When I started translating Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in 2010, blissfully unaware of the depth and the magnitude of the work, several people tried to dissuade me. One potential publisher even lured me with an offer to translate another work of Kalki. Reason: there were already many translations around. Yes, there were. But most of them, though done with utmost sincerity, failed to create the emotional bond with the readers which the original author had effortlessly done in the Fifties when Ponniyin Selvan was serialised in a popular magazine.
I did not rush up. I did not have a target or deadline. I let the translation work progress in its own pace. That explains the six long years I spent for this project. I read and re-read the first draft a dozen times before handing it over to my editors. There were many points of contention. There were issues where we could not reach a consensus easily. Finally the hard copy was ready for publication in 2016. The publisher had jitters and so did I.
We got ready rough copies of two volumes. I gave it to two of my friends, who had read the original more than sixty times, with a mandate to read them in one go. They did and said “This is the best you can do in English.”
The work culminated not when the book was released by a former Central Minister in 2016, not even when it went for three editions but when an ardent fan of Kalki sent a mail to me in 2019.
“It was as if Kalki himself rendered his great work in English.”
Translators: Varalotti Rengasamy
Release date
Audiobook: 8 May 2023
When I started translating Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in 2010, blissfully unaware of the depth and the magnitude of the work, several people tried to dissuade me. One potential publisher even lured me with an offer to translate another work of Kalki. Reason: there were already many translations around. Yes, there were. But most of them, though done with utmost sincerity, failed to create the emotional bond with the readers which the original author had effortlessly done in the Fifties when Ponniyin Selvan was serialised in a popular magazine.
I did not rush up. I did not have a target or deadline. I let the translation work progress in its own pace. That explains the six long years I spent for this project. I read and re-read the first draft a dozen times before handing it over to my editors. There were many points of contention. There were issues where we could not reach a consensus easily. Finally the hard copy was ready for publication in 2016. The publisher had jitters and so did I.
We got ready rough copies of two volumes. I gave it to two of my friends, who had read the original more than sixty times, with a mandate to read them in one go. They did and said “This is the best you can do in English.”
The work culminated not when the book was released by a former Central Minister in 2016, not even when it went for three editions but when an ardent fan of Kalki sent a mail to me in 2019.
“It was as if Kalki himself rendered his great work in English.”
Translators: Varalotti Rengasamy
Release date
Audiobook: 8 May 2023
Step into an infinite world of stories
Overall rating based on 14 ratings
Mind-blowing
Page-turner
Heartwarming
Download the app to join the conversation and add reviews.
Showing 5 of 14
Sangam
30 May 2023
Great book narrated beautifully
manisha
17 May 2023
Rich lineage written in golden words is really excellent great work!!!! The story narrated by Saki has made the great writing more rich!!! I really appreciate the narrator who made forget my worries listen the story more interestingly and carefully... The writer has endeavors justice to all the characters of the equally important status at mark!!! Thank-you to the great writer and narrator....Saki to make such a work of great Tamilian and make Bharat more proud!!! Worth it 🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐💕🔱🚩💕🙏🏽✨
sumant
1 Jul 2023
one of the superb novel
Paulose paul
22 Jul 2023
Amazing
Mrunal
14 Aug 2023
The book is really interesting. Got to know more about the Chola dynasty
English
India