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கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ / Karaiyellam Senbagappoo
'கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ' ஆனந்த விகடனில் தொடர்கதையாக வெளியானது. நாட்டுப்புறப் பாடல் களைப் பற்றி ஆராய்ச்சி செய்வதற்காக சென்னையி லிருந்து திருநிலம் என்கிற கிராமத்துக்கு வருகிறான் கல்யாணராமன். அங்கு ஒரு பழைய ஜமீன் மாளிகையில் தங்குகிறான். கிராமத்துப் பெண் வெள்ளியை நேசிக் கிறான். ஆனால் வள்ளி விரும்புவது அவள் மாமன் மருத முத்துவை. அந்த மருதமுத்துவை சலனப்படுத்த வந்து சேருகிறாள் நகரத்து நாகரிகப் பெண் சினேகலதா. ஜமீன் வம்சத்து வாரிசாக வருபவள் கல்யாணராமனுடன் அதே ஜமீன் மாளிகையில் தங்குகிறாள். அவள் வந்த பிறகு ஜமீன் மாளிகையைச் சுற்றி நடக்கும் சில அமானுஷ்ய, மர்ம விவகாரங்கள் கல்யாணராமனை பயமுறுத்துகின்றன. உச்சகட்டமாக ஒரு கொலையும் நடைபெறுகிறது.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
65 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Sujatha
303 books1,376 followersSujatha was the allonym of the Tamil author S. Rangarajan, Author of over 100 novels, 250 short stories, ten books on science, ten stage plays, and a slim volume of poems. He was one of the most popular authors in Tamil literature, and a regular contributor to topical columns in Tamil periodicals such as Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam and Kalki. He had a wide readership, and served for a brief period as the editor of Kumudam, and has also written screenplays and dialogues for several Tamil movies.
As an engineer, he supervised the design and production of the electronic voting machine (EVM) during his tenure at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a machine which is currently used in elections throughout India. As an author he inspired many authors, including Balakumaran, Madhan.
As an engineer, he supervised the design and production of the electronic voting machine (EVM) during his tenure at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a machine which is currently used in elections throughout India. As an author he inspired many authors, including Balakumaran, Madhan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 13, 2014
Sujatha will always be the master story teller for generations to come ! crush 'உன்ற வார்த்தைய தமிழுக்கு இட்டுன்னுவந்து... oh sorry ! நம்ம கதாநாயகி வள்ளியோட பாஷை ஒட்டிகிச்சு ! அதாங்க.. அந்த ஆண் பெண் ஈர்ப்புக்கான ஆங்கில வார்த்தை.. CRUSH ! அதுக்கு அழகான தமிழாக்கம் குடுத்த முதல் கதாசிரியர் சுஜாதா. ஜமீன் வீடு, கிராமம், கிராமத்தாளுங்க, மர்மதொட கவர்ச்சியும் சேர்ந்த சிநேகலதா, அழகு + innocent வள்ளி, மருதமுத்து, ரத்னாவதி அப்புறம் அந்த செண்பகப்பூ !
இன்னொரு முறை படிக்க தூண்டற கதை ! வில்லுபாட்டு , கிராமத்து பாடல்லாம் icing on the cake !
இன்னொரு முறை படிக்க தூண்டற கதை ! வில்லுபாட்டு , கிராமத்து பாடல்லாம் icing on the cake !
July 15, 2014
A thriller with liberal usage of folk songs. I think this was the first Thalaivar novel I read.
Trivia : A flower selling woman in "Mudhalvan" can be seen singing a folk song quoted in this novel.
Trivia : A flower selling woman in "Mudhalvan" can be seen singing a folk song quoted in this novel.
January 23, 2012
I have been feeling for a while that I am ignoring some great literature from my own language, Tamil, and so I thought I will read more Tamil books this year. I also thought that I will read more Indian literature in the original (if I know the language in which it is written) or in translation. Sometime back when I was having a conversation with one of my friends, she said that Sujatha’s ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’ was one of her alltime favourite books. When I had a discussion on this book with another friend of mine, who is a connoisseur of Sujatha books, he told me that it is a wonderful book. After two strong recommendations, I couldn’t resist reading this book. I finished reading it yesterday. Here is what I think.
What I think
Before sharing my thoughts on the book, a few words on Sujatha himself. (Yes, it is a ‘he’). Sujatha is one of the leading authors in Tamil. In these days, when writers stick to writing books in one genre, he was a real allrounder. He wrote crime novels, murder mysteries, literary fiction, science fiction, plays, feminist novels, screen plays, historical novels, short stories, essays on diverse topics, nonfiction books on science, modern translations of classical Tamil literature – in other words, the works. He was an inspiration for generations of young men and women. I have read some of his crime novels and murder mysteries and books and essays on science when I was a student. I didn’t know then that his work was so diverse. All thanks to my friend, the Sujatha connoisseur, for introducing me to Sujatha’s diverse works.
