Thunchat Ezhuthachan (16th century) is one of the giants among Malayalam poets. Believed to have been born in Trkkantiyur in Malappuram district, Ezhuthachan is considered as the father of modern Malayalam poetry, who gave the language a power not known before. He has also made significant contribution to the spiritual and cultural renaissance of the state. Mahabharatam is the most important among Ezhuthachan's poetical works, the rest being, Adhyatmaramayanam, Irupattinalu Vrttam, Harinamakirttanam, Cintaratnam, Devimahatmyam. His Mahabharatam, the greatest epic poem in Malayalam, though a rendering from the Sanskrit epic by Vyasa, possesses all the necessary attributes of an original work of art.

Kunchan Nambiar (18th century) is considered as the creator of Thullal, a popular performing art of Kerala. Thullal avoids the high-brow rigidities of classical art forms like Kathakali and Koodiyattam, and also steers clear of the pedestrian folk forms such as Padayani. It blends the finer elements of both the genres, in formulating its strategies of performance and narration. Nambiar's Kalyana Saughandikam, (the golden water-lily) is believed to be the first among the forty odd Thullal songs he has composed for the stage. It was while enjoying the patronage of king Devanarayana of Chempakasseri, as a courtier that he composed the aforementioned Thullal song. His songs though dealing with puranic themes, abound in pungent and biting social criticism. Armed with satire and humour, Nambiar ridiculed the failings of his contemporaries and insisted on proper conduct and civilised behaviour from all sections of the society.