Monday, June 18, 2007

Puyalile Oru Thoni



Wow. I Didn't know that tamil literature had writers like P.singaram , till i read this novel.Another awesome novel that completely floored me.

The novel is about the events that happen in the life of pandian,a tamilian living abroad in south east asia.The novel is set in the world war 2 era.After reading so many stories set in the world war 2 era in english.I used to think that there was no good tamil novel(from my limited knowledge) set in that background.Iam correcting that opinion now.This is an awesome novel set in that period with so much information about that time period and about the non resident tamilians who were doing so well in south east asia during that time.

The novel is a cornucopia of information, P.singaram talks about various things in the book.Like world war 2, what was happening in south east asia and how are the characters affected by it.He also puts the war in south asia in context with what was happening world over.World war 2, south asia, off course he talks about INA(Indian National Army),Which had a major contribution from the tamilians living in south east asia.He describes in detail the lifestyles of tamilians from different communities who lived in south asia and how they adapted themselves to the places where they lived.Also there are numerous references to various tamil literatures and some discussions based on them.

Above all the novel is very unsentimental,it is not the usual type which has a few characters and spins a story around them, on there relations ,differences, love etc.This is different, Events happen fast and things keep changing and moving forward.Importance is given to the incidents and environment rather than the characters and feelings.It just takes us on a journey with pandian the main character, who is struggling in this big ocean of life.And yes he faces a lot of storms, what happens to this boat in the storm is the story.

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Comments:
I have to admit(shamefully!) that I've hardly read any tamil literature, not even 'ponniyin selvan'!!

The setting of the novel around WWII seems unique. Immersed in our own freedom struggle, the WWII hardly got the attention, IMO!
 
I havn't read much either but iam trying to read some of them now.Atleast the good ones...
 
Ponniyin Selvan is hardly literature though it is a good read.

what's the difference? Only someone more knowlegable can explain.

Senthil where can I get this book?
 
jillu,
i actually forgot where i bought the book.I think i brought it from the book exhibition.I found a link here.maybe you can try that.
http://www.anyindian.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_40&products_id=10127&osCsid=51457d8795b9792762f8a56637a7bc6b

-Sen
 
I agree it is definitely out of comfort zone, due to language flow, unbiased realistic view of society, human life,. I started to read again after finishing once, landmark literature.
 
After reading this blog I am curious to read this book.Thanks sir.
 
After reading this blog I am curious to read this book.Thanks sir.
 
I am reading this book now. Excellent one. The way of story telling. Exploring different things happening during the world war and especially the living in a south eastern country in those times, sea journey. I was really amazed by the way he tried juxtaposing in 1960s.
 
I have almost memorized Ponniyin selvan. But it is hardly a novel but a long very interesting narrative. Pallikondapuram, kadalukku appaal, puyalile oru thOni are the only novels in Tamil. Amma vanthaal, Mokamul are beautifully written long 'short" stories; canvas is not wide enough. Mr.Jeyakanthan is a very skillful writer who wrote artificial short stories. His skill is enormous that he could make his work appear natural!;he also lacks depth. As for short stories in Tamil Puthumaippiththan is the greatest writer.. Mr Sunthararamasmy is an extremely fine writer of long stories.His attempt at a novel Ankal, penkal, kuzanthaikL, if I remember the title correctly, is a total flop.

None except Mr.Singaram 'lived' their writings.Neela. Padmaban also 'lived' his book PallikoNdapuram.
All present writers with the only exception of Perumaal murugan lack experience and lust for life. They want recogntion cinema chance and money.
 
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