Udhayabanu Karmegam
| File:2020-01-05-Udayabahu-Karmegam-Front.jpg Udhayabanu Karmegam Tamil Historic Novel by Gokul Seshadri | |
| Author | Gokul Seshadri |
|---|---|
| Original title | Udhayabanu Karmegam |
| Illustrator | Gokul Seshadri |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Series | Rajakesari trilogy |
| Subject | Historical fiction |
| Genre | Tamil historical novels |
| Publisher | Palaniappa Brothers |
Publication date | Jan 2020 |
Published in English | No |
| Media type | Book |
| Pages | 550 |
| ISBN | 9788183795050 Search this book on  . |
| Preceded by | Rajakesari Cherar Kottai |
| Followed by | Udhayabanu Panithirai |
Udhayabanu Karmegam (Tamil:உதயபானு கார்மேகம்) is a Tamil language historical novel written by Gokul Seshadri. The story is set in 11th Century CE South India under the Chola hegemony and revolves around various historical events, characters, plots and sub plots. This novel is a part of Rajakesari Trilogy which includes Rajakesari and Cherar Kottai written by the same author.
Plot summary[edit]
Period around 1000 CE. There is great concern and worry among the Chola royalty, after a bold attempt to assassinate emperor Rajaraja Chola on his birthday at the Chola capital city of Thanjavur Thanjavur. Evidences suggest that unidentified Chera mercenaries could be behind the attack, but the plan's mastermind or their ulterior motive is still unclear. Determined to find out the culprits and bring them to justice, Chola commander Paraman Mazhapadiyar[1] and his trusted friend Rajakesari Ambalavanar set their foot on an epic quest, which starts off with the first book (Karmegam) in this multi part novel series.
After a successful midnight theatre performance for the royal household, emperor Rajaraja informs drama artist Vijayaraja Acharya that his services are much sought after in the Chera Country and that he should plan to visit the Country soon. He also suggests that Paraman Mazhapadiyar and Ambalavanar should accompany the theatre troupe. Meanwhile, Mazhapadiyar receives a mysterious request from his doctor friend at Uraiyur[2] Keerthi Marthandan Vaidya Sala, requesting an urgent meeting. So he travels to Uraiyur with his trusted friend Ambalavanar. At Uraiyur Vaidya Sala, Mazhapadiyar learns about a mysterious patient through the words of Kannan, a junior doctor. The General is convinced that the patient is somehow involved in some way with the murder attempt.
Unexpectedly, one of the miscreants shows up the next day at Vaidya Sala and Mazhapadiyar and Ambalavanar undertake an epic chase to catch the culprit near the banks of river Cauvery. Through his words, they understand several incidents and details that led to the eventual murder attempt. The main assassin seems to have escaped and the battle is far from over. Ambalavanar returns back to Thanjavur while Mazhapadiyar continues at Gunaseelapuram.
The novel then provides a detailed backdrop of Nakkan Maduravasaki, a dancer of highest calibre who is a childhood friend of Mazhapadiyar and who helps Ambalavanar to heal and recuperate. Her challenging childhood involved being raised as a child without father. She learns dance and Thevaram Tamil Hymns from a local musician and later on migrates to Thiruvarur and achieves high calibre in her profession. A mysterious old man shows up here and there in her life, but Mathura is uncertain about the identity of the stranger.
The novel continues in Part 2 of the Udhayabanu Series, Udhayabanu Panithirai.
Characters[edit]
- Emperor Rajaraja Chola(Historical)
- Chola Army Commander [Senapathi] Rajaraja Marayar(Historical)
- Chola Army General Paraman Malapadiyar(Historical)
- Administrative Officer Adittan Suryan Tennavan Moovenda Velar (Historical)
- Commanding officer of the Bodyguards [Tirumeikappu] Velan Atkonda Villiyar (Fictional)
- War Veteran Ambalavanar Kamban Arayan (Fictional)
- Theatre master Santhik Koothar Vijayaraja Acharya (Fictional)
- Theatre artist Arikanda Devan (Fictional)
- Dancer Talaikkoli Nakkan Maduravasaki (Historical)
- Dancer Nakkan Veni (Fictional)
- Dancer Sundara Choli (Historical)
Trilogy[edit]
- Rajakesari
- Cherar Kottai
- Udhayabanu Karmegam - Udhayabanu Panithirai
Publication history[edit]
The story was originally published by Palaniappa Brothers in Jan 2020.
External links[edit]
References[edit]
This article "Udhayabanu Karmegam" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Udhayabanu Karmegam. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
