#madhurantakan
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ஆகட்டும், தாயே" என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு மதுராந்தகர் புறப்பட்டார். அரண்மனையில் அவர் தங்கியிருந்த பகுதிக்குப் போனார். அவருடைய உள்ளத்தில் ஆத்திரமும், அசூயையும் கொழுந்து விட்டு எரிந்தன. யாரோ வழியோடு போகிற ஆண்டிப் பண்டாரத்துக்கு எவ்வளவு தடபுடலான மரியாதைகள்! இராஜ குலத்தின் கௌரவத்துக்கே தம் தாயினால் பங்கம் நேர்ந்துவிடும் போலல்லவா இருக்கிறது! பழுவேட்டரையர்கள் தம் அன்னையைப் பற்றி அடிக்கடி குறை சொல்லுவதில் வியப்பு ஒன்றுமில்லை. உடம்பில் சாம்பலைப் பூசிக்கொண்டு ருத்திராட்ச மாலைகளை அணிந்து கொண்டு யார் வந்தாலும் பெரிய மகாராணிக்குப் போதும்! பதிகம் ஒன்றும், அவன் பாடிக்கொண்டு வந்துவிடவேண்டும்; அல்லது கோயில், குளம், திருப்பணி என்று சொல்லிக் கொண்டு வந்துவிட வேண்டும். இப்படிப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு அள்ளிக் கொடுத்து இராஜாங்க பொக்கிஷத்தையே இவர் சூனியமாக்கி விடுவார் போலிருக்கிறது! போதாதற்கு இளவரசி குந்தவை ஒருத்தி எப்போதும் அருகில் இருக்கிறாள். கோவில் திருப்பணி செய்து மிச்சம் ஏதேனும் இருந்தால், அதை மருத்துவச் சாலை ஏற்படுத்துவதற்காகச் செலவிட்டு விடுகிறாள். இப்படியெல்லாம் இவர்கள் செய்வதற்கு இடம் கொடுத்து வந்தால் நாளை நம்முடைய மனோரதம் எப்படி நிறைவேறும்? சோழ சிங்காதனத்தில் ஏறி நாலா திசைகளிலும் சோழ சைன்யங்களை அனுப்பி இந்த நில உலகம் முழுவதையும் வென்று ஒரு குடை நிழலில் ஆளுவது எவ்விதம் நடைபெறும்?”
Excerpt From
Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)
Kalki
This material may be protected by copyright.
Context::Madhurantakan meeting his mother, just after their conversation.
“So be it, mother!” saying so, Madhurantakar left. He went to the part of the palace where he was staying. Anger and dissatisfaction were burning in his heart. How they heaped respect on some wayfaring nobody! It seems that the prestige of the royal clan was in danger because of his mother! There is no surprise in the complaints the Pazhuvettarayars made frequently against his mother. It is enough for the elder queen if.anyone comes bearing the sacred ash ad rudraksha beads on his body! He’d come singing a hymn, or saying that a temple or holy place was in need of repair. It seems like she would reduce the treasury to nothing, giving heaps t men such as these! As if that wasn’t enough, there is one Princess Kundavai forever at her side. If.there is anything left after repairing temples, she’d take it citing need for hospitals. If they are allowed to do such things, how will our dreams be fulfilled in the future? How will it be possible to ascend the Chozha throne and rule all the lands of the world under one flag?
Spiteful as he is, Madhurantaan has a point.How will the Kingdom afford the expenses of wars of conquest if everything is used in these pursuits?
Another snippet of the series! Tagging @mizutaama @celestesinsight @whippersnappersbookworm @harinishivaa @racoonpaws @rdx-dcm @deadloverscity @favcolourrvibgior @willkatfanfromasia @humapkehaikaun @themorguepoet @thereader-radhika @thelekhikawrites
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Dipawali special | Amv x Vanathi, VV x Kundavai
( Plz read the AN in the end, as it has info about the future posts, etc. )
Vanathi sat on the floor drawing a big rangoli on one of the passageways in front of the big windows which looked over the scenery below. Just then she heard someone calling her from behind and a cry of a baby. She knew whose baby it was in an instant.
"Ilavarasi! Please look at our little Ilavarasare! He just won't stop crying!"
"Just bring him over" Vanathi shouted back, as Aamani came near her, with little madhu in her hands. Aamani handed madhu over to her. Vanathi's motherly instincts took over her as she didn't care that her fingure were lathered with pigments or that she was on the floor in an uncomfortable position, all that mattered to her was that her child was crying and she needed to console him.
Vanathi took madhu in her hands and holded him close to her. He fitted so perfectly in her arms. His little head was resting on her shoulder as she slowly tapped his back, slowly cooing him. Someone had called Aamani from some other hallway so she had to go. She started to walk away but not before giving the mother and son duo an adoring look.
Vanathi kept holding him. She could see the whole city below the palace starting to light up more than ever. Children's laughter, the smell of delicious delicacies cooking in the palace kitchen and the city. She wanted to stop this moment and just be in it for a long time. Everything and everyone was happy and good. And that the happiness of her life was resting on her shoulders right now.
A few minutes after Madhu had stoped crying, she felt someone's presence behind her. She felt scared when it came all to near her. And even more scared when it slowly slid it's hand around her waist through all her clothing.
"Who are you?" She asked as she prepared to strike the man.
"Do I need to introduce myself to you mam?" Said the man. Vanathi relaxed as she figured out who it was.
"Yes mister" she said playing along with him
"Hmmm.... Let me think.... I am your husband, the father of your child and most importantly I am and will always be your yaanai paagan." Arulmozhi replied, whispering the last part, while resting his chin on her free shoulder.
A small giggle left her mouth as he did so. Both of her loves were resting on her shoulders. They stayed like this for some time.... Just enjoying the silence, Amv had to leave for a battle in a few days, so he was cherishing all these moments.
"Aaya, we must get up now, the Pooja and programs will start now. Besides, people will start to look for us... Common, we must get up." Vanathi said while getting up. Amv looked unhappy at this, but, well, she was right .. wasn't she.
After getting up, he stared at both of them as she fixed her dress, after sitting for so long. He always thought that what did he do to deserve such good and beautiful wife and child. His little tiger looked like him, but had inherited Vanathi's lotus like eyes. And... He was really mischievous. And he can say it confidently that he had inherited this mischievous behaviour from his father... Much to Vanathi's dismay.
Vanathi looked up at him and caught him starting at her. She smiled to herself.
"Do you want to hold him?"
"Ha" Vanathi handed him Madhu and then both of them started to walk towards the mandir.
~~•~~ VV and Kundavai
( Plz read... IMP : So, not to offend anyone, I am not a tamillian, so I don't actually know what they do there during Diwali.... I tried to search from Google but to no avail. In Maharashtra, we have a thing called 'Abhyanga Snan' in which, on the main day of Diwali (Narak chaturdashi / laxmipoojan) we wake up early morning and lather us with oils, massage, then we bath with utna and moti soap, I wanted to do something with VV and Kun on Diwali so .... Here it is)
~~~
"Aae will you stay still! " Vanathi said. It was the morning of Diwali and Kundavai and Vanathi were massaging Vanthyathevan before the bathe. They had just did the same thing with Ponniyin selvan before VV, he had been quite but now he was sitting in front of Vanthyathevan panting like he had ran till Singhala and back.
"Are you trying to pull my hair out!" VV screamed as Kundavai oiled his hair rather.... Violently.
"Shut up! Look at Thambi, he sat quietly when we were massaging him! Just stay still."
"He is a good boy! And you both were gentle with him! And you both are treating me like I am a dirty cloth, and you are cleaning me alongside a river" After making this statement, Kundavai stoped abruptly. She bended down, came near his ear, and said:
"Maybe you are a piece of cloth."
"But I am your piece of cloth... Ain't I?" He replied turing his head to come face to face with her's.
"Maybe you are right" she said in almost a whisper. Their faces were so close to each other.... That.... Well.... You get it.
"Aaiyo Akka I am also here! Don't forget that you are infront of your thambi!" Arulmozhi shouted sensing where it was going. When he shouted this Kundavai got straight up with heat creeping up her face faster than anything. She quickly looked at her thambi who had covered his eyes with his hands, and had a traumatized look on his face. Vanathi had turned away from them and was standing with her hands on her eyes.
"Aae! Overacting machines! Got awkward by just this? Do I need to remind you how madhu came in this world in the first place?" Kundavai asked knowing full well what effect this tease was going to have on them.
"Akka" both of them them shouted, while emerging out of their respective hiding positions. Both of their faces were tomato red. I mean... More than tomato red.
This reaction caused both Vanthyathevan and Kundavai to laugh out loud. They both were blushing so furiously, that Vanthyathevan thought that the couple might burst out of shyness. The rest of the festive day went like this. They were happy afterall! And ... Maybe... Teasing each other was the only this which the four of them did throughout that day. And we can just say, that the teasing went a big too far away till the night, as they went to sleep, stomach paining from all that laughing.
•••••~•••••~•••••~•••••~•••••~•••••~•••••
( A/N )
Happy/ Shubh Dipawali to all of you! Hope that you guys will have a nice and prosperous year ahead!
I know, I know, this isn't good, it may seem that I have fast forwarded a few things but I needed to post this within today while doing my Diwali chores too.... So... Sorry.
My Vacation has started and now that I have time, I have started writing Care p2, Away p4 and unexpected love p2 simultaneously. I am almost finished with Care p2, with more than 1000 words, it will be out till tomorrow or day after tomorrow. The others will come one by one. I am open to requests again, so feel free to tell me. The idea for this OS came in my mind 1-2 days ago, and have been written this since, this isn't much, but... I wrote it just for fun.
I hope that you guys liked this. Instances mentioned are from the book. If any confusion let me know! :)
Any suggestions and feedback appreciated.
∆ Requests Accepted ∆
_ All work is original. Do not copy _
#kundavai#love#ponniyin selvan#ps2#vallavarayan vanthyathevan#vanathi#arulmozhi#arulmozhi varman#ps1#book#children#diwali#celebration#madhu#madhurantakan#teasing#fun#raj raj chola#rajendra chola
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I recently started reading Ponniyin Selvan and am only through book 1 till now. But my question is why didn't the movie Madhurantakan looked like the babygirl he is in the books?? 😭
#no seriously he looked so feminine#and in the movies they made him look like a grandpa#whyyyyyy#ponniyin selvan#ponniyin selvan books#ponniyin selvan: ii#ps 1#ps 2
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Silent Love
Exploring Kundavai x Vanthiyathevan first meeting (movie version) through Vanathi's eyes
"Kanne, your dance was truly mesmerizing" Kundavai remarked, making Vanathi blush."I'm glad you like it Akka, but now that the performance is over why are we still here? Are we waiting for someone?" Vanathi asked, looking around at where they were standing in the boat, anchored in the middle of the river.
