Kalki Krishnamurthy · 1955 · overland

In Kalki's beloved epic of the tenth-century Chola empire, the daring young messenger Vandiyathevan crosses the Tamil country carrying a secret warning of a coup, while Princess Kundavai sends him on to Sri Lanka to bring home her brother, the future emperor Rajaraja Chola.

1. 1
   Kanchipuram

   The crown prince Aditha Karikalan dispatches Vandiyathevan from Kanchi with urgent secret messages for the emperor and the princess.

2. 2
   Kadambur

   Sheltering at the Kadambur fort, Vandiyathevan stumbles upon a moonlit council of chieftains conspiring to seize the Chola throne.

3. 3
   Thanjavur

   Slipping into the guarded capital, he warns the ailing emperor Sundara Chola before the suspicious Pazhuvettaraiyars force him to flee.

4. 4
   Pazhayarai

   At the old royal city he reaches the shrewd Princess Kundavai, who grasps the danger and sends him onward at once.

5. 5
   Kodikkarai

   At the lighthouse point on the coast the fearless boatwoman Poonguzhali agrees to ferry him across the strait.

6. 6
   Lanka

   He crosses to war-torn Sri Lanka to find Prince Arulmozhi Varman and carry Kundavai's summons home.