Not sure whether its telepathy...remember a few months back I said I started Sandilyan's Rajamuthirai but could not proceed even 50pages and you suggested me to start with yavana rani and kadal pura.
So gathering the courage I started Kadal pura a month back and finished it just yesterday. Except for the third part second half rest was dragging. I was thinking of giving up in the first part itself, but forced myselt to complete all the three parts. Maybe its wrong to compare with Kalki, but characterizations are at the worst.
The hero is invincible...he knows everything under the sun, what ever he plans will succeed, he knows what others are thinking and he can do magic to win over any situation. My god. more than a man kind of charectirisation. I cant take it.
Contrary to the popular opinion that Kadal Pura is the masterpiece of Sandilyan I would vouch for Yavana Rani.
Satish, I agree with u. I also found Kadal Pura to be a real DRAG. Most of the events in sec & third parts were repetitive.
Raja Muththirai, Raja Thilagam, Raja Berigai, Jala Dheepam, Kanni Madam are some of the better works of Sandilyan IMHO!
An invincible hero is the trademark of Sandilyan. He creates larger than life heroes. But, I do agree Kadal Pura is pretty far-fetched.
If you had the patience to finish Kadal Pura, I wld suggest you continue reading Raja Muththirai. It is worth the effort and will get very interesting as you proceed.
True almost all of Sandilyan's hero's are invincible, that's his style.
My view is, if the book gives the entertainment you need that's worth a read. If the book makes you read the second time and so on, that's a classic(just like PS). Most of the Sandilyan's book can be read once, and the one that stands apart(out of the one's i have read) is Yavana Rani. Though the hero is still invincible you will love him.
Guys, you should read "Mannan Mahal" it is very dramatic with lots of fast moving events... and it happens in RJC times of his victory of the Ganges...
I have the original Kumudam pages in which this was published as a serial in the 50's. The artwork by one Sagar is stunning and brings to life the characters.
Though I have read many novels of Sandilyan (inclusive od Kadal Pura, Yavana Rani & Mannan Mahal),I agree with Satish.
I have seen some of my friends saying that Sandilyan's works are equivalent to Kalki's. In my opinion Kalki is far ahead.
One biggest problem in Sandilyan's novels is that as you said the hero will always be invincible and also a know it all. Evreything will be larger than life portrayals. Apart from the hero none will be able to understand hero's plots i.e except hero most others will not be intelligent.
My reply might get back many hostile replies but this is my opinion. With no disrespect to Sandilyan, in terms of chracterisation Sandilyan lacks. I felt everything is exaggerated beyond the acceptance level.
The problem I had was I kept comparing Sandilyan's novels with that of kalki's unitentionally while reading. I think you will be able to read his novels better, if you think that you hadn't read Kaki's.
I will not at all accept this. Sandilyan is a master in narration. Kalki is not a good narrator when compared to Sandi. I never ever seen a writer like him. I read most of his novels. Never ever compare Sandi with Kalki pl.
I repeat Sandi is master in narrating. When you read historic stories, you need narration than telling the actual story.
Sandilyan only introduced Sarkel Kannoji Angre, a terror for britsh navy , to Tamil people and his characters were mostly real. Nobody can beat his narration , I believe sowmyanarayanan
I am not as good a reader as others in this group. My reading is limited. Akilan's vengayin maindhan was really good. I dont remember the whole story because i read it some 5 years back (poor memory you see). Recently read Prapanchan's 'vanam vasapadum'. Its based on Ananda rangam pillais dairy notes. It was one of the best. The narration, the flow of language were class apart.
Have read Naa Paa's Manipallavam, again long time back, but it was quite different and interesting to have a social novel in historical background..
BTW, can some one tell me what is Manipallavam called today? Is it a fictitious island or a real one?
I found Saandilyan��s books nice even though he can nver be compared with Kalki. Saandilyan brings lot of fictional character to support his original characters, He researched a lot and I had the oppurtunity to talk with him in his house in T. Nagar before 15 years. I never coud accept the Srungaara rasam which he was very famous for and as I told him that he simply smiled and we moved to talk about Rajasimha pallavan.
I would never say that his works were inferior. You could get lot of geographical informations from those books. I remember how I went to Mamallapuram and Uraiyur after reading Rajathilakam.
The common thread is meticulous research that runs between Kalki, Sandilyan and I can vouch for Ra.ki.Rangarajan. I have not read the other authors.
Each author has a style, I dont see it be to a good idea to compare one against the other. My mother is PS fan, she does not like Sandilyan, reasoning being he would waste his a chapter here and there going through the sringara rasam.. but he would build up the emotional link between characters.
Kadal pura was detailed in ship building, trade routes, sea maps and he quotes his research decently well. Ra.Ki's KDR was such an amazing masterpiece in giving detailed account on the social life of different religious sects in a single city.
Satish, u have the instinct to read real drags :-) Manipallavam is a real drag... The best historical book I've ready by Na.Pa is Niththilavalli. It is abt Kandungon Pandiyan re-capturing Madurai from the Kalappirars. The climax was a lil cinematic. Instead of a good battle, ego clashes b/w raja gurus was depcited. But, one can read the book for the sheer beauty of its prose!
When it comes to battlefield descriptions, Sandilyan wins hand down. I agree that his characters are all larger than life and he does give too much importance to romance. But, that wouldn't take away the interest he creates in the readers. That too, his descriptions of war strategies. The 'Latha Vrichigam' of Raja Thilagam, the Snake & Eagle of Yavana Rani, the Lightning forces of Raja Berigai, the storming of the fort in Raja Muththirai... all are exemplary. The naval expeditions of Jala Deepam is better than Kadal Pura - IMHO.
We all know that any historical novel will deal with wars. The reader takes the protagonist's side and one starts hating the villain! How I hated Naganandhi and Pulikesi :-) Read Raja Thilagam to get a very different perspective of the same.
Akilan is famous for Vengaiyin Mainthan. His Kayalvizhi is also a masterpiece. To tell the truth, while reading it, I was torn between the Pandya prince and my own Chozha allegiance :-) His Paandimathevi is also good. Vetri Thirunagar is also really good.
I found Jegachirpiyan repetitive. Thiruchittrambalam, Aalavaai Azhagan, Paththini Kottam all will have the same plot of impersonation.
Vishwaksenan's Indhra Dhanasu which won the Kalki historical competition is also a good one. Ra.Ki.Ra's Naan Krishna Devaraayaan, Kowsigan's Baamini Paavai, Sujatha's Raththam Ore Niram, Kannadhasan's Seramaan Kaadhali, Thaamarai Manaalan's Andhappuram, Rajaguru's Chozha Raani, Indra Soundarrajan's Aindhu Vazhi Moodru Vaasal are all worth a read.
Yes Nanda. Sandilyan deserves a special mention for the research he does b4 writing his novels. After reading Kadal Pura, I was amazed to see that people were so good in building ships long ago.
Also I have not read other authors. Got to start with them. Can some one suggest me an author and a book to start with?
You are absolutely correct.Sandilyan's imagination is uncomparable, eventhough he gives historical evidences.However. Kalki's PS is derived from once lived characters.Yes Kalki is far ahead.But anyway, if you once take Sandilyan's novel you won't like to put it back unless you finish it.that is true.it is very very interesting.
Dear Rayeez Sandilyan uses historicalcharectors more in the background and has imaginary charectors at the forefront in most not all Karikalan and Ilanchezian in Yavanarani Anabayan and Karunakaran in Kadal Pura Vijayakumaran and Clive,Kanoji angre in Rajaperigai Rgs Sri