Kundavai simply smiled at her and looked at something or someone behind her. She turned around to see a coracle boat approaching them. And who was it but the person who danced with her as Kamsa Raja, standing with his hands on his hip, occassionally swaying to the movement of the river. Kundavai spoke up in a deep majestic voice, "I hear that you wanted to meet me alone"
"It depends on who you are, Devi" Kamsa Raja spoke aloud trying to match her Akka's bold tone.
"Whom do you wish to meet, young man?" Kundavai asked again
"I wanted to meet the most beautiful and gracious daughter of the Emperor Sundara Chozhan, the sister of the two brave princes Aditha Karikalan and Arulmozhi Varman, the Ilaiya Piratti Kundavai Devi" Vanathi heard the visitor speak, suppressing her smile.
Kundavai also smiled after glancing at Vanathi, "I bear all those fancy titles with burden"
Vanathi saw the speaker looking at them in surprise and particularly at Kundavai with awe. As he approached the boat, he slowly climbed up, acknowledging her with a smile which she returned and proceeded to look straight at Kundavai, in an expression that Vanathi could only describe as lovestruck. Then she understood who this person was. She remembered her Akka telling her of a Vana Kula Ilavarase named Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan, a trusted friend and spy of Aditha Karikalan who was sent to meet with Kundavai. But looking at him now, he seemed less of a spy and more of a youth in love at first sight. She felt like she could say the same for her Akka too, who was now watching him with equal admiration.
"Ilavarasi" Vanathi heard Vanthiyathevan address Kundavai in a soft tone
"Aaha, what a transformation! From a demon to a spy" Vanathi suppressed a laughter at Kundavai's taunt.
"I had no choice. Pazhuvettarayar is after my blood and that fake Vaishnavite Nambi follows me everywhere" Vanthiyathevan said
"Why were you looking for me?" Kundavai asked.
"Karikalan send me to Kadambur, Devi. A secret meeting has taken place there. Prince Madhurantakan was taken there in Nandini Devi's palanquin"
Vanathi tried to eavesdrop as the conversation took a serious turn. She saw her Akka had become slightly disturbed in hearing the news but didn't lose her composure, "I have only one question - Did Madhurantakan agree to this conspiracy?"
Vanthiyathevan nodded "He wishes to be emperor" . Vanathi was shocked. What does this mean? Is there any danger to the lives of the royal family? Her Akka, her Aditha Anna and her Yaanai Paagan?
Kundavai continued to keep her poker face "The list for power surpasses the lust of beauty" She sighed "Very well. Where's my brother's message. Do you have it?"
Vanthiyathevan gave her a ghost of a smile "Yes Devi. I wrote the message myself. Coming here empty handed didn't seem right"
Kundavai extended her hand and Vanthiyathevan placed an olai into her hand, neither of them noticing Vanathi's confused look. Weren't they having a serious discussion on royal politics a while ago? How did it turn into teasing again? Vanathi wondered to herself as Kundavai read the olai aloud "This message is from a great warrior.." Raising an eyesbrow at the writer of the olai, Kundavai said in a sarcastic tone "Such modesty!"
Vanthiyathevan smirked "Books says modesty must not dwarf truth"
Kundavai looked at him with a twinkle in her eye "which book? The one you're writing?"
Vanthiyathevan tried to hide his blush "Yes Devi". Once again they failed to notice Vanathi staring at them with wide eyes. Why is the Vana Kula Prince -turned- spy trying to flirt with her Akka? And moreover why was her Akka encouraging him? How did they forget the conversation they had a few minutes ago about the conspirators and the imminent threat to the royal family? Did she imagine that? But she didn't had time to ponder on those thoughts as she heard Kundavai speak again " In the war against the Rashtrakutas, didn't you fight alongside my brother?" On hearing this, Vanthiyathevan lifted his head proudly and said "I was by his side. I killed over a thousand soldiers…" and on seeing a slight look of disbelief in Kundavai's eyes, said "Alright. A hundred? Over Fifty? If I lower the number any further my bravery will be in doubt ". Vanathi could see her Akka was impressed. Not only with the bravery of this warrior but also with his charming manner of spech.
"So shall I send you on a dangerous mission befitting a brave warrior?" . Vanathi was sure her Akka was planning something.
"Is that my reward?" Vanthiyathevan asked innocently
"After all, you are a brave warrior and have slain over 50 soldiers." Vanathi wondered whether Kundavai was just buttering him up just so he would accept the mission or if she was reciprocating his sweet-talk.
Vanthiyathevan smiled openly "That is true. I await your command"
Gone was Kundavai's playfulness when she commanded him " I want you to go to Lanka. Find my brother Arulmozhi and bring him to me. Can you do that?" . Vanathi was elated. Her Yaanai pagan was going to come here? There wasn't a day when she didn't miss him and now her prayers were finally being answered. She glanced at Vanthiyathevan. Can this warrior bring back Ponniyin Selvan safely? How trustworthy is him? But she put her worries aside. If he is the dear friend of Aditha Anna and if Kundavai Akka seems to put so much trust in him then she can also trust him. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she missed Vanthiyathevan looking at Kundavai with adoration but heard his proclamation " I will seek the Lord of Death if you command me, Devi". Vanathi tried to suppress her giggle. Who does this person think he is - Lord Krishna himself? How he is showering words dipped in honey to her Akka as if he had known her for ages! She shifted her attention to Kundavai, eager to note her reaction.
"Really?" Kundavai asked with a smile, looking to challenge his words
"I swear on you" Vanthiyathevan said with genuinity
Vanathi knew immediately that her Akka was going to take him up on the challenge when she heard Kundavai said "Very well. I command you to jump into this river"
She saw Vanthiyathevan looked at the waters nervously before saying "Not the river Devi"
Kundavai smile wholeheartedly and Vanthiyathevan returned the smile, his eyes never leaving her face for a second. What a rare pleasant sight! Vanathi mused. Ilaiya Piratti Kundavai Devi getting flustered? She mentally noted to tease her Akka about it later. She saw Kundavai walking towards the inside chamber of the boat followed by the seemingly lovestruck Vana Kula spy. "You'll have the message for my brother before you go" She heard Kundavai say and a doubtful look in Vanthiyathevan's eyes "The crown prince is waiting for me"
"I shall let him know. He'll wait for you" Kundavai said, turning to him to say in a soft whisper "So will I"
If Vanathi was doubtful about Kundavai's actions till then, she was absolutely sure now. So this warrior with a honeyed tongue managed to conquer her Akka's heart in their first meeting itself! She knew if Kundavai actually noticed her, she would have seen her amused expression but luckily for her, the duo continued to stare at each other until Kundavai turned again to continue her teasing "There's a reward of 1000 gold coins on your head. Careful!"
Vanthiyathevan was silent till now but he suddenly declared "My life belongs to you, Devi" . Vanathi was impressed by his dedication, respect and honesty as much as she was impressed that he made Kundavai blush a second time. He seemed to lose himself in her flustered face for a while before snapping out to say " I will stay alive to fulfill your mission".
It was then that he turned around to leave, and in doing so locked eyes with her. Vanathi could hardly keep her mischievous smile to herself and he stared at her as if realising she was the sole witness to all the conversation that happened here. Then smiling at her sheepishly and looking at Kundavai's retreating figure for one more time, he started to descend the stairs. Vanathi you idiot! Her mind chided her. Stop standing there and put this golden opportunity to good use. She called out for the warrior, meaning to call him Ilavarase but somehow saying "Kamsa Mama". He looked at her curiosly. "Can you do me a favor?" She asked, praying he wouldn't deny. "When Lord Krishna himself asks, Can Kamsa refuse?" She laughed at his term of endearment. "If I give you an olai for Ponniyin Selvan, would you make sure it safely reaches his hands?" She asked again and watched as he narrowed his eyes at her before grinning in understanding. "I am embarking on a mission of danger anyway, might as well do this mission of love too" He said and she gestured him to be quiet lest her Akka hears their agreement.
And as she watched Kamsa Mama reach the shore, she couldn't help but feel that this wouldn't be the last time she'd be seeing him. She prayed to all the gods to keep her Ponniyin Selvan safe as she would be waiting for his arrival just like Kundavai would be waiting for the return of this mysterious charmer.
@ramcharanobsessed @dumdaradumdaradum @vibishalakshman @harinishivaa @hollogramhallucination @kovaipaavai@rang-lo. @willkatfanfromasia@thelekhikawrites@thegleamingmoon@deafeningflowercat@yehsahihai@whippersnappersbookworm@itsfookingloosah@gemsmusings@chiyaanvikram@elvenladysakura. @matka-kulfi. @madatdisney@bumblebeeskywalker@vahnithedreamer@nkarti@dosai-maavu@utterlynotperfect@winter-birds@happy-bookworm @tumbledout @anabanana4115 @freeunknownwasteland @bhataktiatmacore@rapunzels-stuff@celestesinsight@mairablue@rationalelderberry@existenceiswhateven@arachneofthoughts@spider5884fan11 @cara-2003 @nirmohi-premika @stella12
#ponniyin selvan#ponniyin selvan 2#arulmozhi#vanathi#kundavai#aditha karikalan#vanthiyathevan#arulmozhi varman#one shot
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Kundavai Nandini bitch
whos ready for another round of perfectly stupid barely plot-coherent modern road trip fix it au. please dont take this seriously, as i didnt. this verse probably would have worked more smoothly if i wrote it in chronological order but instead. i didn't do that. thanks 2 maya for helping me decide the funniest option at every juncture.
a sequel to this fic, if you're interested
enjoy
“It’s just, legally speaking, this looks quite a lot like a kidnapping.”
“Oh, please. Legally. This is a family matter.”
“Which, I feel obliged to point out, has resulted in kidnapping.”
“Hm,” says Aditha, rubbing at his chin and looking down.
