New Tamil Poetry
Kutti Revathi’s feminist poems in Tamil, translated by N. Kalyan Raman. Here’s a note from the “India — Poetry International” website: “When Kutti Revathi’s second book, Mulaigal (Breasts), was published in 2002, it evoked a storm of protest from the conservatives of the Tamil literary establishment. A group of outraged male film lyricists damned the book. The debate was not limited to the parameters of cultural debate: obscene calls, letters and threats ensued, and comments on the author’s morality and sexual frustration were freely aired. While one lyricist demanded that writers of her ilk be slapped, the other exhorted the public to burn them on Chennai’s Mount Road.”
It is heartening to know a new breed of youngsters, with strong character, is coming up in Tamil Nadu. In every sphere, they leave their indelible impressions. Revathi is one among them. Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi’s daughter is another. In the film field, there are Bala and Cheran, who take cinema very differently. There is hope from the South.
Comment by vilakudy — March 13, 2006 @ 3:13 pm