Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, fondly called as “Makkal Kavignar” (The people’s poet),remains immortal through his lyrics, even though he died at a young age after a brief period of glory as a poet. He was born on 13th April, 1930 as the second son to Arunachalam -Visalakshi in a small beautiful village called Sengapaduthankadu in Pattukkottai Taluk,Thanjavur district. He wrote his fiirst poem ‘Odi po odi po Kendai Kunjey” when he was 15 years. 
By virtue of his songs on nature, social welfare, politics, philosophy, love, against superstitions etc. Pattukkottai became “Paattukkottai”. His first creation was for the film “Paditha Penn” in 1954, but the movie was released only in 1956. His second film “Maheswari” was released in 1956. He became popular through his lyrics in “Paasa Valai” in 1956. His intant success continued to keep him on top of the Tamil world for five years till he breathed his last on 8th october, 1959 in Chennai.
Pattukkottaiyar’s father Arunachalam was also a poet. His ballad “Musukuntha Naattu Vazhinadai Kummi” is still a historical referance for the villeges aroundPattukkottai.Pattukkottaiyar’s elder brother Ganapathysundaram was an expert artist as well as poet. He is no more.
Even when Pattukkottaiyar wrote letters to his wife Gowravammal, he would begin with the greeting “Bharathidasan Vaazhga” (Long live Bharathidasan) as a mark of gratitidue to his guru from whom he learnt literary Tamil. Pattukkottaiyar’s wedding was presided by Bharathidasan.
Though Kavignar used simple language in his lyrics, they had rythm. He used to drum on his file pad with his fingers to kindle his imagination; he would then begin to write. His simple words bear deep meaning enabling the common man understand the realities of life and gain confidence about his future.
Pattukkottayari had the great qualities of thinking power and social resposibilities ; but he never attended proper school. He was taught the basics in his village for two or three years. During his adolosence he participated in programmes of Periyar’s Self Respect movement. Pattukkottaiyar and Kalaignar became friends when Kavignar went to Thiruvarur to sing dravidian movement songs on stage.
When he grew up to be a young man he wanted to become an actor. He joined “Sakthi Nataka Sabha” through the help of actor D.S.Durairaj. There the tall Pattukkottaiyar and O.A.K.Thevar who became a popular actor in later years, became close friends. At the end of his stage career in 1951, he acted as Rajaguru in the drama” Kaviyin Kanavu”. He was “A.K.Sundaram” then. When the desire to write poetry prevatiled, he went to Pondicherry and learnt Tamil from Bharathidasan. When he was assisting the publication of “Kuyil”, he wrote a poem with the pseudonym ‘ Akalya’ which got the appreciation of Bharathidasan and the recognition as a poet.
Sakthi Nataka Sabha was dissolved in 1953; Kavignar joined Sivaji Nataka Mandram in Chennai. He wrote songs for the dramas simaltaneouly acting in them. During his search for opportunities in film industry, the days he spent hungry were plenty. The severity of poverty that he witnessed gave him a wide experience that culminated in an indepth knowledge of realities. His thoughts provoked by his poverty stricken days, and his poetic skills attained at younger age found expression in his poems.
In Royapettah, Chennai, Thozhar P. Jeevanandham became a close friend of Pattukkottaiyar who got the opportunity to contribute poems to ‘Janasakthi newspaper. His first poem was published in Janasakthi in 1954. Jeeva got him the chance to write lyrics for the stage play ‘Kannin Manigal His relentless attempts to enter the film world proved unsuccessful on innumerable occasions. He wrote his first song in 1954 for the film ‘Paditha Penn’
which was released only in 1956. His second film ‘Maheswari’ was released in 1955. He left theatre and became a fulltime lyricist of films. After ‘ Paasa Valai’ in 1956, he became the people’s favourite and he remains so still.
The wedding of Pattukkottaiyar – Gowravammal was held in Chennai. Paavendar Bharathidasan presided. The couple had their first and the only offspring Kumaravelu in 1959.
Same year Pattukkotai died of cerebral haemmerage on 8th october 1959. The poet who sang the future had himself lost it.
On completion of 25 years of Indian Independance the Govt. of India published a sovenir in 1972 in which the three poets hailed as the greatest Tamil Poets in the twentieth centrury were Mahakavi; Bharathi; Paavendar Bharathidasan and Makkal Kavignar Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram with one of their songs published. Pattukottaiyar first got the recognition as people’s poet before any other accolades or awards. In 1959, the Coimbatore Labour Union presented him the title ‘Makkal Kavignar’.
The Govt. of Tamil Nadu honoured Pattukkottaiyar posthumously in 1981 with the Bharathidasan Award. His wife received it from M.G.R the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and a close friend of the poet. In 1993, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J.Jayalalitha nationalised all the literary works of Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram.
Memorial for the poet was built in Pattukkottai and was opened in 2000 by the Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi. Pattikkottaiyar’s photographs and manuscripts are dis-played in the Memorial.
The first edition of the compilation of Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram’s lyrics, edited by P.E.Balakrishnan was published by the New Century Book Home Pvt.Ltd. in 1965. Later many compilations by various editors have been published. K.Jeevabharathi has brought out an almost complete book of Pattukkottaiyar’s lyrics. Scholors like Paa.Udayakumar, S.Solomon Pappaiah, E. Sembian, M.P. Manivel, Paa.Veeramani, Thaa.Pandian, Iraguladasan, Dilruba Shanmugam have published extensive research papers and books on the poet. A Chair for the pupose of doing research on Pattukkottaiyar is functioning in the University of Madras.