“I guess I could see your point of view, Nambi,” allows Vandiyadevan, tilting his head such that his floppy brimmed disguise hat sits at a jaunty angle. He takes another bite from the open aluminum package of Magic Masala Lays. “We’ve got him in a van and everything.”
“Thank you,” says the older man proudly. “It is not often you concede my point.”
“My van is a very nice van,” says Poonguzhali at the same time, sounding somewhat aggrieved.
The young fellow in the trunk of Poonghuzai’s van continues to sit slumped, and unconscious. They observe his slicked back hair, thick with pomade, and his rather inadvisable moustache.
“How hard did we hit him on the head, anyway? Poor guy looks like he won’t wake up for a while.”
Nambi makes a faintly regretful face, eyeing his thick walking stick and rubbing his ample belly.
“It is not my fault God has made me so strong,” he says.
“Be real,” says Vandiyadevan, who must begrudgingly acknowledge that it wasn’t a terrible decision to call up Nambi, after all. “You’re not even the one who knocked him.”
They turn to the willowy figure who stands proudly to the side with her hands clasped tight around Nambi’s co-opted walking stick. Her long silver hair flutters, unbraided and somewhat naiadic, around her face. Her feet are bare, despite the fact that they are standing on paved sidewalk behind a very large and shiny building. She is wearing four bead bracelets on one wrist – there had not been time to distribute them before enacting The Intervention. Mandakini smiles sweetly at them. The lines around her overlarge eyes crease and dance. The head of their kidnapped man lolls downwards a bit.
Aditha returns her smile, awkward but encouraging; Vandiyadevan rubs with consternation at the back of his own neck.
“Madhurantakan will be fine,” Arunmozhi, who has been deep in contemplation (or maybe just a little stunned) til now, decides firmly. “The pomade will have eased the blow. You know what I’ll do? I’ll fetch one of Vanathi’s juice boxes so he’s got something to wake up to.”
He speaks with such authority that the others cannot help but feel comforted. Vandiyadevan says,
“It’s a good thing Arunmozhi lugs all those juice boxes around for her, isn’t it,” as his friend indeed goes to fetch the refreshment in question, “Madhurantakan doesn’t even have diabetes.”
“Only that terrible moustache,” Poonguzhali agrees.
“And to think,” sighs Nambi, “when we set out this morning, it was to pimp out our friend Vandiyadevan for the greater good. Truly, Lord Vishnu works great mysteries.”
“I wonder how the girls are doing,” Poonguzhali says pointedly, as, while Aditha groans, Vandiyadevan pours the remainder of the chip bag upon Nambi’s head.
**
It was, in matter of fact, quite early in the morning when the collective began arguing over Vandiyadevan’s virtue. At this point in the day, they had not yet kidnapped anyone.
“It won’t be difficult,” Nandini is saying, with a serene, if perhaps calculated, shrug. “I do it all the time. I have about twelve on rotation just now.”
She is sitting perched, even lounging, against the cramped fabric upholstery of the van’s leftmost window seat, as if it was the chaise of an ancient royal mistress. Vandiyadevan is a clever enough man; he can see where Nandini is going with this. After two weeks on the road, and the transformative power of meeting one’s mother, even the most vindictive of lonely people – Vandiyadevan opines, with great and compassionate wisdom – can thaw out a good deal. He was there (well, trapped in the toilet and unable to emerge lest he ruin the moment) to overhear the quiet tears of relief which Nandini shed against Aditha’s shoulder four nights ago, after everyone else was asleep. Neither of them seem inclined to even remotely acknowledge it in the light of day, but that’s none of Vandiyadevan’s business. What is his business is that Nandini has just declared she will save Chola Incorporated by seducing the siblings’ idiot cousin, and by God, Vandiyadevan can’t say it’s not sort of a good idea.
At the moment, though, he’s quite hungry, and so his nimble intellect is more focused on the possibility of a packet of Blue Lays, which he thinks might be in the glove compartment of the P Investigator, Lady Detective van – just in front of him. It could be his, if only he could get past Poonguzhali’s sharp looks. She is giving quite a few of them today – when she isn’t looking fondly at Arunmozhi, that is. Vandiyadevan sighs. Yes yes, it is her van of course, and therefore her chips, but seeing as they are a reconciled team now, very deep into their quest …
“And they really don’t mind that you never follow up on your promises?”
Vanathi, Kundavai’s sweetly bespectacled personal assistant, asks this in a tremulous voice. She, too, has been looking fondly at Arunmozhi all afternoon, though perhaps more secretively. If you could call her enormous doe-eyes secretive. Vandiyadevan would think it all very silly, but then, Arunmozhi does inspire the fondest of looks on a day to day basis, even when he’s wearing that bucket hat his older sister dislikes so. He’s just that kind of fellow. In answer to Vanathi, Nandini holds out her phone, with the contacts page open, to illustrate her long roster of – rather happily, it seems – strung-along men. They all lean in as one, jostling one another in the cramped confines of the van’s interior, to peruse properly.
“CEO … tech billionaire … Rajinikant?”
“The superstar?”
“Thalaiva?”
Nandini wrinkles her nose, shrugging, and wags one delicate hand back and forth so-so; someone squawks loudly and happily (it must be Poonguzhali), which is a sound loud enough to cover the small pathetic choking noise that seems to come from Aditha’s general direction.
“He’s the one who looks like our treacherous uncle, isn’t he.”
“You just think that because they are both old.”
“God, he is so bald. Uncle has his hair, at least.”
“Tatta thinks that it is a toupee. He told me so two months ago, at the poetry reading.”
“Hey, be quiet a moment – someone give Aditha a juice box, he looks ill. Is that a sandwich shop owner in there?”
Vanathi had been the helpful soul who wired the crores necessary to Arunmozhi in Thanjai when they needed to bail their previously missing person — Nandini’s long lost mother and Arunmozhi’s enigmatic friend — out of jail. She reads aloud the contact name: “Arjina’s Super Sandwich Speedy Fast N Go”
“I get hungry sometimes,” Nandini says, twirling one lock of glossy raven hair around her finger. Vanathi rubs at her forehead, adjusts her spectacles twice, and shakes her head a little, allowing,
“It must be very nice to have easy access to a good sandwich whenever you like.”
Poonguzhali is by this point wheezing with glee; Vandiyadevan wonders if she is still thinking of Thalaiva’s terribly bald head. Does Nandini’s effortless ruse involve assuring him that it is not, in fact, so hairless?
“Oooh,” snaps Kundavai. Nandini’s chin lifts upward immediately, “Vanathi, we must aspire to be strong and resourceful women. You can make your own sandwiches, can’t you?”
Kundavai began this conference looking as if she may finally be willing to admit she and Nandini’s forced cohabitation of dumpish motel room had not been the end of the world. She looks now as if she has sucked upon a particularly bitter lemon. Vandiyadevan takes a moment to appreciate, absently, the particular radiance with which the corners of her mouth pinch and pucker in judgmental annoyance. Then he remembers between whom he’s sitting, and pulls himself together. Arunmozhi is nodding with philosophical curiosity and pausing every few minutes to sign the newest developments in their consultation to Mandakini, who is sitting in the backseat, making bead bracelets with the craft materials she discovered in Aditha’s messenger bag. Aditha (who, it might be noted, possesses quite an impressive head of hair) does indeed look like he is going to be sick. He does not seem to want to give this fact away, and so persistently looks at the ceiling of the van, and when asked about it, claims in a strained voice that he has spotted a small lizard, which they must immediately expel from the vehicle. No one quite buys this, but no one feels the need to expose him either.
Vanathi must crane her slender neck somewhat painfully so as to properly peruse the details of Nandini’s phone messages. They really are diverting; the girl’s rose coloured lips part in a soft and open oh of morbid curiosity, her luminous brown eyes the size of saucers. One of the text strings promises a Benz sometime in the next week. The other is paying for Nandini’s apartment.
“Isn’t that something,” hums Arunmozhi, with pleasant fascination. Vandiyadevan would be inclined agree if Poonguzhali were not looking so impressed.
“Isn’t it though,” says Poonguzhali, before the gratified Nandini can reply. “Twelve! I can only scam three men at a time. That’s brilliant, that is.”
“That is not brilliant,” Kundavai disagrees. If Vandiyadevan were not so hungry he’d be able to hear her blood pressure rising, just by listening hard enough. Ah, to bask in the lovely tones of her irritated voice … “It’s not anything. We are not going to stop a few buffoons from usurping our family business via seduction.”
Arunmozhi has been very good at keeping them all working together so far, but he makes a slight error in judgment here (Vandiyadevan privately thinks), by taking a quiet breath and starting, gently to his credit, “Akka, just because you are not skilled at a particular art …”
Kundavai shrills with immediacy.
“Ayyo! How could you say that? It is not a matter of skill, it is a matter of principle! We are not seducing our cousin!”
Ah, yes. At this point in the day, they had not yet put their considerable minds together and determined to distract an Uncle or two; the first idea on the table, given that it was Madhurantakan they needed to waylay on his way to the Very Important Board Meeting, was cousin-seduction.
Aditha, who had been focused on the imaginary lizard’s affairs until this interval, seizes his opportunity.
“We are not seducing our cousin,” he clarifies in gritted, authoritative tones. Which is impressive, given that the contents of Nandini’s contacts app seemed to any rational observer to have had temporarily rendered him mute a moment before.
“No,” says Kundavai, in a manner so uniquely bitchy that only Nandini could have inspired it (Vandiyadevan thinks this with affection and no small amount of dreamy internal sighing), “clearly we are not.”
“Mmm,” is all Nandini offers, tilting her head just so.
“Surely there is an alternative, indeed clever solution –”
“Yes,” Aditha barrels forward, rather bravely Vandiyadevan thinks, as if neither girl has spoken, “Nandini may do what she wants, of course —“ (there is a tremendous strain to his voice; Kundavai, who had eagerly looked over at the sound of her brother agreeing with her, rolls her eyes with relish) “But how do we know — really — that Madhurantakan is into women? I think Vandiyadevan should go.”
There’s a prolonged moment of silence. Vandiyadevan hears a small crunch beside him, and realizes to his horror that Poonguzhali has snuck out the Magic Masala Lays.
“Eh!” he whispers. It seems for some reason appropriate to whisper. “You sneaky little imp! Share those, why don’t you?”
This unexpected turn of events was clearly not the solidarity Kundavai had in mind.
