A beautiful novel by sandilynan, The novel portraits the travel of chola thalapathi ilaya pallavan who travels around the central-eastern countries and conquered various kingdoms. The love portion with ManjalAlaghi and kanjana devi was extraordinary, No one can beat sandiliyan for such mindblowing writings about the love and romance sequels of ilaya pallavan with his two heroines.

I have read many of the Balakumaran Novels "Irumbu kuthiraigal" like that but i am impressed by the novel 'UDAIYAR' very much.
This novel is in six parts. Each and every part of the novel will drag us to the cholas period. He has written the novel in such a superb manner no one can turn his face from the novel. If we take the book in hands we wont leave it down until we finish.
During the reading we can see the chola kingdoms ruling, the beauty of dancing, the method of art the culture of the people. When i am reading that book i imagine actor Shivaji as Rajaraja cholan. He brought that character in the front of our eyes.
Many character name we not even heard about Mr. Bala introduced them through this novel. Small characters also he brought to our notice and gave important. The strain that rajaraja cholan had to build the big temple in Thanjavur the way the author explained is very embrasing. We can not imagine how the Big temple is constructed without any JCB and all machines. From this book only i came to know the method of construction of Big temple.After each and every time I went to Thanjavur i have never failed to give a visit to the Big temple.

The plot is set in Rajaraja Chola's period, who has been in power for around 16 years after Uttama chola.
The story revolves around Rajaraja's ambitious and visionary plan to build a big temple for Lord Shiva. The politics,economy and mindset of different sects of people about the temple are clearly explained. The enemies(Ravidasan's kins) conspire to take a revenge on Rajaraja for exiling their family.
Having read ponniyin selvan, one could find distinct differences in the portrayal of some of the characters. For instance, Aditya Karikalan is shown to be more ruthless than in PS. His death is explained from a different vantage point.
Brahmarayar and karuvur thevar are new main characters who were not there in Ponniyin selvan. I wonder how such prominent figures did not feature in PS.
The non linear narration of the events about karikalan, rajaraja's early life, Uttama chola's rule etc, made the story more interesting.

This is a kind of book that will kinder your reading habit even if u r a non-reader.
it takes you back to the time of raja raja cholan
i was amazed by the way the author takes us back in time. i really felt like travelling in a time machine for a long time even after finishing reading. this book is awesome.
you can see in the begining that the author follows the footprints of kalki but slowly he drags us into his own narrative style.
i was in tears towards the end. thats the kind of impact it creates in the reader. you will feel as if you have lived in that period.

