#parthibendran

[teaah-art]

This is a teaser! Chew on it while I work on more visually appealing PS content

#ponniyin selvan #vallavaraiyan vanthiyadevan #vallavaraiyan vandiyadevan #comics #doodles #semba #ps1 #ps2 #ps #ponniyin selvan 2 #ponniyin selvan 1 #parthibendran pallavan #parthibendran #nambi #alwarkadiyan nambi #fanart #my art

[ambidextrousarcher]

“கிழவருக்குச் சோழ குலத்தாரிடம் எவ்வளவு அபிமானம் என்பது இன்றைக்குத்தான் எனக்குத் தெரிந்தது. இளவரசருக்கு ஆபத்து என்றதும் எப்படித் துடிதுடித்துப் போய் விட்டார்? ஐயா! இளவரசர் தப்பிப் பிழைத்திருக்கக்கூடும் அல்லவா? இறந்துதான் போயிருக்கவேண்டும் என்பது நிச்சயம் இல்லையே?" என்றாள் நந்தினி.

“நிச்சயம் இல்லை; ஆனால் அப்பேர்ப்பட்ட சுழற் காற்றில் கடலில் குதித்தவர் பிழைத்திருப்பது அசாத்தியம்! விதியின் போக்குக்கு நாம் என்ன செய்யமுடியும்?" என்றான் பல்லவன்.

“இதற்கு விதி காரணம் இல்லை; அந்தப் பழையாறை ராட்சஸியின் பேராசைதான் காரணம். தங்களுக்குத் தெரியுமா, ஐயா? குந்தவை தேவிக்குச் சோதிடத்திலும் ரேகை சாஸ்திரத்திலும் அபார நம்பிக்கை. தம்பியின் ஜாதகத்தையும், கைரேகையையும் பார்த்து வைத்துக்கொண்டு அவன் மூன்று உலகையும் ஆளும் சக்கரவர்த்தியாகப் போகிறான் என்று நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருந்தாள். ஐயோ! பாவம்! அந்த அருமைத் தம்பிக்கு இந்த கதி நேர்ந்தது என்று அறியும் போது அவள் எவ்வளவு கஷ்டம் அடைவாள்? அச்சமயம் நான் அவள்கூட இருந்து ஆறுதல் சொல்ல வேண்டும் போலிருக்கிறது!"

இவ்விதம் கூறிய நந்தினியின் குரலில் குதூகலம் தொனித்தது. பல்லவன் ஒருகணம் ஆச்சரியப்பட்டுப் போனான். பிறகு தன் செவிகளில் தான் கோளாறு என்று தீர்மானித்துக் கொண்டான்

“ராணி தாங்கள் எதற்காக ஆறுதல் சொல்லவேண்டும்? அவளுடைய பேராசையினால் நேர்ந்துவிட்ட விபரீதம்தானே இது? அதற்காக அவள் கஷ்டப்பட வேண்டியதுதான்..."

“அது எப்படி ஐயா? அவள் கண்ணில் ஒரு சொட்டுக் கண்ணீர் துளித்தால், நெஞ்சு பதறுகிறவர்கள் சோழ நாட்டில் ஆயிரம் பதினாயிரம் பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள். அவள் சக்கரவர்த்தியின் செல்வப் புதல்வி மூன்று உலகிலும் ஈடு இணையற்ற அழகி!"

“நானும் ஒரு சமயம் அவ்வாறுதான் நினைத்திருந்தேன்! அதாவது, தங்களைப் பார்ப்பதற்கு முன்னால்!"

"என்னைப் பார்த்த பிறகு என்ன நினைக்கிறீர்கள்?"

“குந்தவை தேவியின் அழகு தங்கள் பாதச் சுண்டு விரலின் அழகுக்கு இணையாகாது என்றுதான்."

“இப்போது இப்படித்தான் சொல்வீர்கள். நாளைக்கு அவளைப் பார்த்தால் நான் ஒருத்தி இவ்வுலகில் இருக்கிறேன் என்பதையே மறந்துவிடுவீர்கள்!”

Excerpt From

Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)

Kalki

This material may be protected by copyright.

“It is today that I realised how much devotion the old man has to the Chozha clan. How distraught is he the moment he heard that the Prince was in danger? Sir! Isn’t there a chance that the Prince might have survived? It is not certain that he is dead, is it?” asked Nandini.

“It is not certain, but it is improbable that then man who jumped into the sea in the midst of a whirlwind could have survived! What can we do against the course of Fate?” stated the Pallavan.

“Fate is not the reason for this, instead it is the greed of the demoness in Pazhayarai that is the reason. Did you know, sir? Kundavai Devi has an abundance of belief in astrology and palmistry. She believed on seeing her younger brother’s horoscope and the creases on his palms that he would be an Emperor ruling the three worlds. Alas! Poor woman! How much grief will befall her when she will come to know of the dire straits her cherished brother perished in? I feel like I should be there with her at that time to offer words of consolation!”

When Nandini pronounced thus, her voice was filled with excitement. The Pallavan was astonished for a moment. Afterwards, he decided that the fault lay in his hearing.

“My Queen! Why should you offer words of consolation? Hasn’t this dire occurrence happened because of her greed? For that, she should suffer…”

“How could that be so, sir? If a single tear splashes from her eyes, the hearts of tens and thousands of people in the Chozha country quiver. She is the Emperor’s adored daughter, a beauty with no equal in the three worlds!”

“I too thought so at a point of time! That is, before I met you!”

“What did you think after meeting me?”

“That Kundavai Devi’s beauty is not even equal to the beauty of your littlest toe.”

And so we see Parthibendran in all his creepy glory. Names truly don’t match the character of those who bear it sometimes, like in his case.

He’s also exhibiting a severe case of selective blindness and deafness, as do most men who are graced by Nandini’s presence. Is lust truly so powerful?

