By Harsha Gunasena –
Harsha Gunasena
I have watched this film directed by Mani Ratnam which was released worldwide recently. The epic film was based on a novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy written in 1955. The period was the tenth century. It was focused on Chola dynasty and there was uncertainty about the successor of Parantaka (Sundara) Chola II, the father of Rajaraja Chola who was supposed to be the greatest king of Chola dynasty.
At the time of the film (and the novel) the Cholas have defeated Vira Pandyan of the Pandyan dynasty. Vira Pandyan was killed by Aditya Karikalan the eldest son of Sundara Chola. Vira Pandyan was the lover of Nandhini. She wanted to take the revenge of the killing of her lover and later became the young wife of Periya Pazhavetturayar, chancellor of the Chola kingdom. The film revolves around this and there were spies roaming around conspiracies were carried out and reconciliations were waged.
In the film, Arulmozhi Varman who was the youngest son of Sundara Chola and who became Rajaraja Chola later, was in Sri Lanka fighting against Mahinda V, the Sri Lankan king at that time. In relation to Sri Lankan history many think that there were eternal fights between Sinhalese and Tamils which was not the case. In the film it was depicted that the fights were among the kings and princes for the sake of power. There was no ethnic rivalry in ancient Sri Lanka as of now. There were rivalries between Cholas and Pandyas as depicted in the film. In addition to that there were Cheras and Sinhalese. In certain cases, Sinhala kings brought Pandyan armies against their rivals in the island. Pandyan origin princes ruled Sri Lanka and got their names entered in chronicles.
According to Chulavamsa ( Chapter 55) Mahinda V was a weak king. “As he wandered from the path of statecraft, and was of very weak character, the peasants did not deliver him his share of the produce. As the Prince in his tenth year has entirely lost his fortunes, he was unable to satisfy his troops by giving them their pay. All the Keralas who got no pay planted themselves one with another at the door of the royal palace, determined on force, bow in hand, armed with swords and (other) weapons with a cry ‘so lang as there is no pay, he shall not eat’ “
The king escaped by an underground passage and ruled the country from Rohana, the south. The rest of the country was ruled by Keralas, Sinhalas and Kannatas. Thereafter Cholas invaded Sri Lanka and they captured the king and imprisoned him. He ruled the county for 36 years out of which was from Ruhuna and was imprisoned for 12 years. The Kerala army referred to in Chulavamsa were the mercenaries of Kerala origin hired by the king.
In the film there was a fight between the forces of Mahinda V and Arulmozhi Varman. The king was defeated and subsequently the Bhikkhus of Anuradhapura offered the crown to the Chola Prince. He refused the crown saying that his father was already holding the crown of Chola empire and cannot accept a separate crown. This was a great gesture in a period where there were fights even among close relatives for power.
In real life Arulmozhi Varman took the initiation to give the crown to his uncle after the demise of his father. He took the crown after his uncle’s 15 year reign. Maybe the film maker/novelist have created the above incident in the film taking that quality from the character of Arulmozhi Varman.
In the film we can see Mahinda V in his palace probably at Ruhuna, after his defeat. According to Chulavamsa he fled to Ruhuna due to the rebel of his soldiers and not due to a Chola invasion.
It was clearly visible that the Buddha statues in the film were of Thai origin since it was filmed in Thailand. Director, I believe, was forced to ignore this point. Shyam Fernando portrays the image of a weak ruler. All the other actors and actresses also played their roles well.
It is considered that Mahinda V was the weakest king of Sri Lanka. Gotabaya Rajapaksa may be the close second. Mercenaries employed by Mahinda V surrounded his palace and the people of Aragalala surrounded the presidential house of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Both fled. The problems of the both started from the point that the income of the state reduced due to the reduction of the tax revenue. In the case of Mahinda V peasants refused to pay their taxes due to inefficiencies of the king. Gotabaya Rajapaksa took the decision of reducing the taxes taking the wrong advice. History repeats itself.
old codger / October 11, 2022
The fact is that when rulers were absolute monarchs, the people were simply their property. There was no such thing as nationalism, since there were no “nations”.
Loyalty was to the ruler, whoever he or she was, or wherever they came from. Ethnicity was not a factor, but caste was. Entire populations changed hands as dowry upon Royal marriages. The English got Bombay when an English prince married a Portuguese princess. Even Holland was the Spanish King’s property.
