Warning: the column will not interest those who have not read the book.
Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan is widely regarded as one of the best historical romances ever written. Set during the chola period the story is primarily about ponniyin selvan known to the world as Raja Raja cholan. The story has enthralled generation after generation of readers and remains as captivating as it always has been even today. While the hero of the story may have been Vandiyathevan or ponniyin selvan it is kalki’s heroines who come across as strongly portrayed.
All of them were credited with unsurpassable beauty and intelligence yet his three main heroines kundavai, nandini and poonkuzhali were as different from each other as they possibly could have been, they were strong willed woman who did not weep and merely pass as the hero’s love interest unlike the heroines of today. So those who are reading this column must have by now understood that it does not aim to present a review of the book but merely resketch these three great ladies.
Kundavai was the sister of raja rajan; extremely beautiful, diligent and intelligent she is considered even by historians as one of the most influential women to have been involved in state affairs. She was admired by one and all, respected by the prime minister and worshipped by ponniyin selvan and courted by Vandiyathevan. Nandini on the other hand was the most beautiful of the three, a beauty that rendered men senseless. The dark lining of the story, she was shrewd and scheming, her intention was to destroy the chola clan.
But it is the daughter of the sea, samudra kumari or Poonkuzhali who is my favourite. Shrewd, intelligent and possessed with a sharp instinct she was also brave and daring. Her arrogance and straight forwardness won admirers for her. Unlike nandini or kundavai she was neither liked for her beauty nor for her standing but merely for what she was.
Her dream of becoming a queen and indeed becoming one endears this simple girl to our heart!
