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1.First Flood: Ponniyin Selvan 1 :-
As the emperor of the Chozha kingdom, Sundara Chozha, lies unwell in Tanjavur fort, a sinister plot is being hatched a plot to wrest the throne from Crown Prince Aditta Karikalan. Senior minister Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar is powerful and could well succeed in his plan to seat Madhurantakan, son of Sundara Chozha’s elder brother, on the throne, after Sundara Chozha’s death.
Aware of the rumblings, Aditta Karikalan entrusts his confidant Vallavaraiyan Vandiyatevan to deliver a message to the emperor and his beloved sister Kundavai Devi.
Will the intrepid Vandiyatevan succeed? Or will he fall victim to the machinations?
What role does the elder Pazhuvettaiyar’s wife have to play in all this?
Will Kundavai Devi be able to protect her brothers’ interests?
Delving into politics, betrayal, desires and ambition in tenth-century Tamil Nadu, Ponniyin Selvan is Kalki’s magnum opus, a gripping tale that has remained popular and beloved for decades. Beautifully translated by Gowri Ramnarayan, Kalki’s granddaughter, Fresh Floods is the first in a series that is unputdownable.
2.The Cyclone: Ponniyin Selvan 2 :-
Our valiant hero Vallavaraiyan Vandiyatevan has been asked to make his way to Ilankai on Princess Kundavai Devi’s request. With the help of the curious and eccentric Poonkuzhali, he does so, traversing across dangerous land and waters to finally meet ‘Ponniyin Selvan’—the beloved Chozha prince Arulmozhi Varman.
Back home, the plotting to take over the throne of the Chozha empire continues. At the centre of it all, stands the wife of the senior Pazhuvettaraiyar, the beautiful and dangerous Nandini Devi, who will stop at nothing to bring down the Chozas. Will Vandiyatevan and the Chozha princes manage to outplay Nandini and the Pazhuvettaraiyars?
An epic adventure, skilfully written by Kalki and elegantly translated by his granddaughter Gowri Ramnarayan, continues in this, the second in the Ponniyin Selvan series.
3.The Slaying Sword: Ponniyin Selvan 3 :-
Fear and suspicion abound as rumours of Arulmozhi Varman’s death at sea spread throughout the Chozha land. Anger grows against the powerful, scheming Pazhuvettaraiyars. As leaders scramble to handle the fallout, Nandini Devi, the captivating wife of the elder Pazhuvettaraiyar, continues her machinations against the Chozha royal family. She vows that the sword of the last Pandiyan king—killed by Prince Aditta Karikalan—will take the lives of countless enemies.
Astute he may be, but is Chief Minister Aniruddhar Brahmarayar up to the task of diplomacy in such a volatile political climate? Can Princess Kundavai fight her way through the web of political intrigue and deceit in which she is trapped? Will valiant Vandiyatevan continue to surmount the colossal challenges fate throws at him?
Kalki paints a study in contrasts in The Slaying Sword, the third in the Ponniyin Selvan series, and Gowri Ramnarayan translates his world of conflicts with empathy and adroitness.
4.The Jewelled Crown: Ponniyin Selvan 4 :-
In the fourth part of the sprawling Ponniyin Selvan series, we learn more about the intricate complexities and histories propelling our characters towards their ultimate destiny.
What will happen in Kadambur? Beguiling, breathtaking Nandini Devi requests a rendezvous with Chozha Crown Prince Aditta Karikalan. He is determined to meet her, despite opposition from friends and family. Does Nandini mean to persuade Karikalan to give up the crown or kill him? Meanwhile, in Tanjavur, the life of the ailing Emperor Sundara Chozha is under threat. Will his assassins succeed? The mute Mandakini Devi has been forcibly taken to Tanjavur, and Poonkuzhali rushes there to help her aunt. What will happen when the betrayed Mandakini meets the royal family?
As Kalki’s enthralling saga continues to unfold apace in The Jewelled Crown, Gowri Ramnarayan’s fleet-footed translation proves equal to the challenge of capturing its heightened momentum and suspense.
5. Ponniyin Selvan 5: A Comet Falls :-
In this gripping penultimate volume of the Ponniyin Selvan series, Kalki masterfully draws the threads of intrigue, love, and vengeance towards a breathtaking crescendo.
The Chozha empire reels from the shock of an assassination and finds itself on the brink of chaos. Even as rumours swirl, and conspirators move in the shadows, the question of rightful succession grows ever more urgent.
Fearless and quick-witted, Vandiyatevan navigates treacherous waters as he uncovers secrets that could shatter the royal line. Arulmozhi Varman―torn between personal convictions and imperial duty―must confront the weight of destiny as he stands poised to shape the future of the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Nandini’s tragic past and her thirst for revenge arrive at a critical juncture, pushing key players into making impossible choices.
As destinies converge and sacrifices are made, the stage is set for a climactic resolution that will determine the future of the Chozha dynasty.
6. Ponniyin Selvan 6: Crowning Sacrifice :-
In the concluding part of Ponniyin Selvan, the fates of beloved characters and the Chozha empire reach their dramatic fulfilment. Secrets long buried come to light, revealing the true motivations behind Aditya Karikalan’s death and the tragic complexities of Nandini’s life. As Arulmozhi Varman prepares to embrace his destiny, the intricate political and emotional tapestry woven throughout the saga finds powerful resolution.
Vandiyatevan’s courage, Kundavai’s unwavering wisdom, and sacrifices by unsung heroes, converge in a stirring finale marked by love, loss, and redemption. With justice, duty, and fate in tense balance, Kalki delivers an unforgettable climax to a historic epic, an epic mirroring the values, aspirations and achievements he visualised as a writer and liberal humanist, for the future of his own country, and for the world.
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