Palani Bharathi or Pazhani Bharathi (pronounced [paɭani baːɾaði] or [paɻani baːɾaði]) is an Indian writer and lyricist who works in Tamil cinema.^[1][2][3][4]

Palani Bharathi was born in Karaikudi to Sami Palaniappan, a poet, and Kamala. He has a brother and four sisters. Palaniappan was an assistant of orator/writer Kundrakudi Adigal and follower of poet Bharathidasan.^[5] When Palaniappan moved to Madras (now Chennai) with his family in search of work, he got a job in the government newspaper Tamil Arasu. As a result, Bharathi studied and grew in Chennai. He initially studied at a municipal school, and later at Ganapathi Higher Secondary School till the twelfth grade. Aspiring to become a film editor, he tried joining the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, to no avail.^[6][5]

Bharathi began his career by editing articles, mainly correcting factual errors, in publications including Neerottam and Porval. He later got a job in the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation, of checking and recording the account of volumes of books transported in vehicles from the book warehouse, with his salary being ₹10 (equivalent to ₹86 or US$1.10 in 2023) per day. Bharathi was not very interested in that job, which did not last for more than a month.^[6] Unlike his father, Bharathi liked listening to filmi songs, and aspired to become a film lyricist. He was eventually introduced to director Vikraman, and wrote a song for the film Perum Pulli (1991) which did not appear onscreen.^[5][7] Bharathi wrote some songs for Annai Vayal (1992); though the film was unsuccessful, the songs were well received and he received more offers. He achieved significant success writing all the songs for Ullathai Allitha (1996), and the 1995-1997 period is considered his "golden years", during which he wrote for over 100 films.^[7]

Bharathi prefers to write in simple, understandable language, taking inspiration from Kannadasan and Vaali. He explained, "Any literary piece is worth only if it reaches the audience and I keep it very simple. I don't believe in being verbose".^[7] He also said, "A song is no longer listened to for its meaning, it is mostly bought for the sake of rhythm and beat. Words go only to serve the musical purpose, not the semantic purpose". Palani Bharathi identifies himself as a "people's lyricist".^[8]

Palani Bharathi wrote slanderous articles about Malathy Maitri, a founder of the feminist literary movement Anangu, and was eventually forced to write a public apology.^[9]

• Neruppu Paarvaigal (collection of poems)^[7]
• Veli Nadappu^[7]
• Kadhalin Pin Kadhavu
• Mazhaippen^[7]
• Purakkal Maraintha Iravu^[7]
• Mutthangalin Pazhakkadai^[7]
• Thanimaiyil Vilayaadum Bommai^[7]
• Thanniril Vizhuntha Veyil^[7]
• Kaatrin Kaiyezhuththu^[7]