In another note, Nandini does seem a little surprised at the depth of Periya Pazhuvettarayar’s regard for the Chozha siblings, particularly Arulmozhi in this case. I wouldn’t blame her, what with the man calling Kundavai a demoness and such.

And Nandini, as usual, is a compelling character, who seems to almost gloat at Arulmozhi’s “death” I think that would not have been the case had she truly gotten to know him, however.

Today’s snippet! Tagging the usual list: @whippersnappersbookworm @mizutaama @celestesinsight @thereader-radhika @thelekhikawrites @themorguepoet @willkatfanfromasia @harinishivaa @deadloverscity @favcolourrvibgior @racoonpaws

#ponniyin selvan #book 3 #snippet #nandini #parthibendran #parthicreep is truly an apt nickname for this creep #geez #how desperate can he be??

[thereader-radhika]

Some crazy Ponniyin Selvan prompts

• Poonkuzhali joins Pandya Aabathudavigal.

Some time ago, some people from the Pandya country came here. They wanted me to help them wreak vengeance on the royal family which had betrayed my aunt. It was then that I heard my aunt's story. My blood began to boil and I decided to join them. Later, I came to know how my aunt felt about all this. . . . Then I abandoned the idea of joining hands with the Pandya group. As you said my aunt's love is really divine. But mark my words, I won't be like her. If any Prince tries to deceive me I'll take revenge. I'll kill him. I'll also kill the woman who steals him from me. Then I'll stab myself and die.

• Vanathi joins Buddha monastery for real.

Vanathi went on: "Yes! I've decided to become a Buddhist sanyasini. Why do you object to that? Weren't there many women in ancient Tamil Nadu who became ascetics? Did not Madhavi's daughter, Manimekalail, become an ascetic and attain divinity and don't we praise her now as the Goddess Manimekalai? I have no such aspirations. I tried to end my useless life, but failed in the attempt. Perhaps it is God's wish that I live a little longer. I want to join a Buddhist monastery and spend my time serving people. You won't refuse to help me, will you?"

• Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar Kalanthaka Kandar adopts Vanthiyathevan.

Let's wait, he thought, until my older brother returns. We can find out about him then and do whatever is best. A warrior like him should be inducted into our private bodyguard. Even a portion of his ancestral kingdom could be given back to him. Helping boys like this will bind them to us and ensure their loyalty. But if he's proved an enemy, we'll have to make other plans. Let's wait for my brother, anyway. We’ll see.

• Poonkuzhali fakes her death and runs away from the palace.

The court politics and the never ending scheming are so tiring and infuriating. She doesn't like Senthan as much as thought and Emperor Senthan is the most eligible married man in the country. She runs away, to embrace the waves once again.

• Manimegalai thinks 'ponal pogattum poda' (let it go) and starts to manage the affairs of Sambuvarayar clan when Kandan Maran is away on border patrol.

She is totally embarassed about her emotional outburst about a man who doesn't like her, that too to the woman he actually loves.

• Parthipendra Pallavan and Manimegalai decide to get married out of spite and plot the end of Vanthiyathevan and Kundavai.

Yeah, I made that up. I am crazy.

If anyone writes anything, please tag me so that my evil heart can rejoice 😏

@vibishalakshman @willkatfanfromasia @celestesinsight @harinishivaa @nspwriteups @nature-writes29, @whippersnappersbookworm @philtstone @sambaridli @sampigehoovu @thirst4light @dr-scribbler @doesitmatterluv @thirishareads

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #poonguzhali #poonkuzhali #vanathi #arulmozhi varman #arunmozhi varman #vanthiyathevan #vanthiyadevan #vallavaraiyan vandiyadevan #vallavarayan vanthyathevan #Senthan #manimegalai #parthibendran #chola dynasty #kollywood

[alwaysthesideofwonder]

Parthibendran you are complete, two faced, hypocritical idiot!!!

You spend so much time insulting Vandiyadevan about being a flirt and then you go and change sides when Nandini bats her eyes at you?! The same woman that your dear friend and prince is heartbroken over!

When I finally get to watch this movie I am going to scold you every time you show up on screen just see if I don’t!

#abi reads ponniyin selvan #parthibendran #I have many other choice words #but will hold off for decency’s sake #and also my family is a bit freaked out by how irate I am

[the-deceased-tiger]

#true friendships #see @pazhavoorilayarani I can be happy without you!

Bonus

Me with my sister

Sorry @ponniyin-selvan I couldn’t find a picture of us together

Shout out to parthibendran, @kundavai, and @vallavarayan

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan aditha karikalan #ponniyin selvan parthibendran #ponniyin selvan vandhiyathevan

[balladedutempsjadis]

Shoutout to my movie boyfriend Arulmozhi Varman and his nerves of steel. First in the Buddhist monastery, with five assassins waiting to kill him, unarmed, calm and quiet, walking out of there without a scratch, shielded by the respect and love of these Buddhist monks.

Then, while Vandiyadevan and Nambi are frantically chasing Pandya assassins all over Nagapattinam, he doesn’t rush the procession at all, walking slowly and calmly with Vanathi, while people throw flowers at him which could have been spears or knives.*

And then poor Nambi and Vandiyadevan are freaking out about the rogue mahout and my dude is like “I got this. Elephants and I have an understanding.” (Vanathi looks impressed too! Who wouldn’t be?)

He’s so composed and confident and reliable. It’s super sexy (so are his arms but that’s for another post.) In the books, another character compares Arulmozhi Varman to the Dhruva Nakshatram (the Pole Star) that sailors at sea rely on above all other aids to navigation. “All the other stars and the planets may change positions and directions, but the Pole Star alone remains steadfast.” Somehow, Mani Ratnam, his amazing cinematographer Ravi Varman** and Jayam Ravi’s physical presence and expressions managed to translate these qualities - steadfastness, constancy, the essence of the lodestar - to the screen even without dialogue.

