Sundari Venkatraman's Blog, page 6

Film Review: PONNIYIN SELVAN 1

Pic Courtesy: https://www.ottplay.com/

I recall the time when Ponniyin Selvan, written by Kalki (Kalki Krishnamurthi) used to be published as a weekly series in the magazine Kalki, sometime in my teens. This was the second round that the novel was being published. I tried reading it, but stopped after the first few chapters for whatever reasons. I have tried taking it up again a couple of times, but failed. 

When I heard that it was being made into a movie (2 movies), I was too damn thrilled. I thought that finally I would know what the story was all about.  

My husband and I have been following a lot of pre-release videos on YouTube and Sunnext platforms regarding Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus. What’s even better is that AR Rahman has created the music for this movie and he has outperformed himself. 

Yesterday was my birthday and I was truly excited that my husband and I could watch the film at Carnival Cinemas, Wadala.

What do I think of the movie?

POSITIVES:

1. It has a stellar star cast: Prabhu, Prakashraj, Sarathkumar, Parthiban, Jayaram, Nassar, Nizhalgal Ravi, Mohan Raman, Jayachithra, Rahman and a few others from the older generation. While the younger generation include Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha Krishnan, Vikram Prabhu, Aishwarya Lekshmi and more. Most importantly, each one has played his/her role to absolute perfection. I think Mr Mani Ratnam deserves a standing ovation for this, definitely.

2. Music by AR Rahman is to die for; absolutely refreshing and different from what he has delivered before now.

3. Cinematography: Aah!!!!! Amazing, Awesome, Splendid! I am simply running out of adjectives here. Fantabulous!

4. The sequences, background, scenes, dialogue: Magnificent!

5. The novel runs to about 2200 pages. Has the scriptwriter/director done justice to it? Absolutely, yes. The film is crisp, concise, and hits the nail on its head. 

6. Vikram was stupendous as Aditha Karikalan. Karthi mesmerizes the audience as Vandiyathevan. Trisha appears and behaves as the true royal she is as Kundavai. As for Aishwarya Rai, she makes for a beautiful, but wicked Nandini with a lot of plans. Jayam Ravi is excellent as Ponniyin Selvan (to become Rajaraja Cholan in the future). The rest of the cast have all done superbly well too. 

NEGATIVES:

1. The songs from the film are all out there on YouTube, while the movie does not give us everything. Disappointed? Yes, I was. Especially, when the “yele yelelo” song was cut short. The scene, portraying Aishwarya Lekshmi (what little they showed on YT) was so damn sensuous. It was really cruel of the editor to chop off the best chunk of it is what I feel.

2. As a viewer/movie buff, I need to feel connected to the characters. Usually, it’s the one character or maybe two. Rarely do I feel connected to a 3rd one. This is where I am not sure how the audience will receive this film. I wanted to connected to Vandiyathevan (Karthi), but he was there in barely 10% of the film. Vikram as both the war lord and the emotional lover was superb. But there was so little of him in the movie. I can go on and on, but well, the first part of the magnum opus ran for 2 hours 47 minutes and there is only so much one could pack in it, I presume. But that still doesn’t make me want more of it!

IN CONCLUSION:

I will not compare this film to Bahubali, but to the Harry Potter series. Let me tell you why. Bahubali was scripted to be made into a movie (or 2). Whereas, HP was written as a series of books to begin with. The smartest thing Hollywood did was to make 8 films out of the 7 books. Even then, the fans of the book series felt cheated to some extent. Despite all the opinions running amok, the films were superhits. I loved each one of them too!

This is where I see the flaw in PS 1. Five large books comprised into two films. It seems hurried, with the characters were not given enough opportunity to perform. It’s a wonder that such big names agreed to be a party to this one. But then, that’s probably the magic of Mani Ratnam.

