scribble pad

scribble pad header image 2
← Sarithira kadhaiyum naanum A mini list of great Tamil historical novels →

Kalki and Sandilyan, great historical novelists of Tamil

July 12th, 2006 · 42 Comments · Books

Till my 3 rd grade, I didn’t know to read or write Tamil. I did know how to speak, as I had spent about one and a half years in Chennai when my father got transferred to a small town called Tiruvarur, near Tanjore. I had to learn both Tamil and Hindi, as my second languages. Thats when I started reading Tamil books and I came across a book called Ponniyin Selvan, by Kalki. Now thats a pretty big novel, split into 5 parts. I started reading it one word at a time (hehe, I must’ve had too much time on my hands). It was pure ecstasy.

Kalki and Sandilyan are the foremost historical novelists in Tamil. There are other authors too, but they simply can’t measure upto the standards set by these two. They have their own strengths. I’m not a scholar or critic, all I want to do is write a bit about them and kindle some interest, amongst the two or three readers (!!!!!) of this blog.

Sandilyan has written very many novels, historical or otherwise, though I have only read his historical novels. His most famous ones are Kadal Pura, Yavana Rani and Rajamuthirai. Vijayamahadevi and a few others can be termed as his second best, but the above mentioned three are his best (at least in my opinion). His dialogues are short and sharp, his pace is very very good and the twists and turns in his tales make them a pleasure to read. He is particularly exceptional in creating war scenes (tactics etc) and describing them. Each of these novels appeared in magazines (kumudham especially), and one irritating tactic he used was to create a suspense at each and every chapter, every week (kumudham is a weekly). But I think its understandable, probably he was forced to do so, to keep readers’ interest. He wrote way too many historical novels (i’ve myself read at least 25-30 of his) and hence there is a sharp drop in quality in most of his novels, except those mentioned above, which are exceptional. He wrote more explicit love scenes more often than necessary in most of his novels, which quickly becomes irritating to read. Plus, one simply can’t keep writing these kinds of novels as often as one writes romantic or detective novels. These novels require indepth research and take time to write. Kalki is said to have spent more than 12 years (yes, 12 years) researching for Sivakamiyin Sapatham.

Kalki is in a different league altogether. Unlike Sandilyan, his dialogues are lengthy and poetical in nature. If you want fast paced stuff, you’ve got to read Sandilyan, if you want to sip coffee and have all the time in the world to enjoy beautiful prose, lengthy and thought provoking dialogues, then you’ve got to pick Kalki. As far as I know, he wrote three historical novels - Ponniyin Selvan, Sivakamiyin Sapatham and Parthiban Kanavu. Just read through the letters that Mamallan writes to Sivakami, in Sivakamiyin Sapatham, its Tamil at its best.

Have you read any of these novels and enjoyed? Have you read any other novel of the same genre which is as good as these or better? Please do leave a comment if you have.

Update:

Please check out this post too

Tags:

42 responses so far ↓

  • 1 achudhan // Aug 13, 2006 at 12:24 pm

    i want to read sandilyan’s novel in web

  • 2 shantha kumar // Oct 6, 2006 at 12:57 pm

    i want to read novels in web written by these two great writer’s

  • 3 vijay // Oct 6, 2006 at 4:29 pm

    hmmm, I haven’t come across these books on the web, should be available I guess.

  • 4 Kannathasan // Oct 19, 2006 at 11:57 am

    where i can get all sandilyan’s books?

  • 5 vijay // Oct 24, 2006 at 5:36 am

    Any bookstore :) Check out HigginBothams, they have most of these kind of novels. There are even English translations of some of them :)

  • 6 vishnu // Nov 7, 2006 at 9:00 am

    i wan to read kalal pura novel in web

  • 7 Dilipkumar // Nov 10, 2006 at 8:02 am

    The distinction between Sandilyan and others is the way he has researched for writing his works. In novels like Jaladeepam, Kadalpura, Kadal rani, Yavanarani etc you will see how much of in depth research has gone into writing about ships, ports, the culture of sailers, pirates etc.. Most of his works are comparable with English Fiction writers like Fredrick Forsyth and Robert Ludlum.