* I understand why the Pandya assassins make themselves so visible in Nagapattinam, because they want to draw Nambi and Vandiyadevan away from the monastery so the five assassins posing as Buddhist monks can do their work unhindered. (They didn’t count on Ponniyin Selvan’s ability to make people willing to die to protect him ;)) And then elephant assassination is a good backup plan. But most of the time, it seems like they would have done better to act by stealth instead. If I were directing these attempts, I would have had them blend into the crowd and throw knives etc at the prince while he was walking through the crowd. 🤷‍♀️

** just as an example, there is way less camera movement for Arulmozhi Varman’s scenes than for Aditha Karikalan. In PS1, contrast the camera work when Aditha is telling Parthibendran about Nandini (it’s swirling around all over the place to match Aditha’s inner turmoil) to the camera work when Arulmozhi is telling Vandiyadevan and Nambi about the Oomai Rani and her role in his life. Both brothers are talking about love, but the total difference in what they are talking about and their own personalities is reflected in the camera work.

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #Ponniyin Selvan 2 spoilers #arulmozhi varman

[thirst4light]

In Memoriam

This is my first try at Vanmozhi Fanfiction. Inspired from the PS 2 movie scene. Planning to do a two part follow-up of this prologue. Let me know what you think!

Prologue

'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.’ (In Memoriam A. H. H., 27.13-17) 

The sky of Thanjavur was strangely grey on a Vaikasi afternoon as the people waited for their beloved crown prince, Aditha Karikalan, to come home.

Only this time, there was no line of excited girls, wearing their best sarees,  chattering away with their aarti thali on the steps of majestic Thanjavur fort, waiting to catch a glimpse of their handsome  prince.

Instead, a grief-stricken royal family waited patiently. Chakrvarthi and the young prince, Ponniyin Selvan were waiting at the front, while the women of the royal family waited behind.

Slightly behind the royal family, Kodombalur Ilavarasi Vanathi was also waiting along with other royal women, looking over the sea of the people that gathered at the outer court of the fort. Since last night, as the news of the prince’s death spread, people kept coming from all corners of the Cholanadu. 

While Vanathi waited, she thought of everything and nothing.

Such a contrast, Vanathi reflected, looking at the grey sky briefly before her gaze settled on the royal family who were clad in pristine white, a decorum when someone in the family passes away.

As if even the sky was mourning along with this family.

Vanathi’s thoughts got interrupted as people’s clamour suddenly increased, making her focus at the entry gate of the fort.

Finally, Aditha Karikalan had arrived in Thanjavur.

In the city where he grew up. In the city where he belongs.

A long procession of regiment came by foot, closely followed by the prince's beloved horse regiment, waving the chola flag. 

From where she was standing, Vanathi could  see the chariot carrying the prince’s body from a distance, closely flanked by his trusted fighting companions, Manamalyan, Parthibendran and Vanthiyadevan; not leaving their beloved prince’s side, even in death.

As the chariot slowly moved across the crowd, Vanathi could hear muffled cries while some people started to shower flower petals at the chariot, a sign of their last respect to their Ilavarase. A section of the crowd even started to tussle with the guards to touch the chariot and pray.

It took a long time for the guards to clear the way for the chariot to cross the short distance of the entry gate to the steps of the fort. 

When the chariot carrying the prince's body finally stopped in front of the fort stairs, there was a momentary pause among the royal family members. 

As if they could not believe what they were seeing.

The ailing Chakravarty was the first to break down as he could not support his weight anymore. Ponniyin Selvan gripped his father tightly, making sure his father could come down the stairs to meet his beloved elder son.

Raṇi varataṭcaṇai Sembiyan Mahadevi, Rani Vanavan Mahadevi, Iliya Piratti slowly started to walk behind the Chakravarty to meet their nephew, son and brother, Aditha Karikalan, one last time. Vanathi followed them as well, her steps heavy with grief.

As everyone in the family huddled at the front of the chariot and tried to caress the beloved prince’s face, the cries of the Chakravarti and Rani were the most heart-breaking.  Vanathi, who was standing at the end of the chariot, could not take it anymore. She bowed her head, closed her eyes to drown out the sound of cries and desperately put her hands together in prayer.

Ishvara, may the Ilavarase join you in heaven. And…And give my beloved royal family and the people of Cholanadu the strength to overcome this difficult time.

Vanathi stayed still for a few minutes, hoping the cries had subdued. As she opened her eyes, she knew that her attempt at focusing on praying was futile. 

But she had to try. 

In desperation, her eyes searched for the only face that could give her strength at this moment. 

As her eyes landed on Ponniyin Selvan’s face, Vanathi realized, despite being such a pillar of strength to his father, the young prince could not hold himself together anymore.

His face contorted with unspeakable grief; tears were streaming down his eyes continuously.

Vanathi had endured loss in various forms from a very young age. Her mother’s death, even though she had never met her, had left a deep wound in her childhood. Then her father’s death at Ilankai war, leaving her as an orphan in this cruel world. Then bidding farewell to her only father like figure uncle Periya Velar before every war, not knowing whether he would return alive from them was always tantamount to loss for her….Yet, no pain of these losses compared to the pain of seeing her beloved Ponniyin Selvan grieving at this moment.

Until this point, Vanathi did not realize that she had been crying along with everyone else. But seeing her Ponniyin Selvan break down like this, fresh tears blocked her vision completely. Her heart felt so heavy that for a moment she felt like she could not breathe anymore.

Wiping her tears with pallu, Vanathi took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

As the guards started to move to take the chariot away for cremation, on a whim, Vanathi decided to come at the front of the chariot and touch Ilavarase Aditha Karikalan’s feet, seeking blessings.

An opportunity she never had before.

While she looked at the crown prince’s resting face one last time, Vanathi realized, in death, Aditha Karikalan had finally found his peace.

