Kalki was
the consummate storyteller and in his chosen genre of historical fiction,
showcased a dazzling skill for resurrecting the past with his immersive style
of narration, intricate detailing, humour, masterfully crafted plot, and
ability to create memorable characters capable of worming their way into the
hearts of readers. His beloved series – ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, a murder mystery and
thrilling adventure focuses on Raja Raja Chola, when he was still Prince
Arulmozhi Varman, a remarkable youth with all the potential in the world, but
beset by a treacherous web of deceit, conspiracy and betrayal within his family
and the royal court.
Nandini Krishnan has undertaken the task of
translating his magnum opus from the original Tamil in a ten – part series and
is doing a tremendous job. Balancing with aplomb on the tightrope between
nailing the essence of the original text and making it more accessible to
modern readers who may not necessarily have the patience for verse and lyrical
prose at its most descriptive. This reader was charmed by her decision to
transliterate the original verses with the translations beneath so that one may
savour the exquisite wordplay achieved by a brilliant wordsmith without
fumbling unduly for the meaning. The addition of notes enhances the reading
experience without ever disrupting the flow as it is replete with nuggets of
historical facts and delectable particulars pertaining to Tamil culture and the
ancient language itself.
In her skilled hands, ‘River Prince’, book 3
of Ponniyin Selvan is unputdownable and so deeply engrossing and fun, readers
are likely to pester the translator and publishers to complete the series in
one go and drop it all together on the market so that they can binge read and
re-read to their heart’s content. In the River Prince, readers who in the first
two books had only been given tantalizing glimpses of the jewel of the Chola
Kingdom who went on to become one of the greatest emperors in history, finally
get to meet him, at the exact same moment, as the protagonist and ever popular
Vandiyadevan who has risked life and limb to come face to face with the prince,
who is in the thick of fighting at Lanka in order to personally deliver a
message. But this meeting would not have been possible without the cleverness,
resourcefulness, and daring of beautiful Poonguzhali, the boat girl and fan
favourite, whose heart and intentions are as unpredictable as the choppy sea
she effortlessly traverses.
Meanwhile
in Thanjai, Princess Kundavai crosses swords with the exquisite and deadly,
Nandini, who has sworn to destroy the Cholas. The beauties who are at cross
purposes with each other keep the reader mightily entertained as they battle it
out, both determined to outmanoeuvre the other. A secret from the Emperor
Sundara Chola’s past which contains a clue to the identity of the mysterious
Oomai Rani is also revealed. The rip-roaring pace never lets up and every juicy
plot twist leaves one hankering for more.
Kalki
himself was unprepared for the impact the Ponniyin Selvan had, and though he is
gone, it would have no doubt pleased him to witness the enduring popularity of
the book with succeeding generations of readers, thanks to the efforts of
committed translators like Nandini Krishnan.
This book review was published in TNIE magazine.
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