Sempulapeyaneerar (
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
: செம்புலப் பெயனீரார், literally "he of water that has rained on red fields") was a poet of the
Sangam period
The Sangam literature ( Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' ( Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ''), connote ...
, to whom a sole verse of the
Sangam literature
The Sangam literature (Tamil language, Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil language, Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cā ...
has been attributed.
Biography
Sempulapeyaneerar is said to have hailed from a geographic region with an abundance of
red clay.
With the Tamil literary tradition's practice of identifying a poet by a phrase or word from his or her poem, Sempulapeyaneerar came to be known so owing to his usage of the imagery "red earth and pouring rain" to denote the union of loving couples in his Sangam verse.
Contribution to the Sangam literature
Sempulapeyaneerar wrote a sole Sangam verse, verse 40 of the
Kurunthogai, and also compiled the Kurunthogai anthology.
It is arguably one of the most renowned and oft-quoted of the Sangam anthology. It speaks about two lovers uniting, with the man reassuring his ladylove of his love.
Legacy
Verse 40 of the Kurunthogai inspired many down the centuries, chiefly by its powerful imagery in the words "red earth and pouring rain" which is considered very evocative. It is the inspiration behind the title of
Vikram Chandra's award-winning English novel, ''Red Earth and Pouring Rain.''
The poem was exhibited in the
London metro train service in 2001.
The original lyrics of the Yayum poem was part of the album
Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil by American composer
Rajan Somasundaram and was featured in Amazon's Top#10 International Music albums in July 2020.
The poetry has also inspired several Tamil film songs, including 'Oru Thanga rathathil' from ''
Dharma Yuddham'', 'Narumugaye' from movie ''
Iruvar
''Iruvar'' () is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language epic political drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film, inspired by the lives of M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, is set against the backdrop ...
'', 'Solai poovil malai thenral' from movie ''
Vellai Roja'', 'Pattam poochi' from movie ''
Chithiram Pesuthadi
''Chithiram Pesuthadi'' () is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romantic action drama film written and directed by Mysskin in his directorial debut. The film stars Narain and Bhavana, both making their debut in Tamil cinema. The score and soundt ...
'', 'Munbe Vaa' from movie ''
Sillunu Oru Kaadhal'', 'Yaayum'
from Movie ''
Sagaa''.
See also
*
Kurunthogai
*
Sangam literature
The Sangam literature (Tamil language, Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil language, Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cā ...
*
List of Sangam poets
Sangam refers to the assembly of the highly learned people of the ancient Tamilakam, Tamil land, with the primary aim of advancing the literature. There is no historical evidence to suggest that there were three Sangams. It is a medieval myth p ...
Notes
External links
A blog on Red Earth and Pouring Rain—Kurunthokai 40
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sempulapeyaneerar
Tamil philosophy
Tamil poets
Sangam poets