The peace that he had been searching for a long time.

Tagging my enablers who I have on my profile: @harinishivaa @nspwriteups @balladedutempsjadis @celestesinsight @thelekhikawrites @reeeereeeereeereee @whippersnappersbookworm @sambaridli

Feel free to tag others/reblog if you like :)

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #arulmozhi #vanathi #vanmozhi #aditha karikalan #vanthiyathevan #arulmozhi varman #vallavaraiyan vandiyadevan #ponniyin selvan 1 #kundavai #fanfiction #cholas #chola dynasty #nandini #nandini x aditha #chiyaan vikram #jayam ravi #sobhita dhulipala #karthi #trisha

[willkatfanfromasia]

Book review – Sangathaara

A book who’s reputation precedes it.

Based on the same topic as an already epic novel, this book accomplished the hard task of being an interesting read. The lack of an English translation is very disappointing

It is a historical mystery with politics and drama interspersed.

It primarily tries to answer the questions surrounding Aditha karikalan's life and death.

For starters it is just 1 volume instead of 5. The author’s (kalachakram narasimhan) writing style (perhaps intentionally) gives glimpses of his former career as a journalist. The story and pacing keeps the reader engrossed-slow enough to reel you in but fast enough to prevent boredom.

It is the content, however, that has left the audience split. The book starts off with aditha Karikalan ‘s spectre lamenting that he hasn’t received justice even after 1000 years- that his killers haven’t been found. We can’t help but quip- but they have been found! In the inscriptions. The author (via AK) argues that the ‘killers’ held important titles in the chola court (“bramadhirayan”) and termed as traitors (how can pandyas be traitors to cholas?). Most suspiciously, their punishment seems neither grave or memorable for a crime of this magnitude.

Several decades into the future, a daughter of Sundara chola with his second wife who'd become a Buddhist monk, dies leaving behind memoirs to her nephew Rajendra Chola. The latter tasks his daughter Arunmozhi nangai with reading them for him - with horrifying reveals for both.

The actual tale begins with kundhavai’s “coming of age” ceremony at the twilight years of her great-grandfather Parantaka 1’s reign. Ambitious kundhavai and Aditha karikalan have great dreams fuelled by youthful vigor.

A teen boy raging to kill his clan's mortal enemy and a teen girl desiring more than her lot in life.

The empire is threatened by Pandyas, Lankans and Srivijaya may too join them. Anirudhdhar, Pazhuvettarayar are frustrated that their new emperor Gandaraditha has no interest in war. They plot to waylay the ship carrying the young Srivijayan princess Vijayarekha and betroth her to AK. This young girl is already engaged to a prince of purasanga (Malaysia?) and loathes her kidnapping.

A handsome young diamond merchant from Purasanga and a young warrior from a fallen Kingdom both enter the empire. The former swiftly rises up the ranks of chola nobility through an advantageous marriage and draws kundhavai’s curiosity by claiming to be the descendant of an elder Chola line. He also claims to possess important ritual artefacts (conch, parts of a plant) used in coronations of ancient Chola’s (adicholar) that kundavai is determined to anoint her brother with. The latter youth, desolate from his kingdom's fall, gains AK’s trust and married kundhavai. (Surprise surprise!)

Pazhuvettarayar, Aniruddhar and kodumbalur vellalar try to steer the rulers.

A prominent devadasi grapples with a wealthy admirer’s attention as her own past and future are questioned.

Ravidasan is given an interesting chola link to weave him into this chaos. His condemnation is also added into this mix.

The author blends a legend about ancient Chola’s artefacts with the ambitions of 10th century South India.

But why the controversy? You may ask.

This book has irked keen fans of Ponniyin Selvan, due to it’s contrasting portrayal of some beloved characters.

- Kundhavai and Vanthiyadevan are NOT good guys. They have individuals agendas.

It builds up slowly and believably within the story’s context – but best not to consider it truth.

A few reviews have pointed this out- the author’s writing style and the book’s preface claim journalistic veracity (the book’s full of footnotes) yet it has the same creative liberties as ponniyin Selvan

- Parthibendran, a fictional character, makes a short appearance.

- There’s a Nandini esque character in this book too (linked to the details in this post ). And the author gives her an unhappy end. He equates her with a real person

- Pazhuvettarayar is cleared of responsibility for AKs murder as he is his greatgrandpa/ great uncle? – but the book goes on to portray other characters as capable of killing their flesh and blood. (This happens a couple of times)

- Gandaraditha’s characterization is – uhm- a choice, alright. As a story it was acceptable (within this universe) but its murky when you realise it’s based on a real person.

- There’s a baby swap in this too. Amv and Madhurantakan's parentage is given a shocking explanation. I may reveal in the comments if y'all want it.

The author has a thorough knowledge of chola art and inscriptions, as well as the many feuds that took place over several generations, weaving them artfully as contributors to the final outcome.

A thozhi (confidant) of kundhavai -thettakani- becomes an important observer due to her proximity to key events. A neutral character in a book full of people with ambitions.

@celestesinsight @thereader-radhika @ambidextrousarcher @harinishivaa @vibishalakshman @sowlspace @deadloverscity @favcolourrvibgior @thelekhikawrites @nspwriteups and anyone else interested !

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #sangathaara #cholas #chozha

[aksm]

yo what was parthibendran smoking like what did i miss mf did a polar reversal

#ponniyin selvan 2 #ponniyin selvan #பொன்னியின் செல்வன் #mani ratnam

[inlovewithfictionalbeings]

Yo bro parthibendran what is this behavior huh?

#ponniyin selvan

[sampigehoovu]

the lovers of aditha karikalan

Aditha, who I think is a perfect 10th century hero and the many people who might have encountered him.

the courtesan of Kanchi

The first time she had laid eyes on the crown prince, had been when he entered the city; seated on a white horse, hair tied into a half bun at the base of skull, armour engraved with tigers*. She had thrown flowers too; everyone was excited to see the crown prince, he was even more handsome in person.

