Kavignar Prabhakarababu has been a
staunch reader. His undercurrent has been in Creative Writing and shown
attachment towards literary works of renowned world
poets/dramatists/philosophers/story tellers viz. John Keats, Robert Frost,
William Wordsworth, William Blake, Robert Byrons, Tennyson, Shakespeare,
Socrates, Leo Tolstoy, Emerson, Jonathan Swift, Buffen, O.Henry etc. He did
realise that the original creative chase literatures of Tamil poets are not
understood or quoted by overseas authors as we do of above said creators. He
adores Kavignar Kannadasan for his purposeful and meaningful philosophical
poetry for class as well as mass. Prabhakarababu has made contributions
principally in poetry, apart from occasional contributions in short stories,
Stage Dramas, essays/articles, anecdotes, humours etc.
Kavignar Prabhakarababu authored 5
books of his own Tamil poems consisting of traditional poems and modern verses,
which were well acknowledged literary world. Most of poems revolve around
social and youth/women empowerment.
Having done substantial literary
achievements in poetry, he has felt the necessity to let known the Sangam
Poetry to common public. Ancient Sangam Poetry belonging to 3 BC to 2 BC which
was held in the exclusive shelves of a few was transformed into modern verse by
Prabhakarababu. First such recast work done by him in Pathu Paattu (10 idylls) became
a grand success and acclaimed as a welcome addition to the Tamil literature. He
works drawn attention of print/visual/net media and he was invited for
interviews on his recast experience in Sangam Literature. Encouraged by the
response from educationist, academicians, authors, poets and public, he has
continued his recast work with Kurunthogai (400 poems) and recast in his own
style in modern verse which again received big welcome and appreciations from
book reviews in leading magazines. With his unique style of recast works, he
has continued with recast of Muthollayiram, Aingurunooru (500 poems), Natrinai
(400 poems) and there was no look back. Due to his shrewdness, he could
penetrate into the traditions verses of Sangam poetry and hence his Varpilakkiyam (recast) could be made
possible.
He gained a unique reputation as specialised
recast author and made comfortable inroad into Sangam Poetry. The recast modern
verse of Sangam Poetry can be understood anybody with normal literary
understandings. His works on Kurunthogai brought him Best Book
Award for Kurunthogai from Tamil Writers Welfare Trust (2005) and his works on
Pathu Paattu was selected as the best and Best Book award was granted by Ulagalaviya
Unnadha Manida Neya Seva Maiyam (2003).
 |
| Prabhakarababu |
The pathu
paattu recast was greatly appreciated under Book Review under title “Adaptation of Sangam Poetry” by The
Hindu daily (2003). In the words of The
Hindu,
“…………… A lay Tamil reader cannot easily understand the original text of
the Sangam works due to linguistic changes that have occurred in Tamil during
the past several centuries. Hence this work will be very useful.
He has presented the idylls in contemporary Tamil making use of the free
verse form without sacrificing the original contents and the literary flavour.
Although the work is a kind of adaptation, it appears as though it is an
original literary work.
After acquiring a reasonably good understanding of the 10 idylls, the
author has freely recast them in modern Tamil in 10 volumes. The present work,
no doubt, is an outcome of hard work and good literary skill. A welcome
addition to modern Tamil literature!”
The Hindu has subsequently interviewed
the poet exclusively for his literary milestones.
The recast literature (Vaarpu
Ilakkiyam) books were reviewed by Dhinamalar, Dinakaran, Kalki, Thuglaq, Tamilan
Express, Dinamani, Kumudam, Pudhiya Vanigam, Pen Ulagam, Vasantham etc and
other small magazines also.
http://www.hindu.com/br/2003/12/16/index.htm