Now about ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. I am finding it difficult to translate the title precisely – it roughly translates to ‘Magnolias fill the bank’. The story is about a young man named Kalyanaraman who is different from the average young person. While everyone around him is trying to study engineering and medicine and law and get a good job and get married, he studies literature and music. Then he goes to a village to do research on folk music. While in the village he meets a beautiful, dark village belle called Velli, and falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she is engaged to a handsome young man from the village called Marudhamuthu. Kalyanaraman meets children, old women and different kinds of people in the village and he finds poetry in their everyday conversations – the way they use poetic language to describe everyday things fascinates him. When children play hide-and-seek, they use poetry to decide who will hide and who will seek. When gossiping about neighbours and telling old stories, people of the village use poetry. While Kalyanaraman soaks in the atmosphere of the village and its culture and its folk traditions, a new person arrives in the village. She is a beautiful, young city girl called Snehalatha. She says that she is the local Zamindar’s grand daughter. She has come to see her grandfather’s house and stay over for a few days. Kalyanaraman becomes friends with her. But he also discovers that there is more to her than meets the eye. He finds that she is hiding something from him and is also indulging in mysterious activities with Marudhamuthu. An affair seems to be developing between Snehalatha and Marudhamuthu, which gives Velli a lot of anguish. Then Kalyanaraman discovers a secret diary of the dead Zamindar’s dead wife which seems to talk about a secret treasure. Then the annual village festival happens and the ‘Villu Paatu’ concert, which is about an avenging angel, stretches till the middle of the night. Then there is a murder and all hell breaks loose. Who is killed and why and the identity of the murderer and whether the treasure is real and what is the part magnolias play in the story are revealed in the rest of the book.
It is difficult to classify ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. From one perspective it is about folk music and village culture and the contrast between the village and the city. From another perspective it is a murder-mystery. I loved the cultural references Sujatha makes in the story and the way he paints a picture of small-town South India of a particular time. For example, in one sentence at the beginning of the book, Sujatha describes how Kalyanaraman pays Velli, for carrying his luggage from the station, ‘without knowing about the local economy’ – in the sense he pays an amount which is not much for him but which is far more than what a village person would expect. In other places, Sujatha describes how a black swallow’s voice seems to be in F-sharp, how all village street dogs are called Mani, how an old village lady’s sharp nose and toothless smile were attractive. There are other such interesting fine observations sprinkled throughout the book which bring joy to someone who has lived in the India of the ‘70s and the ‘80s. The book is also sprinkled throughout with folk songs. Sujatha has done his research and fills the book with actual folk songs, depending on the context. There are songs for every occasion – love, betrayal, revenge, adultery, family life, the harvest season and every other topic under the sun. I wish the publishers had recorded these songs with folk musicians and sold it along with the book. One of the interesting things that I found in the book was the description of the paradoxical sensibilities in villages, how people are conservative and liberal at the same time. For example, how people value money and power and technology a lot, but they are also very superstitious, how they are liberal about man-woman relations but they are also conservative about women’s clothing.
I liked ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. I liked the first part, which is about folk music, more than the second part, which transforms the story into a murder mystery. But I liked the book overall. I wish I had read this book when it came out in serial form.
If you want to buy this book, you can do that here - https://www.nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-6.... Unfortunately, it is available only in Tamil.
Have you read ‘Karaiyellam Senbagapoo’ or any other books by Sujatha? What do you think about this book or about other Sujatha books?
What I think
Before sharing my thoughts on the book, a few words on Sujatha himself. (Yes, it is a ‘he’). Sujatha is one of the leading authors in Tamil. In these days, when writers stick to writing books in one genre, he was a real allrounder. He wrote crime novels, murder mysteries, literary fiction, science fiction, plays, feminist novels, screen plays, historical novels, short stories, essays on diverse topics, nonfiction books on science, modern translations of classical Tamil literature – in other words, the works. He was an inspiration for generations of young men and women. I have read some of his crime novels and murder mysteries and books and essays on science when I was a student. I didn’t know then that his work was so diverse. All thanks to my friend, the Sujatha connoisseur, for introducing me to Sujatha’s diverse works.
Now about ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. I am finding it difficult to translate the title precisely – it roughly translates to ‘Magnolias fill the bank’. The story is about a young man named Kalyanaraman who is different from the average young person. While everyone around him is trying to study engineering and medicine and law and get a good job and get married, he studies literature and music. Then he goes to a village to do research on folk music. While in the village he meets a beautiful, dark village belle called Velli, and falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she is engaged to a handsome young man from the village called Marudhamuthu. Kalyanaraman meets children, old women and different kinds of people in the village and he finds poetry in their everyday conversations – the way they use poetic language to describe everyday things fascinates him. When children play hide-and-seek, they use poetry to decide who will hide and who will seek. When gossiping about neighbours and telling old stories, people of the village use poetry. While Kalyanaraman soaks in the atmosphere of the village and its culture and its folk traditions, a new person arrives in the village. She is a beautiful, young city girl called Snehalatha. She says that she is the local Zamindar’s grand daughter. She has come to see her grandfather’s house and stay over for a few days. Kalyanaraman becomes friends with her. But he also discovers that there is more to her than meets the eye. He finds that she is hiding something from him and is also indulging in mysterious activities with Marudhamuthu. An affair seems to be developing between Snehalatha and Marudhamuthu, which gives Velli a lot of anguish. Then Kalyanaraman discovers a secret diary of the dead Zamindar’s dead wife which seems to talk about a secret treasure. Then the annual village festival happens and the ‘Villu Paatu’ concert, which is about an avenging angel, stretches till the middle of the night. Then there is a murder and all hell breaks loose. Who is killed and why and the identity of the murderer and whether the treasure is real and what is the part magnolias play in the story are revealed in the rest of the book.
