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Title: Vandargal Vendrargal
Author: Madhan
Narrator: Charles K
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
Language: English
Release date: 01-14-08
Publisher: New Horizon Media
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 58 votes
Genres: History, World
Publisher's Summary:
History! What could be more boring than memorizing dates and years? How many attempts did Mohammed Ghazni make on India before he finally succeeded in conquering it? Who was the last Moghul? Who built the Jama Masjid?
Rote learning is now history. And history can be fun. Madan's Vandargal Vendrargal is an enjoyable listen as much as it is packed with the facts of history. Examples of Madan's refreshingly different approach to writing history:
Members Reviews:
Awesome content, horrible rendition
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I am a fan of Madhan. I read Vandargal Vendrargal when it was published in Ju.Vi. The content of this book surpasses all expectations I had. However, the rendition of the book is comically horrendous.
Charles's rendition is very odd.
- His "zha" is not quite there. In some cases, it's pretty good, in some cases, it's "la" and in most cases, it's in between.
- I understand that Tamil doesn't differentiate between ka / ga, cha / sa, pa / ba. This means for words like Koyya, since there is no real guideline, some of us say koyya and if you are from Chennai, you said Goyya. Fair enough.
But for words that are available in other languages, you use that as a guideline. When you read "opium" in Tamil, you enunciate it as "opium", not as "obium" - as Charles says it - like 500 times in the book. The first time is comical, the tenth time is irritating and by the 100th time, you are hitting your head on the wall.
I have no idea how Durga Das can be read as Turga Das; or bayam as payam; or beedhi as peedhi.
If there is a ka / ga, cha / sa, pa / ba, you can expect Charles to read it exactly the opposite way you expect the word to sound. Then he would drop a gem like "Chakravarthy Sandhini Chowk-il Choorayadinar" - your head will explode. If you are going to say everything with a "cha", why on earth would you just say Chandni alone as "Sandhini" ?
- Words that should be split become one. Maham Anga becomes Mahamanga. Words that are one become split.
- Charles misunderstands how to read a lively book. This is not a dramatization of the book. Good narrators apply accents to characters; they don't mimic. Mimicry isn't dramatization. Charles fails horribly when he tries to make the content lively; instead of dramatization, he resorts to mimicry and fails miserably at that.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Humayun. If Humayun had to listen to this Audible book, he would device a novel cruel punishment like making Charles listen to this audio book in a never ending loop till the end.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Charles K?
Madhan. I have heard Madhan speak; I can sense the humor and awe in the words, which Charles butchers mercilessly like Timur and Nadir Shah.
Do you think Vandargal Vendrargal needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
It has to be redone with Madhan reading it.
Any additional comments?
All Charles' renditions / narrations should be retired from Audible to save Tamil and the listeners.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
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What was one of the most memorable moments of Vandargal Vendrargal?
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What does Charles K bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
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