[TorryJens]

Thiru Neduncheziyan avargale!

I think we have discussed some time back with regard to the derivations of the words, Telugu, Kannadam, Thulu, and MalayaLam. Have you downloaded our discussion< Kindly check.

Anyway,
Malai + aaLam = malayaaLam ( malainaattu mozhi).
Kannadam said to be from Karunadam but disputed by other researchers.
Telugu - several etymologies but researchers rejected one another.
TuLu similarly no concensus.

But you may be interested in knowing one variety of the many etymologies and this variety centred on sweet stuff.

Telugu from thenugu > theen (honey).
Kannadam from kannal, meaning sugarcane (juice).
TuLu from thuLi, i.e., theenthuLi (honey drop).
Thamiz from tami+iz , tami = tani (no equal). iz = inimai.
Malai = malaiththeen (mountain honey). aaLam suffix.

Some are saying how come everything is sweet with these five languages!!

Bharathithaasan says:

pandaith thamizum thamizil malarnththa
pannikar thelungu thuLu malayaaLam,
kandai nikar kannadam enum mozikaL
kamazak kalaikaL siRantha naadu,

Kandai nikar - kaRkaNdai nikarththa (equal to rock sugar). So he believed in this "sweet" etymologies. kandu = kaRkkandu made from sugarcane so kannal > kannadam.

paMMikar telungu - telugu that is equal to a paNN - a musical stanza,

Barathi said "sundarath thelungu".

You find it interesting?