It is difficult to classify ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. From one perspective it is about folk music and village culture and the contrast between the village and the city. From another perspective it is a murder-mystery. I loved the cultural references Sujatha makes in the story and the way he paints a picture of small-town South India of a particular time. For example, in one sentence at the beginning of the book, Sujatha describes how Kalyanaraman pays Velli, for carrying his luggage from the station, ‘without knowing about the local economy’ – in the sense he pays an amount which is not much for him but which is far more than what a village person would expect. In other places, Sujatha describes how a black swallow’s voice seems to be in F-sharp, how all village street dogs are called Mani, how an old village lady’s sharp nose and toothless smile were attractive. There are other such interesting fine observations sprinkled throughout the book which bring joy to someone who has lived in the India of the ‘70s and the ‘80s. The book is also sprinkled throughout with folk songs. Sujatha has done his research and fills the book with actual folk songs, depending on the context. There are songs for every occasion – love, betrayal, revenge, adultery, family life, the harvest season and every other topic under the sun. I wish the publishers had recorded these songs with folk musicians and sold it along with the book. One of the interesting things that I found in the book was the description of the paradoxical sensibilities in villages, how people are conservative and liberal at the same time. For example, how people value money and power and technology a lot, but they are also very superstitious, how they are liberal about man-woman relations but they are also conservative about women’s clothing.
I liked ‘Karaiyellaam Senbagapoo’. I liked the first part, which is about folk music, more than the second part, which transforms the story into a murder mystery. But I liked the book overall. I wish I had read this book when it came out in serial form.
If you want to buy this book, you can do that here - https://www.nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-6.... Unfortunately, it is available only in Tamil.
Have you read ‘Karaiyellam Senbagapoo’ or any other books by Sujatha? What do you think about this book or about other Sujatha books?
November 15, 2019
I had watched this movie as a child (not sure of age). One of the best things about childhood memories is it is vague and mostly revolves around you. For example, I remember how I hid behind the sofa while watching this movie so that I can close my eyes whenever it was scary. One of worst things about childhood memories is that - they can come back suddenly with so much vivid details. That's what happened with me and this book.
Karaiyellam Shenbagpoo is a brilliant mystery on slow burner. A distant village with it's own motley crowd of characters. Enter two people from the city - one Kalyanaraman who is here to do his research on 'Natuppura Padalgal' - calling it folk songs seems wrong, the other Snehalatha - descendant of the zamindar, who scandalizes the village with her 'social' nature. Her characterization is weird and you are sure she is upto no good, toying with the Velli and Maruthamuthu. And there is the mysterious happenings in the bungalow that sends a chill from time to time.
Velli, the village girl is an important strong character in the book. Kalyanaraman's feelings towards her are more raw than what i remember from the movie. The village superstitions and the gossip are as much part of the story as the main plot. The plot, by the time it picks up pace, becomes unstoppable. How I wish I didn't remember the movie!
Sujata delivered a brilliant book! Highly recommended if you have not watched the movie.
Karaiyellam Shenbagpoo is a brilliant mystery on slow burner. A distant village with it's own motley crowd of characters. Enter two people from the city - one Kalyanaraman who is here to do his research on 'Natuppura Padalgal' - calling it folk songs seems wrong, the other Snehalatha - descendant of the zamindar, who scandalizes the village with her 'social' nature. Her characterization is weird and you are sure she is upto no good, toying with the Velli and Maruthamuthu. And there is the mysterious happenings in the bungalow that sends a chill from time to time.
Velli, the village girl is an important strong character in the book. Kalyanaraman's feelings towards her are more raw than what i remember from the movie. The village superstitions and the gossip are as much part of the story as the main plot. The plot, by the time it picks up pace, becomes unstoppable. How I wish I didn't remember the movie!
Sujata delivered a brilliant book! Highly recommended if you have not watched the movie.
June 3, 2013
'கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ' - வாத்தியாருடைய மற்றுமொரு தொடர்.
வெள்ளியை காதலிக்க வைத்தார். ஸ்நேகலதாவை ரசிக்க வைத்தார். எப்போதும் போல் ஒரு திறமையான, ஹீரோஇசம் இல்லாத ஒரு கல்யாணராமன். :-)
கல்யாணராமனின் மனமென்னும் திரைக்குள் சரியான அப்பெர்ச்சர் அமைத்து உன்னதமான பிம்பத்தை தீட்டிச் சிறைப்படுத்திக் கொண்ட கரிய தேவதை. - இது வெள்ளி
எடுத்துக்கொண்ட தீம் சூப்பர். நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்கள்.
கடைசியாக:
"முன்னோர்கள் உரைப்படியே
முடித்துவிட்டேன் இக்கதையை
நன்றாக படிப்போரும்
நவில்வோரும் வாழியவே"
நோ ரீப்ளேஸ்மென்ட் டு திஸ் இண்டெல்லேக்சுவல்.
வெள்ளியை காதலிக்க வைத்தார். ஸ்நேகலதாவை ரசிக்க வைத்தார். எப்போதும் போல் ஒரு திறமையான, ஹீரோஇசம் இல்லாத ஒரு கல்யாணராமன். :-)
கல்யாணராமனின் மனமென்னும் திரைக்குள் சரியான அப்பெர்ச்சர் அமைத்து உன்னதமான பிம்பத்தை தீட்டிச் சிறைப்படுத்திக் கொண்ட கரிய தேவதை. - இது வெள்ளி
எடுத்துக்கொண்ட தீம் சூப்பர். நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்கள்.