The second time had been during a particularly cruel monsoon storm, when the Palar** was expected to break its banks any day.

The sky was grey, rain poured down in relentless sheets and Karikalan had been at the forefront of evacuating villages along with his soldiers into higher ground. He had found himself, along with his grandfather and friend, Parthibendra Pallavan at her doorstep.

He had addressed her, in a deep baritone that had her stunned for a second, “Devi, we apologise for the sudden intrusion but my companions and I find ourselves in need of shelter. We began our journey to the city too late.”

She bowed her head, suddenly shy in the presence of this towering man, “You are welcome to stay as long as you require Ilavarase.”

He had nodded his thanks, and followed her servants to the rooms that they had always kept for unexpected guests. They had left, early the next morning and she had watched him ride away from the balcony.

For a few nights after, she was haunted by dreams of running into a man in the rain. Both of them soaked to the bone under a tree in some forest,

his body against hers,

gasps of pleasure as he thrust into her,

his face buried in her neck, arms around her hips,

her nails running down a powerful back.

The next time he came around, he was unconscious. Parthibendran had carried him away from a distance battlefield, where he had collapsed after landing the final blow of victory. He had his head on her lap while the physician had closed his wounds, his anguished screams muffled into her thighs as she held his arms down.

“I suggest he stays here for a few days, until the fever subsides,” the physician had said.

They spoke, for the first time at length while she had helped with his bandages, and he had laughed his booming laugh, looking at her with eyes that sparkled with so much mirth that her breath left her for a moment.

For weeks after, gifts flowed into her house; precious gems, exotic perfumes, soft silks.

He came by frequently too, late into the night, ‘to listen to her sweet music to calm his nerves.’

To look, to listen, to speak, never to touch.

But he knew he was trapping her in his charms.

That half smirk when she won a game against him,

The way he caressed the veena which he played while she sang,

The fire in his eyes when she wore a gift he had sent.

The hitch in his breath, when she broke the rule once and had run her hand down his muscled arm while handing him the tamboola.

It was monsoon again, when they started playing new games. He had come by, drenched in the rain, having helped with the flood evacuations. She had pulled the armour off him, kissing away the droplets of water that were making their way down his body. Her hands on his powerful thighs, her mouth on the dip of his hip bones.

Hands in her hair, moans filling her ears.

She was pressed into the bed before she knew it, his mouth on her breasts, counting her ribs, biting into her waist, leaving marks on her thighs.

Thunder and lightning raged outside as she rose and fell in ecstasy.

She had languidly licked salty sweat off his shoulders and neck.

The last time she saw him, was the night his brother had disappeared.

He was agitated, his nightmares never ending, she had held him, soothed him.

News of the younger prince’s drowning had taken him from the warmth of her arms, to the cold embrace of death.

She refused to remember his nightmares, his anguished screams for his long-lost lover, the depths of despair of a man who chipped away at his own soul with each life he took.

She refused to remember the crown prince, dripping with ambition, unrestrained in his fury and straining at the noose of administrative bureaucracy.  

She would remember her lover. His warm golden skin, gentle caressed by the sun.

His long hair that tangled with hers too often.

His calloused fingers that held spears with the same confidence with which he held her. His strong chest pressed into her, as she strained her hips in search of the beautiful friction of their bodies. 

His body as much as weapon as his sword.

His kisses executed the same way he went about decimating the enemy.

His tongue, whip sharp and capable of leaving her a moaning mess in the matter of minutes. Aditha Karikalan, who loved with the same intensity with which he went to war.

---------------------------------------------------------

*the costume designers of Ponniyin Selvan mentioned how they put tigers for Karikalan and elephants for Arunmozhi, so much thought has gone into these details.

**I do not know if this river floods, or how close it is to Kanchi but this is fiction so I have suspended some of my own disbelief.

#ponniyin selvan #aditha karikalan #did I imagine vikram all the while I was writing this #yes yes i did #ps ff #the lovers of aditha karikalan

[teaah-art]

Because the Vandiyadevan Comic is doing numbers on Tumblr.

#ponniyin selvan #aditha karikalan #vallavaraiyan vanthiyadevan #vallavaraiyan vandiyadevan #aditya karikalan #comics #doodles #semba #ps1 #ps2 #ps #ponniyin selvan 2 #ponniyin selvan 1 #parthibendran pallavan #parthibendran #fanart #my art

[ambidextrousarcher]

“ஆகவே சுழிக்காற்றின் அபாயத்தைக் காட்டிலும் சுற்றிலும் ஒன்றும் பார்க்க முடியாமலிருப்பதுதான் அதிக அபாயம்" என்று அம்மரக்கலத் தலைவன் கூறினான்.

