Lyricist says sorry for pun on Andal
Vairamuthu had said Andal had lived and died as a daasi' in Srirangam temple, said Rama Gopalan and demanded his apology.
Chennai: Award-winning Tamil poet Vairamuthu has denied he uttered anything derogatory about the legendary Andal in his article and pointed out that he had only eulogised the creator of the immortal divine composition Thiruppavai. He however expressed regret if his writing had hurt anyone.
Hindu Munnani founder-organiser Rama Gopalan in a hard-hitting statement early Tuesday slammed Vairamuthu alleging that he had spoken ill about Andal at a function in Rajapalayam, hosted by Tamil newspaper Dinamani in connection with the holy month of Margazhi.
Vairamuthu had said Andal had lived and died as a ‘daasi’ in Srirangam temple, said Rama Gopalan and demanded his apology.
Other Hindu leaders, including some in the BJP, followed suit and sought Vairamuthu’s apology.
Responding, Vairamuthu said he had not spoken anything ill about Andal and had only written an article in Dinamani titled, ‘Tamizhai Aandal’ (punning on the word Aandal, which means a woman who ruled), in which he had praised the divine composer’s immortal contribution to Tamil.
He had stated therein that Andal had been described as a ‘daasi’ in a research article published in the Indiana University (US) journal, while insisting that the Hindu believers would never accept that. “Even so, if anyone is hurt, I express regret”, tweeted Vairamuthu.