Veyyil
Veyyil (P. Veyilmuthu) (born June 29, 1984) is a Tamil poet who writes modern free verse and is also a journalist. His poetry draws on folk elements and portrayals of rural life. He is known for his leftist perspective.
Birth, Education
He was born on June 29, 1984, in the village of Kansapuram in Tirunelveli district to S. Perumal and P. Tamizhselvi. He completed his primary education at Kansapuram Government Primary School and his middle and high school education at Government Higher Secondary School, Burkitmanagaram. Due to poverty and family circumstances, he had to leave the village and was unable to continue his education uninterrupted. After working more than ten different jobs to achieve financial stability, he pursued higher education, earning a B.Lit (Tamil) from Alagappa University and an M.A. (Tamil) from Tamil Nadu Open University.
Personal Life
Veyyil married P. Priya on May 23, 2010. They have a daughter, Maya. He works as a journalist and is the editor for the magazine Junior Vikatan.
Literary Life
Veyyil published his poems as a book titled Bhuvana Isai. This book is now out of print. He wrote the poems during the last three months of 2008, and the book was published in 2009 by Ananya Publishers in Thanjavur. Most of the poems in that book, along with some newly written poems, were later compiled in 2011 into a collection titled Kutraththin Narumanam, published by Puthu Ezuthu Publishers in Dharmapuri.
Before completing his first poetry collection, Veyyil says he had not read any Tamil poet in full. Regarding works that influenced him, he states that the "Villuppattu stories" he heard and grew up with during his adolescence hold the foremost place.
He reflects on the wellsprings of his creativity: "The delicate visual cadences of Sangam literature, the devotional resonance and musicality of Bhakti poetry, the fierce beauty woven through Kalingathuparani, and the evocative Tamil imagery of Bharathi all left a profound imprint on me. Among modern writers, I have read the works of most poets; some startled me, invigorated me, or filled me with awe. Yet I cannot point to a single poet or predecessor who wholly possessed my imagination - I have never felt that way about anyone. I have absorbed the voice of the Suyambulingam as if it were my own. I am especially drawn to the stylistic elegance of Jacques Prévert, Sachchidanandan, and Pavithran Theekkunni. Through long journeys alongside Konangi, I began, in quiet measure, to sense the subtle alchemy that transmutes the ordinary into images suffused with surreal, dreamlike wonder. In my poetry, I have sought to weave together the threefold artistry of Ilaiyaraja-folk sentiment, classical music, and modern expression - into a cohesive form. His music has always acted as a catalytic force, compressing, energizing, and propelling the creative mind within me."
Literary Significance
While much of modern Tamil poetry dwells on inward journeys, grapples with existential dilemmas, or paints the images of contemporary life, Veyyil's verse effortlessly weaves the textures of folk life and the realities of the grassroots into modern poetic forms. He possesses the rare gift of transforming these elements into images both vivid and modern. Among those who have captured the subtle beauty of everyday, working-class existence in Tamil poetry, Veyyil occupies a singular place. As the critic Mankuthirai observes: "The effects of globalization, a social phenomenon that began in the 1990s, intensify after the turn of the millennium. It is only then that Veyyil begins to write his poetry. It is precisely these strange and profound influences that shape the thematic core of his work."
Awards
- Kalampudhithu Award for Young Poets - Kutrathin Narumanam (2015)
- Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Literary Magazine - Kompu (2016)
- Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Poetry Collection - Konjam Manathu Vaiyungal Thozhar Freud (2017)
- Sujatha Foundation Award for Best Poetry Collection - Konjam Manathu Vaiyungal Thozhar Freud (2017)
- Tamil Nadu Book Promotion and Publishing Development Department Award for Best Poetry Collection - Magizhchiyana Panrikutti (2018)
- Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association Award for Best Poetry Collection - Magizhchiyana Panrikutti (2018)
- SRV School 'Padaipookka' ("creative") Award for 2018
- Atmanam Award for Best Poetry Collection - Akkaalin Elumbugal (2019)
Works
- Bhuvana Isai - Ananya Publishers (2009)
- Kutraththin Narumanam - Puthu Ezuthu Publishers (2011)
- Konjam Manathu Vaiyungal Thozhar Freud - Manal Veedu Publishers (2016)
- Magizhchiyana Panrikutti - Kompu Publishers (2017)
- Akkaalin Elumbugal - Kompu Publishers (2018)
- Perunthinai Poo Thinnum Isakki - Salt Publishers (2021)
- Octopasin Kaadhal (2022)
References
- Veyyil's Poetry - "Cruel Rarities" - Critic: Mankuthirai
✅Finalised Page
First published on: 29-Jan-2026, 16:11:04 IST
