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Ponniyin Selvan

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Ponniyin Selvan
This is the Cover Page of Ponniyin Selvan Part 1
Cover Page of Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 published by Vanathi Pathipagam
AuthorKalki Krishnamurthy
Translator
  • Pavithra Srinivasan
  • Indra Neelameggham (1993)
  • C.V. Karthik Narayanan (1999)
Cover artistManiam
LanguageTamil
GenreHistorical, romance, espionage, thriller, fiction
Published
  • Serialised: 29 October 1950 – 16 May 1954
  • Book form: 1955 (Mangala Noolagam)
Publication placeIndia
Published in English
Media typePrint (Serial)
ISBN9788183451536 (Kavitha Publication ed.)
OCLC84057533
Preceded byParthiban Kanavu 

Ponniyin Selvan (transl. The Son of Ponni) is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil language. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of Kalki, a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954, and later integrated into five volumes in 1955. In about 2,210 pages, it tells the story of early days of Chola prince Arulmozhivarman. Kalki visited Sri Lanka three times to gather information and for inspiration.

Ponniyin Selvan is regarded as one of the greatest novels of Tamil literature.[1] The fan-following for the series, which was published weekly in Kalki, was such that it elevated the magazine circulation to reach a figure of 71,366 copies –a vast readership in a newly independent India.[citation needed] The book continued to be admired in the modern era, developing a cult following and fanbase among people of all generations. Ponniyin Selvan has garnered critical acclaim for its tightly woven plot, vivid narration, wit of the dialogue, and portrayal of the intrigues and power struggle of the Chola empire in the 10th-century.

A film adaptation of the novel, directed by Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, is underway. The first part, Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1), was released on 30 September 2022. The second part, Ponniyin Selvan: II (PS2), is expected to release in 2023, six to nine months after the theatrical release of PS1.

Book volumes

Overview

Volume Title Chapters Note
1 Pudhu Vellam (transl. New Floods) 57 The story unfolds with the journey of the protagonist Vandhiyadhevan to the capital Thanjavur. Ends with Vandhiyadhevan making enemies with the Royalty and joining the Royal services.
2 Suzharkaatru (transl. Whirlwind) 53 The events take place in Sri Lanka where Ponniyin Selvan (Raja Raja Cholan) is stationed for "Eezhathu Por" (Battle of Lanka), the tragic stories from the past of the characters' lives.
3 Kolai Vaal (transl. Sword of Slaughter) 46 The revenge set up by the suicide squad of Veera Pandiyan (Aabathuthavigal) against Aditha Karikalan and Chola Empire, the plot devised by Nandhini.
4 Manimagudam (transl. The Crown) 46 The struggle for the crown among the members of the Chola dynasty. The inside conspiracy is being revealed eventually among the patriots.
5 Thiyaaga Sigaram (transl. The Pinnacle of Sacrifice) 91 The Climax is being set. The conspiracy is broken due to a lack of motivation and the head of the conspiracy comes to senses. The rulers are reunited and the danger is averted. The rightful prince offers the throne to his uncle out of magnanimity. The tragic deaths of the main characters also add sorrow to the fact that the story ends.

Characters

Chart of characters involved in Ponniyin Selvan.

In order of appearance (omitting the flashbacks)

  • Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan: The brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior prince of the Vaanar clan, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of Utthama Chola. Although the second protagonist of the story other than Ponniyin Selvan himself, Vandhiyathevan's exploits make the readers think of him as the main hero at multiple points in the novel. He was a bodyguard and close friend of Aditha Karikalan in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to Sundara Chola in Thanjavur to invite him to the newly built golden palace in Kanchi and also as a trustful guard for Kundavai in Pazhayarai. His unplanned and impulsive acts put himself and others in danger but he come out of them by trickery and luck. He is the lover of Princess Kundavai. He is loved one-sidedly by Manimekalai, the sister of Kandanmaran. The author introduces most of the characters to the audience through him.
  • Nandhini: Pazhuvoor Princess and wife of Periya Pazhuvettraraiyar whose birth and origin was doubtful in the beginning. The main antagonist of the story. She was born in Madurai and grew up in a priest family along with royal children in Pazhayarai till her youth. She is the foster-sister of Azhwarkadiyan Nambi. She hated Kundavai as Kundavai was jealous of Nandini's beauty. She and Prince Aditha Karikalan developed a liking for each other in their childhood which nobody in the royalty liked. She was forced to flee Pazhaiyarai and live in Madurai. After Aditha beheaded the injured Veerapandiyan, she joined Pandya conspirators and vowed to take revenge on him by killing him and destroying the Chola dynasty. By marrying Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar who had lusted for her and by using him, she helped the Pandya conspirators. She had a deep hatred towards the royalty for their ill-treatment and also had a desire for the throne. She had a terrible childhood that affected her badly and wanted to be with her mother Mandakini. Parthibendra Pallava and Kandanmaran fell for her beauty and she used them for her plot too. [Mandakini Devi went to Tanjore (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth twins to a boy (Madurantaka) and a girl (Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swaped her still born son with Mandakini's son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents . Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadevi's son (Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.]
  • Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (alias Thirumalaiappan): A Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister and Queen Mother Sembiyan Mahadevi. He is the foster-brother of Nandhini and also a close friend of Vandiyathevan. He works closely with him and saves him from many dangers. He was a loyal trustful servant for the Chola royal government. He often does many religious word battles with Veera Shaivites and Advaitis.
  • Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar: The chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom from the Paluvettaraiyar clan who was respected for his valor and 64 scars he got in battles. The second most powerful man in the empire next to the Emperor himself. Enamoured by her beauty, he marries a much younger Nandini when he himself is in his sixties, and gets used by her as a puppet for her plot. He was the leader of the conspirators who acted against the sons of Sundara Chola and tried to make his cousin Madurantakan the next emperor under the plans of Nandini.
  • Ilaya Piraati Kundhavai Devi: The Chola princess. Second child and only daughter of Sundara Chola. Lover of Vandiyathevan. She was respected much by her father and the people for her intelligence and wit. Unlike other princesses of those times, she had an ambition of making Chola empire wide and great and took a vow to never leave her motherland. She used her brother Arulmozhivarman and his son to achieve her ambition. She raised and taught Arulmozhivarman to be an intelligent prince and wished to make him the Chola emperor. She is the one who sent Vandiyathevan to bring back Arulmozhivarman from Sri-Lanka and to prevent Aditha from going to Kadamboor palace and also to guard him. She took care of Vaanathi more than any of her friends and wanted to make her Arulmozhivarman's queen.
  • Rajaraja I alias Ponniyin Selvan: One of the two protagonists of the story after whom the novel was named. The youngest son of Sundara Chola. He was raised in Pazhayarai by Periya Piratti and Ilaya Piratti. He was taught well by his sister and she sent him to Sri-Lanka at the age of 19 for battle. He was said to be saved by the Mother Kaveri herself from drowning in the river when he was 5. This gave him the title "Ponniyin Selvan" or "Son of Kaveri". He was beloved by all the people and soldiers of the Chola kingdom and even in Sri-Lanka due to his religious tolerance, good behaviour towards all the people and his facial attraction. He had an equality towards all religions but was more attracted to Shaivism and showed brief interest in Buddhism.
  • Adhitha Karikalan: Eldest son of Sundara Chola, the crown prince and the commander of Northern troops in Sundara Chola's reign. He was a glorious brave warrior who entered the battlefield at the age of 12. He was known all over the empire for his valiant acts. It was him who sent Vandiyathevan to Kundavai for being her trustful guard. Aditha Karikalan was little hasty and had unpredictable anger due to the dark past he encountered. That gave all the conspirators a reason to conspire against him.
  • Poonguzhali: A boat woman, she was born and raised in Kodikkarai. She was adventurous and fearless and had a hate towards other men and civilisation. She had a great affection for her aunt Mandakini Devi. She had immense love for Arulmozhivarman who also had the same before she married Senthan Amuthan. She saves the life of Arulmozhivarman when he drowns in sea and secretly takes him to Nagapattinam. She was named "Samudrakumari" (The Maiden of the Ocean) by the Prince Arulmozhivarman himself.
  • Vaanathi: Shy and innocent Kodumbalur princess who is the future wife of Raja Raja Chola and mother of Rajendra Chola- I. Daughter of Paranthakan alias Kodumbalur Chinna Velar who died in the battle against Mahinda in Sri Lanka. Niece of Irunkovel Boothi Vikramakesari. She lost her mother and father in her childhood. She is the most beloved friend of Kundavai. She had an immense love for Arulmozhi. Later she dies giving birth to her son who is now known as Rajendra Chola.
  • Senthan Amuthan: A flower seller. He is a close friend of Vandiyathevan. He helped him many times in his missions when he was still the son of Vaani and a calm, humble and honest Shaivite devotee.