  • 8 vijay // Nov 10, 2006 at 9:47 am

    Yeah true, he researched for his novels very well. Thats the case even with Kalki, these writers wrote because they wanted to write, not just for money like a whole lot of writers of today. I would definitely say these authors wrote far better than today’s writers.

  • 9 vijay // Nov 10, 2006 at 9:50 am

    Vishnu, I’m not sure its available on the web. I’d suggest just go ahead and buy a hard copy of the books, they are worth every penny that you spend.

  • 10 IVAR // Feb 23, 2007 at 12:49 pm

    I read most of the books written by shri Sandilyan and admired about his description. whenever he describes the battle field and wars, we can feel that we are at the war front. I love his books and still reading repeatedly.

  • 11 vijay // Feb 24, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    True IVAR, his battle field descriptions are extraordinary. Also his short punch like dialogues.

  • 12 Madhu // Apr 19, 2007 at 6:49 am

    I have read all these books, especially kalki’s book parthiban kanavu ,i have read that book for 5 times and ponniyan selvan - 3 times..
    I have lots of sandilyan books, ya ..he wrote more explicit love scenes which is actually not necessary…

  • 13 vijay // Apr 25, 2007 at 4:23 am

    I’ve also read parthiban kanavu and ponniyin selvan many many times. And sivakamiyin sapatham too, a very very good novel. May be we should all form a google group or yahoo group and keep the discussion alive.

    Thanks for the comment Madhu.

  • 14 ALAGAN // May 12, 2007 at 8:13 am

    I heard about Thiru Sandilyan historical stories.
    I wish to read thro mail if possible.

  • 15 Shanmuganathan // May 13, 2007 at 5:11 am

    Hi Peoples,

    i have one question about kalki’s writing, is he a genuine historicalwriter?if sowhy he wants to hide the fact reason of the great adithya karikalans death and why he wants tohide the secrets of nandini’s birth?

    So i feel kalki wants to safe gurd soe one what you peoplesay?

  • 16 RAMANARAYANAN A A // May 25, 2007 at 2:38 pm

    Hi, All,

    I am very much interested to read Kakalpura by Sandilyan. Could any of the readers suggest me the place where it is available and the procedure to get the same. I am presently in Hyderabad, A P . Please inform me in the above mail address.

    Thanks,

  • 17 murugesan // Jun 4, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    i want to read sandilyan and kalki novels

  • 18 paul // Jun 22, 2007 at 7:52 am

    pls send gretest histrical books

  • 19 karthy // Jul 3, 2007 at 5:44 pm

    hey every one
    i’m great fan of sandilyan and other authors who writes historical novels such as kalki and akilan…i’ve collected around 48 books of sandilyan’s and few of others too..i’m still collecting but i don’t know how many books those authors wrote..if anyone know please let me know…also i’m looking for bio data of sandilyan too… please inform if you know…thanks bye

  • 20 srinivasan // Jul 8, 2007 at 9:14 am

    I dont no for sandilyan novel’s in web site pls,send to me.Which web site is available in sandilyan novels.
    Thank u,
    urs friendly,
    srinivasan.

  • 21 gayathiri // Jul 25, 2007 at 5:38 am

    i am a great fan of sandilyan.i want to read sandilyan’s novel in web

  • 22 Muthurani // Aug 2, 2007 at 7:22 am

    I am already read kalkis Ponniyin selvan, Sivakamiyin Sabatham, Parthiban Kanavu. This novel is very very interesting. i read Ponniyil selvan many time. i want to read sandilyan novel Kadalpura

  • 23 subamalar_b // Aug 18, 2007 at 7:50 am

    pls send me ponniyin selvan reading know

  • 24 uma // Aug 31, 2007 at 4:40 am

    i am a great fan of all historical writers ,especially like thiru sandilyan and kali, i have read all most all their books and always wanted to read again and again,can i read these books thru web,
    pls inform me to my mail id.

    thanks

  • 25 Muthukumar // Sep 1, 2007 at 7:45 am

    i want to read sandilyan novels through ebook

  • 26 madurai machan // Sep 6, 2007 at 5:39 am

    i want sandilyan books

  • 27 jemima // Sep 10, 2007 at 7:42 am

    hi

    please let me knw were to get sandliyan novels on web online

  • 28 jayasri // Sep 14, 2007 at 8:15 am

    i had read more no. of sandilyan books.but i want to know is it available in web.if so pls inform me the web address.