பொன்னியின் செல்வன் ஒரு கற்பனைப் புதினம். ஆழ்வார்க்கடியான், நந்தினி, சேந்தன் அமுதன் போன்றவை கற்பனைப் பாத்திரங்கள். இதில் சேந்தன் அமுதன் அரியணை ஏறும்வரையிலான சம்பவங்கள் மட்டுமே கூறப்பட்டுள்ளன, சில பல கற்பனைச் சம்வங்களோடு. இவ்வாறு கூறுவதால் கல்கியைக் குறைத்து மதிப்பிடுகிறேன் என்று தவறாக எண்ணிவிட வேண்டாம். எள்முனையளவும் எனக்கு அத்தகைய நோக்கம் கிடையாது.
உடையார், ராஜராஜ சோழனின் வாழ்வை வேறு தளத்தில் அலசுகிறது. ராஜராஜரின் வாழ்வில் நிகழ்ந்த முக்கியமான சம்பவங்களான தேவார மீட்பு, பெரிய கோயிலைக் கட்டுவித்தல், அதிமுக்கியமாக அவருடைய அந்திமக் காலம் ஆகியவை பொன்னியின் செல்வனில் கூறப்படவில்லை. அந்தக் குறையை உடையார் போக்குகிறது. மேலும் ராஜராஜர் நிகழ்த்திய முக்கியமான யுத்தங்களைப் பற்றியும், அவருடைய காலத்தில் இருந்த சமூகத்தின் அமைப்பையும் பற்றி உடையார் அலசுகிறது. பொன்னியின் செல்வன் நூல் ராஜராஜரை ஒரு காதல் இளைஞனாக (சாக்லேட் பாய்), பிள்ளைக் குறும்புகள் மாறாத ஒரு இளைஞனாக மட்டுமே காட்டுகிறது. முதிர்ந்த அறிவுடன் ஒரு மகத்தான தியாகத்தைச் செய்யும் மகோன்னதத்துடன் அந்த பாத்திரம் முடிவுக்கு வந்துவிடுகிறது.
உடையாரில் அவருடைய காதல் வாழ்வு மட்டுமல்லாது அவருடைய மணவாழ்வும் விவரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அவருடைய முதிர் பருவத்தில் பஞ்சவன் மாதேவிக்கும் அவருக்கும் இடையே நிலவிய அனுக்கமான காதல் வாழ்வு பொன்னியின் செல்வனில் விவரிக்கப்பட்ட அருண்மொழிக்கும் வானதிக்கும் இடையிலான காதல் வாழ்வைப் போன்றே சுவைபடக் கூறப் பட்டுள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் நிகழ்த்த இயலாத மகோன்னதங்களை நிகழ்த்திக் காட்டிய ராஜராஜரின் வாழ்வை கல்வெட்டு மற்றும் தாமிரப் பட்டய ஆதாரங்களைக் கொண்டு எழுதப்பட்ட ஒரு வரலாற்றுக் காவியம் உடையார்.
ராஜராஜரைத் தவிரவும், பெரிய கோயில் என்ற கலை அதிசயத்தின் கட்டுமானக் காலத்தில் அதற்கு உறுதுணையாக இருந்த பலருடைய வாழ்வையும் விவரிக்கிற நூலாகவும் உடையார் விளங்குகிறது.
உளியின் ஓசை என்ற திரைப்படம் கூட பெரிய கோயிலின் கட்டுமானத்தில் பங்கெடுத்துக் கொண்ட ஒரு சிற்பின் வாழ்க்கைச் சம்பவங்களை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டவையே.
பொன்னியின் செல்வனைப் போலவே உடையாரும் வாசிப்பிற்குகந்த ஒரு நல்ல நூல் என்பதே இதன் வாயிலாக நான் கூற விழைவது.
- ஒரு இணையதளத்தில் படித்தது

Having read Ponniyin Selvan, you would be searching for more historical novels to quench your aspirations to know more about Chola Empire and Emperor Raja Raja Chola The Great.. This is the book for it.. A sequel to Ponniyin Selvan and Balakumaran takes you even more closely to Raja Raja Chola..
After reading the book, i really felt proud for being a Tamilian.Its a very good book to know our traditions,architectural skills,how advanced the people and the society were given the time the temple was built.
Brahmarayar and karuvur thevar are new main characters who were not there in Ponniyin selvan. I wonder how such prominent figures did not feature in Ponniyin Selvan.
Overall, a good sequel to a great novel. "MUST READ after Ponniyin
Selvan".

A well-researched historical novel on the Cholas that will take you on an epic journey through the construction of Brihadeeshwara temple in Tanjore.
Balakumaran with his slew of characters, some well-thought and some haphazard, gives a story that tells the tale of an emperor who undertook a mammoth venture and turned the fortunes of his empire, both culturally and economically. Balakumaran's research on the empire's reign is amazing and it reflects in the vast compass of the work, which apart from the central subject of the novel, deals with human emotions, class divides, technology, culture, and religion among other things. The author's love for the Cholas becomes very evident as one reads through the volumes.
Though the narration is two-paced, the slower chapters let you indulge in your own fantasies of the past.
Overall, a great read which with a faster narration and lesser digressions would have been a epic like Ponniyin Selvan. If Ponniyin Selvan gets a 5, this one gets 4.5.

kadal pura is a historical novel written by chandilyan and the story based on ancient Tamil Chola Dynasty.It tells how Karunagara pallavan succeeded his challenge against Kalinga, how he saved chola people from the pirates of the sea using the ship built by him ie. Kadal pura and how he married his love Manjal azhagi and how he became a king of Thondaiman. Very intersting to read.

