Uma Devi (lyricist)

Uma Devi (also credited as Umadevi or Uma Devi Kuppan) is an Indian poet,^[1] lyricist, writer and professor who works predominantly in the Tamil film industry.^[2]

She gained wider recognition for her lyrics in films such as Kabali (2016), Aramm (2017), 96 (2018), Raatchasan (2018), NGK (2019), Kaala (2018), Blue Star (2024) and Thangalaan (2025). She has won Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Tamil for the song "Yaaro Ivan Yaaro" from Meiyazhagan.

Uma Devi was born in Athipakkam village in Vandavasi taluk of Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. She completed her schooling and undergraduate studies in her hometown and later became a professor and research scholar, with interests that include Dalit identity, feminism, Buddhism and social justice.

She belongs to a family with a strong interest in literature and public issues, and her early reading and writing exposed her to Tamil poetry and political thought, which later influenced her song-writing.^[3]

Uma Devi initially wrote poems and essays on Dalit identity, women’s issues, and politics before transitioning into film lyric writing. Her entry into Tamil cinema came through opportunities to write for socially conscious films, beginning with Pa Ranjith's Madras.^[4] She has since worked with composers such as Santhosh Narayanan, Govind Vasantha, G. V. Prakash Kumar.

She has written lyrics for a wide range of genres, from political and mass songs to intimate romantic numbers and lullabies. In interviews, she has spoken about breaking the stereotype that women lyricists write only love songs and about bringing the voices of marginalized communities into mainstream cinema.^[5]