Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Ponniyin Selvan -Amarar Kalki



Has anyone read Amarar Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan?He as written for the Tamil weekly Kalki and appeared as episodes for close to 3.5 years from 1950 to 1954. The story spans 5 parts, of which the fifth has two volumes. Each book is around 300 to 350pages long, making it around 2000pages. Hats off! to Amarar Kalki. He captivates the reader's mind after 50 years of its publication also. The descriptions, the plot, the way he has woven the story, even though it speaks about 1000 year old Chola kings and kingdom are really commendable.



 I have read Ponniyin selvan from my school days. Once I started reading, I found myself glued to it and all I did apart from sleeping, praying, bathing was to read, read and read.Now on of my friend send this novel in pdf format.. After a long time I just finished reading Ponniyin selvan once again. First I read it to understand the plot. Second time, for deeper plot understanding Third time, read it completely with narrations of even silliest things. It as been a "Awesome Experience" - I fell short of words to describe this novel..One of my favorite tamil historic novel .First time while reading The very first page drawn me and as with each page, I am more and more excited to know what’s next. To my surprise, that even made me to forget my sleeps and hunger till I completed the book within a week span(2000 pages).  While reading this novel It took me months to wake myself out of Thanjai, Ilangai and basically out of the Ponniyin Selvan world. It was Fantasy as never experienced before. The characters are still alive even years after reading this master-piece.
 

I fall in love with vandiyadevan and Arulmozhivarman & Kundavai. After travelling alongwith Vanthiyathevan, after walking with Kundavai and Nandini in the palaces of Thanjavur, after swimming with Arulmozhi varman and poonguzhali i felt really lonely when the novel ended.
 

Historical, Spy thriller, comedy and romance every kind of genre I find it in this novel. I would say, I have been living a life with the kings, the princes, the warriors and the other characters of Ponniyin Selvan from the day I started reading the novel. Even now the cast members (Azhwarkadiyan Nambi,Vandiyadevan, Arulmozhivarman, Poonkuzhali and many more) flashes through my memory whenever I came across the name. Think of reading this book Once more!

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