page_title: Ponniyin Selvan
section_title: Characters
hierarchical_section_title: Ponniyin Selvan / Characters
caption_attribution_description: English: A visual representation of the family of characters involved in the Ponniyin Selvan collection of novels.
context_page_description: Ponniyin Selvan is a historical novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. In five volumes, or about 2210 pages, it tells the story of early days of Arulmozhivarman, who later became the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I. The book took more than three years to write; Kalki visited Sri Lanka three times to gather information for it.
  Ponniyin Selvan is widely considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written in Tamil literature. It was first published as a series in the Kalki, a Tamil language magazine, during the 1950s and was later integrated into a novel. The craze for the series which was published weekly was such that it elevated the magazine circulation to reach a staggering figure of 71,366 copies – no mean achievement in a newly independent India.
  Even today, the novel has a cult following and fan base among people of all generations. The book continues to be admired and garner critical acclaim for its 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.
context_section_description: In order of appearance (omitting the flashbacks)
  Vandhiyadevan (வல்லவரையன் வந்தியத்தேவன்): The brave, witty, adventurous and sarcastic warrior prince of Vaanar clan, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of Uttama Chola. Although the second protagonist of the story other than Ponniyin Selvan himself, Vandiyadevan's exploits make the readers to think him as the main hero at multiple points in the novel. He was a bodyguard and close friend of Aditya Karikalan in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to Sundara Chola in Thanjavur to invite him to the newly built golden palace in Kanchi and also as a trustful guard for Kundavai in Pazhayarai. His unplanned and hasteful acts put himself and others in danger but comes out of them by trickery and luck. He is the lover of Princess Kundavai. He is loved one-sidedly by Manimekalai, the sister of Kandanmaran. The author introduces most of the characters to the audience through him.
  Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (ஆழ்வார்க்கடியான் நம்பி) alias Thirumalaiappan (திருமலையப்பன்): A Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister and Chembiyan Maadevi. He is the foster-brother of Nandhini and also a close friend of Vandiyathevan. He works closely with him and saves him from many dangers. He was a loyal trustful servant for the Chola royal government. He often does many religious word battles with Veera Shaivites and Advaitis.
  Sambuvaraiyar: The petty ruler of Kadamboor from the Sambuvaraya family.
  Kandanmaran alias Chinna Sambuvaraiyar: Prince of Kadamboor. Son of Sambuvaraiyar and close friend of Vandiyathevan. He is the one who arranges the conspiracy meeting of petty rulers to be taken in Kadamboor. He then assumes Vandiyathevan tried to kill him and starts to think of him as his worst enemy.
  Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar: The chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom from the Paluvettaraiyar clan who was respected for his valor and 64 scars he got in battles. The second most powerful man in the empire next to the Emperor himself. He marries a much younger Nandini in his sixties, gets seduced by her beauty and gets used by her as a puppet for her plot. He was the leader of the conspirators who acted against the sons of Sundara Chola and tried to make his cousin Madurantakan the next emperor under the plans of Nandini.
  Theveraalan (alias Parameswaran), Idumbankkari, Ravidasan, Soman Sambavan, Revadasa Kiramavithan: Antagonists of the novel. Bodyguards of the late Veerapandiyan. They conspirate to kill the members of the Chola family. Ravidasan and Parameswaran were once ministers in Chola court. Ravidasan and Revadasa Kiramavithan were acting as wizards. Idumbankkari was acting as a guard in Kadambur palace.
  Madurantaka alias Amarabhujangan Nedunchezhiyan: Son of Chembiyan Maadevi who was raised as a Shaivite. He was raised a calm and humble Shaivite and taught not to desire on the throne. He was brainwashed by Nandini so that the developed a greed over the throne. Kundavai and others thought that he was untalented and lacked the basic characters and skills for being an emperor. People of Chola country did not want him to become the ruler.
  Kundavai alias Ilaya Piratti: The Chola princess. Second child and only daughter of Sundara Chola. Lover of Vandiyathevan. She was respected much by her father and the people for her intelligence and wit. Unlike other princesses of those times, she had an ambition of making Chola empire wide and great and took a vow to never leave her motherland. She used her brother Arulmozhivarman and his son to achieve her ambition. She grew and taught Arulmozhivarman to be an intelligent prince and wished to make him the Chola emperor. She is the one who sent Vandiyathevan to bring back Arulmozhivarman from Sri Lanka and to prevent Aditya from going to Kadamboor palace and also to guard him. She took care of Vaanathi more than any of her friends and wanted to make her Arulmozhivarman's queen.
  Vaanathi: Shy and innocent Kodumbalur princess who is the future wife of Raja Raja Chola and mother of Rajendra Chola- I. Daughter of Paranthakan alias
caption: Chart of characters involved in Ponniyin Selvan.
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