Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1

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Well, I would run out of time if I keep talking about this book. I would say people who are interested in reading historical novels will definitely like this book. In the epilogue, Kalki himself says there are no clear-cut rules for writing novels, particularly for historical novels. “The history of Tamil Nadu has not been established with unimpeachable evidence. Of course, Tamils can take pride in their ancient history. Proper historical research has been conducted in the last few years in Tamil Nadu. Inscriptions and copper plates are copied and historians are seeking to establish the history of Tamil Nadu through their findings,” he notes. In Kadambur, Nandhini gains Manimegalai's friendship and uses her for her plan. They leave for veeranarayana pond for a picnic where they meet Vandiyathevan and Karikalan who come to the forest for hunting, where Nandini had a conversation with Karikalan. Anbil Aniruddha Brahmarayar: The Prime Minister of emperor Sundara Chola's Court and a close friend and confidante to the emperor. He was highly respected by the people for his wit and intelligence. On Sundara Chola's request, he became the minister and assisted Sundara Chola in matters of administration in addition to being a teacher. He was the keeper of many of the emperor's personal and royal secrets. His network of spies across the Chola empire ensured that almost nothing could happen without his knowledge. One of the best of them is Azhwarkadiyan Nambi. The story advances when rumours abound that there is a conspiracy against Sundara Chola and his sons.

Karuthiruman aka Paithiyakaran (The Madman): An assistant of Veerapandian and prisoner in the dungeons of Thanjavur. Claims to know the location of the Pandyan crown and sceptre hidden in Sri Lanka. Life History of Bharathiraja: Ep 62 - Ponniyin Selvan -ஐ படமா எடுனு MGR சொன்னார் (in Tamil). En Iniya Tamil Makkale. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022 . Retrieved 27 December 2022. [ timeneeded] Vandiyathevan reaches Pazhayaarai where Ilaya Pirati Kundavai Devi lives. With Nambi's help Vandiyathevan meets Kundavai and delivers Karikalan's message to her.

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A perfect magnum opus for anyone who likes to read historical fiction. It is my first foray into Tamil literature, thanks to the recommendation by my friend Ashish. He not only recommended the book but made sure that I bought it and start reading it and it was totally worth it. Although all of the female characters in PS are given equal attention throughout the book, the heroine Kundavai, the sister of Aditha Karikalan and Arulmozhivarman, is perhaps the most prominent one. She was widely regarded as the most powerful woman among the three Kundavai Pirattiyars mentioned in the Chozha literature. She was given the title Vallavaraiyar Vandhiyathevar Pirattiyar Aazhvar Parantakan Kundavai Pirattiyar in the Thanjavur temple inscriptions. Regarding the book’s romantic subgenre, the author made a wise choice in selecting the most well-developed love couple, Vandhiyathevan and Kundavi. Nandini – the Pazhuvur Queen: The five volumes of the Ponniyin Selvan tell the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman who later became the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I and who takes the title of the novel Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan.

The next morning, Vandiyathevan enters the fort using the signet ring outsmarting the fort commander, Chinna Pazhuvettarayar. Vandiyathevan meets emperor Sundar Chola and reveals about the conspiracy against him and his sons. Krishnan, Mini, ed. (1999). Kalki R. Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan. New Delhi: Macmillan India. OCLC 263145239. Arulmozhivarman disappears in a hurricane while returning from Lanka. He survives and remains at Choodamani Viharam, a Buddhist monastery. The family progressively reassembles. The conspirators chose a day to kill the king and his sons. Krishnamurthy, Kalki (15 March 2020). The Sword - Ponni's Beloved Volume 3: An English Translation Of Kalki Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan. Translated by Manikandan, Sumeetha (1sted.). Sumeetha Manikandan.Lot of information about the activities of various kings came from inscriptions like these as well as copper plates like the Anbil one. The Thiruvalangadu copper plates state, “The Chozha people were very keen that after Sundara Chozhan, Arulmozhi Varman should ascend the throne and rule their country. But Arulmozhi Varman respected the right of his Uncle Uttama Chozhan, the son of his father’s younger brother, Kandaradithan, to the throne and crowned him King”.This was my first Indian historic novel and it gave a good idea of the Chola dynasty in a non-boring way. Vaanathi: The shy but playful princess of Kodumbalur. She was raised by her uncle Periya Velar Boothi Vikramakesari because both her father, Siriya Velar and mother are killed. She was sent to Pazhayarai to be one of Kundavai Devi's many friends/ helpers. She tends to faint in stressful situations due to which Ilaya Piratti takes special care of her, making the other princesses envious. She receives a prophecy from Kudanthai Jothidar stating she will bear an extraordinary warrior son who will conquer all 7 seas. She has an immense devotion for Ponniyin Selvan and wishes to marry him but due to Poonguzhali's accusation that her motive to marry Arulmozhi is for the throne, she vows to never sit on the throne if she marries him.