I will go with 4 stars instead of 5 for this. Yes, I will watch it at least once more on the big screen. And will definitely catch it half a dozen more times on Amazon Prime. It offers a lot of rich research material for the historical romance story teller in me. 

VERDICT: If you are a movie buff and enjoy historical fiction, especially with most of the characters who had actually lived in India’s history, you should definitely watch this one.  

Book Blitz: SING FOR ME (Bollywood Bros #1) by Sundari Venkatraman

    

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: September 26, 2022Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF

Mili lacks self-confidence when she arrives in Mumbai to take part in a singing contest. It’s young Vivaan who goes to her rescue and they are deeply attracted to each other.

But he keeps his distance from Mili once the contest begins in earnest, to avoid her name being trashed by the paparazzi…

…only for her to be stolen from right under his nose by Ankit who goes on to marry her, breaking Vivaan’s heart in the process.

Six years later…

Mili leaves her abusive marriage, deciding to walk alone. Will Vivaan be able to win her now? And find happiness with the woman he never stopped loving? 

A preview of #SingForMe

Sundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 61 books to her credit, the latest book being SING FOR ME, which is the first one in the Bollywood Bros trilogy. These books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press. 

Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.

Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.

Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
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Book Blitz: CALL OF THE HEART by Sundari Venkatraman

   

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: July 11, 2022Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF

Tarun Sawant, the Managing Director of the Penta Cruise Ship, is a ‘love them and leave them’ type. He simply can’t do permanent, and there’s a valid reason for it.

Myra Arora Iyer is a smart career woman who has always led a secure life in the lap of her adoring family. 

He’s deeply attracted to her, finding her irresistible. What keeps him away is her wall of innocence.

It’s love at first sight for her and she doesn’t really give a damn if it’s only a brief fling he’s ready to offer. 

He never meant to break her heart… 

Her heart goes to pieces when she says goodbye to him…

Will their paths ever cross again, once she gets off the ship? 

A preview of #Heartthrob

Sundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 60 books to her credit, the latest book being CALL OF THE HEART. These books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press. 

Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.

Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.

Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

Use hashtag #60at60

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SUNDAY MID-DAY (10.7.2022)

Spirituality: My Journey to Oneness

Shri Preethaji at Bodhi Mumbai
Pic Courtesy: pkconsciousness

My name is Sundari Venkatraman and I am an Indie Author living in Mumbai. I can call myself a bestselling Amazon author, all thanks to Sri Amma who writes novels (59 books, so far) through me, so much so that many times I don’t even recognize the words which I have typed out on my laptop.

It was in 1996 when Anuradha Chandrashekhar introduced me to Sri Bhagavan. I was so excited to know that God has come to live on earth along with us all. It was in 1997 when I attended my first Oneness Event, the Vara Yagna. I have never looked back after that. 

Recently, I attended the Bodhi Mumbai Event from May 13-15, 2022 and received some tremendous teachings and Deekshas from Sri Preethaji and Acharya Samadarshiniji. I am truly blessed indeed. While receiving a number of experiences, awakenings and visions during the programme, I always value those which I continue to receive after returning home, ruminating on the teachings.

It hit me on Tuesday that I was undergoing a deep suffering state due to “lack of faith”. My close friends thought it was really odd as I have a powerful Antaryaamin where not only Amma & Bhagavan, but also Krishnaji, Preethaji, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Lord Shiva, Lord Venkateswara, Lord Jesus and others guide me during all my waking hours.

But the fact remains that I was suffering from lack of faith. I went back down memory lane and realised that I always believed that my prayers would be answered – in the vague future. Not in the NOW. We all know that linear time exists only in our earthly realm and nowhere else in the universe. What does that make me then? Exactly! I WAS a person WITHOUT FAITH.

I was SHATTERED! While I have been sort of aware of my lack of faith, I had never realised the depth of it. I felt as if I was uprooted and blown away in the wind, unable to find a foothold anywhere.