In Sri Lanka, we are fed a lot of cooked-up “history “, by conniving Buddhist monks like Medhananda and his sidekick Jackson Anthony. These fake historians try to convince the people that “invaders” destroyed our alleged glorious culture, and these invaders are still here as Tamils. But what they gloss over is that most of the Sinhalese too are “invaders”.
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chiv / October 11, 2022
Harsha, following the foot steps Lankans should make Rajapaksa Mafia part one, two . . . . . .. . . . ( tracing the heritage to old kings DG , Mahinda 1.0. 2.0 ) Gotha. R aka fugitive King Mahinda V, Mahinda.R who got foreign armies to win his war , Namal , the Prince in waiting. Apparently PS is based on a Novel, but as usual fundamentalist/ politicians are having a field day debating religion, cast ……., giving much needed publicity , racking up collection.
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chiv / October 11, 2022
Rumors are that, SLPP clowns planning a surprise gift for Kapputa Mahinda, on his b’day, by handing over premiership. If true, it has to be included (comedy piece) in Lanka’s P.S 2.0 aka Mafia Family. (PM post = surprise gift).
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chiv / October 11, 2022
Trailer Spoiler Alert. Following cabinet nod given to voluntarily downgrade , cabinet spokesman Bandu (President’s media division) downgraded Lanka’s income status, to low income, stating govt is pursuing a “reverse graduation policy” .I guess, in reverse graduation policy, any imagined or negligible improvement may appear significant
like the student last in the class report card, moving up by any number. But within hours President’s office upgraded us to middle income status. Fact is we are neither middle or low but BANKRUPT.
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chiv / October 12, 2022
Harsha , I appreciate you writing on this. Just to clarify the usual debate on religion , cast … in India is giving much needed publicity in racking up collection.
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Singar A. Velan / October 11, 2022
//It is considered that Mahinda V was the weakest king of Sri Lanka. Gotabaya Rajapaksa may be the close second. //
Ha, ha…. didn’t guess this was where it was heading. Good one!
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Pon Lanka / October 12, 2022
History repeats the fact that whatever commenced from Ruhuna is a complete failure. King Dutu Gemunu started from Ruhuna and won the war defeating King Ellala in Anuradhapura. However, Chola kings ruled Sri Lanka till the Polonnaruwa period up to 10 th- century. King Arulmoli Varman defeated King Mahinda. V , later vanished in Ruhuna. At present Mahinda. R ” acting similar to a King ” also commenced from Ruhuna and finally relinquished his power and glory to Ranil to a nominated MP , since Gota. R, who voluntarily vacated his post, though still enjoying the Presidential pension and other perks, the special concessions that are not awarded to any Public Servants if they voluntarily quit their services as per E. B. Codes.
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SJ / October 13, 2022
However, Chola kings ruled Sri Lanka till the Polonnaruwa period up to 10 th- century.
Did they?
PL, you will give the Bhikku Mahanama a good run for his money.
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Thanga / October 12, 2022
Ponniyin Selvan is a historical cum fictional novel written by R.Krishnamurthy (1899-1954) under the pen name Kalki. Though he cut short his education because of his involvement in India’s freedom movement, he excelled as a journalist and writer, translator and editor. The novel is based on the re-emergence of the imperial Chola empire under Vijayala Cholan (847 – 871 CE)). Kalki’s novel spans five parts, 293 chapters and 2,400 pages. It was serialized in Kalki, a weekly magazine from 1950 -1954.
Kalki wrote this novel focusing on some historical events during the reign of Parantaka Chola II (963-980), the father of Rajaraja Cholan, who became famous among the later Cholas. The novel featured many real and fictional characters.
Kalki based his novel on books written by famous historians such as ‘The Cholas’ written by Neelakanda Shastri, ‘History of the Later Cholas’ written by Satasiva Bandarathar and ‘Pallavas of Kanchi by Gopalan. The novel has been translated into English and is still considered a best-seller.
According to the storyline, the two Princes are gallant and tactical warriors who both successfully won their quests in the Kanchi and Eelam wars. The Princes return to their empire only to find out that the kingmakers are trying to take the throne from the rightful Prince (Prince Aditha Karikalan) and install their uncle Madurantakan, as King.