கடைசியாக:
"முன்னோர்கள் உரைப்படியே
முடித்துவிட்டேன் இக்கதையை
நன்றாக படிப்போரும்
நவில்வோரும் வாழியவே"
நோ ரீப்ளேஸ்மென்ட் டு திஸ் இண்டெல்லேக்சுவல்.
December 21, 2023
Beautiful story setup on a village backdrop. In this book, we can see Ganesh and Vasanth within the character, Kalyanaraman. Folk songs inbetween the chapters is one of the biggest highlights. Lots of suspense and the climax was good.
At the ending, feeling little sad to see Kalyanaram departing from the village by leaving the characters and all the memories which he had over there. However, Kalyanaraman is still departing with a promise that he will back to the village again.
Apt title for the novel and we can feel the fragrance of mesmerising "Shenbagapoo" when turning each and every page :)
At the ending, feeling little sad to see Kalyanaram departing from the village by leaving the characters and all the memories which he had over there. However, Kalyanaraman is still departing with a promise that he will back to the village again.
Apt title for the novel and we can feel the fragrance of mesmerising "Shenbagapoo" when turning each and every page :)
January 17, 2016
கிராமத்து திகில் மர்ம கதை. அதை நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்கள், பழங்காலத்து பேய் உலாவும் வீடு, மூட நம்பிக்கைகள், சில காதல்கள் என பல வண்ணங்களில் பரிமாறி இருக்கின்றார். கல்யாணராமன் வால்டர் மிட்டி, அப்பெர்ச்சர், இ மைனர் என்று பல அறிவியல்/நாகரிகம் சார்ந்த விடயங்கள் பேசினாலும் கிராம மணம் கமழும் நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்களை ஆராய்ச்சி செய்ய வருவது நல்ல ஒரு பாத்திரப்படைப்பு. வள்ளி, சினேகலதா, மருதமுத்து என்று மற்ற கதாபாத்திரங்களும் அவர்களுக்கான தனித்தன்மையுடன் திகழ்வது சிறப்பு. கதையின் முடிவு கொஞ்சம் நாடகத்தன்மையுடன் துரிதமாக இருந்த்து. மண்மணம் மாறாமல் நம்மையும் கையோடு அந்த கிராம மக்களுடன் உலவ வைக்கும் அருமையான வாசிப்பு.
July 16, 2019
Karayellam Shenbagappoo starts with the journey of Kalyanaraman to a village from Chennai.
He is a research assistant and comes in search of folk songs.
As soon as he reaches the railway station he meets Velli, a naive, dark, and beautiful lady. She serves him as a porter until the village. A villager is already jealous of her as Kalyanaraman offers her 3 rupees for the help.
Hailing from the city, his dressing sense and his caste earns him a lot of respect in the village.
He is given shelter in an unoccupied house which was once the shelter of royals of the village.
A few villagers show concern as to why he chose to live here as they believe the house is haunted.
He meets Marudhamuthu, a tractor driver and Velli’s would be husband. All of them are very much ready to help him.
Kalyanaraman is not able to stop thinking about Velli as he had an instant crush on her. But he also is afraid of Marudhamuthu and he reminds himself that he has come here for a different purpose.
He meets a number of people and kick starts his research. He records folk songs.
He meets a guy whose business is dependent on Bayascope who goes to village after the other. Kalyanaraman gets annoyed when Bayascope sings a random song and calls it to be a folk song.
Mean while he also starts teaching songs to the kids. The kids learn just for the chocolate that Kalyanaraman offers.
A new guest arrives. Snegalatha, the grand daughter of the royals comes here for a vacation.
Snegalatha showcases herself to be a broad minded person with her thoughts and her dressing sense. She does what she feels like doing and doesn’t care about what others might think of her actions.
Marudhamuthu is so fond of her and comes often to meet his Snegamma. They start hanging out. Gradually Velli gets suspicious of their relationship.
Velli confronts Marudhamuthu and asks him to be loyal to her. Marudhamuthu simply rejects her accusations and continues to hang out with Snegamma. This leads to a bitter relationship between Velli and Marudhamuthu. He even declares he is not going to marry Velli.
Meanwhile Snegalatha teases Kalyanaraman that he must be happy about these proceedings. She understood that Kalyanaraman has a crush on Velli.
Kalyanaraman finds an old book in the house. He is curious and starts reading it. He comes to know that it’s the dairy of Rathnavathi, the wife of the Jameendhar.
He had earlier heard that Ratnavathi committed suicide.
Rathnavathi is a soft spoken woman and she loves her gold ornaments.
She describes how her husband is on a spending spree. He drinks a lot and hangs out with the British. He also has extra marital affair with the British women. Rathnavathi is also subject to domestic violence. The Jameendhar wants Ranthnavathi to speak English and drink just like the British women.
The Jameendhar goes into a lot of debt. He starts selling his property. Still not able to payback his debts, he comes to Rathnavathi asking for her ornaments. She is in complete disagreement with this idea as she loves them a lot and also it has come to her from her ancestors.
In the meantime Snegalatha sees him reading this diary and gets to know it is written by Rathnavathi.
She claims rights over the diary and snatches it from Kalyanaraman.
Kalyanaraman couldn’t complete reading the dairy.
Snegalatha keeps reading the diary and finds a dry petal of a flower. She gets to know from Kalyanaraman that it is a Shenbagappoo petal.
Kalyanaraman doubts that Snegalatha and Marudhamuthu are conspiring something.
Snegalatha tells Kalyanaraman that she is going to collect Shenbagappoo with Marudhamuthu.
