Sujatha

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இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: சுஜாதா ‎

Sujatha
Sujatha and Rajagopalan
Sujatha - marriage
Sujatha with his wife
Sujatha with his wife
Sujatha's first story. Sivaji magazine 1953
Sujatha and Abdul kalam, 1954 St. Joseph's College, Trichy
Sujatha
Sujatha, Kamal Hassan
Sujatha

Sujatha (May 1935 - 27 February 2008) was a Tamil writer of popular serials, short stories, and famous columns. He was an innovator of Tamil prose. A pioneer in Science Fiction writing in Tamil, he wrote essays introducing Science and Classical Tamil Literature. He was an Electronics-Engineer. He worked on the team that invented the Indian Electronics Voting Machine.

Among those who worked in the public domain in Tamil, Sujatha was the next biggest personality after Kalki.  Like Kalki, he had a writing style that was gripping and compelling. He had a huge readership base in Tamil and a line of descendants who adapted his style.  

Birth, education

Sujatha was born S. Rangarajan on 3 May 1935 on South Street, Theppakulam, Tiruvallikeni, Chennai. His father Srinivasa Raghavan worked in the Electricity Board. His mother Kannamma came from a wealthy family. Sujatha's elder brother Mr. Krishnamachari was a doctor. His younger brother Rajagopalan retired as the Chief General Manager of the Tamil Nadu wing in the Telephone Department. Rajagopalan was a Vaishnava scholar who wrote a commentary on the Brahma Sutras. Sujatha’s younger sister Viji died at the age of three when he was eleven.

Sujatha's paternal grandparents were Kuvalakudi Singamayankar and Rukmini Ammal. Sujatha lived and studied at his grandmother's house in Srirangam while his father went to work in the woods for his Electricity Board. After finishing high school at Men's High School in Srirangam, Sujatha studied at St. Joseph's College, Trichy from 1952 to 1954 and graduated with a B.Sc. (Physics). At MIT (Madras Institute of Technology), he did his Masters in Electronics Engineering. Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, who later became the President of India, studied with him at Trichy and MIT. Sujatha won a prize for his article on Infinite Mathematics and Kalam won another for his article on building aircraft.

Personal Life

After studying engineering, he finished second nationally in the Central Government Examinations for Engineers. He first joined the Indian National Radio as a trainee and later worked as an Air Traffic Controller in the Civil Aviation Division at Meenambakkam, Chennai. He rose to the level of the Primary Technical Officer and served in Delhi for fourteen years.

In 1970, he joined Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bangalore as an Assistant Manager. He took charge as the General Manager of its Research and Development Wing and worked on designing the Electronic Voting Machine. He also took part in the study of missile technology. Although previously involved in films, he became a full-time screenwriter after his retirement in 1993.

On 28 January 1963, at the age of 27, Rangarajan married Sujatha. He later adopted his wife's name as his pseudonym. The couple had a baby girl first that died within a year. Then they had two sons, Ranga Prasad and Keshava Prasad.

Literary life

Sujatha learned Classical Tamil literature from his grandfather and the hymns of Alvars from his grandmother. In his youth he co-authored manuscript magazines in Srirangam with Srinivasan Rangarajan who later became a screenwriter under the pseudonym Vaali. Joseph Chinnappa, his English lecturer at Joseph College, Trichy, introduced him to British short stories and poetry. Ayyam Perumal Konar, a Tamil teacher and the author of the famous Konar Notes, introduced him to Classical Tamil literature .

Sujatha S. Rangarajan’s first story, Ezhuthil Himsai was published in 1953 in the zine Shivaji run by Triloka Sitaram from Trichy. Writers like Ku. Pa. Rajagopalan contributed to this magazine.

Later, when he moved to Delhi, he befriended the editor of the Kanaiyazhi magazine K. Kasthurirangan, N.S. Jegannathan and Indira Parthasarathy. under the name Srirangam S.R., Sujatha started writing in the last pages of Kanayazhi, which was started by Kasturirangan in July, 1956. The articles were written under various titles such as Neerkumizhigal, Petti, and Kadasipakkam. Finally the name Kadasipakkam stuck. These articles were compiled and published by Visa Publications.

Sujatha says he got the idea to enter into writing after seeing his friend’s story Shushma Enge, which he helped him edit, getting published in Kumudam. His short story Idadhu Orathil was published in 1962 under the name S. Rangarajan in Kumudham.

In the anthology Kurukshethram compiled by Nagulan, Sujatha wrote Thanimai Kondu, which is considered one of the best short stories in Tamil. He expanded on the same story and wrote its serialized version under the title Nylon Kayiru in Kumudam in August 1968. Originally named Seetu Maligai, he later changed the name to Nylon Kayiru. While writing this story, he assumed the pseudonym Sujatha. He said in one place that he used this pseudonym so as not to confuse his name with the writer Ra.Ki. Rangarajan, who wrote at that time in Kumudam and in another that he used the modern name Sujatha since he did not like the oldness of the name Rangarajan. However, he chose the pseudonym due to his position with the government's defense technology, which prevented him from writing outside of the government's publications.