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Pandi Kutti / October 12, 2022
On a lighter note saw the movie and listened to the songs in their original Thamizh version and then in Malayalam ( almost Thamizh hardly any difference) Hindi and Telugu. AR Rahman excelled. It is lovely to listen to pure undiluted Sangam Thamizh, with no other language words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh5sU8YzF1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYWe6v2TW14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh6et8Ko200
The last song was the most beautiful and mesmerising, what a pity only part of the song was shown in the movie.
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2022
Pandi Kutti
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Do you know anything about a conference held in New Delhi recently and the link is given below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURDIm7q4Us
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What is it about?
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SJ / October 13, 2022
“pure undiluted Sangam Thamizh”
Not even a good scholar of Tamil can understand Sangam literature without guide notes.
Many words are now lost an even the oldest extant work of grammar admits to the adaption of Northern words.
The grammar has changed too, so that the next work of Tamil grammar approves of the loss of the old and arrival of the new as ‘not wrong’ but a matter of the course of time.
Those were true scholars and not adamant purists.
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2022
“listen to pure undiluted Sangam Thamizh, with no other language words.
Piglet what did you consume this morning? Pankallu or Punnakku Thanni? I was listening the first song only. “In one line he is singing “Nenchukkulai Irudi” Out of Sangam (Tolkapiar, Valluvar, Nakeerar, Pathinen Kannaku), Thevarakalam (Sunatharar Maanikar, Sampanthar, Chekilaar…..), Cholar Kalam (Awai III, Kampar, Pukazhenthi, Ottaikoothar, Sayankondar……) in who writing who hear “Nenchukkulai Irudi” line? It is original Thamil Nadu Porruki Thamil(Buggers Slang). Tharankedda Vasanam (No quality in it to become a classical movie).
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2022
Those who are not familiar with Sangam Tamil sound construction in poems, here is a line from Chilapathikaram (Kaanal Vari Paattu). How soothing the lines are to hear? Jasuthas adding sugar to milk with his voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY6MsvcaY4c
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Rohan25 / October 13, 2022
Mallaiyuran you are correct it is not classical Sangam-era poetical Tamil but in a way, Pandi Kutti is also correct the songs are in almost pure Tamil, which was spoken in this era with hardly any admixture of any other language and was very refreshing to listen to, compared to the garbage what we have to listen now passing off as Tamil. Oh, how I yearn for those lovely songs in poetic Tamil that were composed in the 50s, 60s and early 70s. No wonder they are evergreen The song in its way is nice and poetic It is about a soldier singing in his vernacular spoken Tamil of this era, yearning the see the Kaveri ( Ponni) river with its beautiful mountainous scenery where it enters the Chola Tamil country from Kannada land, beautiful girls, the rich village life, as well as the prosperous Chola land. it is not the sophisticated Sangam era poetry but still poetic and beautiful to listen to in the vernacular Sangam era almost pure Tamil spoken and sung by this soldier, hearing to see the Chola country with all its splendours. Hats off to AR Rahman for singing this song and the music and also to the person who composed this song. Only a native Tamil speaker could have done this.
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Rohan25 / October 13, 2022
The Cholas were one of the greatest Indian dynasties that lasted for almost 1500 years, they built a huge empire, and a lot of the lands overseas in South East Asia, which hardly any other Indian dynasty including the foreign Islamic Mughals did not do. It was they who were largely instrumental in spreading Indian Hindu/Buddhist culture, the Tamil and Sanskrit languages and Indian, especially the Dravidian form of architecture to the rest of Asia. Many of these South East Asian language scripts are based on the Tamil Brahmi script that was spread by the Cholas.. However unlike the Mughals and other north Indian dynasties their great achievement is hardly mentioned, by the Indian government and the west as they were a South Indian Dravidian Tamil dynasty.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2022
Rohan25
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“The Cholas were one of the greatest Indian dynasties that lasted for almost 1500 years, …..”
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You assume dynasties and dynasty builders (including Cholas) were/are benevolent rulers, just like Rajapaksa clan, or similar kings elsewhere.
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Could you cite evidence for your claim that “Cholas were one of the greatest Indian dynasties that lasted for almost 1500 years,….”