If there was no faith in me, then what or who was God? I had NO GOD now. I wanted to hit my head against a wall, which is what I did in my mind. So hard did I break my head that the next moment, I threw my arms up in the air, totally giving up. I felt that my life was not worth living if I had no God in it.

I was in tears and I thought to myself, “Who should I speak to, now that I have found out there is no God? After all, how can there be a God when there is no faith?” You will understand how heartbroken I must have been as I speak to God through all my waking hours, chatting non-stop. 

I suddenly recalled Sri Preethaji mentioning, “whether you are a theist or an atheist, it does not matter. Both hold a powerful belief. While one believes there is no God, the other believes that there is God.” NOW WHAT DID THAT MAKE ME? I was neither here nor there.

I continued to hold my suffering like a baby, looked into it without losing courage. I have to thank my Amma Bhagavan for this. I had requested them not to allow me to stop this midway and escape from it, until I experienced it to the full.

Last night, when I went to sleep, Lord Murugan (my Ishta Devata) told me to rest well, but to continue with the process the next day. I was wide awake, so I said, “Why not do it right now?” I saw Amma nodding as she said, “You are right. Go on.” And so, I continued to experience the suffering of having no faith. I don’t know when I went to sleep.

I woke up at around 4 am, grinning. YES! However strange that might sound, I was grinning widely to myself and to my Divine. Just as I wondered what had happened to me suddenly, I was gurgling with laughter. 

I had no faith! So what?! That is all there is to it. I had nothing to do with it. It was simply lack of faith. It took a lot of control not to burst out laughing loudly as I giggled softly to myself, careful not to wake my husband up. I WAS COMPLETELY FREE OF MY SUFFERING!!! 

What do I say? I am so full of gratitude to all my Gods and my Gurus for their invaluable Deekshas and blessings. 

Another thing I noticed in the middle of the night. My chattering mind, hundreds and thousands of thoughts buzzing in my head always… don’t quite know what has happened to it. I feel strange pockets of silence, without chatter. It’s so new and so strange that I am not even sure what is happening. Will keep you all informed regarding this process as it progresses. 

And as for the suffering states, I have not stopped the process. I plan to continue to run through each state of suffering, only to stop when I am completely out of suffering – just as Sri Krishnaji has promised that it’s possible to be.

My prayer – to lift the consciousness of at least one lakh people to the states I rise up to. 

Ekam Tapas – here I come… soon!!!

Book Blitz: HEARTTHROB by Sundari Venkatraman

  

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: April 28, 2022Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF

Krutika falls headlong in love at the tender age of thirteen when she first sets eyes on the dreamy Darsh. That he is barely sixteen seems oh-so-perfect to the barely-there teenager. She never stops loving him when her father ties the knot with his mother soon afterwards.

Darsh has always led a serious life, his responsibilities as the man of the house weighing heavily upon his young shoulders as his birth father never showed interest in his own family. Later, when his mother remarries his stepfather, he could have lightened up, but it never comes naturally to the young man.

With Krutika chasing him blatantly, Darsh really doesn’t have a place to hide, not even in Boston which is as far as he could get, away from Delhi.

How long will he be able to stall the call of destiny? And a determined young lady who has decided to make him her life partner? And what about love? Will he ever find it?

Read this story which is both young-adult and growing-up-together, all rolled up in one; but nonetheless a hot romance.

A preview of #Heartthrob




Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 4 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From

Book Blitz: VIRGO'S KRUSH (Written in the Stars #4) Sundari Venkatraman

 

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: February 19, 2022Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF

The gorgeous and intelligent Sanjana is a fiercely independent Virgo. Or is it only a front for the woman who wants to be loved?

As for Krish, the handsome and internationally famous photographer, is stunned to discover he is father to the two-month-old Kabir. Typically aware of his responsibilities, the Capricorn offers to marry the mother who he is deeply attracted to.

