Tamil cinema has seen many poets par excellence, but none with the social conscience that was the essence of Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram whose songs remain an epitome of his genius.  Kalyanasundaram started writing at the age of 19 carrying the flavor of folk songs of that era  and he emphasized on conveying feelings rather than form.   His debut in Tamil cinema was in 1959 and has written close to 200 songs most of which were about the dreams, trials and tribulations of the masses.

Kalyanasundaram nursed ambitions of becoming an actor but later changed his path and took to writing poems and lyrics for song honing his skills under the tutelage of the legendary Puratchi Kavi Bharathidasan.  His "Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey", "Enn Arumai Kadhalikku Vennilave", "Chinna Payale chinna payale seithi sollavaa", "Thirudathey paapa thirudathey" are just a few drops in the ocean of emotions that the Pattukotaiyaar created through his immortal songs.

Pattukottai Kalyanasundaam  passed away at the tender age of 29 and he enjoyed a career as a lyricist only for four years but still achieved the status of the most revered songwriter Tamil cinema has ever had.  Indiaglitz takes great pride in remembering the immortal poet Kalyanasundaram for our new weekly column Throwback Thursday.