KLIBF discusses the mutual influence of Tamil and Malayalam literature. Talk. On Tamil and Malayalam Fiction: Birds of a Feather, Tamil writer Malan Narayanan and Malayalam storyteller K.P. Ramanunny also shared his views.
Tamil writer Malan Narayanan said that Tamil and Malayalam literatures have the same past. He opined that India is united not politically or geographically but in culture. O. Malan Narayanan said that the storyline of Chanthu Menon’s Indulekha and Subrahmanya Bharti’s one-sixth role is the same. C.V. When Raman’s Marthandavarma first came out as a historical novel in India itself, VVS Iyer wrote a story about the Chola kings in Tamil. He also opined that many story works on the same subject were produced simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil. Malan Narayanan said that although he has traveled to many countries, he has been able to see such a book festival only in Kerala.
KP Ramanunny said that Malayalam is the closest language to Tamil. However, he opined that it is a fact that the Malayalis are no longer following the love for their mother tongue that the Tamil community still maintains. Even across continents, Tamilians hold their language close to their hearts. However, he opined that the majority of Malayalis do not have that desire.