In the late 1980s, actor Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam worked together on adopting the novel into a film. [10] [11] Ratnam revealed that he worked on a first draft of the film alongside Kamal Haasan, who had bought the rights of the novel from Ramachandran, but the pair shelved their plan as the project did not make financial sense at the time. [12] [8] Ramachandran also requested Bharathiraja to make the film. [13] Kamal Haasan then attempted to make the story into a forty-part television series during the early 1990s, and worked with writer Ra. Ki. Rangarajan on the screenplay, but the project was later stalled. [14] The story begins as the emperor Sundara Chola is ill and bedridden. His son Aditya Karikalan is the general of the Northern Command and lives in Kanchi. The younger son Arulmozhivarman is in Sri Lanka on a military campaign. Their sister Kundavai lives in the Chola royal household at Pazhayarai.

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awhile, he learns that the Pazhuvettarayar family crossed him by telling him about Ponniyin Selvan's drowning and are on their way to Tanjavur. On the way to Pazhayarai, he finds Devaralan who takes him to Nandhini. He reaches Pazhayarai. To enter the fort he claims that he is an astrologer to Maduranthakan and fools him. Maduranthakan is stopped by his mother who tells him to leave all his will to become the Chola emperor but he does not pay heed to her request. Vandiyathevan meets Kundavai and reveals everything to her. Brahmarayar and Kundavai send Vandiyathevan to warn Karikalan about Nandhini and protect him. The story takes place right after where it ended in the first book. I will start gushing if I talk about the plot. The pace is so fast, full of beautifully descriptive language which will make you swoon. The characters are so human, so wonderfully developed, so complex. Now, I had to finish the next book! Thank all the Gods and Goddesses that I finally took the book and read it. I am very eagerly waiting to see the movie and how they adapted it. One part is done and on to the next one!

Mandakini alias Oomai Rani/ Singala Nachiyar: The deaf and mute mother of twins, Nandini and Amarabhujangan. Love interest of Sundara Chola. She had great affection towards his children and her niece, Poonguzhali. She is always around Arulmozhivarman and saves him from many dangers. [Mandakini Devi went to Thanjavur (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth twins to a boy (Madhurantaka) and a girl (Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swapped her still born son with Mandakini's son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents. Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadevi's son (Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.] Sundara Chola alias Parantaka II: The emperor of Chola empire. He was known for his facial beauty which gave him his name 'Sundara'. When his legs became paralysed and his health began rapidly deteriorating, the Pazhuvettaraiyar brothers moved the emperor from Pazhayarai to Thanjavur so they could better protect him. This sparked the debate for the next rightful heir. His wish was to appoint his uncle's son as his successor. There was a widespread rumor that the emperor was kept as a prisoner by the Pazhuvettaraiyar brothers. Another Ponniyin Selvan adaptation: A 125-episode series with music by Ilaiyaraaja". Cinema Express. The story unfolds with the journey of the protagonist Vandhiyadhevan to the capital Thanjavur. After discovering a conspiracy, Vandhiyadhevan makes enemies with the royalty. Aditakarikalan, the firstborn of Sundara Chozha king defeated Veerapandyan of Pandya dynasty at the Chevur battlefield at a young age claiming the title of Veerapandiyan Thalai Konda Kopara Kesari. After this triumph, Aditakarikalan was appointed the prince of the Empire, and he plays a pathos role in PS because of the mystery surrounding his death, which may have been the result of murder or suicide. Aditakarikalan fell in love with Nandini earlier when he was young prior to going in for a battle against Veerapandyan who is the father or brother of Nandini. He is unknown of the relationship and is claimed head of Veera pandiyan. Aditakarikalan, a great warrior who won his first war in Chevur at the age of 16 ends his life on a tragic note. Arulmozhivarman – the Ponniyin SelvanBali, Karan (14 March 2018). "Films Announced But Never Started: Ponniyin Selvan". Upperstall.com . Retrieved 31 March 2018. Murugaiyan: Elder brother of Poonguzhali. Husband of Rakkammaal. He rowed the Pandiyan conspirators to Sri Lanka from Kodikkarai. But later compensated for his unknowing wrongdoing by helping Arulmozhivarman reach Thanjavur. Aditha Karikalan: Eldest son of Sundara Chola, the crown prince and the commander of Northern troops during Sundara Chola's reign. He was a distinguished warrior who began fighting at the age of 12. He was known all over the empire for his valiant acts. His haste and irascibility alienated many, and resulted in a conspiracy against him. I loved this book. It's soo good to read a book in your native tongue and feel the emotions it evoke directly into your heart. And Kalki has done a spectacular job in describing the events. It's so lyrical and the metaphors he used are so good that you are swept away by the feeling it provokes, that you want to dive into the book and live in that gorgeously descriptive world he wrote. The characters and the plot are really good and I loved Kundavai Pirattiyar, the Princess of Chola dynasty. She's a strong woman, who was idolized by her people. In the history of the Chola dynasty, As Parantaka Chozha’s first son Rajaditha had perished in battle, Kandaraditha, his second son, succeeded him. When Kandaraditha passed away, his son Maduranthaka was a young child, thus Arinjaya, Kandaraditha’s brother, took the crown. After Arinjaya’s death, his son Parantaka II aka Sundara Chozha was coronated, who is the father of Aditha Karikalan, Kundavai, and Arulmozhi Varman. Plot Summary & Short Synopsis of Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan