Vanakkam.. Namaskaram.. Good
morning
Whenever I tell that ‘I am
telling the novel Ponniyin Selvan as a story in my channel, I wrote screenplay
for that, and I am trying to make it as a film etc.,’ some of my friends will
always ask “Can you tell its synopsis?”
This is the most popular novel in
Tamil written by Mr.Kalki, spread over five parts and it fifth part itself
equal to two parts. It is very hard to tell this big novel in short as a synopsis.
Because, the attraction and beauty of the novel will not be in the synopsis.
Everything cannot be told in short.
And according to my opinion, it
should not be told like that. Still, I am trying it tell as the friends
requested. And I am going to tell it in Tamil as many friends asked for that.
And I am transcribing and posting it as a text here.
It is not the synopsis, but
synopsis of the synopsis!
This story was written as it
happened thousand years ago. This is an imaginary story made on the basis of
some incidents in the life of Rajaraja Chozhar, who construced the Thanjavur
big temple.
There are so many truths in the
story. And many things are imaginary. There are so many characters and
incidents in this story are based on peoples who lived and happened in the
history. At the same time so many characters and incidents are fictional.
We cant differentiate which are
true and which are fiction, which are happened and which are imaginary. That is
the talent of Mr.Kalki, The speciality of his writing style.
The story is happening in the
period of the rule of Sundara Chozhar. He is very popular one in the dynasty of
Imperial Chozhas, began with Vijayalaya Chozhar. He had three children.
First one, Aditha Karikalan, who
had been crowned as the prince as to become the next king. Now he is in
Kanchipuram as the commander in chief of the northern wing of Chozha army.
Second one, princess Kunthavai is in Pazhaiyaarai. Third one, Arunmozhi in
Srilanka as the commander in chief of southern wing of Chozha army.
In a situation like this, one
day, our hero Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan started his journey from Kanchi. The
total story is based on the adventurous journey of Vanthiyathevan. The story is
based on the incidents and persons he faced in his journeys.
Aditha Karikalan send two letters
(palm leaves) by Vanthiyathevan. One letter to the Emperor in Thanjavur and the
second on to his sister Kunthavai in Pahazhaiyaarai.
Adithan feel that something
unusual is happening in the country and hearing something that should not be
heard. And he wrote these letters only because he decided to know the truth.
Adithan send him only with some
advices like “On the way you should not interfere with any others business and
you should not try to prove your bravery and sincerity, should not go and face
any problems.. You should not reveal yourself and go and come back secretly.
And the story started from that journey
of Vanthiyathevan. When Vanthiyathevan started the journey to Thanjavur, he has
to stay on the way in Kadambur for one night. In that night, he meet his old
friend Kanthamaran, son of Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar and stayed in his palace. The
Vanthiyathevan got a chance to watch a secret meeting there.
In Chozha empire, the
Pazhuvettarayars are the second powerful person in the country next to the
Emperors. From the period of Vijayalayan itself the families of Pazhuvettarayars
and Chozhas have maternal relationship. Pazhuvettarayars have the power to impose
and collect taxes from subordinate kings and the citizens. In that family, now
there two brothers, elder (Periya) Pazhuvettarayar and younger (Chinna)
Pazhuvettarayar.
Younger Pazhuvettarayar is the in
charge of the protection of Thanjavur fort and palaces. The subordinate kings
and officers met together in the Kadambur palace under the leadership of Periya
Pazhuvettarayar. They decided to leave
aside Adithan and to crown Maduranthakan, son of Kantarathithar, who is the
uncle of Sundara Chozhar.
In reality, Maduranthakan have
more right to crown than Adithan. But his mother, Periya Piratti brought up him
in the spiritual way. He lived in that way, even up to a few months back. But
he started to like politics and power in the recent days. Pazhuvettarayar and
team decided to make him as the next king.
Vanthiyathevan understanding all
those things, started his journey to Thanjavur. He met many persons on the way
and made a few as his friends and some others as enemies. He met Azhvarkatiyan,
a spy. He is an assistant of Anirudha Brhmarayar, the prime minister of Chozha
Empire. As a vaishnavite, he will go to the temples, collect all the news from
all over the country and conveyed them to Prime minister, Periya Piratti and
Kunthavai. He doubt Vanthiyathevan as a spy and Vanthiyathevan doubt Azhvarkatiyan.
