Ponniyin Selvan is a Tamil colossal novel of 2400 pages written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.Written in five volumes, this narrates the story of Arulmozhivarman (later crowned as Rajaraja Chola I), one of the kings of the Shaivite Chola Dynasty during the 10th and 11th centuries
One reason for this popularity is that Krishnamurthy can be compared with the French literary giant, Alexander Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After), who’s historical novels of romantic adventure have held eternal fascination.
The story revolves around Vandiyathevan, a charming, brave and a brilliant young man who sets out to the Chola land to deliver a message to the King and the Princess from the Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan. The story shuttles between Vandiyathevan's travels in Chola country and the young Prince Arulmozhivarman's travels in Sri Lanka. The narrative deals with attempts by his sister Kundavai to bring back Arulmozhi (as Raja Raja was called before his crowning) to establish political peace in a land seemingly getting besot with unrest and signs of civil war, plotted by vassals and petty chieftains.
Also, Ponniyin Selvan is absolutely relevant to this day and age. Apart from the romance, it is peppered with political intrigue, conspiracy, rivalry and other forms of treachery that are common in India. Each member of the ruling family in the play, including the protagonist, Ponniyin Selvan, is ready to give up the throne for the good of the kingdom.
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