They experimented in language and forms in a way which showed that they were familiar with the modern trends in French, English, and American poetry.
Where the forms and style of the poetry is concerned, they break free from traditional forms and prosodic structures and delight in innovation.
Though they do not in any way deny the richness of the cultural heritage of the Tamils, the poems at the same time signify a radical break with the past history and ancient traditions of Tamil Nadu. Their poems are, historically speaking, in the 'revolutionary' groundbreaking manner and style of the four outstanding poets Subrahmanya Bharathi, Puthumai Piththan, K. There are certain distinctive features seen in the works of the new poets which sets them apart from the other modern poets.
They continued to compose poems in orthodox meters and traditional rhythms. The new poets are markedly different from other "modern poets," who, despite their fervent support of new political ideologies and use of contemporary idioms, stuck to the traditional forms of composition in poetry. Besides five poems by the "revolutionary" Pichamurthi and Rajagopalan, the book featured 58 other poems by 22 younger poets (the poems were all written between 19) as well as a very important introduction by Chellappa. Chellappa, who was himself one of the new poets, in October 1962 in a slim, groundbreaking volume called Puthuk Kuralkal (New Voices).
The term 'puthuk kavithai' (new poetry) was first applied to the works of a particular group of "new poets" who appeared approximately after 1958-59.