“You want to pimp out Vandiyadevan?” she hisses, horrified.
Even Nandini is displeased by this. “I am more than capable of doing this myself!” she says, irritably. “Just because you are jealous –”
“I am not jealous!” Aditha yells, in the voice of a man very clearly jealous. Nandini has turned pink to match her sari. It really is sort of funny, how swiftly her own efforts turn against her.
“Well – let’s lay out all the possibilities, here,” inserts Arunmozhi, helpfully. With his free hand, he takes the bead bracelet Mandakini hands him – she must reach over Kundavai’s shoulder to do so – before starting on the next one. “If Nandini shouldn’t do it, and Vandiyadevan shouldn’t do it –”
Vandiyadevan, who is in the middle of wrestling with Poonguzhali for the chip bag, says, “Sure, I’m game,” without thinking. Kundavai turns a shade of pink to rival Nandini’s; he course corrects, with swiftness, “Or, I mean, well, it really depends – how do we know I’m his type?”
“Don’t be silly,” Aditha says, “you’re everyone’s type.”
“Absolutely not,” says Poonguzhali.
“Perhaps our clever Madame Detective –” starts Arunmozhi.
“Absolutely not!” says Poonguzhali.
Mandakini has started humming a girlish tune to herself. It sounds a little bit like the theme song to Robo.
“And as for alternate man –”
“It really is too bad he’s your cousin. Say, we could call Nambi …”
It’s here that Vandiyadevan decides they are in terribly dire straits.
“Who’s Nambi going to seduce?” he yells. “Forget him. Isn’t it Pazhuvettaryer who’s running the meeting, anyway? Someone go and seduce him!”
With a final flourish, he acquires the chips, squashing half of the bag to his chest with tragic finality. Nandini, Kundavai, Aditha, and Arunmozhi blink at each other, then him. Poonguzhali socks him in the shoulder (he just barely stops himself from exclaiming in pain). Mandakini holds out a second completed bead bracelet; this one has little sparkly charms hanging from it.
Nandini, whose face had grown to be just as pinched as Kundavai’s, softens immediately, and says, “Oh – thank you, Amma.”
She looks so tender taking the stupid thing from her mother that the collective ire deflates, little by little, until they are sitting in their cramped seats and back to square one: despairing about how to stop a bloody board meeting from happening. Vandiyadevan quietly crunches on a chip; Poonguzhali socks his arm again.
“If I may,” says Vanathi’s unassuming voice, piping into the chaotic silence before an ow can be uttered. “That is – I was only thinking. What if I went?”
Everyone gaps at her.
She refuses to meet Arunmozhi’s eye, staring instead – determinedly – at the little tiger charm Poonguzhali keeps hanging from her rearview mirror. There’s a quiet frown creasing Arunmozhi’s brow.
“Wh – what?” asks Nandini. For perhaps the first time since Vandiyadevan has met her, she looks truly speechless. Even when reuniting with her mother, she embodied a tragic sort of blubbering grace. Right now there is not a single sound coming forth, despite the fact that her mouth is open like a fish.
It matches Kundavai’s perfectly.
“Vanathi,” ventures Aditha, before his sister can say anything; this complete change of pace seems to have quelled some of his lizard-adjacent turmoil, and he speaks with a gruff gentleness that doesn’t quite match his unraveling ponytail. “... Where exactly do you mean to go?”
“Oh!” Vanathi shakes her head frantically. “No! I meant – what if I pretended to swoon in front of Pazhuvetteryar?”
Another round of blinking. “What?” says Nandini again.
Vanathi adjusts her spectacles a second time; her head-shaking has jostled them. “Chola Inc legal policy says that any medical emergency must be attended to by the person most immediately at hand. A-and … well, I’ve gotten a lot of practice in. At … you know.”
“Because of the diabetes,” says Vandiyadevan aloud, before he can stop himself.
Poonguzhali socks his arm a third time.
“Ow!”
Thankfully, no one really notices this exclamation, as everyone continues to stare at Vanathi in shock. Until,
“Vanathi,” says Arunmozhi finally, into the silence. He is sitting up straight, a look of complete wonder upon his handsome face; very different from the philosophical fascination of before. “That’s perfect. I think you might just be a genius.”
Of course, it is here that – flushing so pink as to rival both Nandini and Kundavai combined – the beaming Vanathi looks very close to fainting dead away.
Good thing they’ve got those juiceboxes on hand.
Until Madhurantakan needs them, anyway.
#my writing#ponniyin selvan#im sorry for how ridiculous this is but id committed to the concept a month ago and couldnt back out of it#also: i stand by it#im on book 2 and having the time of my life btw#vandiyadevan#arunmozhi#kundavai#nandini#aditha karikalan#vanathi#vandiyadevan x kundavai#poonguzhali#vanmozhi#aditha x nandini#i havent seen robo but know of the vibes#AM i sorry for how ridiculous this is? am i REALL?#maya you should know you gave me the hardest possible word to use#for those interested the title of this wip was 'the gang is opposed to cousin marriage'#i think im so funny
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It's our penultimate chapter y'all!
A Matter of Chance -16
Aditha, himself unaware of the full extent of this matter, was horrified. His uncle was adopted- and twin to his fiancée?! He immediately trained his eyes onto Nandini's face.
Kundhavai and Nambi decided not to be their busybody selves and left the couple alone.
Nandini felt sick. Her face was oddly still while her mind uncontrollably buzzed from one thought to another, without completing any. She was sleepless and Aditha decided to spend the night in a sitting room outside her boudoir for company.
She stood up from her bed, walking all the way outside. She saw her beloved ilavarasar asleep on a petite velvet sofa. He bore this discomfort, like so many others, so he could do right by her. He never asks anything in return she thought as she sat down beside him, lightly tracing the lines and scars on his face.
She almost felt guilty for loving him so much, her heart ached thinking of how she loved a mortal as much as God-if not more.
Nandini went from having no one to protect to having to consider two people – Aditha and her twin.
The mild mannered yet aloof Prince Madhurantakan was her twin. She’d laugh at the irony of a Krishna devotee having a Shaivaite twin if her heart hadn’t broken.
She hadn’t seen him in years yet felt a fierce need to protect her twin. Was this how kundhavai felt for aditha?
She pitied and envied him! To have grown up in a palace wanting for nothing, not having to experience danger. Yet no one, not even his ‘mother’ wanted him as king.
Blessed with every gift, but when it came to the throne these royals always chose blood over all else.
She would fight to protect him…
A sudden twitch of Aditha’s face made her trace her nose on his cheek, prompting him to giggle and draw her in.
But not at the cost of her Aditha’s inheritance.
The man who had everything, had chosen her twice over. He refused to forget or forsake her.
Her eyes gained clarity as she leaned into the crook of his neck. He shifted slightly and curled around her face.
The mystery of her past no longer seemed important now. It was her and Aditha’s future that she prized.
-------------------------------------
2 weeks had passed in the place she never thought she’d visit.
Her mornings were spent learning etiquette, followed by socializing with different chieftains and their families. The afternoons saw kundhavai and Aniruddha Brahmarayar explaining politics and the different factions.
Her evenings belonged solely to Aditha, who delighted in accompanying her to temples and carrying her on his horse. He hung onto every word or gesture that belied minute discomfort and ensured she didn’t have to tolerate the gossips of palace dwellers as she once had.
Kundhavai though no longer a problem, was still a bad memory. But she was overshadowed by the presence of Sembiyan Madevi and Prince Madhurantakan.
Every meeting with the stately Dowager empress was rife with unspoken tension, both parties exchanging pleasantries while skirting the exile. Her meetings with Madhurantakan progressed better. He mistrusted others, now aware of his true heritage but warm towards Nandini.
Their initial meetings were awkward. Two siblings born together, raised in vastly different homes now reunited as uncle and niece in law. Aditha too added onto this awkwardness… is that his sithappa (uncle) or brother in law? He also was slightly envious of the time they spent together, but it wouldn’t last long- he was marrying his Nandini and nothing could dampen his joy.
The wedding no one predicted, happened with great fanfare. The city was decked with flowers and colorful bunting. The royal family donated generously to all and sundry.
The happy couple carried out the rituals with unshed tears of joy. The panditars, used to formality from other royal couples, noticed the way they clung to each other but refrained from commenting.
She sat in front of the dieties, Lord Shiva at the wedding and later Lord Vishnu in private, thanking them unceasingly for reuniting them. She shuddered to think what may’ve happened otherwise.
Aditha’s mind was similarly occupied, except his eyes were open and transfixed on her. He could never look away from her and she could always sense his eyes on her.
All the noble families and chieftains had arrived in Thanjai for the crown prince’s wedding. Nandini found herself putting her newfound lessons into use as she judged them.
Vanthiyadevan was charm personified. He was a godsend, lightening tense situations, calming everyone and most importantly – occupying a certain princess. It was very satisfying to see kundhavai try and hide her “lovestruck” face in public- take that!
All the aristocrats were perplexed by her rise in power but treaded cautiously- it wouldn’t do to make enemies with a future Empress.
The younger pazhuvettarayar seemed neutral towards her, but was worried about his son-in-law madhurantakan’s future. The older pazhuvettarayar hadn’t warmed up to her as princess but seemed to appreciate her form.
Speaking of which, Parthibendran and Kandhanmaran (the chieftain of kadambur’s son) were truly annoying her with their blatant gawking. She didn’t wish to make enemies while she stood on unsteady ground, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have fun. She noticed Aditha’s breathing deepen as he thought of various ways to annihilate his friends.
She teasingly caressed his back as she addressed them
“My lords, have both of you not spent years with my devar? What’s he like as a fellow soldier?”
Both began eagerly to answer her, closed their mouths when they realised the other and opened again hoping to charm her with a reply. Aditha sat looking like he couldn’t believe he was friends with them.
“He is extremely brave my lady! He loves his soldiers as a brother and tries hard to safeguard them” they chirped, prompting Aditha to hotly whisper “wouldn’t you rather test my virtues than just hear their praises? “in her ear
“I can proudly say I’ve accompanied him in every war” gloated Parthibendran.
“I have joined him in the wars most important to our empire” challenged Kandhanmaran.
Aha! “You gentlemen seem to have the empire’s best interests at heart…. That comforts me” she said with downturned eyes- her husband was beginning to understand her intent and smirked.
