The group of poets called kavitraya were Nannaya (11th century), Tikkana
(13th century) and Yerrapragada (13th and 14th century). They translated the
Mahabharata into Telugu. Their other works include Nanaya’s Andhra
Sabda Chintamani and Tikkana’s Nirvachanothara Ramayana. Other
important writers were Bhima Kavi (Bhimesvara Puranam of the 17th
century), Nanne Choda (Kumarasambhava of the 18th century), Somanatha
(Basava Puranam of the 13th century), Srinatha (Srinagaranaisada. Sivaratri
Mahatyam. Kasikhanda, etc. of the 14th and the 15th centuries), Bammera
Potana (Bhagavatam of 15th century), Vemana (Sataka), Krishna Deva Raya
and his poets and Molla (Ramayana by a poetess of a low caste of the 16th
century).
Kannada
The earliest extant work in Kannada is Kavirajamarga by Rashtrakuta
Amoghavarsha I. The poets known as ratnatraya are Pampa (9th century).
Poona (l0th century) and Ranna (l0th century). Their works are: Pampa’s Adi
Purana and Pampa Bharata, Poona’s Santi Purana; Ranna’s Ajitanatha
Purana and Gadhayudha. Narahari, known as Kannada Valmiki, wrote
Taravi Ramayana, and Virupaksha Pandita wrote Chenna Basava Purana
(16th century).
Malayalam
The earliest literary work in Malayam is Unnunili Sandesam, a work by an
unknown writer of 14th century Ramanuja Elluttoccan (greatest of all) wrote
Harinamakirtanam, Bhagavatam Kilippattu and other works.