I am a newbie - just joined this group a couple of days ago. I am a big fan of Ponniyin Selvan though I did not read it in Tamil - finished the first volume in Tamil, but read the rest of them in English as I am pretty slow in reading Tamil :(
Good to know that there is an active yahoo groups on PS! Looks like you guys do a lot of traveling also, so I would really appreciate it if you could give some suggestions on travel in Cholaland - I will be in visiting India in January and will be visiting my grandparents in Pudukkottai for a week or so. I plan to take off for a couple of days to visit some interesting PS locations - Any suggestions appreciated!
That sounds like what I almost did but I stuck on and finished all 6 volumes in Tamil.
My travel made me read the books so it has been a reverse journey for me but do check out these 3 spots & also let me know what you think of this piece if you have the time, v.
Yes, I was born and brought up in the US but I spent one year in India with my parents since my father was an assistant professor at IIT madras. haha! my parents speak tamizh at home so its easy for me to speak, write, and read it. Reading everyone's posts in this group has helped quite a bit also. I love reading everyone's questions and answers but have no time myself to write any. Hopefully I'll be a more active member after my final exams are over :)
you are right its how they are brought up....today in tamil nad the culture is anything tamil is too old fashioned....or thats the impression i get on my breif visits
yezhidhuven... ippo enukku leave ootirkanga athunal nan konjumava yezhidhumudiyum. I believe i have mastered the art of reading thanglish! it was a shock the first few times trying to decipher it but now its much easier :) I really do detest the ending of Ponniyan Selvan though... rk
Ranjani welcome to the web world of PS..its nice to have very young members participating...in retrospect maybe most of us would have done the same if chat rooms and web gropus were availablewhen we read the book years ago
that's true also. they know more about the rappers and singers than i will ever care to know! it saddens me to see where our culture is heading in India. The least i can do is learn it well enough so that my children and their children will never forget our rich past.
I am happy that I was given such an opportunity. It never ceases to amaze me at how deep the members take the story and I am forever learning something new. ranjini
It has been my experience that people give me more genuine reactions to my piece when I don't tell them I am the author. Thanks for the "pramadham" though :-)
Otherwise it is just Oh nice or something vague :-(((. I am leaving for India tomorrow. This time I am visiting the Vijayanagara ruins at Hampi.
any literature associated with that?
v.
- In ponniyinselvan@yahoogroups.com, "S. Krupa Shankar"
Oh not just manimegalai I can't belive that ponkuzhali changed that easily either. I mean wasn't Arulmozhi in love with her even if she did not like the palace life?
and it was funny how she got stuck there but the prince set sail to distant lands like he always planned.
Vanathi to me is a poor substitute as travel companion and life partner!
it is more than heart rending! i was so shocked that i reread four times to make sure i got it right! I was so disappointed that he ended it so abruptly and coldly.
> > > What did she achieve by that marriage? > she was a boat girl before and ferrying people is a nice enough way > to spend time. > > she could have travelled with arulmozhi and seen the world as was > her dream as opposed to being a queen and praying at the temples > with her MIL. > > How boring is that for a free spirited person like her?
Well, though it is not perfect for Poonguzhali, She accepted it. She knew it was not possible to realise her dreams, She knew what happened to her "oomai" athai.. and maybe did not want to endup like her.. There is no possibility of roaming around with Arulmozhi. So She had just two choices, 1. to continue with ferrying life.. 2. to marry. I think it's better to take the 2nd option than living alone in the seas and chasing unfulfilled dreams..
so does anyone think arulmozhi would have insisted on marrying her is she chose to go back to Kodikarai as opposed to marrying her cousin. or was he a coward to be manipulated by his sister?
I just read the article - it's a wonderful article. Hope you write more when you travel.
