Kumari Ananthan, a veteran Congress leader and Tamil literary figure, has been selected to receive the 'Thagaisal Tamizhar' award by the Tamil Nadu government. The decision was made by a committee chaired by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, and the award will be presented during Independence Day celebrations, including a cash prize of ₹10 lakh and a citation. Ananthan, 91, has a notable political career, having served as both an MLA and an MP, and is recognized for his contributions to Tamil literature and politics. Previous recipients of the award include prominent figures like K. Veeramani and R. Nallakannu. Ananthan is also the father of Tamilisai Soundararajan, a senior BJP leader and former governor. The award was instituted in 2021 to honor distinguished Tamil personalities.