Preparing Unicode Tamil for Vanavil Avvaiyar
Vanavil Avvaiyar is the name attached to a legacy Tamil font that you will mostly encounter in older typeset documents. This page takes Unicode Tamil and rewrites it as Vanavil Avvaiyar text, so you can hand it to something that still expects that format. Language and wording do not change; only the stored characters do.
What to expect from the result
Legacy output only becomes Tamil when the right font is applied to it. To give you something concrete, this converter stores தமிழ் in Vanavil Avvaiyar as jäœ, வணக்கம் as tz¡f« and நன்றி as e‹¿. Vanavil and LT-TM are close relatives. For தமிழ், Vanavil stores jäœ while LT-TM stores jÄœ, a one-accent difference. If a converted word has one wrong letter, try the neighbouring format.
Converting step by step
Put your Unicode Tamil in the input box and run the conversion. Start with a short paragraph so you can check the result in the program that needs it. The counters under each box help confirm that nothing was dropped.
Check it where it will be used
The only real test of legacy output is the program that will use it. Paste a few words there, set the font to Vanavil Avvaiyar, and read the Tamil. If letters are missing or swapped, check that the font name matches the format. Pay special attention to pure consonants, long vowels and joined letters.
Typical situations
This is usually a delivery step, not a writing step. You write and edit in Unicode, convert at the end, and send the Vanavil Avvaiyar file on. If the recipient later accepts Unicode, you can drop the conversion entirely.
A few practical tips
Start small, compare, then scale up. Always copy from the original rather than retyping, because retyping can change the exact characters a legacy format expects. If a file combines more than one font, convert the pieces separately. Finally, clear the boxes before the next document.
Why the Unicode copy still matters
Treat the Vanavil Avvaiyar text as a delivery copy. Unicode is the version you can edit, search and share safely, and it is easy to produce a fresh legacy copy whenever you need one. Editing legacy text directly is the surest way to introduce small errors.
Related tools
To move legacy text back into Unicode, use Vanavil Avvaiyar to Unicode. To write new Tamil from an English keyboard, try English to Tamil typing, or look through all Tamil font converters.
Unicode to Vanavil Avvaiyar: common questions
How do I tell Vanavil Avvaiyar apart from LT-TM?
By testing. Paste a short phrase into both tools and see which gives the correct Tamil. The formats are similar but not identical.
Do I need the Vanavil font installed to convert?
No. The converter reads the characters you paste. You only need the font if you want the legacy text to look like Tamil in another program.
Is the Vanavil Avvaiyar font included with this tool?
The page can show a preview where one is supplied, but the converter itself does not depend on installing anything. It works with the character codes.
What about a scanned PDF or an image of Tamil text?
The converter works on text, not pictures. An image or scanned PDF has to go through text extraction or OCR before there is anything to convert.
How accurate is it?
It follows the mapping built into the page and handles ordinary Tamil well. No converter is perfect for every rare character, so a quick proofread is always worth it.
Is it safe to paste a private document here?
The converter works inside your browser, which is a good sign for privacy, but use your own judgement. If a document is truly sensitive, convert a small portion first and clear both boxes when you finish.
What causes a few wrong characters in an otherwise good conversion?
Rare letters, symbols and conjunct forms are where formats differ most. Convert the problem word on its own to see whether the issue is the source text or the format.