Chandrahasam: A War with No End

by Su. Venkatesan, K. Balashanmugam (Illustrator)

Jadavarman Sundarapandyan established the Pandya Empire after conquering Rajendra Chola the Third, the emperor of South India’s biggest Chola empire. By the conquest, Chola empire was wiped out and Pandiya empire rose to power.   After Jadavarman, his son Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan became the king. His era saw the Pandya empire reaching the pinnacle of glory. Chola mandalam, Kongu desam, Thondai Nadu, Kollam, Nellore and even Sri Lanka came under his governance. He became the emperor who ruled over the three seas. IT was during his period that Marco Polo – as an ambassador of Chinese emperor Kublai Khan – visited Pandya Naadu. Awed by what he saw, Marco Polo writes on Pandya Naadu and its riches.    The Sri Lankan war that had happened during the era of Kulasekara Pandiyan is significant. The Pandya forces won the war and brought the sacred tooth relic of Buddha to Madurai. Sri Lankan king Parakramabahu then visited Madurai and begged to get back the sacred tooth. Kulasekara Pandiyan, who gloriously ruled Pandya Nadu for a long time, had two sons. Sundara Pandyan was the son of his first wife. Veera Pandyan was the son of his second wife. The king’s decisions based on his opinion that Veera Pandyan was braver and intelligent than his brother, irked Sundara Pandyan. Sundara Pandyan dared to commit an act that nobody else would dare to think of. The family dispute led to such a downfall that would eventually remove the great empire from the pages of history. Darkness enveloped the empire that had once reached the pinnacle of glory. Braving the treachery, a warrior’s adventure shone through darkness. The valiant tale of the warrior emerged from the light of Chandrahaasam – the royal sword of the Pandyas. The story is Chandrahaasam.

148 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Su. Venkatesan (சு. வெங்கடேசன்), also known as S. Venkatesan, is a Tamil writer from Tamil Nadu, India and Tamil Nadu State Committee member of Communist Party of India (Marxist). His debutant novel Kaaval Kottam published in 2008 was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award for Tamil in 2011. The Tamil film 'Aravaan' is based on it. The Sahitya Academy-winning writer is also the president of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association. His second novel 'Veerayuga Nayagan Velpari' was serialised in Tamil popular magazine Ananda Vikatan. 'Veerayuga Nayagan Velpari' is the second Novel after Ponniyin Selvan to make a big craze between the readers at that time.

Reviews

[Priyadarsini · Rating 2 out of 5]

படங்கள் எதிர்பார்ப்பை பூர்த்திச் செய்யவில்லை என்றாலும் அதுமட்டுமே இப்புத்தகத்தை படித்து முடிக்க வைத்தது.

[Sugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good attempt at a Tamil graphic novel. Thanks to Vikatan. There is still a long way to go though. I assume the price of the book is so high that the readers are not happy for it. But it makes sense because the cost involved in creating such a book is also costly. Hopefully someone will come with innovative ways to create such great graphics with less cost.

[Ram M Srinivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good try from Vikatan on the graphic release. The book is all about how K. Balashanmugam portrayed the words from Aasaan Su. Venkatesan is minimal. Even though SuVe had minimum efforts in writing, the smaller words are yet simple and powerful.
I have received this book with the autograph of Ayya SuVe

[Novel Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

Suitable for kids. Waste of money, not much worthy read. Second half is where the real story begins.

[Madhu murugesan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book deserves 2stars only
One for the graphic methodology
Other for the general knowledge about the South Indian history.

[Gautami Raghu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great combo of historical facts + historical fiction + graphical depiction! This book is not only a book but an experience altogether that I enjoyed very much.

Got this book just to experience Su.Ve's words. Though his part was minimal, I loved it. He always stresses the importance of stories and how they instate hope in every individual! The plot is on the Pandiya Dynasty after the fall of Cholas. The artwork by Bala is also very good! I loved looking at the vast, endless troops & forces of a kingdom in war. In a way, it confirmed that my imaginations of war sequences are indeed right :).
Engaging storyline, and beautiful artwork! Though expensive, it is understandable that it costs a lot to create a graphical novel. Kudos to the team!

ADDITIONAL PROs: Comes with titbits of historical facts related to the plot before every chapter. It is folded and sealed like an ancient scroll. The bookmark is shaped like a sword! You can actually remove the sword from its sheath. It is so cool!
This graphical novel was published in 2016 but I do not see any news on PART II to date. Will it even be released?! I'm waiting though the chances are slim :(

[Ram · Rating 4 out of 5]

பாண்டியர்களின் கடைசி காலத்தை காட்சிப்படுத்துகிறது இந்த கிராபிக்ஸ் வடிவ நாவல். பாண்டிய வாரிசுகளுக்குள் நடக்கும் பகைமையையும் மாணிக்க போர் வருகையையும் முன்னிறுத்தி எழுதப்பட்டிருந்தாலும் இது பண்டைய தமிழக பண்பாட்டையும் வரலாற்றையும் ஆவணப்படுத்தும் கண்ணோட்டத்தையும் கொண்டுள்ளது. நீங்கள் ஒரு முதிர்ந்த வாசிப்பாளராக இருந்தால் இரண்டு அல்லது இரண்டரை மணி நேரத்தில் முழு புத்தகத்தையும் வாசித்து விட முடியும். இதற்கு இரண்டாம் பாகம் எழுதப்படவில்லை. எனவே முதல் பாகம் முற்றுப்பெறாமல் இருப்பது போல தோன்றலாம். மேலும் விலை சற்று அதிகம். மற்றபடி தமிழில் ஒரு நல்ல முயற்சி. உங்களிடம் பணம் சிறிது அதிகமாக இருந்தால் கண்டிப்பாக வாங்கி வாசிக்கலாம்.

[MJV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice illustration, visual treat and this will take us to the yesteryears enjoying the greatness of Madurai... Awesomely narrated, and there is a great reason behind people hailing from Madurai saying, 'Nan Madura kaaranda'.... Waiting for part 2 .

[இஸ்மாயில் இஸ்மாயில் · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent graphics. Only half of the story is available. Waiting for 2 nd part more than a years. The app also not working.

[Prannav Dhamotharan]

Excellent book. Worth it. Waiting for part 2

[Ureka · Rating 5 out of 5]

how to get pdf of this book?

[Mathan Kumar V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read! The portraits are amazing. Wish they release all parts soon

[Ravikumar Paulpandian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Biggest disappointment of 2015. Poor script , pathetic drawings and unbelievably dumb storyline. A dilletante would produce a thousand times better painting, the artist has absolutely no creativity or skill& wikipedia chronicle of the last Pandyas is lot more interesting. Cant believe this book is sold for 1500.what were u thinking Vikatan ?

[Venkatesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

தமிழ் படைப்புகளில் புதியதொரு முயற்சி. அருமையான படங்கள் பாண்டியனின் சரித்திரத்தை கண்முன் நிறுத்தின. புத்தகம் படித்து பழகியவர்களுக்கு படங்கள் மூலம் படிப்பது சிறிது சுவாரசியத்தை குறைத்து விடுகிறது . புத்தகம் படிக்க நேரம் மற்றும் ஆர்வம் இல்லாதவர்களுக்கு படங்களே பெரும் சரித்திரத்தை சொல்லி விடுகின்றன.

[Anbarasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know why Malik Kapur entered Madurai that led to that interesting episode of the shrine hidden for years in Meenakshi Amman temple. Interesting book for history buffs.