Ponniyin Selvan

This book needs no introduction at all! One of the greatest books ever written in Tamil by Amarar Kalki—A historical fiction based on the life of Raja Raja Chola—one of the greatest emperors of India.

அறிமுகமே தேவை இல்லாத காலத்தை வென்ற காவியம் - பொன்னியின் செல்வன். அமரர் கல்கி எழுதிய புகழ் பெற்ற இந்த தமிழ் வரலாற்றுப் புதினம் சோழப் பேரரசை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

Please note: This audiobook is in Tamil.

Public Domain (P)2022 Deepika Arun

I felt like it’s slightly over rated

I was thinking to read this book from my childhood, who ever read this book they always says this is one of the greatest novel they ever read. Even though there was movie versions available. I still felt something I was still missing from that. So I decided to hear this audiobook. The story timeline was just 8-9 months, author wrote this in a weekly magazine for 3.5 years. Author did a great job on researching the history as far as he could during his time. He has referred to lots of real chola and pandiyas and srilankan history and shaivaite, vaishnavaite, Buddhist, religious references. Also referenced epics like Ramayana in many places. Story is plotted based on a revenge seeking by pandyas against chola. I really felt Nandhini’s character was outstandingly designed by the author. It felt like determined woman do anything to conquer the quest. Sometimes I felt angry on her character. That was a great feeling and success of this novel I believe and I also felt Vanthiyathevan’s travel was the key story movements and the huge story ended when he met the manimegalai’s death bed was authors brilliance to leave readers open ended story ending to give thoughts and opportunity for the readers to search about the history. I also need to mention the narrator Deepika, she did excellent job in the narration to differentiate the characters by changing the tone of her voice. I really felt how hard she changed her voice for Periya pazhuvettaraiyar. Overall I was expecting with more thriller movements but it was not full filed my expectations. Also the title hero was depicted still amateur in the over all story in the major of the portions he was left out and other characters like vandhiyathevan and azhvarkadiyan Nandhini were took more stakes.