Velli’s hatred towards Snegalatha has reached its peak and she wants to bring it to an end. Velli meets the village priest and cries out her problem. The priest demands a good amount of money and a rooster to help her. He promised that he will bring to to an end with black magic. He offers a few stuff and tells Velli that these will take care of Snegalatha and advises Velli as to what she is supposed to do for the black magic to work.
Now is the time of the village festival. The village invites the district collector as the chief guest. Kalyanaraman has prepared the kids to display their singing talent. The village is awed by the kids’ performance.
Kalyanaraman and Snegalatha get the acquaintance of the collector.
A story telling show called Villupattu goes late into the night. The entire village is gathered in the festival grounds.
Kalyanaraman sees Snegalatha and Marudhamuthu escape from the crowd and walk to her shelter. Velli also notices this. Velli follows them. Kalyanaraman is observant of all these proceedings.
He is a research assistant and comes in search of folk songs.
As soon as he reaches the railway station he meets Velli, a naive, dark, and beautiful lady. She serves him as a porter until the village. A villager is already jealous of her as Kalyanaraman offers her 3 rupees for the help.
Hailing from the city, his dressing sense and his caste earns him a lot of respect in the village.
He is given shelter in an unoccupied house which was once the shelter of royals of the village.
A few villagers show concern as to why he chose to live here as they believe the house is haunted.
He meets Marudhamuthu, a tractor driver and Velli’s would be husband. All of them are very much ready to help him.
Kalyanaraman is not able to stop thinking about Velli as he had an instant crush on her. But he also is afraid of Marudhamuthu and he reminds himself that he has come here for a different purpose.
He meets a number of people and kick starts his research. He records folk songs.
He meets a guy whose business is dependent on Bayascope who goes to village after the other. Kalyanaraman gets annoyed when Bayascope sings a random song and calls it to be a folk song.
Mean while he also starts teaching songs to the kids. The kids learn just for the chocolate that Kalyanaraman offers.
A new guest arrives. Snegalatha, the grand daughter of the royals comes here for a vacation.
Snegalatha showcases herself to be a broad minded person with her thoughts and her dressing sense. She does what she feels like doing and doesn’t care about what others might think of her actions.
Marudhamuthu is so fond of her and comes often to meet his Snegamma. They start hanging out. Gradually Velli gets suspicious of their relationship.
Velli confronts Marudhamuthu and asks him to be loyal to her. Marudhamuthu simply rejects her accusations and continues to hang out with Snegamma. This leads to a bitter relationship between Velli and Marudhamuthu. He even declares he is not going to marry Velli.
Meanwhile Snegalatha teases Kalyanaraman that he must be happy about these proceedings. She understood that Kalyanaraman has a crush on Velli.
Kalyanaraman finds an old book in the house. He is curious and starts reading it. He comes to know that it’s the dairy of Rathnavathi, the wife of the Jameendhar.
He had earlier heard that Ratnavathi committed suicide.
Rathnavathi is a soft spoken woman and she loves her gold ornaments.
She describes how her husband is on a spending spree. He drinks a lot and hangs out with the British. He also has extra marital affair with the British women. Rathnavathi is also subject to domestic violence. The Jameendhar wants Ranthnavathi to speak English and drink just like the British women.
The Jameendhar goes into a lot of debt. He starts selling his property. Still not able to payback his debts, he comes to Rathnavathi asking for her ornaments. She is in complete disagreement with this idea as she loves them a lot and also it has come to her from her ancestors.
In the meantime Snegalatha sees him reading this diary and gets to know it is written by Rathnavathi.
She claims rights over the diary and snatches it from Kalyanaraman.
Kalyanaraman couldn’t complete reading the dairy.
Snegalatha keeps reading the diary and finds a dry petal of a flower. She gets to know from Kalyanaraman that it is a Shenbagappoo petal.
Kalyanaraman doubts that Snegalatha and Marudhamuthu are conspiring something.
Snegalatha tells Kalyanaraman that she is going to collect Shenbagappoo with Marudhamuthu.
Velli’s hatred towards Snegalatha has reached its peak and she wants to bring it to an end. Velli meets the village priest and cries out her problem. The priest demands a good amount of money and a rooster to help her. He promised that he will bring to to an end with black magic. He offers a few stuff and tells Velli that these will take care of Snegalatha and advises Velli as to what she is supposed to do for the black magic to work.
Now is the time of the village festival. The village invites the district collector as the chief guest. Kalyanaraman has prepared the kids to display their singing talent. The village is awed by the kids’ performance.
Kalyanaraman and Snegalatha get the acquaintance of the collector.
A story telling show called Villupattu goes late into the night. The entire village is gathered in the festival grounds.
Kalyanaraman sees Snegalatha and Marudhamuthu escape from the crowd and walk to her shelter. Velli also notices this. Velli follows them. Kalyanaraman is observant of all these proceedings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2020
Typical sujatha sir thriller, but with some difference. In sujatha sirs novels there will be that human element or some medical conditions which makes the killer / story different, that is missing here. Where as the thought of using village as plot makes sujatha sir give that touch to the people and environment around the murder. The person who takes the blame for killing takes the sujatha touch here.
The book is a page turner, no difference of opinion on it. But the climax is a bit let down. Some of the incidents in the middle portion of the story is predictable. Dialect of some of the characters seems to be forced, may be world was a bit different when the story was written to what it is now. But still it didnt feel on the flow without flaw.