Vanthiyathevan met Nandhini, wife
of Periya Pazhuvettarayar on the way to Thanjavur. He is an old man married
Nandhini an younger lady. Vanthiyathevan got a ring with the emblem of
Pazhuvettarayars from Nandhini. After that, he got friendship with Chenthan
Amudhan in Thanjavur. With the help of Amudhan, Vanthiyathevan enter into the
fort next day,
Vanthiyathevan cleverly cheat
Chinna Pazhuhvettarayar and meet the Emperor and hand over the letter. Then
caught by Chinna Pazhuvttarayar. Vanthiyathevan then escaped from there and met
Nandhini. Nandhini is belong to the group of Apathuthavikal, the body guard
team of Madurai Pandyas.
Chozhas had killed the Pandya
king Veerapandian. The apathuthavikal are trying to bring back the Pandya
dynasty. Nandhini is helping that group. And she likes to appoint
Vanthiyathevan as her personal assistant. But he told that he promised Adithan
already and going to become personal assistant of Kunthavai, Then he escaped
from that place also.
On the way he saw Kanthamaran struck in a
trap. One was trying to kill him from the back. Vanthiyathevan saved him. But
Kanthamaran doubt that Vanthiyathevan itself stabbed from his back. Chinna
Pahuvettarayar and team announced that Vanthiyathevan is a spy and sentence him
to death.
Vanthiyathevan escaped from there
with the help of Chenthan Amudhan. From Thanjavur he start his journey to
Pazhayaarai. On the way he had been attacked by the black magician Ravidasan, a
member of Nandhini’s team and Vanthiyathevan escaped from him also.
Vanthiyathevan meet Kunthavai in
Pazhayaarai and hand over the letter. He already met Kunthavai once on the way
earlier, without knowing that she was Kunthavai. And now he meet her again and
start to love her. She also liked him. She understand all the matters happened.
She know that Nandhini and team
trying to destroy the Chozha family at once. Kunthavai wanted to bring Adithan
and Arunmozhi to a place as they can be in a safe position. So she send a
letter by Vanthiyathevan and asked him to bring Arunmozhi. So, Vanthiyathevan
started the journey from Pazhayaarai to Srilanka.
He started the journey with a son
of a rural doctor as to bring herbal medicines for the treatment of the
emperor. They came to Kodikkarai. In Kodikkarai, they meet Poonkuzhali. She is
a daughter of a priest there. And she is very daring and knows boat riding.
With her help, Vanthiyathevan started his journey to Srilanka through sea.
Azhvarkatiyan also came there.
The captain of the Chozha army meet them both Vanthiyathevan and Azhvarkatiyan.
Then as he advised, both of them go to meet Arunmozhi. Arunmozhi tell about the
incidents he faced in his life. A lady saved him whenever he was in danger.
These three meet that lady, old
lady. She is Mandakini and she look alike Nandhini. She is a deaf and dumb and
so she told about her relationship with Sundara Chozhar in the younger age
through paintings. Arunmozhi and friends understand what happened in the life
of Sundara Chozhar.
At the same time, Sundara Chozhar
tells about that directly to his daughter Kunthavai. He believed that her soul
is torturing him, and that thought is making him ill.
In this situation,
Pazhuvettarayars send men to arrest Arunmozhi, with the consent of the emperor
itself. So Arunmozhi came forward as he could be arrested. On the way he with
the friends came to know about the sea robbers who attacked the army of Chozhas
in Srilanka. They saw a ship of the robbers in a distance.
Vanthiyathevan mistake that
Arunmozhi had been caught in that ship and got to the ship. Arunmozhi came to the
ship as to save Vanthiyathevan as he gone to save himself. The ship was burned
in the fire, and luckily Vanthiyathevan and Arunmozhi escaped from that ship.
Poonkuzhali saved both of them
and bring back to Kodikkarai. Arunmozhi affected by a disease. So to send him
for treatment in the hospital of Budha Bikshus, Poonkuzhali take him to
Nagapattinam. Chenthan Amudhan, who came there accompanied her in that journey.
She is cousin of Chenthan and he loved her.
Vanthiyathevan send them to
Nagapattinam and start his journey again to Pazhayaarai. And have to meet
Nandhini again on the way. Everywhere, everyone meet Nandhini, had been
surrendered to her. Including Parthipendran, the close friend of Adithan. But
Vanthiyathevan escaped from her trap. She respects Vanthiyathevan by seeing his
talent and boldness.
