‘Voice’ of megastars of Tamil Nadu politics, K Sornam, falls silent

Thirukkuvalai village in Tiruvarur district may be synonymous with M Karunanidhi, former chief minister. But there were a few others who started their life from that remote village and went on to make a mark.
K Sornam, who passed away early on Tuesday at the age of 88 following a brief illness, was one of them. With his roots in Thirukkuvalai, he rose beyond being a relative of Karunanidhi and established himself as a journalist, Tamil film dialogue writer and director.
Sornam, whose name appears as Swarnam or Swornam in film credits, had written dialogues for 17 films of MGR including ‘Nam Naadu’ and ‘Adimai Penn’.He had directed a few Tamil films including ‘Ore Raththam’, written by Karunanidhi and released in 1987. The film featured chief minister M K Stalin as an actor.
In his condolence message, chief minister M K Stalin said, "As a writer, director, dialogue writer and journalist, he was a multi-faceted personality. He was the editor-in-charge for Ilaya Suriyan, which I launched and managed" His role in as an editor was also invaluable. "While in ‘Murasoli’, he took full responsibility of bringing out ‘Pudhaiyal’, a weekly supplement, and archived Kalaignar’s writings," said Stalin. Sornam was honoured with the Kalaignar Award in 2005. "He was associated with Kalaignar since his school days and went on to become one of the brightest writers to have come from Murasoli," Stalin said.
Starting his career from the early days of Murasoli, the DMK organ, Sornam had made his mark right from the days of DMK founder C N Annadurai. ‘Vidai Kodu Thaaye’ (Bid Me Farewell Mother), a revolutionary play written by him to highlight the need for social reforms, not only had a popular run but was a big hit, with Anna himself felicitating Sornam when the play was staged for the 100th time.
Sornam went on to head the film institute in Chennai, besides being the secretary of Tamil Eyal Isai Nadaga Manram, a state-owned body.
DMK treasurer and Lok Sabha MP T R Baalu remembers Sornam as one of the regular walkers. "He was a regular member of our walking group, led by Kalaignar, at the Arivalayam campus (DMK headquarters) even when the construction was on. We used to assemble early in the morning. Sornam considered himself a student of Kalaignar," Baalu said.
He was an editor, who cared for the welfare and wellness of his fellow employees, recalls R Elayaselvan, a journalist with Tamil news magazine ‘Nakkeeran’. "Ilaya Suriyan was started as a magazine in the early 1990s with focus on politics and social justice. Sornam Sir used to be in office prompt at 10am. He guided youngsters in the nuances of journalism; how to grab the attention of the readers, with facts," said Elayaselvan.