MESSAGE NO 201 FROM ARCHIVES REPOSTED:
Just thought I could summarize some of the unique features of PS as
compared to other historic novels written in Tamil -
* Most of the novels have a big invasion or fighting between 2
kingdoms as their climax. The entire novel will be moving towards
this event and the author would have supported one side – portraying
the other as the evil force. Kalki’s own SS is no exception to this.
But PS is different in this respect – to a careful observer it will
be evident that the novel does’nt have a climax on its own ! Kalki
felt that the renunciation of Crown by Arulmizhi was his climax
(refer his conclusion to the novel) – to many readers it is the
murder of Aditya – but to me it is neither or both. That is why when
you finish the novel, you always suffer from a sort of
dissatisfaction – no other novel can give this feeling – that too at
the end of 5th volume !
* Most of the novels have a King or a prince as its hero but in
PS
a small, insignificant and noble warrior (Vandhiyathevan) becomes a
hero. It is interesting to note that Kalki actually wanted Arulmozhi
to be recognized as a hero in his novel the name Ponniyin
selvan is
derived from him but an `all perfect’ figure he
portrayed only
helped to distance readers from Arulmizhi. Moreover the chronology of
events was also in favour of Vandhiyathevan. It is interesting to
compare Vandhiyathevan with Paranjothi who is a character in SS
and
Ponnan of Parthiban Kanavu. In SS Paranjothi character is used to
introduce many characters in the Novel but the real hero is
Narasimhavarman. It is certain that Kalki wanted to adopt a similar
technique but somehow Vandhiyathevan triumphed over his own creator !
* Usually such long historic stories have to portray some breaks in
timeline (invariably). For example, in SS the last part happens after
a gap of 9 years. But PS portrays events continuously for a period of
6 months. If you trace back carefully, you can actually find out who
was doing what for almost every day for a period of 6 months.
* Probably its portrayal of simultaneous happenings in many many
places is unique to Tamil historic novel genere. At some point of
time, he will be detailing different events happening in Srilanka,
Tanjore, Pazhaiyarai, Kudanthai and Kadambur and yet
with master
craftsmanship will link them in a very logical order as
pages
move by
* Its characterization of people is a well discussed and well
researched topic
* This is probably the only novel in which we see almost all kinds of
love between human beings portrayed
- Vandhiyathevan and Kundhavai who are in love with each other since
their first sight.
- Poonguzhali’s love for Arulmozhi and her compromise to marry
Amudhan
- Arulmozhi’s interest in Poonguzhali and his compromise to marry
vanathi
- Vanathi’s love towords Arulmizhi
- Amudhan’s love towords Poonguzhali
- Nandhini’s love towords Aditya and her revenge
- Aditya’s love towords Nandhini
- Parthibendhran’s love towords Nandhini
- Pazhuvettaraiyar’s interest in Nandhini
- Manimekalai’s love towords Vandhiyathevan
Initially I thought of categorizing them (like one sided love, two
sided love etc) but I find that it is difficult to do given the
wide spectrum of relationship kalki portrays
* PS is perhaps the only novel in which the story is not entirely
dominated by Hero. Sometimes I think PS has different heros at
different points of time
- In Pallipadai events (Part I) Azvarkadiyan sounds like a hero
- In Nilavarai and many other occations, ofcourse
Vandhiyathevan dominates
- In Part II Arulmozhi dominates in many occasions
- Sendhan amudhan surprisingly dominates certain portains in
Part IV and V (During Mandakini escape from Pallakku, when he becomes
royal heir etc)
- During the aftermath of floods (Part IV), Pazhuvettaraiyar
certainly becomes a hero for a chapter or two
Thus it is close to real life in which different people become heros
at different points of time.
* Surprise ! PS seems to have no villains ! (or rather everybody seem
to have enough justifications) Nandhini might sound like a villi but
after reading her childhood we understand that there are enough
reasons behind her abhorrence. Ravidasan ? Soman sambavan ? Remember
they had vowed to give their life in case they fail to protect their
leader. But instead they choose to live and take revenge. They
undergo so many troubles to achieve their goal. Considering the
cruelty of Pandiya’s murder this can be understood.
In other words, the negative forces are also portrayed with possible
realism a writer can bestow upon his characters.
I initially though of writing a small mail but this is close to
becoming an article. I can write many things like this
.and yet
may
not able to fully portray the heights and depths of this greatest
historic novel ever written.
Your comments are welcome.
