Poet Muthulingam, extreme right, being felicitated by Ilaiyaraaja in Chennai on Friday. Kaviko Abdul Rahman looks on. | Photo Credit: S.R. Raghunathan more-in Kaviko Arakattalai awarded the Kaviko award to poet Muthulingam here on Friday. The award included a citation, a plaque, and a cheque of ?one lakh. The award was presented by music director Ilayaraja. Speaking after presenting the award, Ilayaraja said no one had achieved as much as Kaviko Abdul Rahman. “His language cannot be replicated. It is like a lifelong prayer. There is no poet on par with him,” he said. Ilayaraja said he was disappointed that Kaviko Rahman was not writing for films. “Will I not protect your poems like a statue?” Later, as the event ended, Kaviko Rahman said he was willing to give his poems, not for films, but if Mr. Ilayaraja made an album with it. The music director accepted the offer. Kaviko Abdul Rahman requested Ilayaraja to write songs, a talent which not many people knew he possessed. “How many people in the film industry know the full talent of Ilayaraja? He was writing songs, he gave it up. Please continue writing songs...Don’t give up on it,” Mr. Rahman told the music director. “Give us another Tiruvasagam. That music will stand the test of time”, Kaviko Rahman exhorted Ilayaraja. Praising poet Muthulingam, he said his talent was unparalleled. “Muthulingam might be a supporter of one political party, I might be supporting another, but poetry is beyond everything”. Muthulingam said he considered this award to be bigger than all other awards he had received in his life. “In fact, this is more prestigious and bigger than Sahitya Akademi’s award”, he said.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.