
PONNIYIN SELVAN is a historical fictional novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy in Tamil.
It tells about the early days of Arulmozhi Varman who later becomes Raja Raja Chozha , the greatest Chozha Emperor.
Kalki has explored the entire range of human emotions in these five volumes. No wonder its a magnum opus. Ponniyin Selvan is a greatest novel from the treasures of Tamil literature.
The novel is admired for tightly woven plot, vivid narration, the wit of the dialogue, and the way in which the power struggle and intrigues of the Chola empire were depicted.
New Floods is the Volume 1 of the 5 Books. The story unfolds with the journey of the protagonist Vandhiyadhevan to the capital Thanjavur.
This chapter introduces many of the 30+ characters from the story. Not many can read the 2000+ pages of the story beautifully writtenin Tamil and hence Entailing Tales bring the crux of this masterpiece.
Characters in order of appearance:
Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan : The brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior prince of Vaanar clan. Bodyguard and close friend of Aditha Karikalan in Kanchi. Lover of Kundavi. Second protagonist.
Azhwarkadiyan Nambi : A Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister of Chozha dynasty. Foster brother of Nandini
Nandini: Pazhuvoor Princess and wife of Periya Pazhuvettraraiyar. The main antagonist of the story
Kandhamaaran : Prince of Kodumbalur. Friend of Vandiyathevan
Elder Pazhuvettaraiyar: The chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom. Nandini’s husband.
Ravidasan : Antagonists of the novel. Bodyguards of the late Veerapandiyan
Madurantaka : Son of Chembiyan Maadevi
Kundavai Devi: The Chola princess. Second child and only daughter of Sundara Chola. Lover of Vandiyadevan
Vaanathi: Shy and innocent Kodambalur princess.Friend of Kundavai.
Younger Pazhuvettaraiyar: The chief in-charge of Thanjavur fort.
Sundara Chola alias Parantaka II : The emperor of Chola empire.
Vanavan Mahadevi: Empress of the Chola empire. Daughter of Thirukovalur Malaiyamaan.
Sembiyan Maadevi : Wife of Gandaraditya. Grandmother of the 3 Chozha siblings
Aditha Karikalan: Eldest son of Sundara Chola, the crown prince
Thirukovalur Malaiyaman : Father-in-law of Sundara Chola and maternal grandfather for his children.
Parthibendra Pallava: Friend of Aditha Karikalan
Ponniyin Selvan: One of the two protagonist. Youngest son of Sundara Chozha