Which is the great Tamil novel?!
Question:
Which is the great Tamil novel?
Answers:
There innumerable GREAT Tamil novels and it is very difficult to select which one is good.
In my opinion all works by Ilango Adigal are great Tamil epics.
Ilanko Adigal (9th century AD) is the author of one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil literature, Chilappatikaram, the other four being, Manimekalai, Chivaka Chintamani, Valayapati and Kundalakesi. The epic has been a great inspiration for Tamil literature and culture for ages. The celebrated Tamil poet, Subramania Bharati, extolled the work as 'the jewelled necklace called Chilappatikaram of Tamil Nadu that ravishes the listener's heart'. Prince Ilanko of Chera country (present-day Kerala) is believed to have renounced the world at an early age and retired to a monastery at Thirukunavayil. He was joined by his friend, the poet Chattanar who had already penned the epic, Manimekalai. Chattanar narrated the story of Kovalan and Kannaki to Ilanko and urged him to write on the subject which involved the three royal houses of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. Powerful and realistic depiction of the characters, and a strong secular element where several religions live in harmony were key factors in the immense popularity of the epic-.