Generally logics in sujatha book would be carefully handled that seems to have taken a hit here in the book, which according to me is bigger let down compared to others. For sujatha's fans a definite read, for others it can be considered for a non fictional read when you are in midst of serious book.
The book is a page turner, no difference of opinion on it. But the climax is a bit let down. Some of the incidents in the middle portion of the story is predictable. Dialect of some of the characters seems to be forced, may be world was a bit different when the story was written to what it is now. But still it didnt feel on the flow without flaw.
Generally logics in sujatha book would be carefully handled that seems to have taken a hit here in the book, which according to me is bigger let down compared to others. For sujatha's fans a definite read, for others it can be considered for a non fictional read when you are in midst of serious book.
June 23, 2017
Story full of Suspense and thrill, very interesting Novel. want to read one more time.
கடைசியாக:
"முன்னோர்கள் உரைப்படியே
முடித்துவிட்டேன் இக்கதையை
நன்றாக படிப்போரும்
நவில்வோரும் வாழியவே"
-சுஜாதா
கடைசியாக:
"முன்னோர்கள் உரைப்படியே
முடித்துவிட்டேன் இக்கதையை
நன்றாக படிப்போரும்
நவில்வோரும் வாழியவே"
-சுஜாதா
December 4, 2018
The best thriller novel that i have red in Tamil.. Whata writer Sujatha was..The characterization of Rathnavathy in this story made me frightened..The climax part was extraordinary😍👌
June 16, 2022
Good Crime Thriller story by Sujatha.
December 26, 2013
I borrowed this book from my mom's collection.yes because of the name sujatha(author of the book).I don't know how to describe this book.Its about village life and their music "natupura paadalgal"(folk music) and also its a thriller.what I really like in this book is the description of folk songs.Only access to folk songs for me is my great great grand mother(grand mother of my grand mother,yes she is still living healthily to sing those songs to me).Unlike my sister I am not trained in carnatic music but good listener.Though folk singers don't have good control over their voice surely they are more pleasant to ordinary ears and I feel that more efforts should be taken besides the one already taken to record all areas of folk music since unlike carnatic music folk songs come by village experience not by learning and that experience is dead in 2013.
pleasant reading though his Tamil is not pleasant.
pleasant reading though his Tamil is not pleasant.
July 20, 2013
A nail-biting thriller with ample dose of "Manvasanai"
Brilliant plot , stylish narration , and some beautiful folk songs.
Sujatha at his very best!!
Brilliant plot , stylish narration , and some beautiful folk songs.
Sujatha at his very best!!
August 25, 2013
One of the best thrillers from the evergreen author - Sujatha
July 1, 2018
A Good thirller in tamil. Started reading not knowing it was thirller . The gradual buildup of the story to a thriller was very nice and was plesantly suprised...
January 12, 2021
இறுதியில் கண்டிப்பாக படிப்பவர் கண்ணில் ஒரு துளி நீர் எட்டி பார்க்கும்.
July 26, 2024
The plot kickstarts with Kalyanaraman arriving at a village to learn about their folk music tradition. He gets to stay at the house of an Zamindar, a bungalow that houses many secrets. He gets acquainted with the village belle Velli and falls for her, but unfortunately she is engaged to Marudhamuthu, whom Kalyanaraman starts disliking. Herein arrives Snehalatha, who says that she is the local Zamindar’s grand daughter.
Snehalatha has come to see her grandfather’s house and stay over for a few days. Her care-free attitude and apparently 'free' nature, enthuses the village men, especially Marudhamuthu. Her mysteriousness and closeness with Marudhamuthu leds Kalyanaraman to believe that there is something more than what meets the eye and this mysteriousness has increased since the discovery of the dead Zamindar’s dead wife which seems to talk about a secret treasure. There are the village thiruvilas, the naatu paatu that Kalyanaraman engages with and in the final section, this becomes a murder mystery and leads to an intense conflict and finale.
What a wonderful writer Sujatha is, natural and classy, with a very lived-in description of the village and villagers. Special kudos to the audio narrators, who have excellently modulated their voice to present the tale.
Snehalatha has come to see her grandfather’s house and stay over for a few days. Her care-free attitude and apparently 'free' nature, enthuses the village men, especially Marudhamuthu. Her mysteriousness and closeness with Marudhamuthu leds Kalyanaraman to believe that there is something more than what meets the eye and this mysteriousness has increased since the discovery of the dead Zamindar’s dead wife which seems to talk about a secret treasure. There are the village thiruvilas, the naatu paatu that Kalyanaraman engages with and in the final section, this becomes a murder mystery and leads to an intense conflict and finale.
What a wonderful writer Sujatha is, natural and classy, with a very lived-in description of the village and villagers. Special kudos to the audio narrators, who have excellently modulated their voice to present the tale.
August 27, 2021
A book !!KARAIYELLAM SHENBAGAPOO!! Written by Sujatha. Although a suspense-thriller but the first half we get a feeling of reading a romantic tale of 4 people, Kalyanaraman's interest in Velli, Velli in love with Maruthamuthu, and Maruthamuthu falling for Snegalatha. The second half concentrates on the core plot with the theme "Kill-Escape-Chase-Arrest".