  • Vaani Ammal: The deaf and mute foster mother of Senthan Amuthan, sister of Mandakini and aunt of Poonkuzhali. She was good in practising traditional medicine.
  • Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar: alias Kaalandhakandar. The chief in-charge of Thanjavur fort. Younger brother of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar to whom he had huge respect and love. He is the father-in-law of Mathuranthakar. Both brothers hated Vandiyathevan at first. He constantly warns his brother about Nandini and her conspiracy to no avail.
  • Sundara Chola alias Parantaka II: The emperor of Chola empire. He was known for his facial beauty which gave him his name 'Sundara'. After his health became poor, his legs paralysed and was expecting his death, he was moved from Pazhayarai to Thanjavur by Pazhuvettaraiyars for his protection. This sparked the debate for the next rightful heir. His wish was to appoint his uncle's son as his successor. There was a rumor that the emperor was kept as a prisoner by them.
  • Vanavan Mahadevi: Empress of the Chola empire. Chief queen, wife and caretaker of Sundara Chola. Mother of all his children. Daughter of Thirukovalur Malaiyamaan.
  • Sembiyan Maadevi alias Periya Piratti: Wife of Kandradithan and mother of Utthama Chola. A Shaivite devotee who donates a lot to build many temples for Lord Shiva across the Chola empire. She was very strict in not making her son the emperor, which was also the dying wish of her husband. [Mandakini Devi went to Tanjore (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth to twins – a boy (Madurantaka) and a girl (Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swapped her still born son with Mandakini's son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents . Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadevi's son (Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.]
  • Pinaagapani: Son of the traditional healer in Pazhayarai. He was narrow-minded and ambitious and always considered Vandiyathevan as his enemy but gets beaten by him all throughout the story. He was sent by Kundavai with Vandiyathevan to show his way from Pazhaiyarai to Kodikkarai where he lusts over Poonkuzhali but fails in attracting her. His desire to gain high positions in the empire make him prey to Nandini's plans.
  • Thirukovalur Malaiyaman alias Milaadudaiyar: Father-in-law of Sundara Chola and maternal grandfather for his children. He was a well-wisher and advisor for Aditha Karikalan and lived with him in Kanchi. He was a rival of the Kadamboor ruler.
  • Parthibendra Pallava: Friend of Aditha Karikalan, who comes from the lineage of Pallavas. He fought along with Aditha in his battles. He lusts after Nandini and hates Vandiyathevan from the beginning.
  • Thiyaaga Vidankar: Father of Poonkuzhali and in-charge of the light house at Kodikkarai. He is the younger brother of Mandakini Devi and Vaani Ammal.
  • Rakkammaal: Sister-in-law of Poonkuzhali. She joined the Pandiyan conspirators due to her greed for money. Revadasa Kiramavithan was her father.
  • Anbil Aniruddha Brahmarayar: The Prime Minister of Sundara Chola's Court and a trustful intimate close friend of him. He was very much respected by the people for his wit and intelligence. On the request of Sundara Chola, he became the minister and assisted Sundara Chola in administration apart from being a teacher. He knew the personal secrets of his friends and many royal secrets. He had many spies across the Chola empire that almost nothing could happen out of his knowledge. One of the best of them is Azhwarkadiyan.
  • Boothi Vikramakesari alias Kodumbalur Periya Velar: Irunkovel chieftain and uncle of Vaanathi. The Commander of the southern troops during Sundara Chola's reign. He fights along with Arulmozhi against Mahindan's troops in Sri-Lanka. He had a desire to marry Vaanathi to Arulmozhi and thus make her the Queen. He and Thirukovalur Malaiyaman opposed the proposition of making Mathuranthakar the heir to the throne. Kodumbalur Velars and Pazhuvettaraiyars were rivals though they were both loyal to the Cholas.
  • Theveraalan (alias Parameswaran), Idumbankkari, Ravidasan, Soman Sambavan, Revadasa Kiramavithan: Antagonists of the novel. Bodyguards of the late Veerapandiyan. They conspirate to kill the members of the Chola family. Ravidasan and Parameswaran were once ministers in Chola court. Ravidasan and Revadasa Kiramavithan were acting as wizards. Idumbankkari was acting as a guard in Kadambur palace.
  • Madurantakan alias Amarabhujangan Nedunchezhiyan: Foster Son of Chembiyan Maadevi who was raised as a Shaivite also known as Uttama Chola. He was raised a calm and humble Shaivite and taught not to desire on the throne. He was brainwashed by his twin sister Nandini so that he developed a greed over the throne. Kundavai and others thought that he was untalented and lacked the basic characters and skills for being an emperor. People of Chola country did not want him to become the ruler.
  • Mandakini Devi aka Singala Naachiyaar aka Oomai Rani ("The Mute Queen"): The deaf and mute mother of Nandini and Madurantakan. Love interest of Sundara Chola. She had great affection towards his children and her niece, Poonguzhali. She is always around Arulmozhivarman and saves him from many dangers. [Mandakini Devi went to Tanjore (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth twins to a boy (Madurantaka) and a girl (Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swaped her still born son with Mandakini's son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents . Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadevi's son (Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.]
  • Sambuvaraiyar: The petty ruler of Kadamboor from the Sambuvaraya family.
  • Kandhamaaran alias Chinna Sambuvaraiyar: Prince of Kadamboor. Son of Sambuvaraiyar and close friend of Vandiyathevan. He is the one who arranges the conspiracy meeting of petty rulers to be taken in Kadamboor. He then assumes Vandiyathevan tried to kill him and starts to think of him as his worst enemy.
  • Murugaiyan: Elder brother of Poonkuzhali. Husband of Rakkammal. He rowed the Pandiyan conspirators to Sri-Lanka from Kodikkarai. But later compensated his unknowing wrongdoing by helping Arulmozhivarman reach Thanjavur.
  • Manimekalai: Innocent and shy princess of Kadamboor. Younger sister of Kandan Maran and daughter of Kadamboor Sambuvaraiyar. She had a deep, immense one-sided love on Vandiyathevan.
  • Karuthiruman aka Paithiyakaran (The Madman): An assistant of Veerapandian and prisoner in the dungeons of Thanjavur. Claims to know the location of Pandyan crown and scepter hidden in Sri-Lanka.

