PONNIYIN SELVAN
R. Parthasarathy
Ponniyin Selvan has been my most favorite Tamil Novel.
I rate that as the best by Kalki, though he has fans for
Kalvanin Kaathali and Sivagaamiyin Sabatham. How many of you
have read Ponniyin Selvan? If you haven't I'd strongly recommend
that. Each character in that is very distinctly portrayed. I used
to be amazed by Kalki's patience in carrying the story through
thrilling moments with proper description of everything in the scene.
I've read it about six times and I can read it many more times.
After going through those five huge volumes, I used to wonder
why he ended the novel so fast!
My favorite character in this novel is Nandini. Kalki seems
to have read a woman's mind very well. Until the very end no one
knows much about her or her intentions. Though Arul Mozhi is the
main character, I'd make Vandiya Thevan as my main character of the
story.
I wish someone can make a teleivison serial of this novel
in about 52 episodes, without distortion. I don't want our movie
producers to get into it and ruin it. I've even wondered who all
can fit the different characters in the novel. Why don't you guys
fill in your choice of actors for the different characters?
Vandiya Thevan -
Arul Mozhi Varman -
Aditya Karikaalan -
Kanda Maaran -
Pinakabaani -
Azhvaarkkadiyaan -
Ravi Daasan -
Idumbankaari -
Soman Saambavan -
Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar -
Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar -
Sundara Cholan -
Buddha Bikshu -
Chendan Amudan -
Maduraanthakan -
Vaanathi -
Kunthavai -
Nandini -
Poonguzhali -
Chembian Maadevi -
(Did I miss any other character?)
I don't know if Ponniyin Selvan is taken as a subject in Tamil
literature degrees in Tamil Naadu.
Who all are fans of this novel like I am?
Partha sarathy
Venkatachalam Aruna
writes:
[stuff deleted to save bw]
> Why don't you guys
> fill in your choice of actors for the different characters?
>
> Vandiya Thevan -
> Arul Mozhi Varman -
> Aditya Karikaalan -
> Kanda Maaran -
> Pinakabaani -
> Azhvaarkkadiyaan -
> Ravi Daasan -
> Idumbankaari -
> Soman Saambavan -
> Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar -
> Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar -
> Sundara Cholan -
> Buddha Bikshu -
> Chendan Amudan -
> Maduraanthakan -
> Vaanathi -
> Kunthavai -
> Nandini -
> Poonguzhali -
> Chembian Maadevi -
>
> (Did I miss any other character?)
And other not so important characters, but more important than Pinakabaani
like Parthibendiran,Karuththiruman, Manimekalai, sambuvaraiyar, are not
there in the list.
> Who all are fans of this novel like I am?
I am.
>
> Partha sarathy
--
ven...@jetson.uh.edu | If you love something,set it free.
ven...@menudo.uh.edu | If it comes back, it is yours.
ar...@tree.egr.uh.edu(NeXT mails okay)|If it does not, it never was.
(713)-923-7773 |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
R. Parthasarathy
>In article <40...@ogicse.ogi.edu> par...@mse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy)
writes:
> [stuff deleted to save bw]
>> Why don't you guys
>> fill in your choice of actors for the different characters?
>
>> Vandiya Thevan -
>> Arul Mozhi Varman -
> (Did I miss any other character?)
> Yep. The most memorable character Mandakini.
>And other not so important characters, but more important than Pinakabaani
>like Parthibendiran,Karuththiruman, Manimekalai, sambuvaraiyar, are not
>there in the list.
>
>> Who all are fans of this novel like I am?
> I am.
>
>> Partha sarathy
Thanks. How can I ever forget Mandakini? Also Manimekalai. The last scene
in the novel ends with her. It gave such a sorrowful feeling as she dies
in the hands of Vandiya Thevan! Kalki seems to have liked secret characters
like Mandakini. Even in his novel Alai Osai, there is a character like this.
I think it is Dharini's mother who comes to help her every now and then.
I had borrowed a book on Chola sculptures from a local library once. I
was amazed to see the names in that book - Chembian Madevi, Madurantakan,
Brahmaraayar etc.. Kalki did lots of research before writing Ponniyin Selvan.