இது இளவரசருக்குத் தெரிந்த விஷயந்தான். ஆகவே அவர் அத்தனைக் காற்றிலும் மழையிலும் கப்பலின் ஓரமாக நின்று கொண்டு தன் கூரிய கண்களின் பார்வையை நாலாபுறமும் செலுத்திக் கொண்டிருந்தார். மின்னல் மின்னிய போதெல்லாம் அவருடைய கண்கள் அதிவேகமாகச் சுழன்று சுற்றுப்புறமெங்கும் உற்றுப் பார்த்தன. அவருடைய உள்ளம் எப்படித் தத்தளித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது என்பதைச் சொல்லி முடியாது. தன் அருமைத் தமக்கை அனுப்பிய தூதன் முரட்டு அராபியர்களிடமும், கொலைகார மந்திரவாதிகளிடமும் அகப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறான். அது போதாது என்று இந்தச் சுழிக்காற்று வேறு வந்து சேர்ந்தது. ஒருவேளை அவ்வீர வாலிபன் ஏறியுள்ள கப்பலைக் கண்டுபிடிக்க முடியாமலே போய்விடுமோ? கண்டுபிடித்தாலும், அவனை உயிரோடு காண்பது சாத்தியமா? கலபதி அஞ்சுவதுபோல் அவன் ஏறியிருக்கும் கப்பல் மேல் நம் கப்பல் மோதி இரண்டும் கடலில் மூழ்கினால் வேடிக்கையாகத்தானிருக்கும்! ஆனால் தந்தையிடம் சொல்லவேண்டிய செய்தியைச் சொல்லுவது யார்? பார்த்திபேந்திரனிடம் அந்தக் குடும்ப இரகசியத்தைக் கூறுவது இயலாத காரியம். கூறினால் அந்தப் பல்லவனுக்கு அது கேலியாயிருக்கும்; அதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை அவன் உணரமாட்டான். இதுகாறும் இளவரசர் செய்ய எண்ணிய காரியம் எதிலும் தோல்வியடைந்ததில்லை. இப்போது தோல்வி ஏற்பட்டுவிடுமோ? - இல்லை, ஒருநாளும் இல்லை. பொன்னியின் செல்வனுக்குத் தீங்கு நேருவதையோ, தோல்வி ஏற்படுவதையோ சமுத்திர ராஜன் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கமாட்டான்!”

Excerpt From

Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)

Kalki

This material may be protected by copyright.

Context: This snippet starts as a part of a conversation between Arulmozhi and the captain of the ship Parthibendran has brought to Srilanka, which Arulmozhi has boarded and is pursuing Vandiyathevan’s doomed ship in.

“Hence, more dangerous than the whirlwinds is that it would not be possible to see anything around,” said the ship’s captain.

This was something the Prince was already aware of. Therefore, he trained his sharp gaze through the heavy winds and rains in all four directions. Whenever lightning flashed, his eyes scanned the surrounding areas quickly. It would be impossible to express how much his heart suffered. The messenger sent by his beloved sister floundered among brutish Arab men and murderous magicians. As if that wasn’t enough, these whirlwinds too had struck. Is there a chance they would not be able to find the ship the brave young man had boarded? Even if he is found, would it be possible to see him alive? As the captain fears if our ship collides with the ship he is on and both the ships drown, that would be a joke indeed! However, who will then convey what has to be told to Father? Telling Parthibendran those family secrets is an impossible task. If he is told, it would be a matter of mockery for the Pallavan; he would not understand its importance.Till now, the Prince had not encountered failure in whatever task he has undertaken. Would he face failure now? No, never. The King of the Seas would not idly watch misfortune or failure befall Ponniyin Selvan!

Today’s snippet, thankfully on time!

Arulmozhi’s side of the Arulmozhi and Vandiyathevan dynamic!

I find it interesting that while on one hand, he definitely thinks that “Ponni” is a human woman, Arulmozhi deliberately attaches supernatural meaning to the identity of Ponniyin Selvan, the son of Ponni, which is a very human thing to do, an emotional thing to do.

Tagging the usual list. @whippersnappersbookworm @celestesinsight @harinishivaa @thereader-radhika @thelekhikawrites @themorguepoet @willkatfanfromasia @favcolourrvibgior @racoonpaws @mizutaama @deadloverscity and @humapkehaikaun

#ponniyin selvan #snippet #book 2 #arulmozhi varman #vandiyathevan

[thereader-radhika]

Aditha Karikalan: We’ll go to Arabia, Mishram and Persia and plant the tiger flag there. Parthiba! Chastity as we know it does not exist in those countries. The kings can take hold of any woman they want and make her a part of the anthappuram.

Parthibendran: Rani! It seems a new religion has appeared in the countries in the west. It has spread to Arabia, to Baghdad and Persia and other places. Its tenets allow married couples to separate. It seems there’s a special rite for that. Even women can marry again . . .Let’s go to one of those countries and adopt that religion.”

Parthibendran trying to woo Karikalan's girlfriend with his ideas will never stop being hilarious.

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #nandini #aditha karikalan #aditya karikalan #parthibendran #kollywood #nandhini

[alwaysthesideofwonder]

Poor Vandiyadevan...all the noble lords hate on him other than the Cholas...

#abi reads ponniyin selvan #vandiyadevan #aditya karikalan #parthibendran #malayamaan #this is really not helping the poor guy getting him work done

[balladedutempsjadis]

I drove 30 minutes each way today to go and see Ponniyin Selvan 2 at the theater closest to me that was still showing it. So this is the sequel to a movie that I didn’t even know about until last Saturday but I’m now OBSESSED (so if you’re a fan and I just friended you that’s why!)

The long drive was soooo worth it though I’m a little ticked off that the manager of the theater was so late to open things up that we missed the first ten minutes of the film (but I know I’ll watch both films again when Amazon gets PS2 in late June so no violence was done ;))

Short version: well worth seeing in the theater and I’m really glad I got the chance. I loved the movie, and couldn’t believe how fast it moved for an-almost 3 hour film. The characters and plot were as engrossing as in the first film and I’m glad I was mostly unspoiled except by history (spoilers below) because there were moments of intense suspense. I’m sad that it’s not a trilogy because I really wanted to spend even MORE TIME in this world with these people.

Longer version (with SPOILERS):

1. I knew Aditha Karikalan would die at some point because he never became a Chola king. And it was probably for the best that he didn’t rule the Cholas lands because I think he would not have made a good king, being so ruled by his passions. At least a few courses in anger management would have helped probably. But … Vikram was really stunning in the role of a man who loathes himself for what he’s become and is dying of guilt and shame long before he actually dies. Just ... I need to watch both movies again and see how his character develops from the flashbacks to the bitter husk of a man he is.