Other characters in the novel are:

  • Kudanthai Jothidar: (jothidar–astrologer) The astrologer in the town of Kudanthai (present day Kumbakonam) who predicts that Arulmozhivarman will become a great emperor. He also mentions that Vanathi will marry Arulmozhi and bear a great king who will take the Chola dynasty to its glory. He later moves to Thiruvaiyaru since his house was destructed by the Kaveri floods.
  • Kalyani: Mother of Sundara Chola. Wife of Arinjaya Chola.
  • Paranthakan Devi: Another wife of Sundara Chola.
  • Eesaana Sivabattar: The priest of the Shiva temple in Pazhayarai. Elder brother of Azhwarkadiyan and foster brother of Nandini. He helps Vandiyathevan to meet Kundavai secretly in Pazhayarai when Pazhuvettararaiyars were searching for him there.
  • Aacharya Bhikku: The head monk in Chudamani Vihara of Nagapattinam who saves Arulmozhivarman when he was affected by a lethal flu.
  • The Pandyan Prince whom the Pandyan conspirators made the successor of Veerapandiyan at Thirupurambiyam Pallipadai.
  • Chandramathi: Maid and companion of Manimekalai in Kadambur palace.
  • Kayalvizhi: Pandiyan prince, son of Veerapandiyan and his queen raised by Nandini.

Plot summary

The story revolves around Vandiyathevan, a charming, brave and brilliant young man who sets out across the Chola land to deliver a message from the Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan to the King and the Princess. The story shuttles between Vandiyathevan's travels in Chola country and the young Prince Arulmozhivarman's (later known as Raja Raja Chola) travels in Sri-Lanka. The narrative deals with attempts by his sister Kundavai to bring back Arulmozhivarman to establish political peace in a land seemingly beset with unrest and civil war plotted by vassals and petty chieftains.

Parantaka Chola was succeeded by his second son Gandaraditya as the first son Rajaditya had died in a battle. At the time of Gandaraditya's death, his son Maduranthaka was a two-year-old child and hence Gandaraditya’s brother Arinjaya ascended the throne. After Arinjaya’s death, his son Parantaka II (Sundara Chola) was crowned. He had two sons, Adithya Karikalan, Arulmozhivarman, and a daughter named Kundavai.

