characters by himself when writing a book. For instance, In 'Udayar' novel, he had traveled many places where Raja Raja Cholan visited in order to bring closeness towards the novel. Also, he traveled in trucks to longer distance for his 'Irumbu Kuthirai' (Iron horse) novel. In an interview given to The Times of India, he said that after reading Kalki Krishnamurthy's novel Ponniyin Selvan he wondered why it was needed to write a fictional account of the Cholas when there was enough to write about the facts there. "The Raja Raja Chola of Kalki was a different person. He hadn't become the king yet. The Thanjai temple wasn't even in the picture. I went to the Thanjavur district and visited Pallipadai, dedicated to Panchavan Madevi. She was an anukkiyar, a category that is apart from the queens and concubines. She was a friend of Raja Raja Chola I. If you look at the paintings there, each face is unique. Whoever did it, has worked on it with real faces. I did a lot of research for my novel Gangaikonda Chozhan also. But I felt I did that work, visiting those places as a tourist. Udaiyar, a six-part novel, gave me satisfaction as a writer." Novels written Udayar Series about the Great Emperor Raja Raja Cholan, includes the details about how he built Thanjavur district Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur and many more. It is a reference to the culture gradient between different kingdoms during Udayar period. Mercury Pookkal Irumbhu Kudhiraigal Krishna Arjunan Thayumanavan Agalya Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu Endrendrum Anbudan Udayar (novel) Shenbagathottam Pani Vizhum Malar Vanam Kadal neelam Naan Enna Solli Vittaen Kadarpaalam Pey Karumbu (on Pattinathaar Swamigal) Simmasanam (on Kumara Guruparar Swamigal) Thangakkai (on Seshadiri Swamigal of Thiruvannamalai) Guru (on Bhagawan Sri Yogi Ram Suratkumar of Thiruvannamalai) Nigumbalai Kadalora Kuruvigal Karaiyora Mudhalaigal Payanigal Kavanikkavum Thunai Meettadha Veenai Vetrilai Kodi Manja Kaani Karnanin Kathai Shakthi KatruKondal Kutramillai En Manathu Thamaraippoo Kalyana Murungai Peria Puranak Kathaigal Kannaadi Koburangal Kadigai Ramayanam Ammavum 10 Katturaigalum Manam Uruguthey Appam Vadai Thayirsatham Ithuthaan Vayathu Kathalikka Snegamulla Singam Yeno Theriavillai kathal Aragam Neli Mothiram Ean Mathil Tamarai Poo Kathalperuman (On Arunagirinathar) Vilvamaram Marakal idharkuth Thane Aasaippattaay Balakumara Thalaiyanai Pookkal En Kanmani Thamarai (On Abirami Bhattar) Thozhan Gangai Konda Cholan Avani Idhu Pothum Mahabharatham 333 Ammaiyappan Theru Kanne Vanna Pasungiliye Brindhavanam (On Shri Ragavendra Swamigal) Filmography Balakumaran's contribution to films was largely in the field of screenplay making