Vel Pari: The Tamilakam War

Legend to Realism.Were the legends surrounding Pari true? Are there rational explanations to his outlandish deeds? Did he gift his chariot to a jasmine vine? He did not have an heir. Why did he not remarry?Did Pari succumb to the treachery of the Cholan, Cheran and Pandyan kings?The three kings were renowned for their code of chivalry and dharma.How did Pari die?Was he murdered by his own courtiers who then blamed the three kings?Historians found little common ground.But they agree that Pari and the influential poet, Kapilar, were fast friends.Kapilar wrote his ground breaking work, Song of the Kurinji. What was the genesis of this work?Why did Kapilar commit suicide?This is the story of Pari as told by Kapilar and one other, a man who lurked in the shadows; a man who did not lend his name to written history: Kachagan, Raj Guru of the Cholan Empire. Written in the first person, Kapilar and Kachagan relate the events they witnessed and lived.Who narrates the truer version of history? You decide.NoteKapilar's extant poetry is the primary source for information on Vel Pari. The two men were friends, and the former sang the latter's praises. There is at least one black & white Tamil movie that depicts Pari's life. The movie portrays Pari as a flawless character; and the Cheran, Cholan and Pandyan as the bad guys.Vel Pari, the Tamilakam War portrays believable characters on both sides of the divide; people who struggle with their internal demons. This realistic and sometimes gritty portrayal of the characters and events might not sit well with all readers.