When the story begins, the emperor Sundara Chola is ill and bedridden. His son Aditya Karikalan is the general of the Northern Command and lives in Kanchi. The younger son Arulmozhivarman (who would be famous later as Raja Raja Chola I) is in Sri-Lanka in battle. Their sister Kundavai Piratti lives in the Chola royal household at Pazhayarai.

The story advances when rumors abound that there is a conspiracy against Sundara Chola and his sons. One person who gets a glimpse of the Pandya conspirators is a warrior named Vanar Kula Veeran Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan at the palace of his friend Kandhamaaran.

It is through Vandiyathevan that we meet most of the characters in the novel including Arulmozhivarman, the prince whom all the people loved, and Periya Pazhavetturayar, the chancellor who married Nandhini (the main conspirator), when he was sixty. During his youth, Aditya Karikalan had fallen in love with Nandhini, but she turned vengeful and vowed to destroy the Chola dynasty after Aditya Karikalan killed Veerapandiyan. We also meet Kundavai Piratti, who after hearing the news of the conspiracy sends Vandiyathevan to Sri-Lanka to give a message to Arulmozhivarman to come back immediately.

Besides these, there are other characters like Maduranthaka Thevar (the man whom the conspirators want to crown king), the son of Gandaraditya and Aniruddha Brahmarayar, Sundara Cholar’s Prime Minister and the man who has eyes and ears everywhere. He also meets Brahmarayar’s spy Azhwarkadiyan Nambi, a man who roams around the country challenging for debates. He collects information for the Prime Minister and is always around Vandiyathevan, rescuing him during trouble.

Other characters include Vanathi, a Kodumbalur princess (the woman who becomes Arulmozhi's wife later) who is in love with Arulmozhi; Poonkuzhali, the boat woman who rows the future king to Lanka; Mandakini, the deaf and mute mother of the original Maduranthaka Chola and the aunt of Poonkuzhali. Most memorable among the female characters is Nandhini, whose beauty is said to have the power to influence any man. Manimegalai, the sister of Kandhamaran (the Kadamboor prince) who helps Nandhini without any knowledge that she herself is the conspirator and also he turns against Vandhiyathevan, his best friend.

Meanwhile, with Poonkuzhali's help, Vandiyathevan reaches Sri-Lanka, meets Arulmozhivarman, and becomes his close friend. In Sri-Lanka, Arulmozhivarman realizes that his father had spent some time in an island near Sri-Lanka and had been with a girl born deaf and mute. He meets her and realizes from her drawing that she and his father have had two children. Who are those children and do they have the right to the throne? Later one day in Thirupurambayam forest Vandiyathevan sees Nandhini and the Pandya conspirators place a small boy on a throne and take a vow in front of him. Who is this boy and what right does he have to the throne?

While coming back from Sri-Lanka, Arulmozhivarman is caught in a cyclone and goes missing. Rumor spreads that he is dead, but he survives and stays at Choodamani Viharam, a Buddhist monastery in. Then slowly the dispersed family starts assembling. The conspirators meanwhile choose one day in which both the king and both of his sons would be assassinated.

Nandhini in the meantime calls Aditya Karikalan to Kadambur Palace to discuss about the future of kingdom. Though Karikalan knows that his life is in utter danger, he travels to Kadambur palace to meet with Nandhini. Aditya Karikalan is then assassinated at Kadambur palace.

Meanwhile, Arulmozhivarman recovers and returns to Tanjore, where he was forced initially to accept being crowned. Later, he tricks everyone and crowns his uncle Uthama Chola. Thus the fifth part of the book is named as Tyaga Sigaram, pinnacle of sacrifice.

Publication

The novel was first serialised in the weekly editions of Kalki during period from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 resulting the total period of development of work be 3 years, 6 months, and 18 days. The following year, Managala Noolagam released the novel in book form.[2][3]

Adaptations

Film and television

There have been several attempts to create film adaptations of Ponniyin Selvan, beginning with an attempt in 1958 by M. G. Ramachandran. He bought the film rights to the novel for ₹10,000 (equivalent to ₹960,000 or US$11,000 in 2023), and announced that he would produce, direct and star in the adaptation which would feature an ensemble cast including Gemini Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Savitri, and Padmini. Before shooting could begin, Ramachandran met with an accident, and the wound took six months to heal, Ramachandran was unable to continue with the film despite renewing the rights four years later.[4][5][6]