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Rohan25 / October 14, 2022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_dynasty
They established themselves 300BCE and lasted until 1279 AD which is 1500 years. They were great empire builders during the height of their reign and were instrumental in spreading the Indian culture, the Tamil and Sanskrit languages to many lands in SE Asia, the Brahmi, especially the Tamil Brahmi script and the Dravidian Indian style of architecture but that does not mean they were benevolent, some of them were but others were not. Being great empire builders and being benevolent are two different things. Do not assume things that I never stated. The Romans, British, French, Ottoman Turks, Russians and many other people were also empire builders, but were they all benevolent to their subjects? Nowhere did I state they were benevolent. In fact, they were very cruel to the Tamil Vaishnavites, Buddhists and Jains and persecuted them very badly. Many converted to Saivism but many also fled to neighbouring lands like the Kannada country( The Hebbar Iyengars) the Buddhists to Southern Sri Lanka, as northeast Sri Lanka was also under their control and it was during this era that Tamil Buddhists in these regions vanished.
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SJ / October 14, 2022
“…as northeast Sri Lanka was also under their control and it was during this era that Tamil Buddhists in these regions vanished.”
Chola Saivaite presence was marked in and around Polonnaruwa.
What are the major Saivaite temples that emerged in the north, especially Jaffna under the Cholas?
The Pandya’s delivered the last, fatal blow to Buddhism in Tamil South India.
Buddihism had no mighty patrons to sustain Buddhism even to the extent Jainism had. It was a mass-based religion and marked by modest shrines, unlike in Andhra.
Sankara finished off Buddhism in the rest of the Indian subcontinent and preserved ‘Hinduism’ as a Brahminic faith.
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Rohan25 / October 14, 2022
It is a well-known historical fact that after the Chola 10Th century invasion of the island, Buddhism which was already at the wane in the Tamil areas completely vanished and Saivism became firmly established as the religion of the people in these regions. They may not have built any major temples in the north, as they did not have to as there were already hundreds of Saivite temples there, unlike in Polonnaruwa, where they had to build Saivite temples. This is a historical fact.
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SJ / October 14, 2022
R25
May I know where these hundreds of Saivaite temples were located in Jaffna?
There are residues of Buddhist shrines. Are there enough to match?
Can you say when exactly the Cholas ruled Jaffna?
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2022
Rohan25
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Please spend some time reading on Kalabhra Kingdom (3rd century–6th century), Pallavas, Pandyas, ….
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Rohan25 / October 15, 2022
Thanks. However, you asked about the Cholas and their history, not about the Pallavas Pandyans or others and this article is about the Cholas. We can discuss these Tamil dynasties and kingdoms later if the need arises, especially the Kalabhras, who created a lot of controversies.
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old codger / October 13, 2022
R25,
So that’s where Ponni samba comes from?
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Rohan25 / October 14, 2022
Sorry, the music has not Samba or Mamba. This is set in a historic setting in what in South India and the island of Ceylon in the 10Th century AD, therefore the music and soundtracks reflect the traditional Tamil music and dance of this period, using modern soundtracks and Dolby systems. It will be silly and hilarious to use Samba Mamba or other western music styles in a historical Indian movie, based on the 10TH century Cholas Even the language used in the movie and the songs are more or less the spoken Tamil dialect and vocabulary of this period and not modern Tamil. Even in the Malayalam version of the movie the dialect is old spoken Malayalam of the 10Th century, basically the western Chera Tamil dialect. Not the highly Sanskrit Grantha bhasha now passing off as modern Malayalam. Listen to this any Tamil can easily understand this as this is a form of Tamil. May be these ancient Tamil beats sound like Samba to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBhXESyUxYI
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SJ / October 14, 2022
OC’s Ponni Samba refers to a variety of rice which people in Sri Lanka consume. Those who fled for greener pastures do not know of it.
How come his countless biting remarks against SB bigotry attract no comment from ones who take exception to a light hearted remark?
A sense of humor is not easy to acquire without a sense of humility and respect for people of other identities.
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Rohan25 / October 14, 2022
Really! I hardly see a sense of humour in you. On the contrary lots of spite and vindictiveness, especially towards your fellow Tamils. Constantly nitpicking on their comments, as if you are all-knowing and most times have proven to be wrong. Talking about humility, please practise this first before preaching to others. Yes, I have lived in the west from a very young age, long before 1983. Therefore I have never heard of Ponni Sambar as most of us use Basmati in the west. Quite cheap much more healthy, and easier to boil with a low glycemic index. When someone mentions Samba to us, what comes to our mind first is the dance, not some unheard-of rice variety called Samba. Why is that an issue for you? With that sarcastic remark about greener pastures. Maybe sour grapes as you could not migrate permanently to the west.
