பொன்னியின் செல்வன் by kalki krishnamoorthy.
One of the most beautiful piece of work in tamil i have ever read.Brought out in 5 parts,each volume is a masterpiece.I have read it long ago as a serial in the kalki magazine,but that was without proper continuation or concentration,without knowing the depth of the story.Last year,i read all the 5 volumes one after another.UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE!!
it deals with the history of the cholas,especially the period of rajarajacholan's prime.the major characters are:
1.Arulmozhi varman aka rajaraja cholan,our PONNIYIN SELVAN.
2.kundhavai naachiyaar- arulmozhi's elder sister,the intelligent princess of the chola dynasty,most revered.
3.vaanathi-a small kingdom's timid princess,kundhavai's friend,who follows her as a tail.the later "Mrs.arulmozhi varman"
4.vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan- vaanar kula veeran.loyal soldier who protects raja raja cholan always.the main reason for the story to move on-- my HERO!!
5.poonkuzhali-padagotti penn! nature-lover,the later queen of chola dynasty for few yrs.
6.senthan amudhan- sivanadiyaar! intensely loves poonkuzhali.the prince-found-late!
7.aadhitha karikalan-the brave prince of chola dynasty,brother of kundhavai and arulmozhi.pretty sad he had to die.and that his death is a mystery!
8.NANDHINI- beauty queen,the angel of the story.guardian angel? no...quite the opposite!a very very important character! clever,strategic.all the men-folk of the novel have fallen for her beauty(except my Hero;-)!)
9.aazhvaarkadiyaan aka thirumalai-the staunch vaishnavite who comes as a joker,continues through the story and gels so well that he becomes indispensable!
10.oomai thaai-the dumb sister whose character creates so much suspense about the heir!
of course,pazhuvettarayargal,manimegalai,kandhamaaran,the king and queen and the others are also important.But the few i have mentioned steal the show.
What can words do? Everything!! Words create a miracle in this story. I laughed,cried,teased,felt joyous,dreamt,felt bad,..everything! it was like a journey.
To all those who despise lengthy stories,i can vouch for sure that this book will take you somewhere out of this world and make you live in the Chola dynasty itself. The content is too good, very aesthetically chosen words that are bound to linger in our minds long after we read.
One of the most beautiful piece of work in tamil i have ever read.Brought out in 5 parts,each volume is a masterpiece.I have read it long ago as a serial in the kalki magazine,but that was without proper continuation or concentration,without knowing the depth of the story.Last year,i read all the 5 volumes one after another.UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE!!
it deals with the history of the cholas,especially the period of rajarajacholan's prime.the major characters are:
1.Arulmozhi varman aka rajaraja cholan,our PONNIYIN SELVAN.
2.kundhavai naachiyaar- arulmozhi's elder sister,the intelligent princess of the chola dynasty,most revered.
3.vaanathi-a small kingdom's timid princess,kundhavai's friend,who follows her as a tail.the later "Mrs.arulmozhi varman"
4.vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan- vaanar kula veeran.loyal soldier who protects raja raja cholan always.the main reason for the story to move on-- my HERO!!
5.poonkuzhali-padagotti penn! nature-lover,the later queen of chola dynasty for few yrs.
6.senthan amudhan- sivanadiyaar! intensely loves poonkuzhali.the prince-found-late!
7.aadhitha karikalan-the brave prince of chola dynasty,brother of kundhavai and arulmozhi.pretty sad he had to die.and that his death is a mystery!
8.NANDHINI- beauty queen,the angel of the story.guardian angel? no...quite the opposite!a very very important character! clever,strategic.all the men-folk of the novel have fallen for her beauty(except my Hero;-)!)
9.aazhvaarkadiyaan aka thirumalai-the staunch vaishnavite who comes as a joker,continues through the story and gels so well that he becomes indispensable!
10.oomai thaai-the dumb sister whose character creates so much suspense about the heir!
of course,pazhuvettarayargal,manimegalai,kandhamaaran,the king and queen and the others are also important.But the few i have mentioned steal the show.
What can words do? Everything!! Words create a miracle in this story. I laughed,cried,teased,felt joyous,dreamt,felt bad,..everything! it was like a journey.
To all those who despise lengthy stories,i can vouch for sure that this book will take you somewhere out of this world and make you live in the Chola dynasty itself. The content is too good, very aesthetically chosen words that are bound to linger in our minds long after we read.
பொன்னியின் செல்வனும்
பூங்குழலி அம்மையும்
வந்தியத் தேவனும்
வானதியும் குந்தவையும்
பழுவூர் நந்தினியும்
பழுவேட் டரையர்களும்
பாடாய்ப் படுத்துகின்றார் - நாங்கள்
பாகாய் உருகுகின்றோம்!
பூங்குழலி அம்மையும்
வந்தியத் தேவனும்
வானதியும் குந்தவையும்
பழுவூர் நந்தினியும்
பழுவேட் டரையர்களும்
பாடாய்ப் படுத்துகின்றார் - நாங்கள்
பாகாய் உருகுகின்றோம்!
How true! Salutations to Mr.Kalki krishnamoorthy! None can deny that this is his masterpiece!
I read the English translation of Ponniyin Selvan and I found it just mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteMy parents ordered the books for me since I cannot read Tamil.
I'm sure the Tamil version is no doubt more authentic, but I believe that the English translation was quite worthwhile.
I just wish more Tamil classics could be translated into English!!
@vyazz
ReplyDeletewelcome here. the tamil version in all ways will be better. the personal first hand touch. i'm happy u read the english version,hope many do the same.
thanks! keep coming!