SASHINI MANIKANDAN

 Hello readers, Today I begin my article with a personal incident that still evokes laughter within me but has also led me to consider the serious implications of choosing environment over entertainment. It was Diwali celebrations in the year, I guess, 2019 ?? (Never mind that now). In my locality, we celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm and vigour. However, keeping in mind the environmental consequences, we blast very less, zero-pollution causing crackers (Atleast that's how they advertise their products). When we were enjoying the beautiful show of fireworks, a student from Grade 9 comes up to us and gave a huge presentation on how crackers pollute the environment. We did give our 100% attention, and resolved not to burst pollution-creating crackers for the sake of entertainment. Just 10 minutes after this, the same student comes with his friends, and requests for crackers to burst to celebrate the festival of lights. This 'ironical' incident set me thinking. Why is th

 Dear readers, Here are a few facts I have compiled from the blockbuster adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Enjoy! 1. The legendary actor and former CM of TN, M.G.R  had wanted to play a role in the film adaptation of PS, back in the 1950s. Many other legends have yearned for a role in this mega blockbuster movie, but in vain. 2. The discussions for the film adaptation by Mani Ratnam has been going on for more than 20 years and had finally started filming pre-covid in 2019. 3. The film is set in 900 to 950 AD in the administrative capital of the Chola Dynasty- Thanjai AKA Tanjore and also in Kadambur. 4. The original novel is of 5 bulky volumes-  New Floods (Puthu Vellam), Whirlwind(Suzharkatru), Sword of Slaughter(Kolai Vaal), The Crown(Manimagudam),The Pinnacle of Sacrifice(Thiyaaga Sigaram) 5. The novel appeared in small excerpts in a weekly Tamil magazine titled Kalki and ran for almost 4 years. 6. The title Ponniyin Selvan translates to the 'Son of Pon

 Today's post is about the talk of the town- PONNIYIN SELVAN: PART 1. This post aims to give one all the facts one needs to know about Ponniyin Selvan and review of the film adaptation by Mani Ratnam, in Tamil. The setting of the story is in 10th century, in Tanjai (present day- Tanjore/ Thanjavur), where the Chola Dynasty ruled prosperously.  The Chola Dynasty, during this time period was under the reign of Emperor Sundara Chozhar, whose sons Aditha Karikalan and Arulmozhi Varman alias Ponniyin Selvan are heading their conquests of Kanchi and Lanka for the Chola empire.  Sensing something is amiss in Chola, Aditha Karikalan sends his friend Vaanar Clan's prince Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, a warrior, to investigate and relay the news to his sister Princess Kundavai and Sundara Chozhar subsequently. Vandiyadevan reaches the fortress of Kadamboor and overhears the conspiracy designed by the Chola treasurer and minister of finance, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar and other ministers to st