S

through my senses -- most likely senseless

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Ponniyin Selvan

I have started reading it again :) I never get bored of reading it again and again. This tamil novel is a true classsic. More gripping than even the popular Angels & Demons and Da Vinci Code. and this novel is for all ages and for all generations too.

sometime back a few us had an interesting discussion on how to make a movie out of this epic, or how the movie should be. in our view, Manirathnam is the only capable person for this task. it would be nice if he just sticks to the original plot and not come up with his own script. that will ensure a bigger audience.
also it will be wonderful if this project can be done in Lord of the Rings style, 3 or 4 releases instead of one big movie.

and yes, we did discuss about the cast. while we couldn't agree on who should play what, we definitely had a consensus that Ajith and Vijay should not even be allowed into the sets :)
but still I will give a role for our dear captain :)

19 Comments:

Blogger The Last Blogger said...

Good summary of our discussion on the movie version. Id say one other interesting idea if all books at one shot (like LoTR) doesnt work out is to shoot it with different directors,each with their unique style. Case to point Mani for first, Shankar for second, Gautham Menon for third and so on.
This will bring something new with each part of the series.
Stars wise: big players for supporting parts and some upcoming star for main role.

12:11 PM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

As far as they don't confuse with the script, the multi-director idea may work. But it will be a long shot and they can easily loose focus.
New face for the lead role will be nice. But it will be really hard to impress everyone, ponniyin selvan has a huge reader base.

1:26 PM  
Blogger BZ said...

Nice one. I wish I could lay my hands on the book. Is there an online version. Would love to read that.

And cant believe you would give _our captain_ a role and not Ajith! :)

3:14 PM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Here are the links

http://www.geocities.com/ponniyinselvan_kalki/
http://www.tamil.net/projectmadurai/pmfinish.html

You will find other works of Kalki and a few other great works in tamil literature.

3:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thanks for the links paran.

hellboy

8:38 PM  
Blogger Vani Viswanathan said...

hey..
do the websites show the story in tamil? all i can see is some stuff like A crossed etc. (forgive my description; i dunno what the language is called!) and is there a dictionary online that i can refer to if i dunno the meaning of a tamil word?

9:01 PM  
Blogger Vani Viswanathan said...

oh sorry..
i haven't downloaded the font yet!! :D

9:03 PM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Jagan, I read it online. it was so interesting that I didn't even mind some missing pages on the online version :) Chakra would agree on this :)

hellboy, you are welcome.

Vani, ofcourse they are in tamil:-) there are some english versions, but please don't read them, they are terrible.
you need a font for the first link. for the project madurai site, I didn't had to download any font.
tamil dictionary.... I haven't used any online stuff. But in general I always had trouble with tamil dictionaries, it was extremely hard to get to the correct page. better ask someone :)

10:41 PM  
Blogger reNUka said...

Hey!! I generally don’t read books - not to mention tamizh books. Anyway, seems like 'enthusiasm is contagious' and have become vulnerable to it - think I will lay my hands on it and start reading it. I will stick to the paper version of it. Let’s see.

12:28 AM  
Blogger Chakra said...

thats one book which never ceases to amaze me... have read it thrice so far and wd do it many more times..

u know what.. Ponniyin Selvan hardcopy costs just Rs.150 in Chennai.. I found that in the Book fair.. but couldn't buy it as I felt that I couldn't carry them to UK. The entire collection of Kalki's work costs only around 600 quid in India.. its worth every paise and wd be a nice intro to history for the future generation.

1:12 AM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Chakra, you are un-believable :) and yes, Vanathi Pathipagam is issuing them for dirt cheap prices. I got Ponniyin Selvan and Parthiban Kanavu for a total of Rs. 200. thats a steal man :)

7:42 AM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Renuka, once you start reading Ponniyin Selvan, you will never keep it down. and its 1500 pages long :) more fun.

7:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Saranyan,
That was an interesting post. I havent read the book, but my mom used to tell us the story as and when she read each chapter when we were kids, and I remember feeling so enchanted.
I am currently reading sivagamiyin sabadham and god, what imagination and description! He really transports you to the world of kings and warriors, of art and rich culture, and of honour and bravery.
Mmm...making a movie out of ponniyin selvan is indeed a mammoth task!
Archana Srini

8:19 AM  
Blogger Aero Dillon said...

Dear Saranyan; pl see my Email to U today.You are again right about 'Ponniyin Selvan'.It is a classic today and could become an epic of tomorrow.But Mani Ratnam will never go near it if my knowledge of him pesonally is right.He moves with times and sometimes ahead of times.Pl also read other classics of Kalki."paarthiban Kanavu" has all the thrills,suspense,fight,art.and philosophy;
All the best

9:19 AM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Archana, Sivagamiyin Sabatham is also a classic. The climax is really touching. If Ponniyin Selvan is more on thrillers and twists, Sivagamiyin Sabatham is the bible of romance and human emotions.

I'm sorry, but I still don't remember you. Are you the singer Archana (sister of Aparna), or Adarsh's sister?

10:02 AM  
Blogger saranyan r said...

Kichami Sir, I have already read Paarthiban Kanavu. My respect for Narasimha Varma Pallavan only increased :)
Given the state of tamil cinema, with directors like Selvaraghavan (who I think would never understand the plot, and would instead concentrate on King Raja Raja Chozha's sex life), and Dharani (he would instead want the plot to happen in a city), we thought Mani would be the best choice!
Thanks for commenting. Please email to vrsaranyan at yahoo.

10:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

renuka,

statments like "I don't read no tamil books ya" are so out of fashion girl.

get real... will ya

hellboy

8:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

trust mani ratnam to screw this up for good. he has lost the plot. why doesnt he get the message. yet another flop to add to the string of previous flops... kalki would turn in his grave... luckily he was cremated... not buried.

3:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sivagamiyin sabhatham anyday is a better story, mopre intense, gripping and leaves your shattered for weeks... kalkis best work is sivagamiyin sabhatham... ponniyin selvan is boring and dragging in parts, kalki has done an amazing job... but the story line hardly has anything interesting to offer. not even half as good as sivagamiyin sabhatham...

4:00 AM  

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