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Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai (1826–1889), also known as Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, was an Indian civil servant . Tamil poet, novelist and social worker who is remembered for the authorship of Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram, recognized as the "first modern Tamil novel". The novel reflects Vedanayagam's own ideals of women's liberation and education.
Carnatic music[edit | edit source]
Vedanayagam's contribution to carnatic music is immense. His songs are still a popular choice among singers in concerts. One can find a profusion of Sanskrit words in his Tamil compositions. On the lines of Tyagaraja's "Nidhichala sukhama" he wrote "Manam Peridha, Varumanam Peridha?" Some of the popular songs of Pillai are ``Naale Nalla Nall," ``Nee Malaikkade Nenje," ``Tharunam, tharunam... People like Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai and Ramalinga Swamigal were admirers of his works.[citation needed]
One of his compositions Nayagar Pakshamadi, (a ragamaliga - Saama / Shanmugapriya / kedara gowla) was included for a dance scene in the 1955 Tamil film Doctor Savithri.[citation needed]
References[edit | edit source]
- Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India. BRILL. p. 279. ISBN 90-04-03591-5.
- S. Muthiah (18 December 2017). "The confusing Vedanayagams". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 13 January 2019.