I still can’t figure out one thing, which is why he agreed to basically give up the kingdom for Madhurantakan without taking account the interests of his brother Arunmozhi Varman, whom he very demonstrably cared for deeply. (He was destroyed by the thought that his younger brother had drowned, and the only time we've seen present Aditya happy what when Nambi told him that Arunmozhi was alive.) Was it just because he already knew he was either going to convince Nandini to run away with him or more likely let her kill him and other people would be sorting out that mess anyway? Another reason that he wouldn’t have made a good king - running off with another dude's wife - but which made him such a fascinating and complex character and I keep thinking about how both Nandini and Aditha were destroyed by his family's actions. *sob* (Although, Arunmozhi also gave up a crown twice - the one the monks offered him in Sri Lanka and the one his father gave him at the end - so maybe giving up kingdoms just runs in the family. I'm #TeamQueenKundavai TBQH :P)

2. That brings me to Nandini. I felt like she really did love Aditha Karikalan but she also did love power and being a Queen (because of the theater malfunction I only got to see the very end of the flashbacks of young Aditha and young Nandini at the beginning of the movie so I may have a clearer understanding that this is not what she's about once I see that.) Aditha says "lies!" when she says she wants power, and riches, and a throne, but I think it's not *entirely* lies? She was powerless when the Cholas deported her, and powerless to stop Aditha from killing the man she thought of as a father (who actually WAS her father), so I can certainly understand why part of her longed for the power to protect herself from heartbreak and destitution and why that part of her was willing to use her beauty to manipulate men (like Parthibendran, more on him later.) Her vengeance and hatred hollowed out her character just as much as guilt and anger did to Aditha, but she doesn't murder Vanthiyadevan (OMG HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?) when she has the chance even though she knows he's going to do everything to spoil her plans. So there's still something in her that isn't completely spoiled, and I ended up just feeling incredibly awful for her (and even more awful for her mother!)

She is so damn beautiful! (One slight thing that I WISH they had done was give the young woman who played young Nandini (wonderfully) some hazel contact lenses so I'd wouldn't mentally have to color her eyes :P)

3. Next we come to Vandiyadevan, who was just ... perfect? I loved him. He was like an ancient Tamil D'Artagnan (and that would make Aditha Karikalan Athos and Nandini Milady, I guess? And Nambi is Porthos and Kundavai is Aramis, the clever one.) Anyway, he was great, smart, quick-thinking, a great warrior, but also not at all dumb. I really liked him and enjoyed all of his scenes. And I found out from history that the historical character did get to marry Kundavai so YAY! He was just a nice bright spirit without a ton of angst.

4. And now we come to the titular character, Ponniyin Selvan (Ponni's son) himself, Arunmozhi Varman, who eventually becomes Rajaraja Chola. I had never even heard of Jayam Ravi (sorry, this is I think the first Tamil movie I've watched since I was a kid) but he was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT as the young "King of Kings." I think this might have been the most difficult role in the film to pull off, simply because Rajaraja Cholas is so famous and so beloved STILL, a thousand years after his death. It's very rare that I would love the unequivocally good guys in a historical epic or fantasy movie/series but there is something about this character played by this actor that is just extremely charismatic. To start with, he's tall and handsome so that helps. But there's another quality that no one else in this film has, which that he radiates inner calm.

It's not that he doesn't have strong emotions that he shows on his face, because yes absolutely he does, and it's not that he doesn't have much do action-wise because he does, especially in P-S2.

But in the midst of this frenetic action and these tortured characters, Arulmozhi Varman has this quality of stillness at his core. No wonder the Buddhist monks like him so much that that they will put themselves between him and assassins' daggers. (Also did I mention the tall and handsome part?)

Plus, he has that classic "worthy to be a king" thing going because he does not want the throne and that's what makes him worthy. First of all, he refuses the throne of Lanka when he's offered it by the Buddhist monks there, and then, after he's won the battle and broken the rebellion and secured the safety of his family's kingdom, he gives up THAT crown too. WE - the audience - know that Uttama Chola will ultimately die (I think peacefully?) and Arulmozhi will become Rajaraja Chola but HE doesn't know that, and none of the other people, his friends and family, know that either. Like, I'm kind of in awe of the actual historical figure too. The character could have died so many times in these two films, and the historical person, who was a warrior king, could also have died long before he took the throne, so he was FOR REAL making a huge sacrifice. And I think he did it so there would be no divisions that the Cholas' enemies could take advantage of, as there had been for Nandini and the Pandyas to exploit when Maduranthakan decided that yes, he did want to be king and that it wasn’t fair that his brother’s oldest son would be king instead of him. No one living at the end of the film knows that Aditha essentially killed himself, but everyone knows that the plotters were using Maduranthakan as a puppet. (The crown was kind of funny looking so I'm actually glad my boo didn't put it on at the end :P) (Also more on Maduranthakan later.)

Also, how cool is it that in the battle at the end, Arunmozhi comes riding out of the smoke while the Chola anthem plays, just as his brother did in the first scene of the first movie. I love that parallel (and the differences are important too, because Aditha was engaging in a conquest of a neighboring kingdom and Arunmozhi is defending the Chola kingdom.)

Anyway, Ponniyan Selvan lived to become the great Rajaraja Chola, whose reign saw one of the highest points of Indian art (the extraordinary Chola bronzes) and the construction of the great South Indian temple of Brihadeswara in Thanjavur.

The carvings are amazing (look closely at this elephant which is doing something that happens in PS2 :D)

OK, moving on ... though I don't want to ...