“Of course devi, our clans have sworn to protect this empire”
“Bravo! But a woman’s heart can’t help but worry for her beloved. Krishna has blessed me with so brave a husband yet I fret- I have heard the senior chieftains preferring Prince Madhurantakan.” She leaned into her husband for effect and Aditha playfully pretended to comfort her
“No need to fear devi, we have the crown prince’s best interests at heart. We shall dissuade those opposing him.” They said, eager to elicit a smile on her glorious lips.
Smile she did, for a job well done.
The call for dinner arrived and they rose unwillingly. Aditha pulled her into him and teased “Your first day as crown princess and you’ve already put your wits to use. What are your intentions, minx”
She traced the gold border of his garment and said “just a wedding present, Ilavarase!” followed by a gentle smack on his shoulder when he jokingly sought another kind of “wedding gift”
__________________
subtle smut under this line_________________
She long believed her hardships were a result of getting distracted – first by falling in love then by aiming above her station. Her life as a devoted vaishnavaite left no room for mortal love.
Aditha’s peppering of kisses on her neck didn’t give her much time to feel guilt though. He made her vow of abstinence seem like a hazy dream from the past.
She knew she wanted him- wanted to be made his since eons. Neither could imagine sharing such intimacy with anyone else. She desperately yearned to make him feel the same all-encompassing pleasure and craving he’d made her feel since their youth.
She tore through the vestiges of control and kissed him back with passion as they united in the most primal way, the first of many. Their lips and limbs entangled in a playful battle for dominance, with equal parts reverence and roughness.
The younger maids giggled at the moans as their seniors shushed them; the couple inside wasn’t the least bothered by either.
Silence reigned after what seemed ages, both lovers delightfully sated and admiring each other.
_______________________________
Now that she's no longer despairing or under threat, we get to see some of Nandini's scheming 😏😉
@nashibirne @nspwriteups @vibishalakshman @thelekhikawrites @dr-scribbler @kovaipaavai @budugu @dosai-maavu @matka-kulfi @nirmohi-premika @yehsahihai @curiousgalacticsoul @rang-lo @harinishivaa @chiyaanvikram @celestesinsight @inveter @deepti1011 @vidhurvrika @itszhunotz @babayagahunt @thegleamingmoon @maisadalawa @ragkee @inlovewithfictionalbeings @happysharkdragon @gowrimenonop-1 @ramcharanobsessed @nature-writes29 @voidsteffy @gemsmusings @sowlspace
#ponniyin selvan#aditha karikalan#nandini x aditha#nandhini#ponniyin selvan fanfiction#nandini x karikalan#nandini#vikram#aishwarya rai
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I drove 30 minutes each way today to go and see Ponniyin Selvan 2 at the theater closest to me that was still showing it. So this is the sequel to a movie that I didn’t even know about until last Saturday but I’m now OBSESSED (so if you’re a fan and I just friended you that’s why!)
The long drive was soooo worth it though I’m a little ticked off that the manager of the theater was so late to open things up that we missed the first ten minutes of the film (but I know I’ll watch both films again when Amazon gets PS2 in late June so no violence was done ;))
Short version: well worth seeing in the theater and I’m really glad I got the chance. I loved the movie, and couldn’t believe how fast it moved for an-almost 3 hour film. The characters and plot were as engrossing as in the first film and I’m glad I was mostly unspoiled except by history (spoilers below) because there were moments of intense suspense. I’m sad that it’s not a trilogy because I really wanted to spend even MORE TIME in this world with these people.
Longer version (with SPOILERS):
1. I knew Aditha Karikalan would die at some point because he never became a Chola king. And it was probably for the best that he didn’t rule the Cholas lands because I think he would not have made a good king, being so ruled by his passions. At least a few courses in anger management would have helped probably. But … Vikram was really stunning in the role of a man who loathes himself for what he’s become and is dying of guilt and shame long before he actually dies. Just ... I need to watch both movies again and see how his character develops from the flashbacks to the bitter husk of a man he is.
I still can’t figure out one thing, which is why he agreed to basically give up the kingdom for Madhurantakan without taking account the interests of his brother Arunmozhi Varman, whom he very demonstrably cared for deeply. (He was destroyed by the thought that his younger brother had drowned, and the only time we've seen present Aditya happy what when Nambi told him that Arunmozhi was alive.) Was it just because he already knew he was either going to convince Nandini to run away with him or more likely let her kill him and other people would be sorting out that mess anyway? Another reason that he wouldn’t have made a good king - running off with another dude's wife - but which made him such a fascinating and complex character and I keep thinking about how both Nandini and Aditha were destroyed by his family's actions. *sob* (Although, Arunmozhi also gave up a crown twice - the one the monks offered him in Sri Lanka and the one his father gave him at the end - so maybe giving up kingdoms just runs in the family. I'm #TeamQueenKundavai TBQH :P)
2. That brings me to Nandini. I felt like she really did love Aditha Karikalan but she also did love power and being a Queen (because of the theater malfunction I only got to see the very end of the flashbacks of young Aditha and young Nandini at the beginning of the movie so I may have a clearer understanding that this is not what she's about once I see that.) Aditha says "lies!" when she says she wants power, and riches, and a throne, but I think it's not *entirely* lies? She was powerless when the Cholas deported her, and powerless to stop Aditha from killing the man she thought of as a father (who actually WAS her father), so I can certainly understand why part of her longed for the power to protect herself from heartbreak and destitution and why that part of her was willing to use her beauty to manipulate men (like Parthibendran, more on him later.) Her vengeance and hatred hollowed out her character just as much as guilt and anger did to Aditha, but she doesn't murder Vanthiyadevan (OMG HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?) when she has the chance even though she knows he's going to do everything to spoil her plans. So there's still something in her that isn't completely spoiled, and I ended up just feeling incredibly awful for her (and even more awful for her mother!)
She is so damn beautiful! (One slight thing that I WISH they had done was give the young woman who played young Nandini (wonderfully) some hazel contact lenses so I'd wouldn't mentally have to color her eyes :P)
3. Next we come to Vandiyadevan, who was just ... perfect? I loved him. He was like an ancient Tamil D'Artagnan (and that would make Aditha Karikalan Athos and Nandini Milady, I guess? And Nambi is Porthos and Kundavai is Aramis, the clever one.) Anyway, he was great, smart, quick-thinking, a great warrior, but also not at all dumb. I really liked him and enjoyed all of his scenes. And I found out from history that the historical character did get to marry Kundavai so YAY! He was just a nice bright spirit without a ton of angst.
4. And now we come to the titular character, Ponniyin Selvan (Ponni's son) himself, Arunmozhi Varman, who eventually becomes Rajaraja Chola. I had never even heard of Jayam Ravi (sorry, this is I think the first Tamil movie I've watched since I was a kid) but he was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT as the young "King of Kings." I think this might have been the most difficult role in the film to pull off, simply because Rajaraja Cholas is so famous and so beloved STILL, a thousand years after his death. It's very rare that I would love the unequivocally good guys in a historical epic or fantasy movie/series but there is something about this character played by this actor that is just extremely charismatic. To start with, he's tall and handsome so that helps. But there's another quality that no one else in this film has, which that he radiates inner calm.
It's not that he doesn't have strong emotions that he shows on his face, because yes absolutely he does, and it's not that he doesn't have much do action-wise because he does, especially in P-S2.
But in the midst of this frenetic action and these tortured characters, Arulmozhi Varman has this quality of stillness at his core. No wonder the Buddhist monks like him so much that that they will put themselves between him and assassins' daggers. (Also did I mention the tall and handsome part?)
Plus, he has that classic "worthy to be a king" thing going because he does not want the throne and that's what makes him worthy. First of all, he refuses the throne of Lanka when he's offered it by the Buddhist monks there, and then, after he's won the battle and broken the rebellion and secured the safety of his family's kingdom, he gives up THAT crown too. WE - the audience - know that Uttama Chola will ultimately die (I think peacefully?) and Arulmozhi will become Rajaraja Chola but HE doesn't know that, and none of the other people, his friends and family, know that either. Like, I'm kind of in awe of the actual historical figure too. The character could have died so many times in these two films, and the historical person, who was a warrior king, could also have died long before he took the throne, so he was FOR REAL making a huge sacrifice. And I think he did it so there would be no divisions that the Cholas' enemies could take advantage of, as there had been for Nandini and the Pandyas to exploit when Maduranthakan decided that yes, he did want to be king and that it wasn’t fair that his brother’s oldest son would be king instead of him. No one living at the end of the film knows that Aditha essentially killed himself, but everyone knows that the plotters were using Maduranthakan as a puppet. (The crown was kind of funny looking so I'm actually glad my boo didn't put it on at the end :P) (Also more on Maduranthakan later.)
Also, how cool is it that in the battle at the end, Arunmozhi comes riding out of the smoke while the Chola anthem plays, just as his brother did in the first scene of the first movie. I love that parallel (and the differences are important too, because Aditha was engaging in a conquest of a neighboring kingdom and Arunmozhi is defending the Chola kingdom.)
Anyway, Ponniyan Selvan lived to become the great Rajaraja Chola, whose reign saw one of the highest points of Indian art (the extraordinary Chola bronzes) and the construction of the great South Indian temple of Brihadeswara in Thanjavur.
The carvings are amazing (look closely at this elephant which is doing something that happens in PS2 :D)
OK, moving on ... though I don't want to ...
5. Kundavai, the third royal sibling, who I also love to BITS. She didn't have as much to do in this film, I thought, and maybe it's because there was more focus on Nandini in this one, but she remained smart and sensible and I love the face-off with her uncle when he brings the Shiva-yogis to make his mother (Kundavai's grandmother) apologize for not putting him on the throne. Kundavai forces him and his rather intimidating crowd of followers to back off with a lot of hard stares (Paddington would be so proud.) And then she has the lovely little scene with Vandiyadevan (I'm still so sorry I don't know how to make this work) and and another gorgeous scene with her brothers at the Buddhist monastery (which, I love the scene but I hate that it’s the ONLY one). I love her, and I think she should have become the queen and my only consolation is that IRL she got to basically shape two great kings of the Chola dynasty, Rajaraja AND his son Rajendra. (And Rajaraja named his daughter after her so he obviously appreciated her a LOT.) Anyway, I love her and would love a series about her (IF ANYONE IS LISTENING.)
Awww! I just want to draw little hearts and flowers around this GIF. I wish we got more of them being adorable and hot together.
