Ponniyin Selvan vs real history - Page 3

Its a fictional story about useless wars of succession among Chola family. It also mentions baseless wars among southern powers for supremeacy. This story is good if you want to understand the socio-economic and polity of that period. Useless wars did weaken southern empires for further attacks from unstable powers of North India after Mauryan empire.

I have no love for wars for supremacy. Mostly innocent people died from it.

Originally posted by: guenhwyvar

I found a few:

Physical copy:

https://www.amazon.com/Kalkis-Ponniyin-Selvan-English-Historical/dp/8183455476


Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Ponniyin-Selvan-Volumes-C-V-Karthik-Narayanan-ebook/dp/B072FVMGT3

Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XMG768X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Ima lean towards the Kindle one because it's part of Kindle Unlimited 😆😆. Quick google search recommends the CV Karthik one too, so I might just grab that. But I'll defer to you Pri 😆. You're the expert.

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Have you read Sivakamiyin Sabadham Chillliii?

One of the reviews mentioned this was an amazing series too.
https://www.amazon.com/Sivakamiyin-Sabadham-1-Paranjyothis-Journey/dp/1477549684

I'm going to try the kindle version too. Wish people would put all these regional books into some kind of database so it's easier for translators to access. I've been trying to find an English version of Panchajanya for years now!

Originally posted by: Chiillii

There is only one English translation available it’s on Amazon. I don’t remember the name of the person who translated it. It hadn’t caught peoples attention till now, therefore there are no retellinga and fan fictions yet. But I heard it’s flying off the shelves now because of the movie, so who knows we may soon get some Wattpad stories with creative interpretations

I hope Manirathnam keeps the story as is because story ends with intrigue and audience is left to guess the climax…. It’s like Christopher Nolan’s work….

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

Any suggestions on a good English translation of the book?

Tagging Shyam as he's also looking.

Sumeeta Manikandan's English translation is quite simple and succinct and keeps the spirit of the novel. Kalki tends to digress a lot and expand on the Chola's reverent ancestors or the geographical features of the land or cities where characters are residing. The first couple of chapters are really slow till Vandhiyathevan meets the Vaishnavite Nambi. Availble as an ebook on Amazon for Rs.49. Or if you are a Kindle Unlimited member you can read all the 5 ebooks free.

It is obvious even from the book that Kalki took care to paint the future king with a halo.. Arulmozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Selvan is so perfectly perfect. The most handsome, the most brave, the most adored man in the kingdom etc. Men and women go gaga over him. A classic case of Mary Sue. But the other characters more than make up for complexity. And you get a complete picture of a character only after reading multiple other characters' observation over him/her.

For eg: The Emperor: My eldest son Aditya Karikalan is lolling about building a golden palace .Look he even invites me to visit his palace.Why doesn't he do the job I assigned him to ie win Northern Territories?

The reality: Aditya Karikalan and his army are stuck midway in Kanchi because the Treasurer(Aish's husband) has deliberately delayed supplies to his army. And whatever supplies he got hold of , he transported it to his younger brother's war efforts in Sri Lanka. The invitation to view the Golden Palace in Kanchi is Aditya Karikalan "diplomatically" trying to extract his father from his house-arrest at the Capital. He can't lead his Army to the Capital because his enemies would label it as him trying to usurp his father's position and a Civil War would erupt.

Originally posted by: guenhwyvar

I found a few:

Physical copy:

https://www.amazon.com/Kalkis-Ponniyin-Selvan-English-Historical/dp/8183455476


Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Ponniyin-Selvan-Volumes-C-V-Karthik-Narayanan-ebook/dp/B072FVMGT3

Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XMG768X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Ima lean towards the Kindle one because it's part of Kindle Unlimited 😆😆. Quick google search recommends the CV Karthik one too, so I might just grab that. But I'll defer to you Pri 😆. You're the expert.

===

Have you read Sivakamiyin Sabadham Chillliii?

One of the reviews mentioned this was an amazing series too.
https://www.amazon.com/Sivakamiyin-Sabadham-1-Paranjyothis-Journey/dp/1477549684

Thanks for the links! 🤗

I’m going to read the story whenever I get time.

I have read Sivakamiyin Sabadham too. Wish Mani Rathnam takes that up after he wraps up PS

Most people do not care. For many people this movie is just a costume drama.