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SJ / October 14, 2022
R25
As I have said earlier, each sees for most part in another an image of himself/herself/itself.
This is a serious comment, and not meant to be funny.
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old codger / October 14, 2022
SJ,
Would they know what “koheda yanne malle pol” means?
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SJ / October 14, 2022
OC
I would not know, as I do not expect much by way of sense let alone a sense of humour in these parts.
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Pandi Kutti / October 15, 2022
Sj Thaatha my Menon first cousins watched the movie in Malayalam in India and loved it, especially this song, especially the waving of the Chola Tiger flag at the beginning, it made them very emotional. Since you have a lovely sense of humour, my humble request is for you and your friends to dance like this for this son, like in the Malayalam version of the movies and post it, for my cousins and me to enjoy. Please. Thattha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziWVsFchIfw
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 14, 2022
You can tell the Malayalam language is a treasure of the Tamil language, because the Malayalam language has preserved a lot of old Tamil words in usage than modern Tamil in present days
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SJ / October 14, 2022
You can say anything to the effect that it is what I will say.
I am not a believer in the purity of any language; and hold that for a language to thrive it has to bastardize itself– even a fraction of the way English did is unavoidable.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 15, 2022
I agree with you, as long as grammatical and other rules are observed.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 12, 2022
Correct even when the Mahavamsa refers to Tamil invaders from India, it was largely referring to the Cholas and at times to the Pallavas but not to the Pandians and the Cheras( Modern day Kerala) who were just as Tamil as the Cholas, and the Pallavas, because they were largely the allies of the so-called Sinhalese royalty, which basically was of Pandian origin, as the so-called Sinhalese kings took Tamil princess from the Pandian kingdom as their wives, not only as the first wife but even second and third. After the fall of the Pandian kingdom, the Telugu-origin Vijayanagar Naicker rule replaced them and the wives were from these Tamil-speaking Naicker families from Madurai/Thanjavur. Lots of these three major ancient Tamil kingdom rivalries or four if you include the Pallava, were played out in Sri Lanka, especially between the Cholas and Pandians as the so-called Sinhalese royalty and aristocracy were considered the allies of the Pandians and a branch of their royalty, by the Cholas. The kings recruited a lot of mercenaries from South India, Muukuvas from then Tamil Chera Nadu( Kerala) and even from the Pandian, Chola, and Pallava countries as well as Kannadigas..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demala-Gattara
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 12, 2022
Arulmozhi Varman who later became the greatest Chola ruler Raja Raja Cholan not only conquered Sri Lanka and the century rule of the entire island but defeated the other two major Tamil kingdoms the Cheras and Pandians as well as the Kalinga but laid the foundation for the Chola empire that ultimately conquered more or less the entire South East Asia, and spread the Indian culture, Tamil Dravidian architecture the Tamil and Sanskrit languages, as well the Hindu religion. It is this Chola influence that gave rise to such world-famous heritage sites as Angkor Wat and Borobudur. It may have been built by local artisans but the architecture and influence in typically Tamil Dravidian style. He also built the world-famous Bridheshwar temple in Thanjavur. They also spread the Brahmi script especially Tamil Brahmi to the South East Asian nations they ruled and their scripts and writing evolved from these Brahmi/Tamil Brahmi scripts.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 12, 2022
The Cholas were ardent Saivites and after their conquest of the island around 10 AD, Buddhism, as well as Tamil Buddhists in the Tamil north and east vanished, and these areas which were already predominantly Saivite became strong bastions of Saivism. It is their rule as well as the 7Th century Pallava invasion, followed by Kalinga Maha that firmly cemented the Tamil majority rule in the north and east of the island. These regions were already Tamil but after the 10Th century Chola rule. The Tamil homeland and Saivism became firmly established in the northern and east areas. The Tamil Buddhists in these areas either converted back to the majority Saivite religion or moved to further South and got assimilated as Sinhalese.
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Rajash / October 12, 2022
@Harsh – do you understand Tamil or was there English sub title ot did they release the movie in Sinhala as well?
