Kalki was a prominent Tamil literary figure in the 1930s and '40s known for cult novels like 'Ponniyan Selvan' and 'Alai Osai’.
R. Krishnamurthy, better known by his pen name Kalki, is credited with ushering in a literary era in South India that raised the standard of the Tamil novel.
However, Kalki donned many hats in his life. Aside from being an author, he was a journalist, activist, poet, music critic and playwright in the 1930s and 40s.
The Sahitya Akademi awardee penned 120 short stories, 10 novellas, five novels, three historical romances and other musings. But most prominent were his works in historical fiction, particularly Ponniyan Selvan, a 2,400-word cult novel that glorified the Chola dynasty — a Tamil empire that is believed to be one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world history.
The novel is currently being adapted into a film directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
Apart from chronicling the rise of the Chola rulers in Ponniyan Selvan and India’s freedom movement in Alai Osai, Kalki wrote about Pallava dynasty in Sivagamiyin Sapatham, women’s emancipation in Thyagabhoomi, tragic romance in Kalvanin Kadhali and often used humour in his writing.
Kalki died of tuberculosis on 5 December 1954 at the age of 55 years. On his 66th death anniversary, The Print remembers the life and times of the great writer.
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