Ganesh-Vasanth

Sujatha’s style and the reality he created in his detective stories became very popular. His famous detective characters are lawyer Ganesh and his assistant Vasanth. Ganesh made his debut in 1968 with his first serialized fiction, Nylon Kayiru. Vasanth later appeared in the novel Priya in 1973 (see Ganesh, Vasanth).

Short Stories

Sujatha wrote short stories under the general headings Madyamar, Srirangathu Devathaigal, Thoondil Kathaigal.

Science

Sujatha was a pioneer writer who introduced science fiction stories to Tamil. They were published as separate collections. Sujatha's style is to write dazzling mysteries with elements of science. Sujatha's  articles and Q&As on science have contributed immensely to the spread of science among the general public in Tamil. His Ean Etharku Eppadi, is an acclaimed collection of columns that explains the facts of Science, in which Sujatha emerges as a scientist who has a proofist view and faith in the creative power of technology.

Plays

Sujatha was inspired by American realist playwrights Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. His plays like Dr. Narendranin Vinoda Vazhakku (Dr. Narendra's Bizarre Case) and Singamayankar’s Peran (Singamayankar's Grandson) have reached literary prominence through his unexaggerated  portrayal of everyday life and natural dialogue.

Classical Literature

Sujatha wrote books in simple contemporary Tamil that explained Thirukkural and Sangam songs. His explanations of Azhwar's hymns are noteworthy.

Style

After Bharathi and the Pudhumaipithan, Sujatha's style is considered to be the most influential style in Tamil. Even though he handled that style for the general public, it still influenced many of the writers in the serious literary field. The nature of Sujatha's style is threefold.

  • Externality - Sujatha focused on portraying the outside world and the storyline in detail.
  • Minimalistic - In a minimalistic style, Sujatha tried to describe events or scenes using the fewest possible words.
  • Playfulness - the author emerges in Sujatha's style always with his unique playfulness. His language was laden with humor and ridicule.

The Tamil pioneers who influenced Sujatha's style were Pudhumaipithan and Ashokamithran. His pioneers from the West include literary writers like Ernest Hemingway and John Updike, as well as popular fiction writers like Frederick Forsyth. Sujatha used Updike’s techniques of overlaying characters one top of another, using several dots to indicate silence and distorting nouns into verbs. He used Hemingway’s technique of crisply describing the external world by borrowing unusual similes from fields like Aeronautics (Cobalt blue sky). Sujatha also employed the subtle parody created by slightly twisting the language in the style of Kurt Vonnegut.

Sujata's style went beyond mere technique because it was enriched by his extensive reading and keen observation. As he carefully observed all the linguistic expressions in Sangam literature, hymns of Azhvars, the terminology used in Law and Commerce, dialects in Chennai and Trichy, tags in Modern literature, he adapted their diction in his writing. His style demanded a close reading due to its versatility. Thus he can only be compared with Pudhumaipithan. His writing style had a profound effect on the next generation of writers because of its depth.

Journalism

Sujatha was the editor of the Kumudam magazine for three years.

He was the editor of the online journals Minnambalam and Ambalam.

Filmography

The first Sujatha novel to be made into a film was Gayatri (1977). Then he started writing dialogue for movies. His first film to write dialogue was Ninaithale Inikkum (1979). Sujatha worked as a writer in 30 films.

Controversies

Sujatha started the novel Sivappu karuppu veluppu in 1980 in Kumudham. Violent protests erupted that the story was insulting to the Nadar community. Sujatha apologized. Kumutham stopped publishing the novel. Later, he wrote it under the name Ratham Ore Niram without mentioning caste.

Awards

  • 1993 Award by the National Institute of Science and Technology for the dissemination of science.
  • VASVIK Award for his work on creating the Electronic Voting Machine.
  • The Kalaimamani Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Death

Sujatha passed away on 27 February 2008 in Chennai. He had been in medical treatment for kidney failure for some years.

Memories

Uyirmmai Padhippagam presents the Sujatha Awards for Literature annually.

Ira Murugan wrote a biography of Sujatha for the Sahitya Akademi

Literary Significance

Sujatha's literary significance is primarily shaped by the influence of his style. There were two styles that preceded him in the context of Tamil literature. Kalki's simple style, which spoke directly to the reader, and Chandilyan's hyperbolic style with rhetorics and flowery language occupied the plane of general reading while Asokamithiran’s Realistic writing style and Sundara Ramaswamy’s witty and satirical style were found in the Modern literary context. Sujatha’s style absorbed a lot of external symbols and ran with humor and playfulness, entirely dependent on the external world. His style was suited to narrate modern life.

Sujatha’s vision was cherished by the readers of the eighties. The political intensity that prevailed globally in the seventies was not felt during the eighties. The new generation, which was apolitical and believed in science of technology, felt its intimacy with Sujatha.

Sujatha wrote pioneering Science Fiction stories in Tamil. His stories had the quality of Science Fiction only due to his handling of technology in them. Unlike the best Science Fiction stories in the world, they are not based on scientific principles or use scientific images to explore fundamental questions about life.

