Visual Episodes on Classical Tamil

About this project

The aim of this project is to develop visual episodes on themes related to language, literature, grammar, epigraphy, numismatics, arts, architecture, religion and diaspora.

The committee discussed at length the episodes to be produced and (the period to be covered for the episodes is between 300 BC to 300 AD). In order to establish the classicalness of Tamil literatures, it is also decided to produce the following episodes covering the subject matters mentioned below:

Literature

	1.	Comparative literature: Sangam Tamil literatures with literatures and folk literatures of other Dravidian languages
	2.	Flora and fauna described in the Sangam literatures
	3.	Five land divisions (Kurinchi, Mullai, Marutham, Neythal and Paalai)
	4.	Poets and scholars honoured by Academics and Kings
	5.	Development of Music Tamil
	6.	Settlement of disputes (as depicted in literatures)
	7.	Judicial practices and proceedings as evidenced from literatures
	8.	Akam – the family life as described in Sangam literatures (in all the seven thinais)
	9.	Special features of Akam literatures like Madaleerudal, Arattodu Nitral, Udanpokku, Kurikal, etc.
	10.	The Concept of Arangetram (the first staging of grammars, literatures, and performing arts like dance, music, etc)
	11.	Thematic representations of Sangam literatures
	12.	Puram – external life as depicted in Sangam literatures
	13.	Contribution of Buddhism and Jainism to Tamil language and culture
	14.	Philanthropy in Sangam literatures
	15.	Philosophical thoughts in Sangam literatures
	16.	Regional literatures – dialects and sociolets in Sangam Tamil.

Drama

	1.	Types of kuttu during Sangam period
	2.	Martial arts of the Tamils
	3.	Folk tradition within written literatures
	4.	Discourse in literature

Grammar (Tolkappiyam)

	1.	Eluttu
	2.	Col
	3.	Porul
	4.	Literary techniques
	5.	Prosody (compositions, voice, osai, etc)
	6.	Worldview of Tamil people as reflected through literatures

General

	1.	Folk deities depicted in Sangam literatures
	2.	Antiquity of Tamil literatures and language
	3.	Contribution of Tamil to Dravidian language family
	4.	Flowers as depicted in Sangam literatures
	5.	Excavations
	6.	Geographical reconstruction of Sangam period - An Atlas of early Tamil and Place names
	7.	Paintings and sculptures depicted in Sangam literatures
	8.	Dictionary of Sangam literatures
About hundred visual episodes will be produced on the above mentioned themes and subject matters.

Project Advisory Committee

Prof. K.S.Rajyashree
Prof. M. Ramasamy
Prof.K.Rangan
Dr. Sreekumar
Prof. A. Srinivasan

Coordinator

Dr. N. Nadaraja Pillai