Ethikasam.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has also recognized him with the Kalaimamani award for his contributions to literature and the arts.

The selection committee highlighted that, despite Tamil being one of India's richest literary languages, only two Tamil authors—P.V. Akilan (1975) and D. Jayakanthan (2002)—had previously received the Jnanpith Award.

Thus, Vairamuthu's selection is viewed as an essential recognition of the vibrant legacy of Tamil literature on a national level.

The Jnanpith Award includes a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), and a citation, awarded annually to an author for exceptional contribution to literature in any Indian language.