In the late 1980s, actor Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam worked together on adopting the novel into a film.[7][8] Ratnam revealed that he worked on a first draft of the film alongside Kamal Haasan, who had bought the rights of the novel from Ramachandran, but the pair shelved their plan as the project did not make financial sense at the time.[9][5] Kamal Haasan then attempted to make the story into a forty-part television series during the early 1990s, and worked with writer Ra. Ki. Rangarajan on the screenplay, but the project was later stalled.[10]

In the 2000s, there were further attempts to make the book into television series by Makkal TV and by Kalaignar TV, through a project directed by Naga.[11] A 32-hour animation film was planned by Rewinda Movie Toons, a Chennai-based animation studio, in 2008 and took seven years to complete. The film was set to be released by April 2015, but remains unreleased as of October 2022.[12] In late 2010, Ratnam renewed his interest in his film project and worked alongside writer Jeyamohan to finalise the script for the film adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan. The film was later shelved before the start of the filming stage, as the expected cost of production escalated. Jeyamohan stated that the film did not materialise as the team struggled to find available locations to shoot the film. He revealed that temple officials in Tamil Nadu refused to allow the team to film scenes on the premises and that the expensive cost of producing replica sets meant that it would not be a viable solution.[13]

In 2016, Eros International engaged Jeyamohan and Soundarya Rajinikanth, as a creative producer, to make the book into a web-series but the project did not develop into production.[14][15] In early 2019, Soundarya Rajinikanth associated with another production house, May 6 Entertainment, and director Sooriyaprathap to make a web-series of the novel for MX Player. After years of little promotion, Soundarya announced that the project was still under the planning phase during September 2021.[16] In January 2021, a further adapted web series produced by Eternitee Motion Krafte and directed by Ajay Pratheeb titled Chiranjeevi Ponniyin Selvan was announced. The makers announced that the series would have 125 episodes, with technicians such as Ilaiyaraaja and Sabu Cyril joining the team.[17][18]

2022 film

Main article: Ponniyin Selvan: I

In early 2019, Mani Ratnam officially restarted production on his film project. His two-film adaptation featured an ensemble cast consisting of Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi and Trisha.[19] In September 2021, the filming for both the parts got completed.[20] The film was released on 30 September 2022 in five Indian languages.[21]

Stage play

Avvai Shanmugam was the first to organise a conference on Tamil drama in Erode, and the first to organise a drama contest, in 1945. One of the prize winning scripts was 'Raja Raja Chozhan,’ which was staged in 1955 with Shanmugam as prince Rajendra. 'Raja Raja Chozhan' was also presented at the Motilal Nehru Centenary celebrations in Delhi in 1961, earning compliments from Nehru for the splendid acting. In Singapore, 'Raja Raja Chozhan' was also enacted 90 times. Overall it was staged 2,146 times.[citation needed]

Avvai Shanmugam played the role of Maamallan in Kalki's 'Sivakamiyin Sabatham' and the sets were grand, befitting the story. For the scene in which Paranjothi tames an elephant that runs amok, two men inside a specially made elephant, operated levers as they walked in unison.[22]

In 1999 the book was adapted into a stage play by E. Kumaravel and was staged by Magic Lantern Theater in Buck's Theatre inside YMCA Nandanam, Chennai.[23] The script's length was originally over nine hours long, but was shortened into a performance time of four hours and 20 minutes and featured 72 actors on a multi-level setting.[citation needed]

Again, the book was adapted into a stage play in a very grand scale by SS International Live along with Magic Lantern theatre group in Chennai, in June 2014. The crew includes Kumaravel, who penned the screenplay & dialogues, Thotta Tharani as art director, Preethi Athreya as costume designer and Bhanu leading the make-up and hair styling department. Pravin directed the play.[24]

Chicago Tamil Sangam staged the play in May 2013 with over 40 volunteers in cast and crew.[25]

Comic books

In 2017, Nila comics started releasing series of comic books where every comic book is an adaptation of two chapters from the novel.[26] It is available in Tamil and English. As of January 2019, There have been 18 comic books released in Tamil and 10 in English.[27][28]

English and other translations

There are at least five different translations of Ponniyin Selvan available in English by Indra Neelamegam,[29] Pavithra Srinivasan, CV Karthik Narayanan, Varalotti Rengasamy and Sumeetha Manikandan. On 21 February 2015, a Sanskrit translation by Rajalakshmi Srinivasan was released at a public function in Chennai.[30][31]

