Noted journalist, playwright and literary critic Gnani passed away early this morning. He was 64 years old and is survived by his wife Padmavati who is also a writer and son Manush Nandan. This had put the film community in a sense of shock and grief as they are visiting his residence and paying their condolences.

Superstar Rajinikanth who also condoled the bereaving family stated that he was an ardent fan of the writer’s work and that they were close friends. He also said that Gnani was a writer who said and wrote what he felt right with no holds barred. Gnani had expressed his views on Rajinikanth’s political entry and spiritual politics only last week in social media which had gained good reception.

Gnani, whose original name is V.Sankaran started his career as a journalist later editing Tamil journals and even running a theatre group known as the Pareeksha. His writings under the column ‘O Pakkangal’ was very much famous among readers. The family has decided to donate Gnani's body to the Ragiv Gandhi Government General Hospital -Medical College.