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Mallaiyuran / October 13, 2022
This movie was made to make money, not to cherish & adore Tamil. They made a special version to export to Langkang, with edited language. Kalhi nowhere used the word Lanka. He used only Eelam. Movie makers double crossed Tamils by removing the word Eelam from Kalhi’s mouth. Further Kahi is not Saivam, dedicated Vaisnavam. Kalhi was in a difficult time. He was with Congress. Congress ignored Tamils though Tamils and Bengalis sacrificed to the freedom war very heavily. But Kalhi was a Tamil patriot too. He tried to establish the Tamils’ fame & Tamil Language’s fame in all his novels. He differed from the Anna-Periyar group on Dravidian-ism and the Indian freedom war. Now we know both parties are right & wrong. South Indian Tamils had their own fame, independent from the North. And the origin of Brhamins is they were highly educated Sivachariyars, wandering on the streets of Indus Valley Streets. They had no connection with the latter days’ Aryans (or Aryan Brhamins) who invaded Indus Valley.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 13, 2022
Correct and all these Chola and other South Indian naval ships, invading armies, and royal retinues even during the Naicker era. bringing troops. brides for the kings etc all landed on the northern coasts of the island. Either at Nainatheevu, Mannar or Jaffna called Nakar theevu. The people there would not have been speaking Sinhalese nor were thousands of Buddhist monks roaming around the streets. These were Tamil-speaking historically Saiva areas. It is from here they proceeded further south. And nowhere was the word Lanka used but the word Eelam/Eezham used to describe the island.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / October 13, 2022
The Sinhalese kings and aristocrats would have hardly used Sinhalese to speak to these Chola, Chera or Pandian Tamil emissaries and soldiers, as the members of the so-called Sinhalese royal families were very fluent in Tamil, they were more or less a branch of the Pandian royal family and the king’s mother, wives would have been Pandian princesses and many other close relatives, on the island and in South India would have been from the Pandian royal families. For people who do not know the correct history of the island, it gives the wrong impression that the island was a pure Sinhalese Buddhist nation and there were hardly any Tamils at all even in the north and east. As usual, double-crossed the Eelam Tamils, and distorted their claim to the island and history, just to make money. Sad as this movie was also financed by Sri Lankan Tamils and should have known better.
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Rajash / October 13, 2022
I haven’t sen the movie yet. I didn’t realise there were such distortions.Now I have second thoughts whether to watch it or not.
The Guy who financed the movie is a close friend of the Rajapaksas’ with close financial relationship, make your own conclusions “nick nick” “nudge nudge”
wont be surprise if he finance a block buster movie about the Rajapakse dynasty!
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2022
Rajash
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Go watch the movie.
You may not know what you are missing.
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Are you being jealous about Subaskaran Allirajah, as he seems to have everything, wealth, influence, access to top leaders inside and outside of the island, loving wife, nice life, …. ?
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Rajash / October 14, 2022
do you recommend the movie?
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Not Jealous but envious!
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2022
Rajash
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“do you recommend the movie?”
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Yes, its an extravaganza.
My opinion is not important, however please seek SJ’s opinion/review of the film.
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I am sure he would find nothing good to say about it, citing the film being middle class bourgeois entertainment, ….. corrupt influence … in line with Mao’s criticism of “The Life of Wu Xun (Sun Yu, 1951)”, ….
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I am told those who fled for greener pastures (Europe, Canada, …) not only know Ponni Samba but also enjoy once in a while. This is 2020s, not Weeping widow’s 1970 or Gota’s 2020, people could consume anything and everything, due to free trade provided one could afford.
