Coming to the VDevan character which Kalki created, the first thing that should be held in mind is that - initially he was not intended to be a hero. Kalki wanted to sideline him - just like Paranjyothi of Sivakamiyin sabatham - after making use of him to introduce the characters and places. But it so happened that the character grew steadily on his own might - and in spite of the elaborate introductions - Arulmozhi failed to capture the hearts of people as much as VDevan did. In fact - in certain portions where VDevan is not featured for several chapters - we notice his absence so vividly that during his reappearance Kalki will write - " We have deserted our hero for a long time..." This is the first occation in which Kalki recognizes him as the true hero of this story. This is a typical example for the case in which imagination triumphs over its own creator. VDevan is closer to life than ever perfect arulmozhi. He does many mistakes; he is quick in decisions and is often proud about his good looks. He undergoes the pleasures and pains of royal service. He is a true friend and a sincere lover. The moment which I like most in the Kundavai - VDevan love is this : He will be arrested by Anirudhar and placed inside the cell in Pazhaiyarai. Kundavi comes to visit him. After a few formal dialogues, VDevan says that she is beyond his reach. At this moment, Kundavi gives her hands to him and says : " I come from a family of queens who hailed Karpu beyond their lives. Having touched your hands, in this lifetime - I'll not touch another man's hands" This is the first occation in which they deliberately express their love towords each other. The subtle nature of true love is beautifully brought out by kalki in this sequence. Also, the way Kalki expresses the first formal meeting between these two - is unforgettable. He will go to prehistoric times when man and woman were formed.....tell us a simple story - and will suddenly conclude " VDevan and Kundavi were in such a state of mind "!
Vallavaraiyan Vandhiyadevan will live in the hearts of tamil reading community for many more generations to come.
Next we shall discuss Aniruddha Brahmarayar (Pavitra - are you in, here ?)
Next we shall discuss Aniruddha Brahmarayar (Pavitra - are you in, >here ?)
Oh, I'm very much here, Mr. Gokul- reading all your mails avidly. 'Drinking them in' would be closer to the truth.:-)
Actually, I was pretty struck by the amount of research and its intensity- I don't mind saying that I'm awed by it. Hats off to you.:-)
>VDevan is closer to life than ever perfect arulmozhi. He does many >mistakes; he is quick in decisions and is often proud about his good >looks. He undergoes the pleasures and pains of royal service. He is a >true friend and a sincere lover.
Ah well, its probably as you said - perhaps VD was not meant to gain as much prominence as he later did- but there again, I feel Kalki did it for obvious reasons. As you yourself said, VD was pretty much of a nobody- history did not record many details of him. His origins were clouded in the mists of history and Kalki probably realised that he could be moulded into whatever shape he liked- unlike Arulmozhi, whose life and achievements were pretty well recorded. I mean, if Kalki had moulded AV into a character like VD, he'd have received plenty of criticism for saying something which did not actually exist. Too much trouble, that. Plus, Kalki badly wanted to have a rather goody-goody hero, I think- AV was a result of that impulse. (in some places, though, even AV gives in to human emotions-like when he almost falls for Punguzhali- Kalki made us really and truly wonder for a moment if AV would suddenly fall in love with a wild, unruly girl from a small coastal village and ignore his beloved sister's wishes!)
It says much for Kalki's power of words that he made AV's marriage sound like a love match.
Kalki makes Kundavai-VD's marriage a love match too- I wonder how much of that was true??!!
>Vallavaraiyan Vandhiyadevan will live in the hearts of tamil reading >community for many more generations to come.
Plenty of people have said that, given a chance, they'd rather be VD rather than AV- so that says much for it.:-)