In phrases of antiquity, the hen and egg conundrum would possibly predate it, however the query of films versus books can also be in the identical philosophical league. It’s inconceivable to nail a theoretically acceptable reply, whereas empirical explanations could also be aplenty. Typically, it simply boils right down to a private desire.
As we await Mani Ratnam’s interpretation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan to play out on the silver display screen, it’s however pure that this age-old query is as soon as once more dragged, kicking and screaming, into the general public realm.
Ponniyin Selvan — unfairly as some followers assume — was a grossly underrated epic. In reality, it was an expansive narration of Chola historical past that by no means bought its due on the planet. The novel dwells extensively on the conspiracy to assassinate the crown princes of Sundara Cholan, the occasions that adopted, and the eventual succession of the second son Arulmozhi Varman, who was to attain eternal fame as Raja Raja Chola 1. It actually had each reader wrapped round its 5 volumes in rapture.
Serialised within the Tamil journal Kalki, the creator’s seductive narrative fashion, the cliffhangers, the twists in plot, and the intrigue served completely to whet the urge for food of its first readers. Subsequent generations feasted on sure volumes of Kalki’s pages, which drew them into the fascinating vortex that was Ponniyin Selvan. Whereas a few makes an attempt have been made previously to render the epic on display screen — notably by MGR — none labored out till Mani Ratnam picked up the gauntlet. By the way, he tried unsuccessfully to make his dream challenge within the 90s and early 2010s.
One of many fundamental causes for why not one of the earlier initiatives took off may have been the sheer, daunting scale of the epic. How do you crunch 5 volumes and a zillion characters into three hours or much less? What do you embrace, what do you allow out? And among the many Ponniyin Selvan cognoscente — who revere each little nuance — wouldn’t it not be hara-kiri to go away chunks out, as a result of the medium can’t deal with its total scope? Of their minds, the enduring characters of Vanthiyathevan, Kundavai, Nandini, Alwarkadiyaan Nambi and Arulmozhi Varman are already fleshed out by Kalki’s in a position illustrator Maniam. They’ve in all probability even imagined driving the horse on Veeranarayanapuram Eri, taking within the aadiperukku festivities as Vanthiyathevan did, rowing a ship throughout the seas to Sri Lanka, spying alongside Nambi, or standing nonetheless entranced by the fantastic thing about the women!
The actual fact is that ever since man figured learn how to course of movie and run it on a spool, motion pictures have been impressed by books, driving on their well-worn spines and daring to surpass the wondrous creativeness of the reader itself. Little question, the hook of the written phrase is fascinating, as a result of it permits the reader to create her or his personal worlds. In any case, as Paulo Coelho stated, “ A Guide is a film operating within the thoughts of the reader”. What a film does is to flesh that out with out leaving a lot to the creativeness, readers discover. Not that the kernel of movie — as a medium by itself — doesn’t maintain inside it immense potentialities; significantly of spectacle, providing the power to see, slightly than simply think about, it does.
Mani Ratnam on the units of ‘Ponniyin Selvan: 1’
That occurs to be simply what Mani Ratnam is recommending too. For individuals who haven’t learn the books, his message appears to be: ‘You don’t want to fret, benefit from the film anyway.’ Overlook the guide, he even informed his actors, and belief the film-making course of. It’s not essential to have learn Ponniyin Selvan to observe PS1! He appears to be advising folks to deal with the film as an introduction to the wondrous world of the Cholas; permit the movie to information their journey, expertise this blockbuster as they might do some other, with out the bags of what they’ve learn or not learn (If that’s doable, certainly). Little question on this avatar, the movie turns into its personal murals — aligned to — however not encumbered by the guide it’s based mostly on.
Fairly like what the third movie within the Harry Potter sequence was. Alfred Cuaron’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was actually a murals that was equal to and even higher than the guide itself; no imply feat to tug a greater one off J.Ok. Rowling. Or for that matter, what Francis Ford Coppola did so effortlessly with Mario Puzo’s Godfather sequence, ably aided by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino amongst others. Whereas streaming platform exhibits may need it simpler — with their relative temporal flexibility and the power to stretch out their tale-telling higher — even these long-form diversifications have seen some diversions from the unique variations within the books. Both by way of plots, characterisations, tweaks various the pacing, or backstories, there may be an effort to make sure that the medium is exploited completely by the message, and maybe, vice versa.
That’s what movie makers and even authors goal at, in the end; dropping a hook to attract their viewers in, holding them in awe or enchantment, rapture or shock, and permitting them to really feel the catharsis that artwork provides. You is likely to be a purist that also prefers a guide over a movie. But when somebody dares to tackle the audacious activity of deciphering the trendy Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan for the display screen, it’s in all probability one thing Kalki Krishnamurthy himself may need hoped to see. Let curiosity information you… and if you’re not completely satisfied, there may be at all times the guide to return house to.