“Sujatha’s stories which truthfully describe middle class life and his plays that have a realistic aesthetic are of literary quality,” says Jeyamohan.

Works

Novels

In alphabetical order.

  1. Apsara
  2. Anitha Ilam Manaivi , Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  3. Anithavin Kadhalgal
  4. Aa...!
  5. Aadhalinal Kadhal Seiveer
  6. Ayiraththil Iruvar
  7. Unnai Kanda Neramellam, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  8. Ethaiyum Oru Murai
  9. Eppothum Pen
  10. Endravathu Oru Nal
  11. Aerakkuraiya Sorkkam
  12. En Iniya Iyanthira
  13. Oruththi Ninaikayile
  14. Ou Naduppagal Maranam
  15. Odaathe!
  16. Ganesh X Vasanth
  17. Coumputare Oru Kathai Sollu, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  18. Computer Gramam
  19. Karaiyellam Shenpagapoo
  20. Kanavu thozhirchalai
  21. Kasalvail Or Ulagam, Vasagar Vattam, Chennai
  22. Kanthalloor VasanthaKumaran Kathai -
  23. Gayathri, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  24. Kolaiyudhirkalam
  25. Kolai Arangam
  26. Sila Vithiyasangal, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  27. Silvia
  28. September Bali
  29. Sorga Theevu, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  30. Thisai Kanden, Van Kanden
  31. Devan Varugai
  32. Nila Nizhal
  33. Nirvana Nagaram
  34. Nil Gavani Thakku
  35. Nillungal Rajave
  36. Nylon Kayiru, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  37. Padhavikkaga
  38. Pathinalu Natkal, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  39. Padhi Rajyam, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  40. Pirivom Santhipom (Book)
  41. Priya, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  42. Marupadiyum Ganesh, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  43. Pen Iyanthiram
  44. Pesum Bommaigal
  45. Maya, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  46. Meendum Jeeno
  47. Moondru Nimisham
  48. Megathai Thurathinavan
  49. Merke Oru Kutram
  50. Yavanika
  51. Ratham Ore Niram
  52. Vasanthakala Kutrangal
  53. Vannathupoochi Vettai
  54. Vasanth! Vasanth!
  55. Vaimaiye - Silasamaya - Vellum
  56. Vipareetha Kotpadu, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  57. Vairam
  58. Hostel Dinangal
  59. Jannal Malar
  60. J.K., Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  61. 24 Roobai Theevu
  62. 6961, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
Novellas
  • Theendum Inbam
  • Guru Prasathin Kadaisi Dinam
  • Aagayam
  • Kagitha Sangiligal
  • Manmagan
  • Mothamal Oru Nalum Irukka Vendam
Children’s Literature (Collection)
  • Pookutty
  • Short Story Collections
  • Thoondil Kathaigal
  • Nagaram, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  • Nijathai Thedi
  • Vanamennum Veethiyile, Kumari Publications, Nagapattinam - 611001
  • Srirangathu Devathaigal
  • Nilam Neer Neruppu Katru Aagayam
Poetry
  • Nylon Rathangal
Plays
  • Doctor. Narenthiranathin Vinoda Vazhakku
  • Kadavul Vanthirunthar
  • Bharati Iruntha Veedu
  • Aagayam
Non-Fiction
  • Kaniyazhiyin Kadaisi Pakkangal
  • Katrathum Petrathum [Parts 1,2,3,4]
  • Kadavul Irukkirara?
  • Thalaimai Cheyalagam
  • Ezhuthum Vazhkaiyum
  • Ean? Etharku? Eppadi?
  • Suthathoughts
  • Innum Sila Sinthanaigal
  • Thamizh Andrum Indrum
  • Uyirin Ragasiyam
  • Nanotechnology
  • Kadavukgalin Pallathakku
  • Genome
  • Thiraikkathai Ezhuthvathu Eppadi
  • Thamizh Andrum Indrum, Uyirmmai Pathippagam, Chennai.
Films

As Writer

Story
  • Gaayathri (1977)
  • Priya (1978)
  • Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo (1981)
  • Poi Mugangal (1986)
  • Vikram (1986)
  • Ananda Thandavam (2009)
Dialogue
  • Ninaithale Inikkum (1979)
  • Roja (1992)
  • Thiruda Thiruda (1993)
  • Indian (1996)
  • Uyire (1998)
  • Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998) [citation needed]
  • Mudhalvan (1999)
  • Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000)
  • Nila Kaalam (2001)
  • Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
  • Whistle (2003)
  • Boys (2003)
  • Chellame (2004)
  • Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004)
  • Kangalal Kaidhu Sei (2004)
  • Udhaya (2004)
  • Ullam Ketkumae (2005) [citation needed]
  • Anniyan (2005)
  • Sivaji (2007)
  • Enthiran (2010)
As Producer
  • Bharathi (2000)
  • Little John (2001)
  • Nila Kaalam (2001)
  • Pandavar Bhoomi "(2001)

References

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