Based on Kambar's and Valmiki's Ramayana (which is in Tamil and Sanskrit) , the opera describes the legend of King Rama of Ayodhya.

After his marriage he set up a pawn-broker shop, This not only provided him with a good living, but also with a fair amount of Leisure to pursue his literary studies.

Arunachala kavi wanted his work also to be officially noted and released in the premises of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple as the shrine had some association with the actual story of Ramayana.

So, the next day, the poet sang the ‘Todayam’ in which he offered salutations to Garuda, Vishwaksena, Five weapons of the Lord, Alwaars and Aachaaryas.

His compositions became popular as it was noted by Maharaja Tulajaji of the Tanjore court, also Arunachala went to Madras and sang his pieces before a large audience of patrons, scholars and the public.

Saveri, Mohana, Madhyamavathi, Asaveri, Sowrashtram, Mukhari, Surali, Atana, Begada, Nadanamakinya are some of the Rakti ragas used.

Thus the long cherished wish of the poet that he should popularise Ramayana among the people of Tamil Nadu was fulfilled in a large measure.

[7][8] Some of his famous compositions of Ramanatakam are still popular today like Annai Jaanaki vandale (Saveri), Enpalli kondir iyya (Mohanam), Yaro ivar yaro (Bhairavi), Kanden Kanden Sitayai (Vasantha), Ramanai Kannara Kandane (Mohanam), RAmanukku mannan muDi (Anandabhairavi) and many more.

A famous example is the Dance consort of Mithun Shyam at the India International Centre, New Delhi performed the Rama Natakam.

[14] Several Songs of Rama Natakam has been automatic choices for hundreds of Carnatic singers for the scope they offer and can be easily understood by normal people.