Principles of Aesthetics in Kaninividu thothu

Abstract

The minor literary work (Chitrilakkiyam) titled Kaninividu Thoodu (Parrot-turned-Computer as a Messenger), authored by poet Masivan, stands as an innovative creation that bridges the ancient messenger literary tradition (Thoodu Ilakkiyam) with modern technology. This study explores the aesthetic principles revealed in personifying a mechanical computer as a work of art and a close, dependable companion carrying a message.   Technological Aesthetics shines through as the author portrays the historical evolution of the computer—from the era of Charles Babbage to fifth-generation Artificial Intelligence—much like the narrative arc of an epic. Particularly in the traditional sections where the heroine’s physical attributes are described from head to toe (Padathi Kesa), the poet upholds natural aesthetics by comparing her eyes to magnets and her hair to dark clouds.   The author’s logical explanation of how the computer surpasses traditional messenger motifs—such as clouds, gentle breezes, and parrots—in speed, precision, and reliability serves as testimony to the work’s comparative aesthetics. Furthermore, weaving the grammatical elements of the Tamil language—such as letters (Eluthu), words (Sol), and meaning (Porul)—with the operations of a computer demonstrates a rich linguistic aesthetics.   Finally, this article establishes how poet Masivan gracefully crafted the modern concept of "Computers everywhere, in everything" with literary taste, seamlessly blending interior emotions (Akam) with scientific advancement. Such an approach confirms Tamil literature's flexibility to adapt to changing times while preserving its timeless aesthetic values.