"Udayar" is Tamil novel written by Balakumaran which consists of six volumes.This novel deals with the building of the Tanjore Temple, depicting in detail the mindset of the people, Rajaraja chola's courtiers and relatives. It also throws some light on the significance of the various innovations that were done during the building of the temple. If you want to know more emperor Raja Raja Chola The Great this is the book for it. Spending time to read this book is really worthable.

Excellent I am not even a worthy person to write a review about the greatest historical novel I have ever read in both tamizh and english put together. For those who are curious to know the premise, it is basically about the life of a great chola(kingdom in south india circa. 1000 AD) king 'Raja Raja Chola' before he ascended the throne. It is narrated by a Vandhiya thevan who is also one of the protagonist. The story takes place during the time of political instability in the chola kingdom or to put it precisely the time before they discover about the impending threats to the kingdom.
There are a lot of cultural references in this book about the various religions that existed during that period. The most interesting part is the fight between a vaishnavite priest and shivites. The first two volumes of the book have a very fast
pace with spying, flashbacks, intros, love etc.
The story toggles between Tamilagam and Sri lanka. And author has beautifully and vividly illustrated the places like dhanushkoti, northern parts of srilanka, thanjavur, and places near karaikal. I guess some of the places exists even today.
Well, I would run out of time if I keep talking about this book. I would say people who are interested in reading historical novels will definitely like this book.

I just wanted to share my happiness of the book to the world comprising of individuals who always wanted to read this book and never find time. May be this could be a push to you guys. If that happens I’ll be more than happy.
I’m a satisfied person now. Having read an epic novel which spans about 2500 pages that too in Tamil gives me that satisfaction. Thanks to this one book I got the pleasure of reading a language which
I’ve almost stopped reading of late.
I am little worried that there hasn't been a movie so far based on the novel. I wish the novel is soon made into a TV/film series.

Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy was written in early last century. And to this day, it remains the most popular classic book ever written in Tamil. And you can guess my level of obsession with it, when you know that I ‘learnt’ to read tamil, just so that I can read this book.
They say it is difficult to review books that we really like. And I do believe it is true. I wouldn’t call this a review. This is merely a tribute, to one of the greatest writers of Tamil Literature.
‘Ponniyin Selvan’ is set during last years of King Sundara Chozha’s reign (957–970 CE), the father of the great Chola king, Raja Raja Chozhan. The book is named after Raja Raja Chozhan. ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ was one of the titular names by which he was lovingly called by his subjects. Though the book bears the king’s name, he is not the hero of this epic.
The story begins with the appearance of a young soldier, who rides in with his horse, right into our hearts. Vandiya Devan, is a penniless young soldier, whose antecedents once ruled the Chola empire. The first part of ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ chronicles his adventures, derring do’s, narrow escapes, fatal attractions and finally a journey all the way to Sri Lanka.
Vandiya Devan is on his way to the capital Thanjavur, bearing messages from the Crown Prince, Aditya Karikalan to the King and to Princess Kundavai who lives in Pazhaiarai. Enroute to Thanjavur, he stays in his friend’s palace, only to discover a plot against the Crown Prince and he is determined to warn the King about it.
Rich descriptions, poetic yet simple narrative, fantastic characterizations, unforgettable dialogues, I could just go on… Kalki’s powerful words brings the world of Chola kingdom alive, complete with its intrigues, mysteries, love and age-old code of soldier’s honour and duty.

Ponniyin Selvan is one of the best books I have ever read, it is easily there on my top 5. There are so many great things about this book that I don't even know where to start. It is an exemplary historical fiction, has a great story, and most importantly, has great characters. The story of the book is basically about Raja Raja Chola, who was also known as Ponniyin Selvan (hence the title of the book), before he was king, and all the circumstances that led to him becoming the king. One of the highlights of this book, according to me, is the character portrayals. All the characters are deep and very relatable, even if the story is set in the 10th century. This book is a definite must read.