6. Everyone else (sorry this is getting super long), including some questions I have.
a. Vanathi: I know I saw some scenes of her and Arulmozhi in one of the song videos hat got cut in the actual film and I just would have liked to know more of her relationship with Kundavai and with Kundavai's brother. They were lovely together, but it just felt like there was a lot of missing stuff. I liked what I saw of her especially the adorable dance in PS1. And she was also related to ... someone? Because she called him "mama" (uncle?) and he seemed to be the commander of Aditha's forces, but then there was another dude at Kadambur who was a relative of the Cholas and the treasurer guy who was married to Nandini but they were not the same person and I thought one of them was Vanathi's uncle. NEEDS MORE BACKSTORY.
b. Poonguzhali (AGAIN I AM SURE I SPELLED THIS WRONG): I REALLY need more backstory on this. When did she meet Ponniyan Selvan? Why did he call her Samudra Kumari? Why did she risk her life for him (I mean, besides being in love with him which checks out because everyone else is :P) and what was the deal with her and the flower man at the temple? I just feel like a lot of stuff was missing that would have helped me understand better what was happening. (Also she was an amazing sailor to have gotten through that storm.)
c. Parthibendran Pallava and his lightning-fast enmity to Vandiyadevan and then his baseless accusation that Arunmozhi Varman had sent Vandiyadevan to murder Aditha Karikalan. I mean, did he even meet either of them? Why did he think Arunmozhi wanted his brother dead? Was it all just from meeting Nandini THAT ONE TIME because bro, you need a slap if that's the case?
d. Madhurantakan - I was screaming at him (in my head) to realize that there would be no coup without bloodshed, GOD OF COURSE SOME OR ALL OF HIS BROTHER'S KIDS AND HIS BROTHER WOULD DIE. And the other kings wanted a puppet on the throne, not a warrior like Aditha or someone as popular as Arunmozhi (also a brave warrior). But finally Madhurantakan learned his lesson before he fully betrayed his kingdom and family and people. However, the bit about how he was administrating the kingdom for 25 years dropped in at the end was a bit sudden and I would have liked to know Arunmozhi’s thought process, even if it was just “hey I just want to go have adventures with Vandiyadevan because it’s super fun.” I would have also liked some evidence of said administration because they kept playing up his devotion to Shiva and not much else (though he clearly had the Shaivite warrior-mendicant vote SOWN UP! But I'm also confused because some - but not all - of those dudes appeared to be Secret Pandya Assassins, like the lady who attacked the Buddhist monastery and forced Arunmozhi to come out and show himself to the people and by people I mean assassins.) So I don't know ... Anyway, glad Madhurantakan came to his senses and did not side with the other kings against his family. While his reward for only being partially a traitor seemed disproportionate, on the other hand, I thought Arulmozhi was also smart to say that his sword and Vandiyadevan's would be backing up Uncle M so no one got any ideas and probably Kundavai would also be advising Uncle M about good administration. :D (It was kind of funny that Arulmozhi had to get the crowd to cheer for his uncle because they were all like *do not want**we want YOU, young victorious prince* but it’s a sign of his charisma that he got them to accept his uncle as king.)
e. The Pandya assassins were a bit reminiscent of Wile E. Coyote tbqh. All their plans kept not working out in spectacular ways. Is there some reason why no one tipped an arrow with poison or put poison in a cup of wine for Aditha who liked his wine or put poison on their swords so even if they nicked Arunmozhi they'd end up killing them? Do you sense a theme here? Was there some reason why the revenge had to involve actual beheading or it didn't count? Honestly, without Nandini they would have failed even more spectacularly. Also, after Nandini killed herself, what happened to the little Pandya boy king - Nandini's half-brother who swore vengeance? (FYI, I read somewhere - wish I could remember where - that Rajaraja Chola hunted down the assassins of his brother even as far as Indonesia.)
f. I was a little confused by all the uncles and grandparents and so on, like the white-haired general was the grandfather of the three Chola siblings, I assume their mother's father?
g. I would have liked some of the storylines more fleshed out (especially Mandakini's because that was very sudden and if she came and gave birth to Nandini in the Chola lands, how did Sundara Chola not know about this and I guess she spent time hanging out so she could save Arunmozhi when he fell in the water at home and abroad? Why did she care for him so much? Because he was like his father? That seems pretty generous. Anyway ...) If there is a director's cut that is five hours long for each film, PLEASE BRING IT ON. I would love to see it.
In conclusion - I LOVED both movies. This feels like a very special and great achievement, and I hope its success leads to more really good directors delving into South Indian history, like that of the Vijaynagara Empire (which is the subject of Salman Rushdie's latest novel which I haven't read yet.)
ETA: THE MUSIC. I loved it. I've been listening to some of it on a constant loop.
I'm now off to read the books and explore the filmography of Vikram, Trisha, Karthi and Jayam Ravi (if there are any films that are really awesome or really awful please let me know in the comments.) I have been meaning to get into South Indian cinema more and this was a great starting point.
#ponniyin selvan#ponniyin selvan 2#aditha karikalan#kundavai#vandiyathevan#nandini#mani ratnam#a r rahman#tamil cinema#jayam ravi#arulmozhi varman#arulmozhi
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Hi, dear thangachi!
Here’s a few Kundavai/Vandiyathevan prompts:
1. Kundavai/Vandiyathevan- Reunion
2. Kundavai asking/teasing Vandiyathevan with regards to the status of her love life being leaked to her little brother. (I find it hilarious that Arulmozhi makes seemingly prescient statements about Kundavai and Vandiyathevan at the oddest of times, such as when he’s disguising Vandiyathevan as him or when he’s waking up from what’s almost a coma)
3. Kundavai/Vandiyathevan nudging VanMozhi along or vice versa.
4. Vandiyathevan’s seeking the blessings of Kundavai’s family to be their sister’s/daughter’s husband.
5. The adults (the King/Queen, Sembiyan Mahadevi, add or subtract Madhurantakan and/or Aditha at will) discussing about Kundavai/Vandiyathevan +/- VanMozhi.
Feel free to use/ignore any prompts you want to!
XOXO
Hi akka ! Thank you so much for all these wonderful prompts!
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Anyway, I still think the casting as well as character development for Parthibendra and Madhurantakan could have been better. Neither of them used the scope and depth of their characters.
#i LOVE the movies ofc but idk why neither of them sat well with me especially in ps2 where they had more screentime and scope#nothing against the actors theyre talented but they just didnt work for the characters i think especially parthi#vikram prabhu didnt portray the shrewdness well and the chemistry with nandhini was blah wen nandhini could have chemistry with a brick wal#and the turning point of rahman wasnt strong enough perhaps they should have given him more to do in the war to deserve the crown#not to mention if it was a more liked popular or liked actor in that role#the ending change wouldnt have upsetted the masses as it seem to have done
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the silence when arunmozhi declares his intention to make madhurantakan crown prince will never not take me out
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Ponniyin Selvan 1 makers unveil new poster featuring Prakash Raj, Rahman and Jayachitra- Cinema express
Ponniyin Selvan 1 makers unveil new poster featuring Prakash Raj, Rahman and Jayachitra- Cinema express
With the release date closing in, the makers of Ponniyin Selvan have been sharing posters of all major characters. Earlier in the day, a new poster featuring Prakash Raj, Rahman and Jayachitra got released. Prakash Raj plays Sundara Chozhar, and Jayachitra essays a character named Sembiyan Maadevi. Rahman plays the role of Madhurantakan.
Every rose has its thorns. The Emperor, the Queen Mother &…
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“அப்படியானால் தாங்கள் கிழவரை அழைத்து கொண்டு உடனே நடையைக் கட்டுங்கள். நான் இருந்து பார்த்துக் கொண்டு வருகிறேன்."
“நாங்கள் இருந்தால் என்ன?"
"கிழவர் இருந்தால் இளவரசருக்கு இராஜ மரியாதைகள் செய்து அழைத்துக்கொண்டு போகப் பார்ப்பார், காரியமெல்லாம் கெட்டுப் போகும்."
"மந்திரவாதி! நானும்தான் கேட்கிறேன். அவர்கள் இறக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் என்ன? மதுராந்தகனுக்குப் பட்டம் கட்டிவிட எல்லாரும் சம்மதித்து விட்டால்...”
Excerpt From
Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)
Kalki
This material may be protected by copyright.
Context: Part of the Nandini’s conversation with Ravidasan. They are discussing t he possibility that Arulmozhi might be alive.
“If that is so, you accompany the old man (Pazhuvettarayar) and depart immediately. I shall stay here and return after searching.”
“What is the issue if we stay?”
“The old man would want to extend royal respect to the Prince and depart with him. Everything would be ruined.”
“Sorcerer! I too want to ask. What is the need for them to die? If everyone agrees to crown Madhurantakan…”
Hmm. So she wants only Aditha dead? (Technically) This lady’s motivations seem kinda nebulous.
Today’s snippet! Tagging @celestesinsight @mizutaama @whippersnappersbookworm @racoonpaws @harinishivaa @favcolourrvibgior @harinishivaa @deadloverscity @thereader-radhika @themorguepoet @thelekhikawrites and @humapkehaikaun
Snippets may be irregular this week as well, on account of the fact that I have night duty.
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Thanks for reading and encouraging me guys☺️ here's the finale💗
A Matter of Chance -17
The coming weeks saw Nandini converse more closely with her twin, although the world saw them as uncle and nephew’s wife who shared a common interest for spirituality. She notice his eyes, face and gestures and was gaining an idea about his motivations and insecurities. His doe eyes resembled her own as a youth while she mourned fate for parting her from Aditha. The same man who was now her brother’s challenger.
She made use of her ‘admirers’ to shepherd their relatives and friends into not changing sides regarding the succession.
She thanked Perumal daily for Sembiyan Madevi’s and kundhavai's uncharacteristic non-interference during her wedding plans. But she realised they merely saw her as a candy for tantalizing Aditha into remaining at Thanjai, to prevent Madhurantakan from becoming king
How the tables had turned! they plotted to ensure neither twin reached the throne but now it was destined for atleast one.
She sat in the palace courtyard with Madhurantakan, observing the ornate water fountain and its bubbling when she began.
“Does it hurt? It must, right?