Vanthiyathevan escaped from
there, reached Pazhayaarai and meet Kunthavai. They understand what is the plan
of Nandhini and team. They know that Nandhini and team trying to destroy the
Chozha family at once.
Kunthavai believed that Nndhini
might be the daughter of Sundara Chozhar. Vanthiyathevan and Arunmozhi also had
believed the same. Nandhini and Adithan were lovers in the younger age. Because
of fate, they couldn’t join together at that time.
Adithan searched for Veerapandian
in the past war and ready to kill him. At that time Nandhini begged in front of
Adithan for his life. Only because of that, Adithan got angrier and cut the
neck of Veerapandian. From that day, Nandhini want to take revenge on Adithan
and working for that.
Knowing all these things,
Kunthavai wanted to block Nandhini from meeting with Adithan and so send
Vanthiyathevan for that. Because Kunthavai got the news that Adithan started to
Kadambur and that also because Nandhini invited!
So Vanthiyathevan and Azhvarkatiyan
started the journey from Pazhayaarai to Kanchi. But they saw Adithan and team
coming on the way itself. Adithan is a stubborn man. He will not go back if
started anything. So he continued his journey to Kadambur. As there is no other
way, Vanthiyathevan also continue the journey with him.
Patthipendran and Kanthamaran were
there, and they doubt Vanthiyathevan. Adithan warned them. Ask all friends to
stay together.
‘On a same day, should kill
Adithan in Kadambur, should kill Sundara Chozhar in Thanjavur and should kill
Arunmozhi in Srilanka..’ That was the plan of Nandhini and team.
Because of some situations,
Arunmozhi have to reveal himself and have to start his journey from
Nagapattinam to Thanjavur. Because of some other reasons Pazuvettaryar came to
know the truth. He came to Kadambur palace. Vanthiyathevan was trying to save
Adithan by all means.
Manimekalai, sister of
Kanthamaran, who already loved Vanthiyathevan. With her help Vanthiyathevan
came to the same palace. By fate, in a suspicious manner, Adithan got killed in
that palace. Periya Pazhuvettarayar believed that himself killed Adithan.
Others blamed that Vanthiyathevan killed Adithan.
At the same time, in Thanjavur,
Sundara Chozhar had been attacked but saved by Mandakini. And she lost her life.
Arunmozhi escaped cleverly from the persons came to kill him. He came to
Thanjavur. And on the way itself, he meet Poonkuzhali, Kunthavai and Vanathi.
They together came to the Thanjavur palace secretely.
Vanthiyathevan had been arrested
and brought to Thanjavur as a prisoner and sent to jail. In the jail,
Vanthiyathevan meet a mad man. The madman started to tell about the Chozha
family, Padyas family and their secrets. With his help, Vanthiyathevan escaped
from the jail. On the way, he saw Chenthan Amudhan in a dangerous position.
Vanthiyathevan saved him without caring his own life. After that,
Vanthiyathevan also had been brought to the Thanjavur palace secretly.
All decided to crown Arunmozhi as
the emperor.. On the ceremony day, Vanthiyathevan and Arunmozhi played a drama
and crowned Chenthan Amudhan as the emperor.. That means. they crowned real
Maduranthakan.. Pazhuvettarayar tell the truth and try to suicide.. Nandhini
escaped from there. Nandhini and team bring Pazhuvttarayar also with them.. The
daughter of Chinna Pazhuvttarayar is the wife of old Maduranthakan. He escaped
from Thanjavur. Chinna pazhuvettarayar go to search him..
Like this, many things happened
one by one. Arunmozhi and Vanthiyathevan completing the tasks one by one.
Kanthamaran and Parthipendran realize the truth and renewed the friendship with
Vanthiyathevan. Arunmozhi and Vanthiyathevan continue their friendship. Manimekalai,
who love Vanthiyathevan became mad and died at the end. Like this, Ponniyin Selvan novel is coming to
an end.
Kalki didn’t tell a finishing for
each character or incident as in a climax of a film. He believe that it cant be
done as it is a real story. So he explained what happened to the characters and
how the things finished etc. in his end note.
If you want to know more about
the story, you can read the full content in so many sites. So many persons told
the story in youtube and you can watch them. We are also telling it in short as
chapters. You can watch that also.
Please comment your opinions and
suggestions. Do not forget to subscribe the channel (KBV Reels) and watch it
continuously. If you want to ask any doubts, you can ask me here. I will try my
best to answer them.