This is the best novel I have ever read in Tamil. The plot, the setting and the characters take us to a mesmerizing travel through the ancient India and Sri Lanka. It keeps us spellobound and hooked to the book. To people who have thoughts about reading this novel, I must warn you ,once you pick the 1st volume, you are never going to lay your thoughts on anything else untill you finish off the 5th volume. Be prepared to be not trapped by this awesome novel and axed by your employer/school.

Beleive me, I never stopped reading in between for the entire 5 volumes. So for I read Ponniyin Selvan nearly for 10 times!. My desire is that I have to forget the story to read it and sink into old Chola period afresh everytime.
I read PS when I was studying 6th Standard at Govt. High school Vedanthangal. My teachers used to complain to my parents that “This boy is bringing story books and Ambulimama to the school and splois other co-students!" :).
The love on PS and almost all other Kalki’s novels lead me ultimate land up with “Perumazhaippulavar’s ” Uraigal (Explanations) on Sanga Ilakkiyangal (Especially Kalithogai).

First Historical novel, which drag me to the Tamil novel reading world. It is rated one of my best, which I have completed at my age of 13, along with many Sandilyan's novels.

This historical novel is one of my favorite after Ponniyin Selvan.
It is a historical adventure in my opinion which clearly briefs about art,dance,sculptures and historical incidents. Especially when Mahendravarman enters Vatapi as Vajrabahu from the hero side and Nilekesi enters Kanchi as Naganandhi from the villain side rises the expectations of reader.The end of the novel is an ultimate twist which reader would have never expected.
The journey of Paranjothi as a normal villager to Paranjothiyar as the commander in chief of Pallava army speaks about the evolution of character in different parts of the story.The sequences such as love between Narasimha and Sivagami which is broken by the vow of Sivagami,Sivagami residing in the enemy state Vatapi under Chalukya king Pulikesi, Naganandhi turning situations like a fast moving snake really keeps the reader busy.

'சிவகாமியின் சபதம் ' என் மனம் கவர்ந்த கல்கியாரின் படைப்பு இம்முறையும் அவர் என்னை ஏமாற்றவில்லை.என்னை ஏழாம் நூற்றாண்டுக்கே இழுத்து சென்று விட்டார் .அங்கே மகேந்திரரின் ராஜா தந்திரங்களையும் போர் யுக்திகளையும் ,பரஞ்சோதியின் விசுவாசத்தையும் ,மாமல்லரின் வீரத்தையும் ,சிவகாமியின் அபிநயங்களையும் ,ஆயனாரின் சிற்ப கலைகளையும் ,புலிகேசியின் வக்கிரத்தையும் ,மாமல்லபுரத்தின் சிற்பங்களையும் பார்க்கும் படி செய்தும் .அஜந்தாவின் வர்ண ரகசியத்தை தெரிந்து கொள்ளும் படி செய்த கல்கியாருக்கு எவ்வளவு நன்றி செலுத்தினாலும் ஈடாகாது

I have to say I was disappointed with this novel. Its nowhere close to its previous part - Sivakamiyin Sabatham which was a brilliant masterpiece. The main protagonist of this novel - Vikraman has absolutely no clue of what he is doing, let it be his ambition to accomplish his father's dream or his lady love.
But the suspense of who the main character of the novel will make you tread slowly. The last 50 pages leaves you somewhat satisfied as there is more action and twists involved. One thing is for sure. By the end of these two novels one would start having immense respect to NarasimmhaVarma Pallava.

I just now started reading the sandiliyan novel Yavana Rani . The story is history based and events took place 2000 years back during karikala chola period. The story revolves mainly around these four characters Ilancheliyan ,hippalas, yavana rani and tiberius.
1. Ilancheliyan -chief commander of chola, and the hero
2. Hippalas - assistant of Ilancheliyan
3. Yavana Rani - princess
4. Tiberius- the antagonist
The story description is available in the wikipedia.
Here i will tell what i feel while reading the novel.
First of all, Sandiliyan is never an equal writer to Ponniyin Selvan Kalki.
Sandiliyan just drags the story and pure heroism which is not even performed by our now Tamil heroes (lol)
Even though the story and imagination are good, i somehow feel that its not interesting
I just finish off the book, i don even remember the full story that is the point.