  • 29 Senthil // Sep 21, 2007 at 4:13 pm

    Check out http://chennailibrary.com/ for Kalki’s novels. I am looking on the web for Sandilyan’s novels too, but couldn’t find any…

  • 30 velmurugan p // Oct 8, 2007 at 9:23 am

    these two writters is very great. but both are not alive. this is very big loss for tamil novel readers and tamil ulagam. because thses two people need to write very good novels.if any bodies having any ebook written by this writter please send me to my id vaaloo83@yahoo.co.in.. thank you bye……….

  • 31 ANNE // Nov 16, 2007 at 1:09 am

    I want to read sandilyan’s novels through by e book

  • 32 vinodhini // Nov 18, 2007 at 2:16 pm

    I want to read Yavana Rani book in web i dont know procedure to read if anybody knows it please send message to my id (vinu_1703@yahoo.com).

  • 33 niveda // Nov 30, 2007 at 4:14 am

    hi guys u can get some kalki’s collection also other novels in this website.

  • 34 vijay // Nov 30, 2007 at 9:36 am

    Thanks Niveda, for the info :-)

  • 35 DhanS // Nov 30, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    Hi, You can find the unicode/pdf format of அமரர் கல்கி novels of
    பொன்னியின் செல்வன்
    சிவகாமியின் சபதம்
    அலை ஒசை
    பார்த்திபன் கனவு
    சோலைமலை இளவரசி
    in the following link
    http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/projectmadurai/indexpmsubject.htm

  • 36 Vaishnavidevi // Dec 18, 2007 at 11:29 am

    Hi,
    I have read many of kalki’s , akilan’s and vikraman’s historical novels.(ponniyin selvan, sivakamiyin sabadam,partibab kanavu, vengaiyin maindan,kayalvizhi,kaviri maindan etc)
    Interested in reading sandilyan’s too…
    But had the chance to read sandilyan’s Kadalpura
    Where can i get other books.
    Can anyone help???

  • 37 David // Feb 6, 2008 at 6:37 am

    I enjoyed both the writers novels. Still it is in my memory. A tamil childres should read these novels.

    Especialy, Ponniyin Selvan, Sivakamiyin Sapatham and Kadal Pura, I remember I read and re-read and re-read and enjoyed.

  • 38 priya dharshni // Feb 11, 2008 at 1:53 am

    I read ponniyen selvan in book, it is really mindblowing story.am not able come out of it. i want to read rest of his novels especially Parthiban Kanavu. can i have that website address which contain tamil version.

  • 39 Anu Priya // Feb 11, 2008 at 11:25 am

    Hi,
    I heard Sandilyan novels are very nice to read. i want to read sandilyan’s novel in web But i am not getting any readable site. Can any one suggest the site for this

  • 40 Thenmozhi // Feb 18, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Hi,
    I have read most of the novels of Sandilyan and i am also one of his fans. i liked to read historic books because of him and i read all the 3 books of Kalki’s too.i want the website to read Sandilyan’s novel.

  • 41 amutha // Feb 23, 2008 at 5:25 am

    Hi

    I don’t know how to reply to each and everybody seperately.
    So, I’m giving below the website address to read
    Ponniyin selvan

    http://www.chennailibrary.com
    (In the left hand side you can see the list of
    books of many authors)

    I think my mail will help[ many people to read
    PS through web.

    regards

    amutha

  • 42 sabu // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:25 am

    I want read / downlod of
    SANDILYAN novels. So from where
    I can download. pls tell me any one
    best regards
    Sabu

Leave a Comment