The story starts with Kalyanaraman's arrival to a village for research on the folksongs and gets settled at a village zamindar's long-vacant bungalow with the help of a local village girl Velli. At night he hears footsteps and experiences disturbing events at the bungalow unable to find the person behind. Later there appears a girl, Snegalatha who is introduced to Kalyanaraman as zamindar's daughter who says she has come there for a vacation. Both Velli and Maruthamuthu (cousin of Velli, where both of them are about to get married) lend their helping hand to the 2 new guests which ultimately leads to hate and brawl among Velli and Snegalatha when Maruthamuthu starts falling for Snegalatha. Over the course, the situation turns out so that Kalyanaraman and Snegalatha question one another whether have they really come for the purpose of what they say? But one of them lie and who is the liar? Does any of them have got any connection with the person appearing in the night? The plot revolves around these four people Kalyanaraman, Velli, Maruthamuthu, and Snegalatha where one of them gets murdered on the night of the village festival, "Who-Why-For what-By whom" forms the second part. Until author reveals himself it's unable to make a proper guess of the murderer.
Sir Sujatha has kept the second half more interesting and fast paced but the slow first half makes it to miss a top-notch suspense thriller... Only for the age group of 18+...
Please don't read it in pirated version...
The story starts with Kalyanaraman's arrival to a village for research on the folksongs and gets settled at a village zamindar's long-vacant bungalow with the help of a local village girl Velli. At night he hears footsteps and experiences disturbing events at the bungalow unable to find the person behind. Later there appears a girl, Snegalatha who is introduced to Kalyanaraman as zamindar's daughter who says she has come there for a vacation. Both Velli and Maruthamuthu (cousin of Velli, where both of them are about to get married) lend their helping hand to the 2 new guests which ultimately leads to hate and brawl among Velli and Snegalatha when Maruthamuthu starts falling for Snegalatha. Over the course, the situation turns out so that Kalyanaraman and Snegalatha question one another whether have they really come for the purpose of what they say? But one of them lie and who is the liar? Does any of them have got any connection with the person appearing in the night? The plot revolves around these four people Kalyanaraman, Velli, Maruthamuthu, and Snegalatha where one of them gets murdered on the night of the village festival, "Who-Why-For what-By whom" forms the second part. Until author reveals himself it's unable to make a proper guess of the murderer.
Sir Sujatha has kept the second half more interesting and fast paced but the slow first half makes it to miss a top-notch suspense thriller... Only for the age group of 18+...
Please don't read it in pirated version...
October 6, 2025
சுஜாதா, தமிழ் இலக்கிய உலகில் பரவலாக அறியப்படும் ஒரு எழுத்தாளர்.
அவரது த்ரில்லர் மற்றும் அறிவியல் சார்ந்த நாவல்களுக்காக பெரும் புகழ்ப்பெற்றவர் மற்றும் குமுதம், ஆனந்த விகடன், கல்கி என பல வார இதழ்களின் மூலம் இலக்கிய வட்டாரம் தாண்டி வெகுஜன மக்களால் அறியப்பட்டவர். தமிழ்த்திரை உலகில், கதாசிரியர் மற்றும் வசனகர்த்தாவாக 1970-களில் தொடங்கி அவரது இறுதி நாள் வரை பல படைப்புகளை அளித்துள்ளார்.
அப்படி த்ரில்லர் நாவலாக எழுதப்பட்டு, நாட்டுப்புறப் பாடல்களின் தொகுப்புகளை உள்ளடக்கிய இந்த கதையும் பின்னாளில் திரைப்படமாக உருவாக்கம் பெற்றது.
நகரத்து வாலிபன் ஒருவன் தனது நாட்டுப்பாடல் ஆராய்ச்சிக்காக ஒரு கிராமத்திற்க்கு செல்கிறான், அங்கு வேறு ஒரு சூழ்ச்சியோடு வரும் கூட்டத்திற்கும், வெள்ளந்தியான கிராம மக்களுக்கும், காலத்தால் முன்னும், பின்னும் என அழகே பின்னப்பட்ட ஒரு விறுவிறுப்பான கதை. நாவல் வடிவில் கதாப்பாத்திரங்களின் முகம் சற்று வேறாகவும், திரை வடிவில் சற்று வேறாகவும் சித்தரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
நல்ல ஒரு த்ரில்லர் (நாவல்) (திரைப்படம்).
அவரது த்ரில்லர் மற்றும் அறிவியல் சார்ந்த நாவல்களுக்காக பெரும் புகழ்ப்பெற்றவர் மற்றும் குமுதம், ஆனந்த விகடன், கல்கி என பல வார இதழ்களின் மூலம் இலக்கிய வட்டாரம் தாண்டி வெகுஜன மக்களால் அறியப்பட்டவர். தமிழ்த்திரை உலகில், கதாசிரியர் மற்றும் வசனகர்த்தாவாக 1970-களில் தொடங்கி அவரது இறுதி நாள் வரை பல படைப்புகளை அளித்துள்ளார்.
அப்படி த்ரில்லர் நாவலாக எழுதப்பட்டு, நாட்டுப்புறப் பாடல்களின் தொகுப்புகளை உள்ளடக்கிய இந்த கதையும் பின்னாளில் திரைப்படமாக உருவாக்கம் பெற்றது.
நகரத்து வாலிபன் ஒருவன் தனது நாட்டுப்பாடல் ஆராய்ச்சிக்காக ஒரு கிராமத்திற்க்கு செல்கிறான், அங்கு வேறு ஒரு சூழ்ச்சியோடு வரும் கூட்டத்திற்கும், வெள்ளந்தியான கிராம மக்களுக்கும், காலத்தால் முன்னும், பின்னும் என அழகே பின்னப்பட்ட ஒரு விறுவிறுப்பான கதை. நாவல் வடிவில் கதாப்பாத்திரங்களின் முகம் சற்று வேறாகவும், திரை வடிவில் சற்று வேறாகவும் சித்தரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
நல்ல ஒரு த்ரில்லர் (நாவல்) (திரைப்படம்).