But the Virgo, already crushing on the Capricorn, wants all or nothing and refuses to settle for a loveless marriage.

He pushes, she resists...

It's like the proverbial Irresistible Force meeting the Immovable Object...

Shall the twain ever meet?

A preview of #VirgosKrush

    

Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 3.5 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From

Book Blitz: FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE by Sundari Venkatraman

 

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: November 25, 2021Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF

Sachin turns over a new leaf… after a quarter century of living the life of an angry little rich boy. After all, his parents don’t give a damn about their only son once they complete their duty of bringing an heir into the world. These days, he has an adopted son to love and care for.

But what about Sachin himself? Is there no one to love him in this big wide world?

International model Bina is not only physically ill, but also suffers from a broken heart when she discovers that her parents aren’t her own flesh and blood, but have adopted her when she was barely three weeks old.

Bina clashes with Sachin when their paths cross, sparks flying as he’s unable to stop himself from falling headlong in love with her.

Will the angry and frustrated Bina, who’s bogged down by self-pity, understand the love she’s surrounded with? Both from her adoptive parents and Sachin, who is patience personified?
Or will she ignore the tug of her heart every time she lays eyes on the handsome hunk? 

It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR

A preview of #ForBetterorForWorse

    

Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 2.75 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From

Book Blitz: SHAAN GETS HITCHED: A Contemporary Romance by Sundari Venkatraman

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: August 8, 2021Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF
Young men believe that Prisha has ice running in her veins and there is a reason for it. But the moment Shaan enters her life, the ice seems to be melting and how!
It’s love at first sight for Shaan when he sets eyes on the lovely Prisha. But he could sense a wariness in her, an attitude which clearly spells ‘hands off’.
Not one to give up easily, especially now that he has his heart set on making Prisha his life partner, Shaan sets out to woo her, determined to not just melt the ice but to make her burn for him.
Does he have the time though, what with his mother chasing him with a list of prospective brides, setting up meetings with one after another eligible woman over every weekend?
Read the story to find out if Shaan Gets Hitched to the woman he loves… or one set up by his mother.
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR

A preview of #ShaanGetsHitched




Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 2.75 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From

Book Blitz: TINDER LOVING CARE: A Contemporary Romance by Sundari Venkatraman

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: June 28, 2021Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Contemporary Romance
STORY-IN-BRIEF
Sparks fly when Advik Hegde and Aaradhya Iyer meet via the Tinder app.
Advik resists, citing work pressure and targets while the bold career-minded Aaradhya pursues him relentlessly. Unable to resist, he falls into a relationship of sorts with her, without thinking too much of the future…
…until the past comes back to bite them.
And what a past it is! The Iyers and Hegdes don’t seem all that different from the Montagues and Capulets of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The first generation fought while the second suffers in silence! Will the Gen-Next also buckle under pressure?
It’s a story of Ego versus Heart! Read on to find out which one is the stronger of the two in this eternal tug of war.
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR



Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 2.5 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...
You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From


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Book Blitz: RYAN FINDS A BRIDE: A Contemporary Hot Romance

 

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: May 5, 2021Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Romance
BLURB
Varshini meets Ryan after seven years and isn’t really surprised that she still loves him—it was love at first sight for her all those years ago—from the depth of her heart.
Seven years ago, she had been a teenager. Now that she is all grown up and more beautiful than ever, Ryan is totally attracted to Varshini and is keen to explore their relationship.
But there’s a hitch! Ryan’s mother is determined to find her son a wife, like yesterdat. After all, she had been waiting for him to return home after his six-year sojourn in the US of A. As for Varshini, she would never make it to the mother’s list of suitable brides, not only because she’s from the working class, but she’s also dark skinned.
What are the chances of Ryan finding his own bride?
Read an Excerpt

It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR




Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with fifty+ titles to her credit, which have sold more than 2.25 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...

You can stalk her @      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Grab Your Copy From


This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Linkedin
We Promote So That You Can Write