Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies

In the history of Tamil literature, poetry is more than just a collection of words; it is a cultural identity of a society, a political tool, and a subtle expression of human emotions. With a continuous history spanning over two thousand years, the Tamil poetic tradition has undergone various transformations—from the grammatical rules of Yappu (prosody) in the era of Tolkappiyam to the liberated "New Poetry" (Pudukkavithai) of today.

This research paper explores in detail how the Akavarpa and Kalippa traditions of Sangam literature flourished, and the shifts brought about in poetic forms by medieval Bhakti literature and epics. Specifically, it deeply analyzes the revolution of prose-poetry (Vasana Kavithai) initiated by Bharathiyar in the 20th century, followed by the formal and thematic contributions made to modern poetry by literary movements such as Manikkodi, Ezhuthu, and Vanambadi. Furthermore, it describes how Japanese poetic forms like Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka took root in the Tamil literary landscape and explains their technical structures. This study also examines how contemporary Tamil poetry aligns with global literary trends and provides a visionary perspective on future poetic forms.