February 12, 2025
தமிழ்நாட்டில் மானுடவியல் மற்றும் உளவியல் பார்வையில் கிராமத்தின் நாட்டார் கதைகள் அறிவது அவசியம். பழையனுர் நீலி என்ற நாட்டார் தெய்வத்தின் கதையை மையமாக வைத்து எழுதப்பட்ட மர்ம கதை தான் "கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ".
கல்யாணராமன் எனும் இளைஞன் நாட்டுப்புற பாடல் ஆராய்ச்சிக்காக திருநிலம் எனும் கிராமத்திற்கு வருகிறான். அங்கே வெள்ளி, மருதமுத்து, சினேகாலதா என்று பல கதாபாத்திரங்கள் மூலம் விறுவிறுப்பாக கதை நகர்கிறது. திடீரென ஒரு கொலை நிகழ அதை சுற்றியுள்ள மர்ம முடிச்சுகளை கல்யாணராமன் எப்படி அவிழ்க்கிறார் என்பதே கதை.
வெகுநாட்களுக்கு பிறகு சுஜாதாவின் நாவலை படிக்கிறேன். நேரம் கடந்தது தெரியவில்லை :)
8 Jan 2025 (9am) - 11 Feb 2025 (8.51pm)
கல்யாணராமன் எனும் இளைஞன் நாட்டுப்புற பாடல் ஆராய்ச்சிக்காக திருநிலம் எனும் கிராமத்திற்கு வருகிறான். அங்கே வெள்ளி, மருதமுத்து, சினேகாலதா என்று பல கதாபாத்திரங்கள் மூலம் விறுவிறுப்பாக கதை நகர்கிறது. திடீரென ஒரு கொலை நிகழ அதை சுற்றியுள்ள மர்ம முடிச்சுகளை கல்யாணராமன் எப்படி அவிழ்க்கிறார் என்பதே கதை.
வெகுநாட்களுக்கு பிறகு சுஜாதாவின் நாவலை படிக்கிறேன். நேரம் கடந்தது தெரியவில்லை :)
8 Jan 2025 (9am) - 11 Feb 2025 (8.51pm)
March 24, 2021
Karaiyellam Shenbagappoo is a delightful murder mystery set in a village in Tirunelveli district. Our protagonist is a guitar wielding, cigarette smoking, brahmin, Kalyanaraman, whose fascination for Tamil folk songs brings him to the remote village. With a host of powerfully portrayed characters, Velli, Marudamuthu, Snehalatha and the hard at hearing old woman, Periyatha, Sujatha’s novel is particularly endearing as he successfully weaves in real folk songs from Tirunelveli area into his story. Karaiyellam Shenbagappoo is, in my reckoning, one of Sujatha’s best works.
June 8, 2020
Warning: Might contain spoilers. Beautiful writing by Sujatha sir. This book slowly dragged me inside.
Kalyaana Raaman, Velli, Periyaatha, Marudhamuthu, SnehaLatha, Rathnavadhi characters were well written and stays in mind even after finishing the book. I got little emotional at climax and was able to visualize the scene at railway station. I felt sad for Kalyaana Raaman.
வெள்ளி என்ன சொல்ல நினைத்தால்
l am wondering like Kalyaana Raaman.
Kalyaana Raaman, Velli, Periyaatha, Marudhamuthu, SnehaLatha, Rathnavadhi characters were well written and stays in mind even after finishing the book. I got little emotional at climax and was able to visualize the scene at railway station. I felt sad for Kalyaana Raaman.
வெள்ளி என்ன சொல்ல நினைத்தால்
l am wondering like Kalyaana Raaman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2021
கிராமத்தில் நடக்கும் ஒரு திகில் கதை. புத்தகம் முழுக்க சுவாரஸ்யம் நிரம்பி கிடக்கிறது. நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்களை பற்றிய ஒரு எளிய அறிமுகம் கிடைக்கிறது. காதல், காமம், பேராசை, வஞ்சகம் என மனிதனின் பெரும்பாலான உணர்ச்சிகளை வைத்து சுஜாதா இக்கதையினை எழுதியிருக்கிறார். கல்யாணராமன் மற்றும் வெள்ளியின் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் மனதில் ஆளப் பதிகின்றன.
August 17, 2020
Good read
Excellent book from Sujatha. A perfect combination of suspence and thrill.
Spoiler:
Attraction between Kalyanaraman and Velli seems very forced. Snehalata character could have been framed better
Excellent book from Sujatha. A perfect combination of suspence and thrill.
Spoiler:
Attraction between Kalyanaraman and Velli seems very forced. Snehalata character could have been framed better
August 15, 2022
This was just excellent. A neatly packed novel with a confined environment (the village) and the mystery revolving around the big house in the village. Very well written characters and this is so far my second favorite Sujatha book after "Kolaiyudhir Kalam".
May 3, 2018
Very interesting mystery novel set in a rustic milieu. After reading about 70% it struck me that this novel was made a movie as well. The pace of the story and the plot were very interesting.
December 22, 2018
Thathroopama gramathu kadhai. Good mystery
September 4, 2019
Super mystery thriller from sujatha
February 13, 2020
Novel is engaging with interesting twists.I would say this is Sujatha's best novel.
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