Theatrical reading brings Tamil history and culture to life

Whether the Tamils were the original inhabitants of India or wanderers who came from the Indus Valley is not a settled question, said Nirmala Lakshman, author of The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community and chairperson of The Hindu Group, at The Hindu Lit for Life 2026 on Saturday (January 17, 2026).

A theatrical reading from the book unfolded before a rapt audience, beginning with a resonant rendition of ‘Mannum imaya malai engal malaiye’ (’The peaks of the Himalayas are ours’), a verse by poet Subramania Bharati.

Pan-Indian sensibility

The verse expressed the strong pan-Indian sensibility that many Tamils identify with, said Ms. Lakshman. The audience remained absorbed throughout the reading by Ms. Lakshman along with artists Anita Ratnam, Revathy Kumar, Sarvesh Sridhar, Tehzeeb Katari, Brahadeeshwar C. Chandilya, and Nandhini Subbulakshmi.

The reading, interspersed with verses from Kurunthogai of Sangam literature, Thirunavakkarasu’s Thevaram, the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, and Bharati’s patriotic songs, traced excerpts from the book covering the Pallava, Pandya, Chola, and Chera dynasties, followed by the Marathas, Christendom, and the contributions of the Muslim community to Tamil culture.

The Pallava dynasty was the first large, consolidated South Indian empire and ruled for over 400 years, the artists noted. They added that the Bhakti movement, marked by a reinvigoration of Saivism and Vaishnavism, took firm root during the reign of Mahendravarman I. The movement drew people not only through the use of Tamil in its hymns and poetry but also because its saints came from a wide range of social backgrounds, including Brahmins, cobblers, farmers, merchants, princes, and even robbers.

Moving on to the Pandyas, said to be the only dynasty in India with a continuous presence and rule in some form for over 2,000 years, the reading then recounted the story of Rous Peter, the British Collector of Madurai from 1812 to 1828, who, though a Christian, held deep reverence for Goddess Meenakshi. Known as “Peter Pandian”, he remained devoted to the city even after retirement and chose to be buried facing the temple, reflecting the city’s enduring cultural traditions.

Turning to the Cholas, the readers spoke of their architectural masterpiece, the Brihadeeswara, known locally as the Periya Koil, which was a world unto itself. They also noted that the art of painting in the cave temples at Sittanavasal, the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram, and the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur is considered on par with that of Ajanta, while adding that the craftsmanship is markedly superior to that of the northern tradition.

Tamilakam enjoyed great prosperity during the early Chera rule through trade in spices, ivory, timber, pearls, and gems, they said. The Vaishnavite poet-saint Kulasekara, a ninth-century Chera king, later came to be known as Kulasekhara Azhwar and authored the celebrated Perumal Tirumozhi in Tamil and Mukundamala in Sanskrit.

When the Maratha dynasty established its rule in the ancient Chola capital of Thanjavur, a unique cultural blend emerged. Over time, many other communities became intertwined with Tamil society. Arab merchants settled in Tamilakam and married local women, giving rise to a distinct Tamil Muslim community.

Similarly, in the realm of Christianity, figures like Roberto de Nobili — and the scholars, missionaries, ethnographers, linguists, and historians who followed — adapted themselves to Tamil culture and were gradually embraced into its fold, said the author and the artists.

The Hindu Lit For Life is presented by The all-new Kia Seltos. In association with: Christ University and NITTE, Associate Partners: Orchids- The International School, Hindustan Group of Institutions, State Bank of India, IndianOil, Indian Overseas Bank, New India Assurance, Akshayakalpa, United India Insurance, ICFAI Group, Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, Vajiram & Sons, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Mahindra University, Realty Partner: Casagrand, Education Partner: SSVM Institutions, State Partner: Government of Sikkim & Uttarakhand Government

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Published – January 17, 2026 09:11 pm IST