As said earlier the 18^th century witnessed a considerable decline in T literature. The major part of the literature published during the first half of the 19^th century was poetry, particularly the Satakas. There were large in number and showed a greater amount of originality, moral instructions, social element, human touch and spirit of lyricism than other poetic forms. Phakki Venkata Narasayya, Vasurayalu were some of the eminent Sataka writers. There also flourished a host of poetesses the most famous of whom was Vengamma.

The founder of modern T literature was Rao Bahadur K Viresalingam. He was influenced by English literature and the theme of his first novel Rajasekhara-charitramu, was suggested by Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield. Later Rao became a member of the Brahmo Samaj and used his pen to advocate social reforms and advanced ideas in all spheres of life. His Andhra Kavula-charitra was the first attempt to write the history of T literature.

The drama of the modern type was evolved from older forms of play writing like the Vidhinataka and the Yakshagana. The age old Yalshagana had almost developed into a full blown type of native drama by the time it made its debut in the 19^th century. The great Tygaraja, Sivaji were some of the important authors of that time. In the latter part of the 19^th century the Dharwar Dramatic Company came into the scene. T writers of that time were very fascinated by their performances and took to writing plays on modern lines. Some made translations from Sanskrit or English or new themes but adapted the Sanskrit norms or the English in the technique of composition.

Viresalingam did a pioneering work in this direction. As the first novelists he is hailed as the father of modern prose literature in T. Gurajada Apparao may be hailed as the father of modern short story in T.

During the second half of the 19^th century appeared a lot of prose works dealing with moral fables, stories of pilgrimages, subjects like politics, law and so on. Chinnayasuri's Nitichandrika won reputation as a classical specimen of modern T prose in a very chaste and lucid style. Some have employed colloquial style and satisfied the growing need of a vast majority of the public. As it gained momentum, the novel, the short story, the essay and the like, the essential form of which is prose came into being.

Eminent services were rendered by the Europeans to the cause of T literature during the first half of the 19^th century. W Carrey etc wrote T grammars, published dictionaries. Col Mackenzie etc took pains in collecting manuscripts of old works.