English translations

Translator Title Pages Publication date Publisher(s) Ref(s)
Pavithra Srinivasan Ponniyin Selvan Book 1: Fresh Floods 454 1 December 2019 [32][33]
Ponniyin Selvan Book 2: Whirlwinds 482 1 December 2019
Ponniyin Selvan Book 3: Sword of Slaughter 424 1 October 2020
Ponniyin Selvan Book 4: The Jewelled Crown 426 2 April 2021
Ponniyin Selvan Book 5: The Zenith of Sacrifice 866 1 January 2022
C.V.Karthik Narayanan Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 : The First Floods 404 Macmillan Publishers,

Laxmi Publications,

Trinity Press,

Pustaka Digital Media

[34][35]
Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 : The Cyclone 370
Ponniyin Selvan Part 3 : The Killer Sword 288
Ponniyin Selvan Part 4 : The Crown 274
Ponniyin Selvan Part 5 : The Pinnacle of Sacrifice – Volume 1 300
Ponniyin Selvan Part 5 : The Pinnacle of Sacrifice – Volume 2 387
Ponniyin Selvan – All Volumes 2831
Indra Neelamegam Ponni's Beloved: Part 1– New Floods 264 1993, updated 2022 free on Project Madurai

ePub available at Smashwords,

Barnes and Noble

[36]
Ponni's Beloved: Part 2 -- Whirlwind 254 1995, updated 2022
Ponni's Beloved: Part 3 -- A Killing Sword 252 Updated 2022
Ponni's Beloved: Part 4 -- Jeweled Crown 280 2022
Varalotti Rengasamy Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan Part-1 to Part-5 Set 2128 2016 Kavitha Publication [37]
Sumeetha Manikandan Ponni's Beloved Volume 1: New Floods 341 2019 [38]
Ponni's Beloved Volume 2: The Storm 389 2019
Ponni's Beloved Volume 3: The Sword 386 2020 The Sword – Ponni's Beloved Volume 3: An English Translation Of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan https://www.amazon.in/dp/B085XS8MC1/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_FW0FYP79B4Q0T8Z1ZW0A
Ponni's Beloved Volume 4: The Crown 314 2020 The Crown – Ponni's Beloved Volume 4: An English Translation of Kalki Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan https://www.amazon.in/dp/B089NHF632/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_STJ1V77S8GPGP5SWCFCC
H. Subhalakshmi Narayanan Ponniyin Selvan, Book 1: New Waters 2150 2016 Ailum Books
Ponniyin Selvan, Book 2: Whirling Cyclone
Ponniyin Selvan, Book 3:The Killer Sword
Ponniyin selvan, Book 4: The Crown
Ponniyin Selvan, Book 5 & 6:The Epitome of sacrifice

Malayalam translations

Translator Title Pages Publication date Publisher(s) Ref(s)
G.Subramanian Ponniyin Selvan 1200 2022 DC Books
Translator Title Pages Publication date Publisher(s) Ref(s)
Sajith M. S Ponniyin Selvan (പൊന്നിയിൻ സെൽവൻ ) 2022 Pratilipi Malayalam Also Available in Pratilipi FM

