The hero of Vallam...

I'am talking about Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan, warrior of the Vana clan from ThiruVallam('Thiru' in Tamil means 'sacred','respected' etc),the hero whose valour,sword and lance takes him places...
Hear the glory of the Chozhas through his descriptions, see the beauty of 'Ponni' and her tributaries through his eyes, watch the majestic forts and palaces in Pazhayarai, Thanjavur on his horse, get lost in secret dungeons of the Thanjavur palace, fight warriors hidden in dark corners of the palace,meet beautiful women like Nandini Devi who can bewitch you with witchcraft and magentic,sensual beauty or fall in love with the one and only 'Kundavai', intelligent smart and beautiful-hearted princess among the Chozhas!!, overhear a conspiracy for the throne, forces fighting in Eezham, spies roaming around like astrologers,saints and picking fights,a wicked magician,wicked commanders who double-cross their beloved king, a mendicant prince - a Siva devotee's sudden wish to reign,ancient Tamil wars of Pandyas and Chozhas,Rashtrakutas and Pallavas,the magnificent temple gopurams, music and dance - kuravai koothu, trance and mediums fortelling the royal destiny, poetry of those ages, kings and their numerous wives and concubines, a gypsy girl in love with the prince, a prince who is the darling of the kingdom - 'Ponniyin Selvan' Raja Raja Chola the Second.

Our hero from Vallam traverses all these and more and you will be transported to that magical era;he weaves stories like those in Kanchipuram weave a pattu saree, resplendent and colourful...

It is a must read for those of us who are interested to go back to South Indian history..

P.S :-For those of you who wish to read this book.. 'Ponniyin Selvan' penned by Kalki Krishnamurthy in Tamil also has an English translation by Karthik Narayanan, available in all leading book stores in 5 volumes - a magnum opus indeed :)