Vaali had the gift of the gab and it is a celebrated fact. However, what distinguished him was his innate ability to blend satire in it to make a point—which added spice to his captivating public speeches. Nothing demonstrates this better than the way in which he chose to end a controversy raging endlessly in Kollywood circles: that of an alleged rivalry between him and Vairamuthu.
At a function organised to felicitate the veteran lyricist, when Vairamuthu rose to present him a ring, the former, alluding to the controversy cheekily making use of the Tamil homonyms modhiram and modharom, which stand for ring and clash respectively, said: “Many say we are cut-throat rivals; but he has affirmed our friendship by giving me the ring (naanga motharomnu solranga, aana enakku ivaru mothiram kudutharu).”
This took even Vairamuthu by surprise. “There could never have been a rivalry between us as our thrones have always been distinct and separate. Some may have claimed of a rivalry between us, but we have always been the best of friends and admirers,” he said.