“What?” asked her companion
“Being lied to and led on, only for them pull the ground from your feet?” Nandini continued, looking into his eyes
“Cha! I never thought that your life can be difficult too. I thought hardship was only for folks like us- abandoned at birth, raised in a humble home, exiled for attracting a man beyond her and to live alone amongst the wilderness “ she lamented.
Madhurantakan’s face curled in sympathy, May Shiva forgive him! here he was cursing his fate- bitter over the throne not falling into his lap- while his akka had undergone pain beyond his comprehension.
He bore no ill will for Aditha Karikalan. He merely resented how Sundara chola ‘s 2 sons seemed to have all glories served to them on a silver platter while he wasn’t given a choice. People whispered that he too deserved the throne and he had believed it. Only now, the man he thought to be his father wasn’t that and he was left with no basis to question them. His ‘mother’ raised him away from war and politics and now he understood why- he was merely an ornament- admired but of no practical use.
His opinion of his ‘nephew’ was greatly improved by his steadfast commitment to his twin. The stubbornness that once seemed ungodly now showed a brother in-law who’d always protect his sister.
“They’ve used you ill, thambi (little brother). To raise you as a placeholder, to have cornered you such that you can neither lay claim to the throne nor reveal your plight to others” nandini said tutting “they shielded you from the common citizens, but didn’t hide your upbringing from the aristocrats- wonder why?” she trailed
Nandini saw him realize with every word she spoke that it wasn’t merely his supposed birthright that attracted the chieftains. His cloistered upbringing, away from people, politics and battlefield made him pliable as clay. They’d press their opinions as facts and he would have to listen. Any minister or courtier would see him as a simple devotee to be influenced.
Before he could think of another existential crises, Aditha’s voice boomed “Sithappa, you have taken up enough of my patta mahishi's time today. I have come to steal her lest you send her back into the temple” he laughed at own joke as his wife fondly rolled her eyes.
Madhurantakan was left perusing his ambitions as the couple skipped away to their bedchamber.
They kept him in the dark all these years, exiled his sister and now they’ve tied his hands.
Perhaps his claim to the throne was invalid, but his twin still stood a chance to one-up those Chola elders.
-----------------
Parthibendran and Kandhanmaran were turning out to be miracle workers. They enjoyed being seen as altruistic patriots while they yearned for crumbs of the pattathu ilavarasi’s attention.
They spoke of Aditha Karikalan’s prowess in the battlefield that subdued neighbouring kings. They hailed Arunmozhi’s- Ponniyin Selvan- unmatched place in people’s hearts. Choosing one with neither asset will cause disquiet inside and outside the empire, they said. The chieftains too slowly began turning when enough people repeated these opinions.
To thank his 'friends' for their 'services', Aditha grinningly handed them permanent fiefdoms near the northern borders. “Serves them right for ogling her, like she’d give them the time of day” he harrumphed.
Nandini shot a satisfied smirk at her husband. She promised she’d ‘make amends’ to him for using his friends and making him jealous, and was definitely looking forward to it.
The chieftains grew increasingly reluctant to endorse madhurantakan’s suit. Their influence, afterall, greatly depends on the Emperor’s power. But they had given him their word and the hand of chinna pazhuvettarayar’s daughter and felt guilty backing out.
When Prince Madhurantakan – now supportive of Aditha’s claim for a reason only few knew- finally negotiated control for temple administration over being heir, they agreed with great relief.
“The Crown Prince mulishly wed a nobody, and Princess Kundavai too seemed to have set her sights on a penniless soldier- a lord only in name” the nobles lamented. Nevermind, Prince Arunmozhi may still become our son-in-law they soothed themselves.
Sundara Chola’s guilt over her mother gave Nandini’s efforts the final edge. He was ashamed at his inability to protect Mandakini and decided to ensure at least her daughter lived well.
She didn’t have to persuade or plot to make him ensure Aditha’s position.
Nandini marched out into the gardens towards her smiling husband, smoothing the silk saree over her bump and admiring how Perumal offered her a chance to rearrange her life. Her face glowed with the satisfaction of a job well done and leaned back into him.
She munched on a fruit while relishing Aditha’s roving hands, grateful for that day in the woods. And grateful to her husband’s perseverance
Nandini enjoyed her tenure as empress, working for the land’s orphans. Her Emperor’s devotion to her proved a greater prize than the throne.
The imperial couple spent their freetime between the Pazhayarai perumal temple and a Krishna temple that they built in Thanjai, the latter curiously resembling a small temple in the forest. Nandini would spend early mornings and some evenings leaning against the temple pillar chanting pasurams as her husband laid on her shoulder with closed eyes.
Courtiers were left wondering about her powers- stubborn aditha karikalan who couldn’t be swayed by his parents or the ilaya piratti- could be persuaded by mere glance from his consort. Aditha took pleasure seeing his wife thrive at court- seeing her manipulate the vultures who thought her beneath them only made her more irresistible.
The couple’s absolute need for one another shocked people – it was a wonder they survived their separation! Indeed, Aditha’s wars became infrequent, but when he did return his normally composed wife would cling onto him for days inside their chamber.
Marriage to Vanthiyadevan softened her once thorny sister in law, who had grown to respect her charming manner of manipulating courtiers. They often joined forces, rendering their foes defenseless. Kundhavai also was appeased by her dear younger brother Arunmozhi dutifully falling for her friend Vanathi- resulting in a marriage that strengthened their clan. Aditha was proud of matchmaking for the matchmaker.
The Empress Dowager was pleased with Nandini for thwarting Madhurantakan’s coup, and Madhurantakan was pleased seeing his sister as sole chakravartini- a mutually beneficial settlement.
Aditha was a formidable administrator, disproving those who called him a warmonger and was assisted by his astute brother Arunmozhi . His besotted wife bore him daughter after daughter filling the entire nursery, prompting bittersweet “better luck next time” greetings from all around them.
But for a couple who expected to live a barren life devoid of love, each daughter was nothing short of Gods’ favor upon them. They joyously lived, secure knowing that Arunmozhi would make a great emperor beloved by the people.
@nashibirne @nspwriteups @vibishalakshman @thelekhikawrites @dr-scribbler @kovaipaavai @budugu @dosai-maavu @matka-kulfi @nirmohi-premika @yehsahihai @curiousgalacticsoul @rang-lo @harinishivaa @chiyaanvikram @celestesinsight @inveter @deepti1011 @vidhurvrika @itszhunotz @babayagahunt @thegleamingmoon @maisadalawa @ragkee @inlovewithfictionalbeings @happysharkdragon @gowrimenonop-1 @ramcharanobsessed @nature-writes29 @voidsteffy @gemsmusings @sowlspace @canonless5
#ponniyin selvan#aditha karikalan#nandini x aditha#ponniyin selvan fanfiction#nandhini#nandini#nandini x karikalan#vikram#aishwarya rai
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Sakhi Chapter 1
shoutout to @cara-2003 for the prompt ☺️
"Don't worry Kanne" Sembiyan Madevi told a worried looking young Kundavai. "Everything has been taken care of" . But Kundavai was anything but calm. She couldn't help but imagine Aditha's face and the ruckus he was going to create once he comes to know of what has happened. Be rational Kundavai she told herself This is for the good of the dynasty. Just then a soldier arrived in the chamber. "Periya Piratti. Ilaiya Piratti" He addressed the two women " Your order has been fulfilled. The family has been displaced". "Good" Sembiyan Madevi, remarked, thrusting a satchel of gold coins into his hands "Make sure this remains a secret" . The soldier nodded and left. "Go to sleep Kanne" Kundavai also nodded and went to her chamber. The moment she closed the chamber door she sank to the ground Forgive me Anna, forgive me Nandini She told to noone in particular in the darkness of the room, the weight of having separating two loving hearts crumbling her. I had to do it for the sake of the dynasty. Anything for the well being of the dynasty. She walked to her trunk of clothes and extracted an olai that she had carefully hidden under her fabrics. Wiping her tears she walked over to a lamp and set the olai on fire, dropping it to the ground and watching it turn to ashes. Everyone will know the truth when the time comes but until then this secret will remain with me. Only me.
She told herself staring at the ashes.
—-------------------------------------------
Kundavai opened her eyes. She lost track of the time in her daydream. So many years have gone by since that night and still that memory is fresh in her mind. Sembiyan Madevi must have assumed that was the last she would see of the temple priest's adopted daughter but little did the Periya Patti knew that her granddaughter had other plans. Plans that no one else knew. Kundavai knew Nandini will always be present as an invisible part of the family even in her physical absence. She was in Sundara Chozhan's mind as the reflection of his long lost love now that he came clean to Kundavai about Oomai Rani and the possibility of Nandini being his illegitimate daughter. She was in Aditha's mind as he searched high and low for his beloved to no avail. No one knew where she was…Well, no one except the Chola Princess. But right now she had other things to deliberate on. Her Anna was here and it was about time she has a talk with him on his waywardness. The news of conspirators coming together to harm the royal family and make Madhurantakan the king was worthy of every caution. And Aditha's shameless remarks and reckless decision making could fasten the crumbling of the dynasty. I can't let that happen. Everything I did, everything I listened to Sembiyan Patti for, was to secure the dynasty line.
I have to talk to him. She decided and stood up.
She made her way to the palace grounds where the soldiers were indulged in their training. She knew her Anna would be there, supervising the training of the army. He was a gifted warrior although he tended to go to war a bit too often, not minding his wounds or health. And he spend the rest of the time drinking away with his friends. She knew the exact moment this change in behaviour came about and she always felt guilty of being a reason for it. It was always Nandini. He went to war to forget about her. He drank to forget about her. He argued with his own sister to defend her. And even if he knew that the conspirators were planning to harm him, he would gladly go if that meant he would be able to find the long lost Nandini there. Kundavai was not jealous of Nandini's beauty or intelligence. Did she admired those traits? Yes. Has she ever admitted that in front of another person? No. But all the same, she was jealous of how effortlessly he loved her. When the two lovers were separated, Kundavai failed to foresee this effect of separation. She thought time would heal the wounds of separation and he would move on. But the more he grew up, the more his love for his Nandini grew with him. Can anyone love anyone else so much? To the point they are just a living shell surviving on the long lost memories and touches? She knew that kind of love was strong. Stronger than the strongest metal on Earth. It doesn't sway. It stands firm. That was the kind of love she admired. The kind of love she wished to see bloom between her Thambi and her Uyir Thozi. The kind of love that she wishes for herself - one which she wants to give and recieve from a certain Vana Kula Prince.
