Kannada script, which evolved from the Brahmi in the 7 ^th century CE was popularised by the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas (7 ^th century CE to 10 ^th century CE). There is a Kannada inscription of Chalukya Vikramaditya in the Kailasanatha temple, Kanchipuram.

The Nulamba Chieftains (8 ^th century CE) used Kannada as their official language and employed the Kannada script in the Dharmapuri region.

Krishna III or Kannaradeva, the Rashtrakuta king who captured Kanchipuram and Thanjavur from the Cholas, employed both Kannada and Tamil in his inscription at Orathi, Villupuram District. There are Kannada inscriptions belonging to 10 ^th century CE at Kodumbalur in Pudukkottai District, which was the headquarters of the Irukkuvelir Chiefs.

This shows that the Irukkuvelir chiefs had traditional connections with Karnataka. From 10 th century CE onwards,we come across Kannada inscriptions in the Tamil speaking areas adjoining Karnataka.