TAMIL
Vintage collection
CHARUKESI
OHO KATHAIGAL: SVK; Alliance Co., 244, R.K. Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600004. Rs. 75.
THIS COLLECTION has 24 short stories, many of which are on serious themes, while a few are laced with light humour. One could observe the generational distance in content and narration, but yet they have a vintage appeal.
‘Rasi Kondai’ is a typical SVK product with his penchant for humour. The hairdo is done according to the ‘rasi’ of the week that would bring luck to the ladies! ‘Leave Travel Allowance’, ‘Sangeetha Vizhaavil Verandah Rasikar’, ‘Retiraagi Sampathippathu Eppadi?’ and a few more are of this genre.
In contrast, ‘Oru Maatha Gedu’ deals with the couple Aparna and Gokul who have decided to separate. After a month, when the wife takes leave of her husband, the latter asks her to ignore the ‘gedu’ and stay for six more months. But what were missing are the crucial reason for separation and the cause for the sudden change of mind on the part of the husband, who pleads for giving a try for six more months. The end in ‘Dhandanai’ is a bit startling, but the author has given enough clues of the frustrated Menaka behaving the way she did and the change of attitude of her reconciled husband in accepting the newborn.
‘Poli’ is a serious story which again probes the minds of a couple, Babu and Nalini.
‘Sandhippu’ is another poignant episode of a deserted wife meeting her husband years later, but is unable to reveal it to her son. ‘Devan Kayyil En Mudhal Kathai’ does not fit in this compilation as it is a personal experience of the author. Proof reading has not been up to the mark.
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