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We shall now focus on a very significant period in the history of Tamil drama. We shall look at a amateur and professional plays. In the latter half of the nineteenth century Tamil drama had deteriorated considerably. This situation was changed and new life was breathed into Tamil drama by two great pioneers:
Pammal Sampantha and Sankaradhas Swamikal.

A revolution was ushered into Tamil drama by these two dramatists. They restored the glory of Tamil drama by bringing back to the theatre, discipline, morality, quality and well designed troupes.

Sampantha Mudaliar brought in the amateur perspective to drama. Sankaradhas Swamikal, the other hand concentrated on the professional approach. They worked for the same cause though from different aspects. New artists were created.

Sampantha Mudaliar was born in 1873 in Chennai. After B.A. in Pachaiyappa’s college, he joined the Law College. In 1898 he registered himself as a lawyer. Even during his student days he developed an interest in drama. He started the amateur drama club Suguna Vilas Sabha in 1891. He had written 94 plays during his lifetime. He also translated many English and Sanskrit plays. Most significant among his plays are Manokara, Sabapathy, Vethala Ulagam etc., From 1931 onwards he also worked for the film industry. Many of his earlier plays like Sathi Slochana and Manokara were turned into films. He was himself a good actor and trained others too. He wrote plays of various types. His actors were educated. He controlled the duration of plays and made drama realistic.

Sangaradhas Swamikal was born in Thoothukudi in the year 1867. He wrote 51 plays. He performed the role of Yamatharuman in the play Savithri. He acted as Saneeswaran in Thamayanthi. On seeing him a women got so frightened that she died. Such incidents forced him to give up acting and concentrate on training alone. He paid special attention to acting, morality and discipline.

His plays were based on familiar stories. They were written in simple Tamil. He used popular tunes or ragas. He concentrated in morality.

Tamil drama has witnessed many vicissitudes in the course of its history. Sampantha Mudaliar and Sangaradhas Swamikal are responsible for the high regard with which drama is held today.