5. Kundavai, the third royal sibling, who I also love to BITS. She didn't have as much to do in this film, I thought, and maybe it's because there was more focus on Nandini in this one, but she remained smart and sensible and I love the face-off with her uncle when he brings the Shiva-yogis to make his mother (Kundavai's grandmother) apologize for not putting him on the throne. Kundavai forces him and his rather intimidating crowd of followers to back off with a lot of hard stares (Paddington would be so proud.) And then she has the lovely little scene with Vandiyadevan (I'm still so sorry I don't know how to make this work) and and another gorgeous scene with her brothers at the Buddhist monastery (which, I love the scene but I hate that it’s the ONLY one). I love her, and I think she should have become the queen and my only consolation is that IRL she got to basically shape two great kings of the Chola dynasty, Rajaraja AND his son Rajendra. (And Rajaraja named his daughter after her so he obviously appreciated her a LOT.) Anyway, I love her and would love a series about her (IF ANYONE IS LISTENING.)

Awww! I just want to draw little hearts and flowers around this GIF. I wish we got more of them being adorable and hot together.

6. Everyone else (sorry this is getting super long), including some questions I have.

a. Vanathi: I know I saw some scenes of her and Arulmozhi in one of the song videos hat got cut in the actual film and I just would have liked to know more of her relationship with Kundavai and with Kundavai's brother. They were lovely together, but it just felt like there was a lot of missing stuff. I liked what I saw of her especially the adorable dance in PS1. And she was also related to ... someone? Because she called him "mama" (uncle?) and he seemed to be the commander of Aditha's forces, but then there was another dude at Kadambur who was a relative of the Cholas and the treasurer guy who was married to Nandini but they were not the same person and I thought one of them was Vanathi's uncle. NEEDS MORE BACKSTORY.

b. Poonguzhali (AGAIN I AM SURE I SPELLED THIS WRONG): I REALLY need more backstory on this. When did she meet Ponniyan Selvan? Why did he call her Samudra Kumari? Why did she risk her life for him (I mean, besides being in love with him which checks out because everyone else is :P) and what was the deal with her and the flower man at the temple? I just feel like a lot of stuff was missing that would have helped me understand better what was happening. (Also she was an amazing sailor to have gotten through that storm.)

c. Parthibendran Pallava and his lightning-fast enmity to Vandiyadevan and then his baseless accusation that Arunmozhi Varman had sent Vandiyadevan to murder Aditha Karikalan. I mean, did he even meet either of them? Why did he think Arunmozhi wanted his brother dead? Was it all just from meeting Nandini THAT ONE TIME because bro, you need a slap if that's the case?

d. Madhurantakan - I was screaming at him (in my head) to realize that there would be no coup without bloodshed, GOD OF COURSE SOME OR ALL OF HIS BROTHER'S KIDS AND HIS BROTHER WOULD DIE. And the other kings wanted a puppet on the throne, not a warrior like Aditha or someone as popular as Arunmozhi (also a brave warrior). But finally Madhurantakan learned his lesson before he fully betrayed his kingdom and family and people. However, the bit about how he was administrating the kingdom for 25 years dropped in at the end was a bit sudden and I would have liked to know Arunmozhi’s thought process, even if it was just “hey I just want to go have adventures with Vandiyadevan because it’s super fun.” I would have also liked some evidence of said administration because they kept playing up his devotion to Shiva and not much else (though he clearly had the Shaivite warrior-mendicant vote SOWN UP! But I'm also confused because some - but not all - of those dudes appeared to be Secret Pandya Assassins, like the lady who attacked the Buddhist monastery and forced Arunmozhi to come out and show himself to the people and by people I mean assassins.) So I don't know ... Anyway, glad Madhurantakan came to his senses and did not side with the other kings against his family. While his reward for only being partially a traitor seemed disproportionate, on the other hand, I thought Arulmozhi was also smart to say that his sword and Vandiyadevan's would be backing up Uncle M so no one got any ideas and probably Kundavai would also be advising Uncle M about good administration. :D (It was kind of funny that Arulmozhi had to get the crowd to cheer for his uncle because they were all like *do not want**we want YOU, young victorious prince* but it’s a sign of his charisma that he got them to accept his uncle as king.)

e. The Pandya assassins were a bit reminiscent of Wile E. Coyote tbqh. All their plans kept not working out in spectacular ways. Is there some reason why no one tipped an arrow with poison or put poison in a cup of wine for Aditha who liked his wine or put poison on their swords so even if they nicked Arunmozhi they'd end up killing them? Do you sense a theme here? Was there some reason why the revenge had to involve actual beheading or it didn't count? Honestly, without Nandini they would have failed even more spectacularly. Also, after Nandini killed herself, what happened to the little Pandya boy king - Nandini's half-brother who swore vengeance? (FYI, I read somewhere - wish I could remember where - that Rajaraja Chola hunted down the assassins of his brother even as far as Indonesia.)

f. I was a little confused by all the uncles and grandparents and so on, like the white-haired general was the grandfather of the three Chola siblings, I assume their mother's father?

g. I would have liked some of the storylines more fleshed out (especially Mandakini's because that was very sudden and if she came and gave birth to Nandini in the Chola lands, how did Sundara Chola not know about this and I guess she spent time hanging out so she could save Arunmozhi when he fell in the water at home and abroad? Why did she care for him so much? Because he was like his father? That seems pretty generous. Anyway ...) If there is a director's cut that is five hours long for each film, PLEASE BRING IT ON. I would love to see it.

In conclusion - I LOVED both movies. This feels like a very special and great achievement, and I hope its success leads to more really good directors delving into South Indian history, like that of the Vijaynagara Empire (which is the subject of Salman Rushdie's latest novel which I haven't read yet.)

ETA: THE MUSIC. I loved it. I've been listening to some of it on a constant loop.

I'm now off to read the books and explore the filmography of Vikram, Trisha, Karthi and Jayam Ravi (if there are any films that are really awesome or really awful please let me know in the comments.) I have been meaning to get into South Indian cinema more and this was a great starting point.

#ponniyin selvan #ponniyin selvan 2 #aditha karikalan #kundavai #vandiyathevan #nandini #mani ratnam #a r rahman #tamil cinema #jayam ravi #arulmozhi varman #arulmozhi