As for your opinion on Arunmozhi, I always thought he copped out when he married Vanathi - that was the one character trait that made no sense to me. His love for Poonguzhali - does it die? Was he flaky? And, if I had to choose between Poonguzhali and Vanathi, my vote is for the former - she's spunky, knows her mind and maybe that's why she chose to marry Uttama, being practical. I always thought of Vanathi as a weak, protected, rich girl - probably going to be beaten up by all Vanathi fans in this group ;) but hey, it's my opinion and am entitled to it :-)
Thought I'd add this before someone pounces on me - yes, I do realize Poonguzhali is a fictional character and Kalki really couldn't change history, but his portrayal of her love for Arunmozhi was somehow more powerful, and hearbreaking when it didn't happen :-( guess it's the romantic in me. I believe there's a whole thread on whose love is better, fyi for all the newbies. Manimegalai's love, though pure and innocent, was more like puppy-love - IMHO.
Hey Krups, your theory on Sendhan Amudhan being the 1st one to ask - kinda makes Poonguzhali's love shallow. Sorry to disagree dude.
Phew! Glad to have some support here reg. the arulmozhi issue. I think I will add some more fuel to the fire - upset Kundhavai fans as well -- by insisting that she is a manipulative big sister :-).
Nah... all of us love the story despite these insconsistenices in characterization so Krupps thanks for lightening the mood with that Vellaketta velliala ... Vandhiathevan episode :-).
> > As for your opinion on Arunmozhi, I always thought he copped out when he > married Vanathi - that was the one character trait that made no sense to > me.
why???
And, if I had > to choose between Poonguzhali and Vanathi, my vote is for the former -
If I had to choose, I'll choose both.. Afterall, i'm the king and it's normal in those days..( he he he...)
I always thought of Vanathi as a weak, > protected, rich girl -
No, she's not weak.. remmeber she pledged not to become a queen and she kept that promise even after arulmozhi got the throne..
> Yeah all of that irrational weeping and wailing and saying she would > be the servant and such.made absolutely no sense to me.
Absolutely - high five, Viji!
I never understood the purpose of that sabatham at all..what was she proving and to whom and to what end?
> As for your opinion on Arunmozhi, I always thought he copped out when he > married Vanathi - that was the one character trait that made no sense to > me.
>why???
Because the sky is so high.:-)
Seriously, matha vishayathula ellam he is portrayed as mature, of high integrity, and virtuous but idhula there's no connection between thought and action - something missing and never quite explained well.
>And, if I had > to choose between Poonguzhali and Vanathi, my vote is for the >former -
>If I had to choose, I'll choose both.. Afterall, i'm the king and >it's normal in those days..( he he he...)
haha - very funny. I do believe he actually had 11 wives in all so there.
* > Because the sky is so high.:-) > > Seriously, matha vishayathula ellam he is portrayed as mature, of high > integrity, and virtuous but idhula there's no connection between thought > and action - something missing and never quite explained well. >
I don't understand how his integrity is lost by marrying a person who madly loves him..
the integrity issue comes because initially we're under the impression that he reciprocates the attraction/love that Poonguzhali feels for him, and then changes his mind because of Kundavai? Political reasons? Whatever.it's not lost because he marries someone who's madly in love with him...adhan.
All said and done, like Tilotamma said, in spite of all the inconsistencies, I couldn't put the book down until I was done with all 5 volumes. My first historical novel (and my first Kalki novel) and I absolutely fell in love in Kalki's style, sense of humor, and just about everything about the novel.
> the integrity issue comes because initially we're under the impression > that he reciprocates the attraction/love that Poonguzhali feels for him, > and then changes his mind because of Kundavai? Political reasons?
Yup, what's up with that yo?
and vanathi's "sabadam" no it is not like sivakami's sabadham or any other bhishma pratighyas ( I only have a vague idea of the plot of ss).I call it "vanathiyan vazhishal".
Romba overact pannitanga towards the end. Atleast she was cured of her fainting spell !!
Kalki's sense of humor is very subtle and very cool! And I would imagine very difficult to translate and get the full humor.
Ranjini, I thought you read it in Tamizh since you know how to and was totally impressed ;)
I'm still impressed that you read it - even if only in English :-) wish I could convince my 12-year-old daughter to read it - where did you get the English version?