Parthibhan Kanavu - Sequel to Sivagamiyin Sabatham
Parthibhan Kanavu (1941-43) - Dream of Chola king Parthibhan - Though this novel can be considered as a sequel to Sivagamiyin Sabatham, this novel was published even before Sivagamiyin Sabatham(1944-46). This novel was later made into a Tamil movie with the same name in 1960 starring Gemini Ganesan, S.V.Ranga Rao and Vyjayanthimala.
This sequel novel explains the later stages of Pallava king Mamalla or Narasimhavarman and his effort to make Chola King Parthibha's dream true based on the promise given during Parthiban's last moments of life.
Also it outlines the ruling period of Pallava dynasty, sculptures, art and culture followed during the reign of Pallavas. While reading the novel, we can visualize the then Mamallapuram, Uraiyur (Capital of Cholas), Thanjavur and Kanchi - streets decorated by people for festivals, soldiers marching in horses and elephants for war, Princess carried in a palanquin through the main streets around the temples, king's path, canoes, boats and ferries floating in river Ponni or Cauvery, islands, sea ports, beaches, art gallery halls, kingdoms, palaces, courtyards, groves, flowers, garden, secret tunnels, store houses, nature and so on...
Twist and Turns
The novel starts with Chola King Parthibhan explaining about how the Chola kingdom should prosper in the near future to his son - Prince Vikraman. He shows his dreams in the form of paintings drawn by himself which is an art gallery located in Uraiyur art hall. In a particular painting, he had depicted a huge army marching to war with hundreds and thousands of soldiers, horses and elephants. In front of the army, an elephant is moving forward with only a mahout riding with an empty seat allocated for a king. We would understand that his dream already came true after 300 years by King Raja Raja Chola.
The suspense thriller continues in this novel making the reader suspicious about Monk character and Spy Veerasenan for some time emerging out as Pallava king Narasimhavarman himself in disguise to know the truth of many other secrets.It also revolves around the romantic moments between Vikraman - son of King Parthibhan and Kunthavi - daughter of King Narasimhavarman.
The real twist I felt - when I came to know Kabala Bairavar who roams with a single hand frightening others in novel Parthibhan Kanavu- is none other than Nagananthi or Nilekesi who is better known as the cunning Buddhist monk in the novel Sivagamiyin Sabatham. That is revealed towards the end of the story by Siruthondar (devotee of Lord Shiva) or better known as Paranjothi - Ex-Army chief of Pallavas.This is definitely one more adventure trip novel from Kalki which keeps the reader busy through out the novel.
Rest of the Characters
This novel has been split into 3 parts by author Kalki Krishnamurthy. Other than the main characters like King Narasimhavarman, King Parthibhan, Prince Vikrama, Princess Kunthavi, Siruthondar and Villain Kabala Bairavar, there are so many other characters which plays an important role in moving the plot of the story. Ponnan, Valli, Maarappa Bupathi, Queen ArulMozhi Devi (King Parthibhan's wife and mother of Prince Vikraman).
The narrator and author Kalki handles all these characters with such ease that the readers are fully occupied with their conversations, acts and thoughts. Also the author highlights about the superstitious beliefs followed in history like human sacrifice for favorite deities in temples hidden in forests, gathering the skeletons and worshiping them etc and how the Pallava king tries to eradicate those blind fold beliefs.
Though some fiction characters are embedded in this historical novel, we would not miss the deeds of real historical figures, their ruling time period, people, art, culture, the temples and historical buildings constructed and the language.
Lets meet on another historical novel review in my next article.
--Siva
Parthibhan Kanavu (1941-43) - Dream of Chola king Parthibhan - Though this novel can be considered as a sequel to Sivagamiyin Sabatham, this novel was published even before Sivagamiyin Sabatham(1944-46). This novel was later made into a Tamil movie with the same name in 1960 starring Gemini Ganesan, S.V.Ranga Rao and Vyjayanthimala.This sequel novel explains the later stages of Pallava king Mamalla or Narasimhavarman and his effort to make Chola King Parthibha's dream true based on the promise given during Parthiban's last moments of life.
Also it outlines the ruling period of Pallava dynasty, sculptures, art and culture followed during the reign of Pallavas. While reading the novel, we can visualize the then Mamallapuram, Uraiyur (Capital of Cholas), Thanjavur and Kanchi - streets decorated by people for festivals, soldiers marching in horses and elephants for war, Princess carried in a palanquin through the main streets around the temples, king's path, canoes, boats and ferries floating in river Ponni or Cauvery, islands, sea ports, beaches, art gallery halls, kingdoms, palaces, courtyards, groves, flowers, garden, secret tunnels, store houses, nature and so on...
Twist and Turns
The novel starts with Chola King Parthibhan explaining about how the Chola kingdom should prosper in the near future to his son - Prince Vikraman. He shows his dreams in the form of paintings drawn by himself which is an art gallery located in Uraiyur art hall. In a particular painting, he had depicted a huge army marching to war with hundreds and thousands of soldiers, horses and elephants. In front of the army, an elephant is moving forward with only a mahout riding with an empty seat allocated for a king. We would understand that his dream already came true after 300 years by King Raja Raja Chola.The suspense thriller continues in this novel making the reader suspicious about Monk character and Spy Veerasenan for some time emerging out as Pallava king Narasimhavarman himself in disguise to know the truth of many other secrets.It also revolves around the romantic moments between Vikraman - son of King Parthibhan and Kunthavi - daughter of King Narasimhavarman.
The real twist I felt - when I came to know Kabala Bairavar who roams with a single hand frightening others in novel Parthibhan Kanavu- is none other than Nagananthi or Nilekesi who is better known as the cunning Buddhist monk in the novel Sivagamiyin Sabatham. That is revealed towards the end of the story by Siruthondar (devotee of Lord Shiva) or better known as Paranjothi - Ex-Army chief of Pallavas.This is definitely one more adventure trip novel from Kalki which keeps the reader busy through out the novel.
Rest of the Characters
This novel has been split into 3 parts by author Kalki Krishnamurthy. Other than the main characters like King Narasimhavarman, King Parthibhan, Prince Vikrama, Princess Kunthavi, Siruthondar and Villain Kabala Bairavar, there are so many other characters which plays an important role in moving the plot of the story. Ponnan, Valli, Maarappa Bupathi, Queen ArulMozhi Devi (King Parthibhan's wife and mother of Prince Vikraman).
The narrator and author Kalki handles all these characters with such ease that the readers are fully occupied with their conversations, acts and thoughts. Also the author highlights about the superstitious beliefs followed in history like human sacrifice for favorite deities in temples hidden in forests, gathering the skeletons and worshiping them etc and how the Pallava king tries to eradicate those blind fold beliefs.
Though some fiction characters are embedded in this historical novel, we would not miss the deeds of real historical figures, their ruling time period, people, art, culture, the temples and historical buildings constructed and the language.
Lets meet on another historical novel review in my next article.
--Siva
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