Ilangkannan, Ma

M Balakrishnan (b. 1938), popularly known by his pen name Ma Ilangkannan, was the first Tamil writer to receive the Southeast Asian Write Award. Over his 40-year writing career, he has penned more than 100 short stories and several novels. Ilangkannan was born in Singapore and moved to Tamil Nadu, India, within two years. He returned to Singapore after World War II and attended Kalaimagal Tamil School and Canberra School in Sembawang. From 1957 to 1967, he worked as a storekeeper at a British army base in Nee Soon and published his works in the bi-monthly magazine Thondan, which he also edited and published from 1964. In 1967, he joined the translation department of the Ministry of Culture as a Tamil typist and retired after 30 years of service.

Ilangkannan was further encouraged to write by V T Arasu, former editor of Tamil Murasu, when Arasu became the head of the Tamil translation department. Tamil Murasu first published Ilangkannan's short story “Theevali” in 1967. He went on to write for various magazines and published his first collection of short stories, Vazhi Piranthathu, in 1975, followed by his first novel, Alaigal, in 1976. His novel Vaikarai Pookkal, set against the backdrop of the Japanese Occupation, has been translated into English (Flowers at Dawn), Malay and Turkish. His collection of short stories, Thoondil Meen, won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2004. Ilangkannan was also a founding member of literary organisations such as Ilakkiyak Kalam and the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers in 1975 and 1976, respectively. He has conducted creative writing workshops, and his works are included in the Tamil textbooks used in Singapore schools.

Ilangkannan has received multiple awards for his literary contributions, including the Southeast Asian Write Award (1982), Thamizhavel Award (2000), Karikarcholan Award (2013), and the highest art accolade, Cultural Medallion (2005). His works are known for their vivid portrayal of early modern Singapore's society and cultural diversity, as well as their exploration of themes such as migrant labour issues in response to societal changes.



For more information:
Koh Tommy, Timothy Auger, Jimmy Yap, and Wei Chian Ng, eds. Singapore: The Encyclopedia. Editions Didier Millet and National Heritage Board, 2006. (Call no. 959.57003 SIN -[HIS])
“M. Balakrishnan.” Wikipedia. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Balakrishnan
“M. Balakrishnan (Ma Ilangkannan) A well-respected author of Tamil-language fiction in Singapore.” Offstage. 23 November 2021. https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/m-balakrishnan-ma-ilangkannan

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