[NeroASERCH]

Hii all,
i was attracted more by SANDILYAN than by KALKI because he scripts with real history while KALKI add his own stories with the history to make the story intresting.
We can see them clearly because NANDHINI is an imaginary character who has captured everyone's heart but thats the fact. Those who read History apart from stories can learn it. Similalry SIVAGAMI in SIVAMIYIN SABATHAM, who is also an imaginary character. Kalki ties the story with those imaginary characters only and if they were absent the story lack its thread.
But SANDILYAN narrates the history with historical heroes. Karunakara Pallavan (Thondaimaan) is a historical character and everyone knew about KULOTHUNGA CHOLAN who had been even to CHINA as an embassy of CHOLA kingdom. Then in YAVANNA RANI, KARIKALAN lost his reign to his kin and got back the kingdom at venniparanthali war and so only built GRAND ANNAICUT(KALLANAI), its all the fact that story is not built with imaginary characters.
Another thing everyone has said is 'sex', i accept youngsters should not be given Sandilyan's book. But his works as Seran magal, Yavana Rani, Kadal purra and few other has portrayed heroines not through sex.

KALKI is the outstanding author in historical by his thoughts and imaginations blended with history. He gives the history of cholas in PS.
but he should have narrated with historical character itself and not with imaginary characters.

[brraverishhh]

The parents of chenthan amudhan are King Kandaraadhiththar and Queen Chembian madevi. He was thought to be dead after he was born and was given to Vaani (who can't speak or hear) who while burying the child found out that the baby was not dead (by the help of one Karuthiruman.) So she started raising the child herself, but both the queen and chenthan amudhan found the truth soon enough but did not reveal it for tactical reasons as it would automatically fulfill Kandaraadhiththar's wish that only Sundara Chola's dynasty will continue to rule the chola empire.

[softy54534]

Hi guys,

These are both historical NOVELS. You need some amount of imagination about events/people that happened. The novelist ought to be able to make the reader enjoy the read, and if possible grab a couple of "historical messages". Both do these. Reading more than that would be inappropriate. If someone wanted exact historical accounts, they should not be reading the NOVELS. I had been a huge fan of both, and I think Sandilyan kindles young adults imagination. I had been in those battle grounds on more than many occassions thinking about strategies. Kalki has a shot of reality. You feel almost helpless about certain situations. It all depends on the appeal you want to have on a given day.

Cheers

[Drugmachine]

Kik,

There were quite a few historical personnel/events in Ponniyin Selvan.. far more than in kadal pura. also in Kadal Pura.. Sandilyan states that the "missing years" of Anabaayar where he is supposed to have gone to China as a Cholan envoy forms the basis for the novel. Fine.. but what after that?

Also, there IS quite a bit of "social" commentary in PS as in how people live.. their religious functions.. their day to day activities.. something missing from Sandilyan...

IMHO, historical novels ought to be more like what Dumas wrote.. centred on certain historical events but with vivid imagination so that it can almost spring alive in the reader's mind... Sandilyan unfortunately seems to have used the historical setting.. but again.. way too much of the "masala" in it for it to be a truly historical novel.. after a while I felt as if I was reading just another book with of course an odd historical reference or two thrown in.

In Sivakamiyin Sabatham for eg, right at the start.. Kalki lists out about 8 irrefutable historical events which occured and about which the stories are based.. yes quite a few characters are imaginary.. but he does set out which are which. (Of course I am talking about SS as the book.. not as the "thodar").

Cheers,

AK

[Ifroham4]

Hi Friends, I had read both the novels PS and KP. Kalki move every character as a boat sail on the river. Here sandilyan give equal distribution. so both the novel is fine to read.
My home town is Thanjavur, i had got more historical place after reading PS. In my point of view each and every novel state an important points to the reader. please tell me more.

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

In PS I was confused in climax.I was not able to ascertain the climax.Still I'm having some doubt about the climax.who are the parents of nandhini?
frinds plz tell if you know

[HedgeYourBets]

.

