All about Vairamuthu, the Tamil poet at the centre of a row over his ‘Lord Ram was out of his mind’ remark

Renowned Tamil lyricist and poet Vairamuthu has sparked fresh controversy after claiming that Lord Ram was “out of his mind” following his separation from wife Sita.

Speaking at a recent Kambar Kazhagam event in Chennai, Vairamuthu referred to the episode in the Ramayana where Ram killed Vaali from hiding. “Valmiki, Vaali, and the entire world did not forgive him, but poet Kamban (who translated the Ramayana into Tamil) did,” Vairamuthu said. “Kamban reasoned that Ram was out of his mind due to his separation from Sita. As per IPC Section 84, a person who is out of his mind is not punishable. Kamban may not have known the law, but he understood society.”

The comments drew sharp criticism from Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran, who called the statement “anti-Hindu” and questioned why the ruling DMK, which claims to uphold secularism, did not denounce Vairamuthu’s remarks.


This is not the first time Vairamuthu has been accused of making provocative religious remarks. Years earlier, he faced backlash for describing the Tamil saint-poet Andal as a “devadasi.” Similarly, Tamil Nadu has witnessed previous controversies over Lord Ram, including former CM M. Karunanidhi’s jibe during the Ram Sethu project debate, when he asked, “In which engineering college did Ram study?”

Who is Vairamuthu?

A towering figure in Tamil literature and cinema, Vairamuthu has had a career spanning over four decades. According to his Wikipedia page, he has penned more than 7,500 songs and poems for films, earning seven National Awards — the most by any Indian lyricist. He has also been honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and the Sahitya Akademi Award for his literary contributions.

However, his legacy is also shadowed by controversy beyond his writings. In 2018, playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada accused him of sexual harassment, adding another layer to the debates surrounding him.