Tamil romantic fiction has a long and storied history, with roots in the Sangam era. The ancient Tamil texts, such as the Tirukkural and Silappathikaram , contain themes of love, passion, and relationships. However, it was during the Bhakti period that romantic fiction began to take shape as a distinct genre. The Periyapuranam , a 12th-century CE epic poem, is an example of a romantic narrative that explores the theme of divine love.