How a novel inspired parents to name their children after its characters

A 100 children will appear on stage at Kalaivanar Arangam this Friday (July 11) for a function celebrating the success of Velpari, a two-volume novel on the Sangam-period Tamil life, by Sahitya Akademi award winner Su. Venkatesan. These children were born during the time the novel was being serialised in Ananda Vikatan or later its publication as books. Captivated by the story, their parents chose to name them after characters from the novel

“The book crossed one lakh copies in sales and could have earned ₹10 crore. But what I consider the real achievement is the parents’ decision to name their children after the characters. There are children named Pari, Velpari, Kapilan, Aathini, and Porsuvai,” said Mr. Venkatesan, a Member of Parliament representing the Madurai constituency