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jayaram joins Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan?". indianexpress. Indian Express. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. ^ Ponniyin Selvan Eng Pt. 1 (1999), p. xv, Introduction. Ponniyin Selvan was first published in serial form in the Tamil weekly magazine Kalki ; it was begun in the issue dated 29 October 1950 and concluded in the issue for 16 May 1954.
  3. ^ Ponniyin Selvan Book (1955).
  4. ^ Bali, Karan (14 March 2018). "Films Announced But Never Started: Ponniyin Selvan". Upperstall.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b Srivathsan, A. (19 October 2011). "Age hardly withers charm of Ponniyin Selvan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Mani is likely to drop Ponniyin Selvan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. ^ "பொன்னியின் செல்வன்: கமலின் கனவுகள்..." Kalki (in Tamil). 29 October 1989. pp. 2–4. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Mani Ratnam first discussed 'Ponniyin Selvan' with Kamal Haasan in 1989. Details inside". The Times of India. 6 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  9. ^ Mohammed, Khalid (January 1994). "Mani Matters". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Ponniyin Selvan lures all — from MGR to Kamal Haasan to Mani Ratnam". The Federal. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Ponniyin Selvan: It took 60+ years to bring the story on screen!".
  12. ^ B. Kolappan (9 April 2015). "Ponniyin Selvan in 32-hour animation film".
  13. ^ "Writer Jeyamohan reveals why Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan was shelved". The News Minute. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  14. ^ Kolappan, B. (27 March 2015). "Ponniyin Selvan to come alive on screen". The Hindu.
  15. ^ "Live Chennai: Ponniyin Selvan serial in internet: Eros announces,Ponniyin Selvan serial,internet, Eros announces".
  16. ^ "Puthu Vellam: Soundarya Rajinikanth announces Ponniyin Selvan web series".
  17. ^ "Another Ponniyin Selvan adaptation: A 125-episode series with music by Ilaiyaraaja".
  18. ^ "MGR's dream project to be turned into film, web series by Ajay Pratheeb".
  19. ^ "Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan' poster out, lyricist not mentioned in crew". www.thenewsminute.com. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Mani Ratnam wraps 'Ponniyin Selvan' shoot". The New Indian Express. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Palisetty, Ramya (19 September 2021). "Mani Ratnam wraps up Ponniyin Selvan shoot, film is set to release in 30th September 2022". India Today. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  22. ^ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (16 August 2012). "Labour of love". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  23. ^ "The stage is his world". The Hindu. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  24. ^ மு, ராகினி ஆத்ம வெண்டி. "வறட்சியால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட விவசாயிகளுக்கு இழப்பீட்டுத் தொகை!". https://www.vikatan.com/ (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 November 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  25. ^ "Ponniyin Selvan".
  26. ^ Poorvaja, S. (31 October 2017). "Ponniyin Selvan, now in comic book avatar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Buy Tamil Books – Nila Comics". Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Buy English Books – Nila Comics". Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Ponniyin Selvan".
  30. ^ "Linguistic diversity an asset: Smriti Irani". The Hindu. Chennai. 22 February 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  31. ^ Ponniyin Selvan Eng Indra (1993); Centenary Volume (1999).
  32. ^ "Amazon.in: Ponniyin Selvan". Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Writer Pavithra Srinivasan no more". The Hindu. 16 July 2021.
  34. ^ "C.V.Karthik Narayanan English Novels | English ebooks online | Pustaka". www.pustaka.co.in. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Amazon.in: C.V.Karthik Narayanan ponniyin selvan: Kindle Store". www.amazon.in. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  36. ^ Neelameggham, Indra. "Book Links". IndrasPonniyinSelvan. Indra Neelameggham. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  37. ^ Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan Part-1 to Part-5 Set (English) (Historical Novel) Paperback – 2016. ASIN 8183455476.
  38. ^ "Amazon.in: Sumeetha Manikandan Ponniyin Selvan: Kindle Store". www.amazon.in. Retrieved 3 January 2020.

Bibliography

  • Krishnamurthy, Kalki (1955). Ponniyin Selvan பொன்னியின் செல்வன் (in Tamil). Madras: Mangala Noolagam. OCLC 84057533.
    • Krishnamurthy, Kalki. Puthu Vellam புது வெள்ளம் (in Tamil). Vol. 1.
    • Krishnamurthy, Kalki. Chuzharkaattru சுழற்காற்று (in Tamil). Vol. 2.
    • Krishnamurthy, Kalki. Kolaivaal கொலை வாள் (in Tamil). Vol. 3.
    • Krishnamurthy, Kalki. Manimakudam மணிமகுடம் (in Tamil). Vol. 4.
    • Krishnamurthy, Kalki. Thyaaga Sigaram தியாகச் சிகரம் (in Tamil). Vol. 5.
  • Neelameggham, Indra (1993). Ponniyin Selvan of Kalki Krishnamurthy.
    • Neelameggham, Indra. Neelameggham, R; Ramadorai, Elizabeth (eds.). Part 1A New Floods. Online: Project Madurai.
    • Neelameggham, Indra. Neelameggham, R; Ramadorai, Elizabeth (eds.). Part 1B New Floods. Online: Project Madurai.
    • Neelameggham, Indra. Neelameggham, R (ed.). Part 2A Whirwind. Online: Project Madurai.
    • Neelameggham, Indra. Neelameggham, R (ed.). Part 2B Whirwind. Online: Project Madurai.
    • Neelameggham, Indra. Neelameggham, R (ed.). Part 3A A Killing Sword. Online: Project Madurai.
  • Krishnan, Mini, ed. (1999). Kalki R. Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan. New Delhi: Macmillan India. OCLC 263145239.
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