Ponniyin Selvan

[Audio] Ponniyin Selvan. Part 1. Ponniyin Selvan.

[Audio] Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan The brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior prince of the Vaanar clan, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of Utthama Chola. Although the second protagonist of the story other than Ponniyin Selvan himself, Vandhiyathevan's exploits make the readers think of him as the main hero at multiple points in the novel. He was a bodyguard and close friend of Aditha 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 impulsive acts put himself and others in danger but he come 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..

[Audio] Azhwarkadiyan Nambi A Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister and Queen Mother Sembiyan Mahadevi. 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..

Aditya karikalan. Kundhavai Devi. Arulmozhi Varman.

[Audio] Aditya karikalan Eldest son of Sundara Chola, the crown prince and the commander of Northern troops in Sundara Chola's reign. He was a glorious brave warrior who entered the battlefield at the age of 12. He was known all over the empire for his valiant acts. It was him who sent Vandiyathevan to Kundavai for being her trustful guard. Aditha Karikalan was little hasty and had unpredictable anger due to the dark past he encountered. That gave all the conspirators a reason to conspire against him..

[Audio] Kundhavai Devi 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 raised 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 Aditha 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..

[Audio] Arulmozhi Varman One of the two protagonists of the story after whom the novel was named. The youngest son of Sundara Chola. He was raised in Pazhayarai by Periya Piratti and Ilaya Piratti. He was taught well by his sister and she sent him to Sri-Lanka at the age of 19 for battle. He was said to be saved by the Mother Kaveri herself from drowning in the river when he was 5. This gave him the title " Ponniyin Selvan" or " Son of Kaveri". He was beloved by all the people and soldiers of the Chola kingdom and even in Sri-Lanka due to his religious tolerance, good behaviour towards all the people and his facial attraction. He had an equality towards all religions but was more attracted to Shaivism and showed brief interest in Buddhism..

[Audio] Poonguzhali A boat woman, she was born and raised in Kodikkarai. She was adventurous and fearless and had a hate towards other men and civilisation. She had a great affection for her aunt Mandakini Devi. She had immense love for Arulmozhivarman who also had the same before she married Senthan Amuthan. She saves the life of Arulmozhivarman when he drowns in sea and secretly takes him to naagaipattinam. She was named " Samudrakumari" ( Princess of the Ocean) by the Prince Arulmozhi himself..

[Audio] Sundara Chola The emperor of Chola empire. He was known for his facial beauty which gave him his name ' Sundara'. After his health became poor, his legs paralysed and was expecting his death, he was moved from Pazhayarai to Thanjavur by Pazhuvettaraiyars for his protection. This sparked the debate for the next rightful heir. His wish was to appoint his uncle's son as his successor. There was a rumor that the emperor was kept as a prisoner by them..

[Audio] Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar The chief in-charge of Thanjavur fort. Younger brother of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar to whom he had huge respect and love. He is the father-in-law of Mathuranthakar. Both brothers hated Vandiyathevan at first. He constantly warns his brother about Nandini and her conspiracy to no avail..

[Audio] 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. Enamoured by her beauty, he marries a much younger Nandini when he himself is in his sixties, 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..

[Audio] Nandhini Pazhuvoor Princess and wife of Periya Pazhuvettraraiyar whose birth and origin was doubtful in the beginning. The main antagonist of the story. She was born in Madurai and grew up in a priest family along with royal children in Pazhayarai till her youth. She is the foster-sister of Azhwarkadiyan Nambi. She hated Kundavai as Kundavai was jealous of Nandini's beauty. She and Prince Aditha Karikalan developed a liking for each other in their childhood which nobody in the royalty liked. She was forced to flee Pazhaiyarai and live in Madurai. After Aditha beheaded the injured Veerapandiyan, she joined Pandya conspirators and vowed to take revenge on him by killing him and destroying the Chola dynasty. By marrying Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar who had lusted for her and by using him, she helped the Pandya conspirators. She had a deep hatred towards the royalty for their ill-treatment and also had a desire for the throne. She had a terrible childhood that affected her badly and wanted to be with her mother Mandakini. Parthibendra Pallava and Kandanmaran fell for her beauty and she used them for her plot too. [ Mandakini Devi went to Tanjore (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth twins to a boy ( Madurantaka) and a girl ( Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swaped her still born son with Mandakini's son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents . Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadevi's son ( Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.].

[Audio] Mandakini Devi The deaf and mute mother of Nandini and Madurantakan. Love interest of Sundara Chola. She had great affection towards his children and her niece, Poonguzhali. She is always around Arulmozhivarman and saves him from many dangers. [Mandakini Devi went to Tanjore (while she was pregnant), Sembiyan Maadevi was pregnant too, so she took care of Mandakini during her pregnancy. During child birth Sembiyan Maadevi gave birth to a still born son but Mandakini gave birth twins to a boy ( Madurantaka) and a girl ( Nandhini). Sembiyan Maadevi swaped her still born son with Mandakiniès son. She asked Vaani Ammal (she was a maid in the place at that time) to bury her still born son and gave the daughter to Azhvarkadiyan's parents . Vaani Ammal after leaving the palace notices that Sembiyan Maadeviès son ( Senthan Amuthan) is alive, she fosters him and raises him as her own son.].

[Audio] Poonguzhali A boat woman, she was born and raised in Kodikkarai. She was adventurous and fearless and had a hate towards other men and civilisation. She had a great affection for her aunt Mandakini Devi. She had immense love for Arulmozhivarman who also had the same before she married Senthan Amuthan. She saves the life of Arulmozhivarman when he drowns in sea and secretly takes him to naagaipattinam. She was named " Samudrakumari" ( Princess of the Ocean) by the Prince Arulmozhi himself..

TO BE CONTINUED…….