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Rajash / October 14, 2022
I will try and watch it this week -end
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I understand Ponni Rice is good for Idly and Samba rice is good for lamprais
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Mallaiyuran / October 14, 2022
Conceding Mahanama V was below Hitler, and they were 1 & 2 in the list of worst Sinhala Kings, is only to convey a message that unless it was Mahanama V Arunmozhi wouldn’t have won any Sinhala Kings. After all, as you said, they all were Tamil Royals of first generation or 2nd or third. Winning Mahanama V was not the record of Rajarajan. He was compared to Napoleon and said Rajarajan did not lose any war, but Rajarajan built the Chola empire that lasted 400 years, but Napoleon could not hold on his French Empire even in his time,
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Rohan25 / October 14, 2022
They were always marrying Tamil princesses from the Pandian country, very rarely Princess from other parts of South India, or Kalinga. Even King Senarath got both his sons married to two Tamil princesses from the kingdom of Jaffna, not from any so-called aristocratic Sinhalese families or royal princesses from the kingdom of Kotte or Kandy. As they did not consider them royal or high enough. This is the reason why after the death of one of the kings of Kandy without any issue, his Naicker Tamil brother-in-law from Tamil Nadu was invited to take the throne by the Buddhist clergy, as the local Kandyan Sinhalese aristocracy or the so-called Sinhalese royals from Kotte were not considered royal enough. After the demise of the Pandians, the queens were of Tamil-speaking Telugu origin Naicker aristocratic families from Madurai or Thanjavur, who replaced the Pandians. This has been happening for almost two millennia, these kings and aristocracy within a generation or two have become 100% Pandian or of another Tamil origin Royals. Like the Naickers. With very close Tamil relatives across the seas in South Indian Tamil land. Especially the Pandians and after that the Tamil Naickers from Madurai and Thanjavur.
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Mallaiyuran / October 14, 2022
What Elanko says in the Jesuthas’ song is not about the natural beauty and fertility of Ponny. He is setting Ponni as the example of high-class women and pre-pre-say that his heroine is a Ponni like proud angel.
“Bless you Ponni, the lady with carp fisheye, for the lesson I gained from your magnificent example that the high family women like you, even if the Sumuthirarajan sleeps with (Kovalan slept with prostitute caste Mathavi) Ganga, they don’t cast anger on their men or reject them.” Because of this argument, there was much opposition in PattiMandram like debate stages saying how such a matured ascetic sage like him provides one justice to women and another to men. Further his explanation of Chenguttavan invading Pulikesi’s kingdom that they talked low about the Tamil Women was extremely inadequate because Chenguttuvan destroyed many thousand innocent women’s lives by killing their sons, husbands, fathers, and brothers. Punishment was out of proportion to the crime Ilango suggested.
கங்கைதன்னை புணர்ந்தாலும்
புலவாதொழிதல் கயற்கண்ணாய்
மங்கை மாதர் பெருங்கற்பென்று
அறிந்தேன் வாழி காவேரி
(புலால், புலவு is meat or reject.)
Money (Mani), Rathinam, and Pon are not the enchanting Tamil we enjoy from our history.
http://asokarajanandaraj.blogspot.com/2015/06/thingal-malai-venkudaiyaan.html#
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Harsha Gunasena / October 13, 2022
Tamils speak in Tamil and Sinhalese speak in Sinhala. There were English subtitles throughout..
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SJ / October 14, 2022
HS
Petty remarks do not deserve a response from you.
It was a sane and sober comment for which people should thank you.
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Mallaiyuran / October 14, 2022
Why did you give up Deva and Vasanthi, but washing for everyone on the road. How big is your new Gollaiya, HS so you want to be pantham to him? Is that because your new Gollaiya, HS is distributing free VC positions?
Petty remarks? What do you do for your life?
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Sinhala_Man / October 15, 2022
This has clearly been quite a film.
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I was sent this, but one has, ultimately to pay to read this article:
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https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/the-boatwoman-of-ponniyin-selvan-1/article65991762.ece
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Thanks, Harsha, for writing this article. You are a Sinhalese, and it is healthy for us, Sinhalese to be writing about the great empire of “Raja Raja Choli”. It is unfortunate that founding and maintaining these empires almost always first entailed wars of conquest. But, unfortunately, the might of such Empires and and the cultural and social prosperity that they bring have a symbiotic relationship.
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We were not taught much of the history of this Empire, but it seems to me that we impose knowledge of whatever Sinhalese prosperity and war victory on the Tamils in the country. State teaching of History unfortunately forces all minorities within this country to understand only the triumphs of the Sinhalese. It’s that “only” that is unfortunate.
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SJ / October 13, 2022
Does he sound to be in error?
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2022
Rajash
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Go watch the movie.
You may not know what you are missing.
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Are you being jealous about Subaskaran Allirajah, as he seems to have everything, wealth, influence, access to top leaders inside and outside of the island, loving wife, nice life, …. ?
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