Thenpandi Singam is a Tamil

Tamil literature

Tamil literature refers to the literature in the Tamil language. Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution...

 historical novel written by Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi

M. Karunanidhi

Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...

, who based his novel on a legendary story of Valukku Veli, a Petty chief ruling Paganeri Nadu, one of the Kallar

Kallar (caste)

Kallar are a community found in the central and south-eastern parts of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kallar means thiefs. The Kallar, along with the Maravar and Akamudayar, constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy, a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations...

 nadus in the 18th century.

Kalaignar was also awarded the "Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for this book.

Plot summary

Thenpandi Singam is a historical fiction, which has mostly real historical characters.

The story starts with a brief description by Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

.

The list of Kallar Nadus mentioned are:

Mela Nadu, Sirugudi Nadu, Mallakkotai Nadu, Pattamangala Nadu, Paganeri Nadu, Kandar Manicham Nadu, Kunnankkottai Nadu, Thennilai Nadu, Iravuseri Nadu, Unjanai Nadu, Semponmari Nadu, Kappalur Nadu, Silamba Nadu, Irumba Nadu, Therpogi Nadu, Vadapogi Nadu, Gopala Nadu, Arrangarai Nadu, Ellu Kottai Nadu, Muthu Nadu, Etc..

Kallaingar's sources were stone inscriptions and Kallar Saritiram by Navalar N.M Venkatasamy Nattar.

The story revolves around a war between Valukku Veli , a very strong Ambalakkarar who ruled Paganeri Nadu in present day Ramanatapuram District, who opposed the British rule, and Vallathuarayan an Ambalakkarar who ruled Pattamangala Nadu. Besides these, there are other main characters, such as:

• Karutta Adappan
• Vairamuttan
• Urangappuli Thevan
• Kalyani Nachiyar
• Sundarambal
• Vadivambal
• Vellai Iyer
  Iyer
  Iyer is the title given to the caste of Hindu Brahmin communities of Tamil origin. Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara...
  
  
• Meganadan

Kalaignar also provided a lot of the information about the bravery of Tamil people, for instance, Maruthu Pandiyar

Maruthu Pandiyar

The Marudhu Pandiyar brothers ruled Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu towards the end of the 18th century...

, Veerapandiya Kattabomman

Veerapandiya Kattabomman

Veerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...

 and how they opposed the British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 rule.

Thenpandi Singam (TV Serial)

This TV serial was written by Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and was telecast in Doordarshan during 1996. Starring Nassar

Nassar

Nassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar...

 and Geetha

Geetha

----Geetha is an Indian actress who has performed in Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. She debuted in the Tamil language film Bhairavi as Rajnikant’s sister...

in the lead roles.