The death of Aditya karikaalan was a mystery. Historians to this day don't
know what was the cause of his death. The only clue is an inscription
which reads, "Vaanulagaip paarkkum Aasaiyile Adiththan Asthamanam Adainthaan.
Ulagai Kali Enum Kaarirul Soozhnthathu". He could have died in a desease.
The book on Chola sculptures speculates that Madurantakan conspired to
kill him. Kalki had portrayed him as a noble person (Chendan Amudan). Kalki
left the scene of Aditya Karikaalan's death in a mysterious fashion without
indicating who killed him.
At the end of the novel Kalki describes what happened to all characters
later. It seems he was planning to write a follow up of the novel. But he
died before that. I think "Nandipuraththu Naayagi" was that sequel. I haven't
read that one.
I saw a small program on Tanjavoor temple on Beyond 2000 program on the
Discovery channel. This was just after having completed reading Ponniyin
Selvan for the sixth time. I wish there was an elaborate historical novel
on the life of Rajaraja Cholan and Rajendra Cholan along the same lines
as this novel. Other than the fact that Rajendra Cholan conquered far away
lands, I don't know much about him. Is there a book which talks in details
about the later Chola emperors?
If you guys haven't read Ponniyin Selvan, you missed something great!
Parthasarathy
Ashok Subramanian
How about Kudandai Sothidar? Aniruddha BramharAyar? and Veera PAndian?
These are some of the key characters that have been missed out.
>
>> Who all are fans of this novel like I am?
> I am.
I am a fan too...
If you want to associate the characters as drawn by "Maniam" or "Vinu"(later),
with present day matinee idols, you're not going to be satisfied at all. We
can somehow identify some of the not-so-important characters with some of the
existing actors. For others,... SandEgamdAn...!
>>
>> Partha sarathy
>
>--
>ven...@jetson.uh.edu | If you love something,set it free.
>ven...@menudo.uh.edu | If it comes back, it is yours.
>ar...@tree.egr.uh.edu(NeXT mails okay)|If it does not, it never was.
>(713)-923-7773 |
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
-ashok subramaniam
S.X. Kumar
>>ven...@jetson.uh.edu writes:
>
>>In article <40...@ogicse.ogi.edu> par...@mse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy)
>writes:
>> [stuff deleted to save bw]
>>> Why don't you guys
>>> fill in your choice of actors for the different characters?
>>
>>> Vandiya Thevan -
>>> Arul Mozhi Varman -
>> I am.
>>
>>> Partha sarathy
>
>Thanks. How can I ever forget Mandakini? Also Manimekalai. The last scene
>in the novel ends with her. It gave such a sorrowful feeling as she dies
>
>At the end of the novel Kalki describes what happened to all characters
>later. It seems he was planning to write a follow up of the novel. But he
>died before that. I think "Nandipuraththu Naayagi" was that sequel. I haven't
>read that one.
>
>I saw a small program on Tanjavoor temple on Beyond 2000 program on the
>Discovery channel. This was just after having completed reading Ponniyin
>Selvan for the sixth time. I wish there was an elaborate historical novel
>on the life of Rajaraja Cholan and Rajendra Cholan along the same lines
>as this novel. Other than the fact that Rajendra Cholan conquered far away
>lands, I don't know much about him. Is there a book which talks in details
>about the later Chola emperors?
I am also a big fan of PonniEn Selvan. I like it better than SivakamiEn
Sabadham.
I believe Vikraman wrote a follow-up to PS. It may be the
Nandhipuraththu Nayagi, that you mention above.
Aklilan wrote Vengaiyin maindhan which details Rajendrars attempts to
recover the "MaNimudi and SengOl" from the king Mahindra of EElam
who is controlled by his minister Keerthi to go against the Cholas
and clandestinely support the Pandiyas.
An excellent novel. In this Vandhiyathevar is the Thalapathy.
The hero is Elango, the heir apparent to the kingdom of Kodumbalur.
Rajendrar's daughter is called "Siriya Kundavi"
I am sure you will enjoy this.
Kumar.