Ponniyin Selvan (Kalki) Tamil - Read & enjoy Tamil literature

You can now read the novel in Landscape Mode as well. Additionally, you can swipe down to access the menu and swipe left or right to turn the pages.

How many of you have a desire to visit the land of the Cholas? When referring to the Chola Kingdom, I mean not the present Tamil Nadu but the era around 1000 AD. It was a golden age in history, a time when elephants plowed the fields. If you're eager to experience that era, download this magnificent novel onto your mobile device and immerse yourself in its narrative. You will feel as if you are wandering through the Chola kingdom, as Kalki transports you back to that time.

No other author has provided such exquisite prose until now; this achievement is solely attributed to Kalki. Notably, this novel has been translated into English three times. While reading, you will surely feel the characters of this story come alive around you. This text is captivating and can be read multiple times—some readers have gone through it over fifty times!

As you read this book, you will yearn for the tale to continue indefinitely. We take great pride in making this historical novel available for digital download directly on your mobile device, encouraging everyone to read and benefit from it. Dive into it and step into a new world.

Ponniyin Selvan is a remarkable 2400-page Tamil historical novel from the 20th century, penned by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Comprising five volumes, the story recounts the life of Arulmozhivarman (later known as Rajaraja Chola I), a king of the Chola Dynasty during the 10th and 11th centuries. Kalki dedicated approximately three years and six months to complete this work, during which he visited Sri Lanka three times to gather information for his writing.

We are pleased to bring this novel to your Android mobile device and hope that all readers will cherish this free version.

About the App

TAMIL TEXT RENDERING ENGINE

This collection of stories is presented in a book-style format with clear Tamil text, enhancing the reading experience.

READING PREFERENCES

You can adjust font sizes and backgrounds according to your own liking. Below are the available reading modes.

Day Light

Night Mode

Sepia

Modern

OTHER FEATURES

You can create and manage bookmarks to revisit read pages, and every time you open the app, it will take you to the last page you were reading. The pages will be displayed in full-screen mode, and you can navigate by swiping left or right.

Your Portal to the Chola Empire

Reading Ponniyin Selvan through this app feels less like scrolling text and more like stepping through a time portal. As someone who’d only encountered snippets of Kalki’s masterpiece before, I’m utterly captivated by how the Tamil text rendering engine breathes life into every sentence – the characters practically rise from the screen with poetic precision. The sweeping battle scenes, intricate political intrigues, and vivid descriptions of 11th-century Chola life become immersive in landscape mode, turning my tablet into a canvas where the Kaveri delta unfolds in cinematic detail.

What truly astonishes me is how modern touches deepen the immersion. Night Mode transforms evening reading into torchlit whispers in a Chola courtyard, while Sepia mode lends historical weight to Aditya Karikalan’s dialogues. The intelligent bookmarking and "resume where you left" functionality are indispensable for navigating 2,400 pages of epic storytelling. 

Swipe navigation makes page-turning intuitive, and adjustable fonts eliminate eye strain during marathon sessions. Kalki’s genius shines brighter here than any translation I’ve tried – you taste the dust of Thondaimandalam roads, smell the salt air of Nagapattinam, and feel the urgency of Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan’s quests. This isn’t just reading; it’s time travel. An essential, reverent tribute to Tamil literature that every history lover deserves.

Reader Support

Q: Does the app include English translations mentioned in the description?

The current Android release features the original Tamil text only. The three English translations referenced are separate publications – this app focuses on authentic Tamil immersion.

Q: Can I download the entire novel for offline reading?

Yes! Once installed, the full text is available offline. Perfect for travel or areas with unstable connectivity.

Q: Are audiobook or narration features supported?

Not currently. The experience centers on visual/original text engagement rather than audio.

Q: How customizable are fonts and themes?

Deeply flexible: choose from 4 reading themes (Day/Night/Sepia/Modern) and adjust font sizes dynamically for comfort.

Q: Does horizontal swipe work in portrait orientation?

Absolutely – swipe left/right navigates pages seamlessly in both portrait and landscape modes.

Q: Can I annotate or highlight passages?

While bookmarking saves page locations, text highlighting/annotation isn’t supported in this version.