I am not exactly a new member... But I have never interacted with this group from the time I became a member four months ago. (though I have been reading most of the mail transacted by the group members.)
I have read PS many times, ( I have lost count.) probably one of those few who have read in four decades. Every decade I have read it through I am able to see it with a new perspective.
Unfortunately my kids do not know tamizh. Has anyone gone through the English version of PS. Is it atleast half as good as reading it in tamizh? Can you let me know where I will get the English version?
Dear Ram You can find the English Translation by Karthick Rangarajan in Higginbothams..If its KS Rammohan from MMC now in Cardiff you can borrow it from Rajesh in Leicester
karthik narayanans translation of ponniyin selvan would stand no chance against the original. and even against any novel your children might read in english.for instance harry potter and his hogwarts antics.
so please read a ew chapters yourself before giving it to your kids.
somehow the spirit of the original story was lost when karthik narayanan re- did it. some translations available on the net are far better. what we need for children of ps lovers is an audio book with sound effects.
just imagine vanthiyatheven on the banks of veeeraanam.in the first chapter kugukugu - the sound of water gushing in the background. tok tok tok- his horse trotting on the banks
Thanks Venkatesh / Sridhar for referring karthik narayanans book.
Sridhar : I am K S Ram mohan but not the one your are referring. I am in Bangalore currently.
Venkatesh : You are absolutely right. It is the age of Harry potter and the likes. I don't want my kids to compare PS with harry potter and say it is not good. (that will be the ultimate insult to Kalki, Comparing him with the likes of Harry potter.) It is going to be extremely difficult to bring the Tamizh flavor of the Original. (that too as brilliantly as Kalki did.)
I have a DVD of Thillana Mohanambal (Ayngaran International). You should see the sub-titles given for the film. It is amazing. Though not exact match of the words, the meaning these sub-titles give are excellent. It may not be an impossible task to bring out such a translation with so many PS Enthusiasts around.
On the other hand as you had suggested the Audio work is made available that will be the greatest thing. (As long as it does not become like Radio Annas Kakka story!! )