In those days, the arts of music and dance flourished abundantly in the Chola land. Dance and drama grew together, hand in hand. The city of Thanjai especially gave rise to many distinguished artists of the dramatic arts. The devout Shaivite poet, Karuvur Thevar, who lived in those days, sang of Thanjai, encircled by ginger gardens, in his verses:

“Where peacocks with lightning-shaped brows Perform in the drama halls, In ginger-girt Thanjai, they learn their arts.”

(*Ginger refers to the fort walls encircling the city.)

Thus does one of his songs describe it. The presence of many drama halls in Thanjai city was a sign of the flourishing dramatic arts there. Of all these drama halls, the finest was within the emperor’s own palace. Artists who invented and staged new dramas lived in Thanjai. Previously, it was customary to adapt stories from the epics and puranas into plays. But for some time now, the dramatists of Thanjai had turned their attention to a new field and found success: they began to dramatize the lives of famous historical heroes. They even staged the heroic tales of those who lived just before their own time.

Where else could such heroes be found as those born in the Chola dynasty? Thus, they dramatized and performed the histories of Chola kings such as Karikala Valavan, Vijayalaya Chola, and Parantaka Deva.

During the Navaratri festival, for three days in the emperor’s palace, plays depicting the heroic histories of Chola kings were performed. Opposite the wondrously decorated drama hall, in the palace courtyard bathed in moonlight, thousands of people gathered to witness the plays. A special section, adorned with pearl-studded, painted pillars beneath a canopy of blue silk, was arranged for the royal women to sit. Beneath this, the queens, princesses, and their intimate companions sat and watched the performances. At such times, Nandini always came and sat close by Princess Kundavai. Though some of the other women disliked this, they kept their feelings to themselves and bore it in silence. Nothing else could be done. Who would dare to become the target of the wrath of Periya Pazhuvettarayar and the Young Queen of Pazhuvur? When even the Young Princess herself showed such respect and honor to that proud woman, what could others do?

Of the three plays about the kings of the Chola dynasty, the third—Parantaka Devar Natakam—shone the brightest. It was on that day, after witnessing the play, that a certain murmur began to stir and grow among the people.

Until then, among the line of Chola kings who had ruled the land, Sundara Chozhar’s grandfather, the illustrious Kopparakesari Parantaka, stood out for his valor and glory. He ruled for about forty-six years. During his reign, the Chola Empire expanded far and wide. His command extended from the land of Lanka to the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Many wars were fought; great victories were won. He earned the title “Kopparakesari Varman, Conqueror of Madurai and Lanka.” He covered the Chittrambalam at Thillai Chidambaram