Master of supernatural themes, Tamil writer Indira Soundararajan dies

Madurai | Popular Tamil novelist Indira Soundararajan, who wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues for the epic Tamil thriller television serial 'Marmadesam', passed away on Sunday at his residence here, sources close to the family said.

He was 65 years old. Soundararajan is survived by his wife and two daughters.

He was renowned for creating supernatural and mystical themes, as reflected in works such as 'Marmadesam', 'Iraiyuthir Kaadu, 'Naney Varuven,' and 'Thangakkadu'.

His novel 'En Peyar Ranganayaki' won a Tamil Nadu government award. Several of his novels had 'spiritual mystery' or in his own words, in one of his works, 'the spiritual science' as the undercurrent in which he pioneered.

In his historical novel 'Sethunattu Vengai', writer Soundararajan vividly depicted the era of Ramnad ruler Kilavan Sethupathi, who overcame political intrigues to secure his place in history.

Expressing shock and grief at Soundararajan's passing, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin lauded the writer’s expertise in weaving supernatural elements into his plots, creating engaging stories that bridged history with the present.

G Asokan, a "pocket novel" publisher who released Soundararajan’s 'Rudra Veenai', told PTI that the author had fallen in the bathroom at his Madurai residence on Sunday and was pronounced dead at a hospital. 'Rudra Veenai' was among Soundararajan's bestsellers.

A native of Salem, Soundararajan was a prolific author of novels, short stories and story-series and he also worked as a screenwriter in Tamil films and was a noted orator on spirituality.

He was associated with films such as 'Sringaram' (2007), an art film, and 'Anandhapurathu Veedu' (2010), a horror mystery.

Out of affection for his mother, the writer prefixed her name, Indira, to his own.