Raja Muthirai - Book review

One of the Sandalyan's best. But I never got to know about the book untill I read. Actually I went to the library to borrow Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan. As that was not available I had to settle with this (The first tamil novel I wanted to read was Ponniyin selvan but I completed as many as 7 before that due to unavailability). Its goes with usual Sandalyan's style. If you don't like his style, then you wont like any of his books. He is someone who goes into the detail of explaining. It wont be entertaining throughout. There will be lows (the boring part due to too much explanation). But the high part that will follow, will run swiftly without your knowledge. When you realise, it will already be morning. That is the best part I like about him.

What this book is about?

Raja Muthirai is a story about the pandiyas. Of the Sandalyan's book this is the one which has a non-chola hero. The hero is the great Vira pandiyan brother of Sundara pandiyan (MGR has done this character in Madhurai Meetha Sundharapandian). The story deals with investigation of the pearl robbery in the country which is the biggest source of the country's income.  In the meantime, Muthukumari, daughter of Sundarapandiyan is kidnapped. The culprit is found to be Veera Ravi Udhaya Marthanda Varman (I like this name a lot!!), the Chera King. What unfolds is the lead up to the war and the war between the two Tamil Kings.

The situation is very bad for the pandiyas as they are rebuilding their empire from scratch. With few thousand soldiers how tactically they win is the interesting plot of the story. But the story is not completely about it. There is Sandalyan's touch to it. The romance. Two couples and lot of love. Story goes with the history and few characters are fictional. For example, Vira Pandiyan's lover. She has been shown as a typical girl in the first half but a fierce warrior in the second. The intimacy between them in the middle of tensed war situation shows how naughty the Sandalyan's hero is.

More than the war, the lead up and the war strategy is what that keeps you engaging. 

The material that is used in the climax to win the battle is explained something similar to today's Mortar (Beerangi). This is unbelievable those days, but barring that, you will get a feel of a period film. This again is one of Sandalyan's best and must read!!