Poomani is a Sahithya Academy Winning Tamil writer from Kovilpatti in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He won Sahithya Academy Award for his novel Agnaadi in 2014. Poomani was born in 1947 into a family of marginal farmers in Andipatti, a village near Kovilpatti. oomani's historical novel Agnaadi (January 2012) has been called "a landmark work". It covers a period of more than 170 years from the beginning of the 19th century, revolving mainly around the lives and fortunes of several families dispersed over villages in the region: Kalingal, Kazhugumalai, Chatrapatti, Veppankadu, Chinnaiahpuram and Sivakasi. The families are from a range of castes (Pallars, Vannaars, Panaiyeri Nadars, Naickers and Thevars) and occupations (farmers, washermen, toddy-tappers, landed squires and warriors). Poomani received a 28-month study and research grant from Indian Foundation of the Arts in Bengaluru to study the history of the novel. The novel won the inaugural Gitanjali Literary Prize.