Vaasanthi (born as Pankajam on 26 July 1941) is an Indian journalist and writer. She got her degree in English literature and history at Mysore University and a Master's degree at Oslo University in Norway. She served as the editor of

India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' launched a new onl ...

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

edition for nine years. Many of her essays on art, culture, and politics have been seriously focused on the emergence of a number of articles and created debates. Vaasanthi has written a number of lectures and reports on women's issues and she is also a political analyst.

Penguin Books Penguin Books is a British publishing, publishing house. It was co-founded in 1935 by Allen Lane with his brothers Richard and John, as a line of the publishers The Bodley Head, only becoming a separate company the following year.Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

during the time she worked as the editor of India Today. She also wrote the biography of

J. Jayalalithaa Jayaram Jayalalithaa (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016) was an Indian politician and actress who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for more than fourteen years over six terms between 1991 and 2016. From 9 February 1989 to 5 December 2 ...

in 2016. She has written around 40 novels and six short story collections. Vaasanthi wrote a biography of

M. Karunanidhi Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018) was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011. He was popularly referred to as Kalaignar (Art ...

titled ''Karunanidhi: The Definitive Biography.'' She appeared on the podcast, The Literary City with Ramjee Chandran to talk about her latest book, Breaking Free.

Books

Tamil

*Aakasa Veedugal *Aarthikku Mugam Sivanthathu *Aasai Mugam Maranthu Pochey! *Agni Kunju *Ammani *America Payana Diary *Aval Sonnathu *Deivangal Ezhuga *Ellai Kodu *Ellaigalin Vilimbil *Ettatha Kilaigal *Idaiveligal Thodarkindrana *India Enum Aithegam *Indre Nesiyungal *Iravukkum Pagalukkum Idaiye... *Jaipur Necklace *Jananam *Jeyalalitaa Manamum Maayaiyum *Kaadhalenum Vaanavil *Kaalam *Kaalamellam Kaathirunthu... *Kaaranamilla Kaariyangal *Kadai Bommaigal *Kadaisi Varai *Kalaignar Ennum Karunanidhi *Kannukku Theriyatha Ulagangal *Karai Seratha Odangal *Kariya Megangalil Oli Keetrugal *Kathai Kathaiyaam Karanamaam *Kathavillatha Veedu *Kizhakkey Oru Ulagam *Kuttravaali *Maaligai Paravaigal *Maara Vendiya Paathaigal *Manithargal Paathi Neram Thoongukirargal *Meendum Naalai Varum *Meetchi *Moongil Pookkal *Mouna Puyal *Mounathin Kural *Munneru! *Muthukkal Pathu *Naan Budhanillai *Nagarangal Manithargal Panpaadugal *Nalliravu Suriyargal *Nazhuvum Nerangal *Nijangal Nizhalahumpothu... *Nijangal *Ninaivil Pathintha Chuvadukal *Nirkka Nizhal Vendum *Nizhal Tharum Tharuve *Nizhalattam *Nizhalgal *Oru Sangamathai Thedi... *Paarvaigalum Pathivugalum *Paathipugal *Paravaigal Parakkindrana *Pathaiyorathu Pookkal *Petrathum Izhanthathum *Plum Marangal Poothuvittana *Poi Mugam *Poiyil Pootha Nijam *Puriyatha Arthangal *Puthiya Vaanam *S.V.V. Enum Rasavaadhi *Sandhiya *Sariyaa? Sariyaa? *Santhanakaadugal *Shurthi Bethangal *Sindhikka Oru Nodi *Siragukal *Sirai! *Sontham Illatha Bandham *Thaagam *Tharaiyellam Shenbaga Poo *Theekul Viralai Vaithal *Thirakkatha Jannalgal *Thunaivi *Thurathum Ninaivugal Azhaikkum Kanavugal *Ula Vara Oru Ulagam *Vaakkumoolam *Vadikaal *Valliname Melliname *Vasantham Kasanthathu! *Veedu Varai Uravu *Veli *Vendatha Varam *Ver Pidikkum Mann *Vergalai Thedi... *Vidiyalai Nokki... *Vittu Viduthalaiyagi... *Yathumagi... *Yuga Sandhi *Yugangal Marumpothu

English

*Amma: Jayalalithaa's Journey from Movie Star to Political Queen (2016) *At the Cusp of Ages (2008) *Cut-outs, Caste and Cines Stars (2008) *Karunanidhi: The Definitive Biography (2020) *The Lone Empress: A Portrait of Jayalalithaa (2020) *Rajnikanth: A Life (2021)

References

{{authority control Tamil-language writers Indian women novelists Novelists from Tamil Nadu 21st-century Indian novelists Living people 21st-century Indian women writers 21st-century Indian writers Women writers from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian novelists 1941 births