I am so excited to have found this group. I just joined today and read through almost all the mails. Excellent initiative and drive. My god. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this group. The last couple of weeks I have been doing some search on PS on the net. And it was only today that I found the group.
Wish I had seen the stage performance of PS. I wasn't aware of it. But as Vatson, says, when we read a book, we have our own picturisations of the characters within us and am not sure, if there would be enuff justice of the same on the screen or stage. Anyways, I had first read Parthiban Kanavu (PK) when I was in school and read read PS and I bought the copies as soon as I could and am right now reading the 4th Part. I like historical works by themselves and anything to do with my home country and home area is more wonderful to read. Its an amazing work by Kalki. Infact, I dont know, if I can do justice by saying a few adjectives to the work. Right from my childhood, I have heard my parents mentioning the characters of Anirudha Brahmarayar, Vandhiya Theavan, Azhvarkadiyan Nambi Thirumalai, Kundhavi, Nandhini, Sivagami, Mahendra Pallavar, Mammalar and the like. Both my parents were ardent Kalki fans and they have inspired me to a great extent to read Kalki's works.
What I find a little disappointing was when I finished SS a year back and wanted to discuss about it, I couldnt with anyone other than my parents as none in my friends circle and my seniors or juniors have read it and when I was searching for a copy of PS (as I was in US then) they were just trying to joke around saying that I am gone nuts. But I just pity them for missing something great. But leaving all that aside, my thirst for discussing SS was there. For am unable to do it other than with my parents. And now, when I am reading PS, its gone to such an extent that the last couple of weeks everytime I am free for a few mins between my work, I do a search on PS and kalki :-) and am here now.
Lavanya has done a great job on giving an update on Raja Raja Cholan. Thanks a lot Lavanya. And as Vatson said, y not have a topic for discussion and decide on the topic a month or two earlier, so that we will have enuff time to prepare and can come with some good discussions. I also read on Sun TV trying to come up with a serial. I am very apprehensive of how its going to turn out. Actually after reading SS, I re-read PK again. And one day, when I was browsing a VHS section in an Indian Store I found a vedio cassette on Parthiban Kanavu. Guys, if you get a chance you should see it. Its a decent make of the movie. Atleast, to an extent, the characters havent spoilt the flavour of what you would have imagined on reading the novel. And Kumari Kamala comes as Sivagami Ammaiyar and man, the dance she does at Vatapi is excellent.
My fav characters so far in all these works in the order I like them are Vandhiya Thevan, Sivagami and Mahendra Pallavar. My god, what a lot of disguises and nothing goes without his notice. What a ruler and what a father man. Awesome guy.
Thats it for now. Looking forward to read more and thanks for the initiators and contributors again. Vidya.