S. Ramakrishnan

About his first book he says: "I was not a writer when my first book 'veLiyil oruvan' was published. Until then I was just writing whatever I wanted to write, but I was not a writer; even after my first book came out…" and "…but now I know the direction, purpose and strength of the written word. I didn't know that then. It is like how a child with a camera takes pictures of whatever she sees… I was like that child."{{Cite journal|date=June 2011|title=Interview|journal=Puthagam Pesudhu|page=42|quote="வெளியில் ஒருவன் என்று ஒரு புத்தகம் வரும்போது நான் எழுத்தாளன் இல்லை. அந்தப் புத்தகம் வரும்வரைக்கும் ஏதோ எனக்கு விருப்பமான விஷயங்களை எழுதிக்கொண்டிருந்த ஆளாக இருந்தேனே தவிர எழுத்தாளராக இல்லை. அந்தப் புத்தகம் வந்தபோதும் ஆகவில்லை’…… 'இப்போது எனக்கு எழுத்தின் திசை தெரியும். அதன் நோக்கம், வலிமை தெரியும். அன்றைக்கு அது தெரியாது. எப்படியென்றால் கையில் கேமரா உள்ள ஒரு குழந்தை கண்ணுக்குத் தட்டுப்படுவதையெல்லாம் படம் பிடிக்குமே… அதுமாதிரியான ஒரு ஆள்தான் (அப்போது)."}}

His short stories and articles have been translated and published in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and French.

His novel Upa Paandavam, written after a deep research into Mahabharata, was selected as the best novel in Tamil. It was widely well received by the readers.

The novel Nedum Kuruthi, which spoke of the dark and tragic existential experiences of the tribe of oppressed people cruelly stamped as criminal tribe by the British, secured the Gnanavaani award for the Best Novel.

His novel Yaamam, written with Chennai city's three hundred years history as back drop, is another widely appreciated creation.

His Urupasi is a novel that conveys the stirring mental agonies of a young man who was unemployed because he took his degree majoring in Tamil language.

He became a celebrated author to lakhs of readers through his series of articles like Thunai Ezhuthu, Desandhri, Kathavilaasam, Kelvikuri and Siridhu Velicham which appeared in the highly circulated Tamil weekly, Ananda Vikatan. He is the first writer in Tamil to have created a broad circle of readers for his columns. The compilation book of the articles, Thunai Ezhuthu, has created a new history by selling almost a lakh of copies.

His short stories are noted for their modern story-telling style in Tamil. He says in an interview: "As a storyteller, it's vital that I observe people, their mannerisms and keep myself aware of present trends…" and "…I keep myself surrounded by youngsters who I learn a lot from. I think it is such company that keeps me revitalised to write more and more stories".{{Cite journal|date=3 February 2012 |title=Interview |url=http://www.madrasplus.com|journal=ET Madras Plus}}

He explains the magical nature of his stories quite simply – "The reason why my stories have a magical aspect is because I am unable to separate Magic from Realism."{{Cite journal|date=June 2011 |title=Interview |journal=Puthagam Pesudhu|page=37|quote="என் கதைகளில் கூட மிகைத்தன்மை ஏன் இருக்கிறதென்றால், எதார்த்தத்தையும் மிகைத்தன்மையையும் என்னால் பிரித்துப்பார்க்க முடியவில்லை."}}

File:Ramkris.jpg

A great story-teller, he has organized over thirty story-telling camps for school children, all over Tamil Nadu. He has organized a special story-telling camp for children with dyslexia-related learning disabilities.

He says in an interview: "We have a rich tradition of PaaNans and Koothars going around places singing and creating poetry in the Sangam period. I am just a modern day PaaNan who goes to places, meets people, talks to them and tells their stories."{{Cite journal|date=June 2011|title=Interview|journal=Puthagam Pesudhu|page=33|quote="சங்க காலத்தில் பாணர்கள், கூத்தர்கள் ஊர் ஊராகச் சென்று பாடி இசைத்து கவிதை சொன்ன மரபு நமக்கு இருக்கிறது. நான் நவீன காலத்து பாணனாக இருக்கிறேன். நான் ஊர் ஊராகப் போய் மக்களைச் சந்தித்து பேசிப் பழகி அவர்களின் கதைகளைச் சொல்லக்கூடிய பாணன் தான்."}}

He had, as Editor, brought out the literary publication, Atcharam for five long years.

His website www.sramakrishnan.com serves as a resource for serious literature for young readers. It has become an important website where contemporary literary innovations, world literature and world cinema congregate in a fertile ambience. It has secured 5 million visits from readers all over the world.

In December 2017, he started his own publishing house in the name of one of his most famous books, Desanthiri.{{Cite web |title=தேசாந்திரி - Desanthiri Pathippagam {{!}} S Ramakrishnan |url=https://www.desanthiri.com/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |language=en-US}} It was started to publish his own works, old ones which are not in print at present as well as his upcoming works.

A connoisseur of world cinema, he has compiled an introductory compendium on world cinema with thousand pages called Ulaga Cinema. He has written ten important books on cinema such as Ayal Cinema, Pather Panchali, Chithirangalin Vichithirangal and Paesa Therindha Nizhalgal. Irul Inithu Oli Inithu, Chaplinudan Pesungal.

He has organized screenplay writing camps for short film directors and students of cinema creation in important cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, etc.

His collection of 9 plays, Aravaan (Uyirmmai Publications), 3 plays, Sindhubaadhin Manaivi (Kayalkavin Publications) and Sooriyanai sutrum boomi (translated plays, Kayalkavin Publications) create new possibilities for theater space on facing power, breaking up historical and cultural images and focusing on psychological eccentricities. These plays have received good appreciation while they were staged and have been performed at the national drama festival of Sangeetha Natak Academy. The play 'Aravaan', included in this collection has been translated in to English, Malayalam and Kannada.

The short film Karna Motcham with his screenplay won the National Award for Best Short Film and went on to win, so far, 27 important awards in Indian and International Film Festivals.

Another short film Matraval has won three coveted awards as the best Tamil Short Film.

He has worked as Screenplay and Dialogue writer in Tamil feature films like Baba, Album, Chandaikkozhi, Unnale Unnale, Bhima, Dhaam Dhoom, Chikku Bukku, Modhi Vilaiyadu, Yuvan Yuvathi and Avan Ivan, Samar and Idam PoruL EvaL.

Three Doctorates and 21 M.Phil. Degrees have been awarded to scholars for researching into his writings. His books have been prescribed as part of syllabi of 2 Universities and 9 Autonomous Colleges.

• List of Indian writers

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17IF4RuMmg-0 Actor Rajinikanths speech at S.Ramakrishnan's felicitation function]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdoIAv6T92M-0 Vairamuthu speech at S Ramakrishnan felicitation function]
• [https://youtube/_dJORz9n1bQ-0 KARNAMOTCHAM-short film]
• [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1i9zb7-0 Kokkarako-short film]
• [http://youtube/uNB791-mu7M-0 Tharamaniyil Karapaanpoochigal-short film]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGWn18aTc6g-0 S.Ramakrishnan speech about Dostoyevsky]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8MUgjF3YIc-0 S.Ramakrishnan speech about Hiroshima]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am3XC8y_6r4-0 Ki.Ra is a True Indian Writer - S.Ramakrishnan Speech]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhqRn7HKpZs-0 Karl Marx History - S.Ramakrishnan speech]

• [http://www.sramakrishnan.com Official Website]

{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Tamil}}

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Category:Tamil screenwriters

Category:Children's writers in Tamil

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Tamil-language writers

Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil