Thamarai

Thamarai is a Tamil poet, lyricist, writer and former journalist. She is best known for writing lyrics for Tamil-language films, often even in chaste Tamil.

Personal life

Thamarai is married to Thozhar Thiyagu. They have a son.

Career

Thamarai graduated Production Engineering from GCT, Coimbatore and worked for six years in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, where she hails from, before she, due to her passion for poetry, decided to move to Chennai, where she worked as a freelance journalist and wrote essays, stories and poems. Through her literary works, she became popular and got noticed, she happened to enter the Tamil film industry and got the opportunity to write lyrics for film songs. Director Seeman assigned her as a lyricist for the song "Thendral Enthan" for his Tamil film Iniyavale. Subsequently, wrote lyrics for films like Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen ("Malligai Poove"), Thenali ("Injirango Injirango"), where she even worked together with music director Harris Jayaraj in Minnale and the song ("Vaseegara"), which is said to be the turning point and the peak in her career.

After Minnale, the trio, composed of director Gautham Menon and music director Harris Jayaraj teamed up several times again (Kaakha Kaakha, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, Pachaikili Muthucharam & Vaaranam Aayiram) and were a very successful collaboration in the film field, until the break-up between Menon and Jayaraj happened. Since then, she is teaming up with A. R. Rahman, who replaced Jayaraj. Gautham Menon , Harris Jayaraj and Thamarai trio teamed up again in July 2014 for Ajith Kumar starrer 'Yennai Arindhaal..'. The film's album was released on 1 January 2015, and it was well received by critics. She wrote" Neeraambal Poovae" from the movie Nannbenda, where she again works for Harris Jayaraj.The song is sung by Arjun Menon. Her recent song "Thalli Pogathe" hit like a storm among the youth. Also, her other song, from the same album Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada starting as "Rasaali" is also getting positive reviews.

Filmography

• 1998 Iniyavale
• 1998 Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
• 2000 Veeranadai
• 2000 Thenali
• 2001 Minnale
• 2001 Majunu
• 2003 Kaakha Kaakha
• 2004 Perazhagan
• 2004 Arasatchi
• 2005 Ghajini
• 2005 Kanda Naal Mudhal
• 2006 Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu
• 2006 Vallavan
• 2007 Pachaikili Muthucharam
• 2007 Azhagiya Tamil Magan
• 2007 Kannamoochi Yenada
• 2008 Subramaniyapuram
• 2008 Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2009 Pasanga
• 2010 Kutty
• 2010 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya
• 2011 Rowthiram
• 2012 Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal
• 2012 Maattrraan
• 2013 Endrendrum Punnagai
• 2014 Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
• 2014 Irumbu Kuthirai
• 2014 Yaan
• 2015 Yennai Arindhaal
• 2015 Nannbenda
• 2015 Naanum Rowdy Dhaan
• 2016 Gethu
• 2016 Pencil
• 2016 Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum
• 2016 Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
• 2016 Iru Mugan

Television

• 2013 Chithiram Pesuthadi
• 2013 Kurunji Malar

Awards

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist- Thenali (2000)

Vijay Awards

• Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
• Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012)

Other awards and recognition

• ITFA Best Lyricist Award – Kaaka Kaaka (2003)
• Meera Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Award for Best Lyricist – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)

Nominations

• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Kaaka Kaaka (2003)
• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Ghajini (2005)
• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Subramaniapuram (2008)
• Vijay Award for Best Lyricist – Pasanga (2009)