Irathina Karikalan was born in a village called Marungur in Tamil Nadu. With some companions he pioneered a literary movement called Kaalam which publishes a literary, art and cultural magazine Kaalamputhithu and is a member of the magazine's editorial board. He has published two collections of poetry, Puhaippada Manithargal and Appothirundha Edaivelliyil. He writes mainly about the marginalized classes and in the language spoken by them.