Slowly she approached her Anna who looked like he was watching the training closely but Kundavai knew his mind was far away with someone else. "Anna?" She called out and watched as he snap out of his faraway thoughts. He looked at her in annoyance and she knew the reason. Just that morning, they had an argument on the matters of his marriage. Kundavai startegically explained to him the advantage of marrying the princesses of the Samantha kingdoms and he rejected it with one line "You know where my heart resides".
And looking at him now she predicted another argument happening before it even started.
To be continued……
@ramcharanobsessed @dumdaradumdaradum @vibishalakshman @harinishivaa @hollogramhallucination @kovaipaavai@rang-lo. @willkatfanfromasia@thelekhikawrites@thegleamingmoon@deafeningflowercat@yehsahihai@whippersnappersbookworm@itsfookingloosah@gemsmusings@chiyaanvikram@elvenladysakura. @matka-kulfi. @madatdisney@bumblebeeskywalker@vahnithedreamer@nkarti@dosai-maavu@utterlynotperfect@winter-birds@happy-bookworm @tumbledout @anabanana4115 @freeunknownwasteland @bhataktiatmacore@rapunzels-stuff@celestesinsight@mairablue@rationalelderberry@existenceiswhateven@arachneofthoughts@spider5884fan11 @cara-2003 @nirmohi-premika @stella12 @thereader-radhika
#ponniyin selvan#ponniyin selvan 2#arulmozhi#vanathi#kundavai#aditha karikalan#vanthiyathevan#nandini#arulmozhi varman#vanmozhi
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“சக்கரவர்த்தி சம்மதம் கொடுத்ததின்பேரில் தனாதிகாரி தெரிவித்தார். "இலங்கைச் சிம்மாதனத்தைக் கவர்ந்து முடி சூட்டிக்கொள்ளச் சதி செய்ததாகக் குற்றம் சாட்டி இளவரசரைச் சிறைப்படுத்திக் கொண்டு வரும்படி கட்டளை பிறப்பித்து அனுப்புவோம். அத்தகைய கட்டளையைப் பூதி விக்கிரமகேசரி தடை செய்ய முடியாது. அன்றியும், இளவரசரிடம் நேரில் எப்படியேனும் கட்டளையைச் சேர்ப்பிக்கச் செய்துவிட்டால் இளவரசர் கட்டாயம் வந்தே தீருவார்!"
இதைக் கேட்ட சுந்தர சோழர் புன்னகை புரிந்தார். விசித்திரமான யோசனைதான்; ஆயினும் ஏன் கையாண்டு பார்க்கக் கூடாது? பொன்னியின் செல்வனைப் பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்ற ஆர்வம் சக்கரவர்த்தியின் மனதில் பொங்கிக் கொண்டிருந்தது. தம்முடைய அந்திய காலம் நெருங்கிக் கொண்டிருப்பதாக அவர் உணர்ந்தார். ஆகையால் தம் அந்தரங்க அன்புக்குரிய இளங்கோவிடம் இராஜ்யத்தைப் பற்றித் தம் மனோரதத்தை வெளியிட விரும்பினார். மதுராந்தகனுக்கே தஞ்சாவூர் இராஜ்யத்தை அளிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற தம் விருப்பத்தை அறிந்தால் அருள்மொழிவர்மன் மறுவார்த்தையே பேசாமல் அதை ஒப்புக்கொள்வான். பின்னர் அவன் மூலமாக ஆதித்த கரிகாலனுடைய மனத்தை மாற்றுவதும் எளிதாயிருக்கும்.
இவ்வாறு சிந்தித்துத் தனாதிகாரியின் யோசனையைச் சக்கரவர்த்தி ஆமோதித்தார். அதன் பேரில்தான் அருள்மொழிவர்மரைச் சிறைப்படுத்தி வரும்படி கட்டளை அனுப்பப்பட்டது. இளவரசருக்கு எவ்விதத் தீங்கும் ஏற்படக்கூடாது என்ற கண்டிப்பான கட்டளையும் மரக்கலத் தலைவனுக்குப் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டது.”
Excerpt From
Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)
Kalki
This material may be protected by copyright.
Context: Periya Pazhuvettarayar speaking to Sundara Chozhar when the former wants his sons with him.
Once the Emperor had given his consent, the Finance Minister proclaimed “Let us create a royal proclamation accusing the Prince of conspiring for the throne of Lanka and command his arrest as well as return. Such a command cannot be forbidden by Boothi Vikramakesari. Besides, if the command reaches the Prince somehow, he will definitely come for certes!”
Hearing this, Sundara Chozhar laughed. An unconventional line of thought for certain, however, why should we not try our hand at it once? The Emperor’s mind was brimming with the desire to see Ponniyin Selvan. He felt that his last days were nearing him. Hence, he wished to discuss his worries concerning the Kingdom with his younger son who he secretly held close to his heart. If (he) knew of his desire to cede the throne of Thanjavur to Madhurantakan, Arulmozhivarman would obey it without a word of dissent. Following that, it would be easier to change Aditha Karikalan’s mind through him.
Thinking thus, the Emperor gave his consent to the Finance Minister’s plan. In its (the plan’s) name was the command to imprison Arulmozhivarmar was sent. A firm command to the captain of the ships was also issued that there must be no harm to the Prince’s person.
I remember reading somewhere in either this chapter or the next that Pazhuvettarayar’s men were told to bring the Prince with them by force if needed, however. Should I assume that this was what the old man had commanded in front of the King and then secretly issued the other command, or is there any other explanation as well?
In another vein of thought, is it safe to assume that Arulmozhi is closer to his father than his elder brother is? And/or that Arulmozhi is closer to Aditha than Kundavai is? (If that is so, is the movie theory of Aditha still being bitter with Kundavai over what happened to Nandini something that might hold credence?)
Today’s snippet, finally beginning the third book!
Tagging @whippersnappersbookworm @mizutaama @celestesinsight @thereader-radhika @themorguepoet @thelekhikawrites @harinishivaa @willkatfanfromasia @racoonpaws @deadloverscity @favcolourrvibgior @humapkehaikaun
#ponniyin selvan#snippet#book 3#yay! finally#sundara chozhan#periya pazhuvettarayar#arulmozhi varman
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A Matter of Chance - 9
Aditha, though tempted to rest in the hut and admire Nandini sleep, pried himself away to his barracks. He was sure his soldiers had many things to report about their newest province and important scrolls to sign.
He quickly jogged to his quarters, acknowledging all the greetings along the way. He sat by the makeshift study and began shuffling through the papers on them.
He addressed his friends without looking up-
“Vanthiyadeva , Parthibendra any news while I was gone?”
“ We’ve been in touch with local leaders, Ilavarase, they are fully willing to accept Chola authority as long as we help them rebuild the damaged roads and buildings. They only wish to ensure that their livelihoods are unaffected”
He noticed Parthibendran squirm and eye the desk
“What is it? Anything else of import?” Aditha sighed
“Uhm… Your highness has missives from Thanjavur(capital) and Pazhayarai (old capital)” said the pallava vassal prince
“What do the Fort commanders have to say? Or is the captain of the Velaikkarars ( Emperor’s bodyguards)”, he guessed.
The young men glanced at each other, this time it was the lord of Vallam who spoke “ the letters are from Empress Vanavan Madevi and Princess Kundavai, respectively”
His eyebrows shot up at this and he skimmed through the scrolls again till he found them.
His family had been long resigned to short, rare messages from him. They only communicated on important dates and after wars. This time however, the letters seem longer. The dates didn’t seem to be of interest either.
He pried open his mother’s letter first
“Dear son,
May Shiva keep you healthy and successful forever more! We too have been well by His grace. You have deprived us of your presence for long. It is the fondest wish of His Majesty and mine to see you at Thanjavur
Grant us the joy of beholding you.”
Affection laced with every word but the no-nonsense tone of an Empress – Aditha was sorely tempted to go.
But he decided to read his sister’s letter before making a decision
He skimmed through the salutations before focusing on the matter
“ Brother, along with my letter you shall receive another from the capital bidding your return. Our mother has long sought your presence but as she doesn’t wish to trouble you, her letters are rare..
This message is no common invitation. The chieftains have placed Their Majesties in house arrest and immediately seek Prince Madhurantakan to be made heir. Father’s illness has weakened his body and resolve, your absence has convinced him to consider their demand.
Madhurantakan’s marriage to the pazhuvettarayar ‘s niece has made him an attractive prospect for them.
You must immediately come and resolve this. There is word that a coup may be planned . Our enemies will want to take advantage and cause civil war
We’re willing to accept any and all demands you may have! Please do not neglect your kingdom due to your disapproval of me.”
Kundhavai, proud since birth, has never once begged.
Even as he and Arunmozhi would steal her ornaments or food, she’d maintain dignified silence before ratting them out to an elder.
But this letter of hers came damn near close.
He decided that he’d have no choice but to return now. He’d travel immediately if not for an injured woman who ruled his heart.
Aditha was already grandson, great-grandson, great nephew, step grandson and cousin to every aristocratic family in the land.
Should he return, the courtiers will scheme to marry off him to atleast one noblewoman from each clan. They’ve done the same with his father and madhurantakan, and will do the same to his brother.
“My friends, I must leave for the capital by this Sunday.
Parthiba, you must be my eyes and ears here. Vanthiyadevan must accompany me on my journey.
I will be occupied with some work until then so do not search for me.” he declared.
Aditha dismissed them, laid his head back and closed his eyes.
From every angle he judged the result remained the same –
A succession deadlock.
Two lines with strong claims to the throne.
Equally well connected to all the chieftains.
Equally displaced from the public - Madhurantakan had spent just as many years in the temple as Aditha had spent in the war.
His eyes shot open and he lept onto his feet, running towards the forest
@nashibirne @nspwriteups @thelekhikawrites @vibishalakshman @dr-scribbler @whippersnappersbookworm @hollogramhallucination @chiyaanvikram @ragkee @love-ps1ff @dosai-maavu @budugu @thegleamingmoon @celestesinsight @deepti1011 @vidhurvrika @kovaipaavai @yehsahihai @nirmohi-premika @itszhunotz
#ponniyin selvan#aditha karikalan#nandini x aditha#ponniyin selvan fanfiction#nandhini#nandini x karikalan
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