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This lesson talks about a type of Sollani known as Chitirakavigal. The beauty given to the shape of the poem and the types of Chitirakavigal are also discussed in this lesson. Literature is a basis for different art forms. For example, if a poem is sung with music, literature mixes with the art of music; in the same way, when someone dances to a poem, literature mixes with the art of dance. Painting is also an art that aligns with literature. For example the painter Ravi Varma has beautifully painted the dialogue between Damayanthi and the swan that occurs in the literary work Nalavenbaa.

In the same way when works themselves become works of art in poems, it is a “Chitirakavi”. The first half of them includes Komuthiri, Kooda Sadhukam, Maalaimaattu and Naaga Bandham. Kooda Sadhukam is where the words in the last line of the poem are taken from the previous line or lines. Maalaimaatru is similar to a palindrome, where the words of the poem do not change when read from the beginning or from the end. Naaga Bandham is where two Venbaas Join together.

The second half of Chitirakavigal includes Vinaavutharam, Kaadhaikarapu, Karandhuraipaatu, Sakkara Bandham, Akara Sadhagam etc.

From this lesson we have an introduction to Chitirakavigal and different types of Chitirakavigal in existence. When words become works of art within poems it is a “Chitirakavi”. There are twelve different types of Chitirakavigal.