The mention of current day Tamil scholars and Ravi's response to it - why dont we discuss this?
My knowledge is limited, but I agree with Ravi.
Thiru Velikudi Krishnan's Gita explanation in DD is amazing. I have seen this program rather few times and not all the episodes. His command over Tamil, Enlish and Sanskrit Literature is phenomenal. His knowledge on current affairs and science and linking them to the subject - I use to sit dumbfolded.
Nannan is amazing...his tamil diction program in Makkal TV is a must to watch. As MK's comment on Arugil..Arugamayil....Nannan has a word for each day in this program. Not sure whether its still continuing.
Salamon Papaya's wit needs no mention.
In the recent past, Kannadasan - many songs will have deep inner meanings with references to vedas or other scriptures. I think most of these were written after he came out the atheism.
In my known circle, not so famous personalities - Thiru Harikrishnan from Bangalore(most of the tamil netizens should be knowing him. Author of a masterpice 'Hanuman - Vaarpum Vanarpum' by Kizhakku pathipagam) - Kripa should be knowing him better - I used to admire his knowledge in tamil, Sanskrit and English.
So is Mr.Madurabarathi from Chennai- good in tamil and english literature. Editor of 'Thendral' an US based Tamil magazine.
I think, we can find a lot around us, if we really need to.
Hi tamil poetry prose or drama( cinema included ) had no caste bias. a love for the language and its expressins in different form too has had exponents from all castes. even european missionaries have contributed in this language.
i would personally rank barathi, kannadasan and pattukottai as the greatest of the contributors in this century.
Hi, I would probably add UV Swaminathan Iyer ...since ha laso worked during the period Barathi was there. I would also add Puthumai Pithan,La Sa Ramamirthan,Jayakanthan,Sujatha.....
If we are talking of 'Amarar' then we can go back to n number of scholars. Mu.Ka is a great scholar, no question on that. I would be curious to know his mastery over many tamil literacy documents over the years.
There is no one single great scholar unless he is an enlightened soul. No Enlightened soul would ever claim the limits of literacy. We have seen that happen manytimes with Nakeerar or SIvakavi etc.
Good point, we can find people who are very brilliant tamil literates and have not been on lime light. Hari krishnan works are amazing, I liked his vaali vatham episode tremendously. He gives out of the box explanations at many episodes.
Venkat, I could not agree more on Bharati and Kaviarasar, not sure about PK. I know personally of several people who have been helped through depression with Kaviarasar's work alone.
My choice of contemporaries include Suki Sivam and the late Pulavar Keeran. Pulavar Keeran was very good like the other gentleman said in bringing different perspectives to puranic stories, and purely tamil based lectures only. His kadhai on Bharati's Panchali Sabatham was awesome. Variyar swamigal was very good too but a little traditional. He did do a lot of service though and helped many temples with free 'kadhai'.