[Fegasderty]

Hi friends!
The art of writing historicals is a very difficult art. simply put it is the art of filling up gaps in history(due to want of facts and evidence) with imaginative guesswork and imaginary characters. Kalki, while writing Ponniyin Selvan did not have any compulsions to write a fast paced novel. He did not care about the pace of the novel(Strange even for a weekly series). Whereas Sandilyan was under the compulsion of making every episode fast paced and thrilling(weekly one episode). Strange as it may sound, though both wrote for literary magazines, Sandilyan's style was apt for Kumudam(young people's magazine). Kalki wrote for old people and kids(predominantly). So comparing them both is like comparing Michael Bevan and Rahul Dravid(Both excel in different league of cricket). Due to the fact that Kumudam patronised Sandilyan, he wrote huge no. of historicals for that magazine. Which in turn might have taken away some depth, which Kalki could impart to his 3 major historicals(Parthiban Kanavu, Sivagamiyin Sabadham adn Ponniyin selvan). In short Sandilyan's work are like paperbook novels written by James Hadley Chase, in a historical context. But very very interesting.
thanks,
Jaiganesh

[Lt_Apple]

any one knows any websites thats fully have the tamil historic novels of both kalki & Sandilyan.
If any 1 willing to sell their novels by both pls let me know.

[radikal]

hi
thanks sweetnothing.but i have one more doubt .can u clear it.was nandhini sister of chendhan amudhan

[Lt_Apple]

Hi all,

I want to read "Kadal Pura" from net. Where can i find it? Waiting for your replies.

Dani

[brraverishhh]

Kik:

My main point is that, seen in a literary perspective... KP seems almost like a "pulp fiction" novel for some reason... maybe because of the larger than life heroics of Karunakara Pallavan...

Again purely from a literary point of view, IMHO, KP has to take second spot to PS... just the way it was written...

I guess there will always be two opinions on this.. Anyhoo.. thanks for your inputs.

Cheers,

AK

[Big A]

Topic started by AK (@ sgigate.sgi.com) on Wed Nov 7 04:10:16 .


Hi,

I just finished "Kadal Pura" by Sandilyan and wanted to get some views on what others think of it. Someone on this forum recommended Kadal Pura as a great historical novel. I think I would have to disagree.

A historical novel is one which not only is set in historical times but also is built upon a series of historical events. Moreover, it also ought to comment upon the social melieu of those times. Sadly, Kadal pura was a huge disappointment in those terms. Although, the setting was historical and a couple of main characters were, almost none of the events had any historical basis.

It almost seemed at times like it was a Rajnikanth movie with its larger than life hero Karunakara Pallavan doing amazing deeds.

Ponniyin Selvan on the other hand was a joy to read. It discussed the political/social situation in the country... discussed the historical aspects.. with a lot of vivid imagination thrown in to boot.

I would love to hear comments from other people who have read both the books.

Cheers,

AK

[tgs]

no responce to my question why?

[softy54534]

Yes Suresh,
After Sandilyan, no body is good or atleast not popular in writing Historical novels. You told about Yavana Rani. That's a superb novel I Liked it very much. It is a very old story of Sandilyan. It appeared on Kumudam in the 60's. Sandilyan did not write much about women in that novel as in his later novels. The way he told the story is superb. It talked about making the King The Great Karikarcholan. But the hero of the novel belongs to Pandya Kingdom. There are lot of things to discuss about this story.

[doctorzlo]

duh??!! What do you mean none of the events had a historical basis in KP vs. PS? Apart from the fact of Aditha Karikalan's death everything else is fictional in PS. Same way apart from (the future) war in Kalinga and Kulothungan's visit to kadaaram when he was still a prince everything in KP is fiction.

There is no social commentary in PS - political, definitely. Religious - in a couple places w/ saivas vs. vaishnavas. Sandilyan on the other hand, pontificates at the beginning of each chapter typically on philosophy, but on other issues as well - has little to with the what people living in that time might have felt and more to do with his personal opinions.

Kalki who wrote earlier was inspired by Dumas, Austen et al. Sandilyan's models/inspiration was from the next generation of historical fiction wirters such as Rafael Sabatini/Stanley Weyman etc. Sandilyan could have followed in Kalki's footsteps or chosen a different path - he chose the different path. Unfortunately, it doesn't have much appeal these days.

If what you're saying is that you liked the multiple points of view in PS, the diverse background of the characters, and the depth of characterization that's a whole other kettle of fish.

[brraverishhh]

No Supa.

Its Comparing Himalayas with Sea. Both are best.

[9mm_fan]

I have the same opinioin of Arun...
Its Comparing Himalayas with Antartic ocean.
Both are large enough to make us amuse.
Both having peculiarity in their writtings.
And they both don't have followers... like Barathidhasan to Barathi or somebody who even try to fulfill their place in tamil lit., world.
But Sandilyan have only one draw back that the discrbing style of his heroine. it is toooo hot.

[9mm_fan]

Both are very good historical novels. We should not compare.

[Beerinkol]

here is a link that had details on Akilan and Na.Parthasarathy's works
http://classic1231.tripod.com