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Gods and demons
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Anita Nair’s book for children is inspired by her mother and grandmother’s story-telling
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Photo: Sampath Kumar g.p.
GODS IN MULTI-MEDIA Storytelling went hand-in-hand with dance and music
As howls rent the air and our hair stood on end, we watched a dancer take the stage. Dark lighting, dramatic sounds and eerie music set the tone for the reading of writer Anita Nair’s new book “The Puffin Book of Magical Indian Myths̶
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Illustrated by Atanu Roy, the book has 50 mythological stories, some familiar and some not so familiar. Penguin Books India, in association with Crossword book store launched the book. “The moment Taraka was born, jackals howled, donkeys brayed, the skies darkened and owls hooted,” read Anita Nair, sitting comfortably on a stool, with the spotlight shining on her.
Storytelling went hand-in-hand with dance and music as Preeti Sunderajan of the Shiri Dance Company complemented the reading. As Anita Nair read out the opening lines of Taraka’s story, Preeti danced to denote the extreme forms of penance that the rakshasa performed to please Brahma.
The book, inspired by the story-telling of the author’s mother and grandmother, includes the stories behind six of Vishnu’s avatars. Apart from the familiar stories about Ganesha’s elephant head, and Nachiketa’s tryst with Yama, the book contains some stories that are not well-known. Not many children would know “How Pushan Became Toothless”, or “How Indra Prevented Drought”.
“There are many books about Indian mythological stories, but the beauty is that there are so many different versions,” said the author. “During my talks with experts of Kathakali I found so many stories within stories. One of the beautiful things that I realised was that gods don’t always have to be nice and that demons often get the lean side of the stick!”
Atanu Roy’s painstaking illustrations do justice to Anita Nair’s prose. Whether it is the fine lacy fin of Matsya, the exaggerated foot of Vamana, or the pretty Parijatha tree that Krishna stole, the illustrations are a mixed bag, and they follow different styles of artwork. “This is the first time I have illustrated mythology. And the first time I have illustrated using water colours,” said Atanu Roy. “But Anita’s writing is so pictorial and descriptive that the work becomes easy for an illustrator,” he added. If the colourful book remains in the minds of the people who were at the book launch, it will also be because of the haunting nature of singer-composer Sumathi’s voice, and percussionist-composer D.V. Prasanna Kumar’s support.
Sumathi, who has trained under Pandit Rama Rao Naik, enjoys experimenting with music and uses her talent in innovative ways. As Sumathi sang “Ado banthu maley”, supported by the young singer Deepu, Preeti danced with joy, shimmering in her dress designed by Hamsa Moily.
For readers around the world, the book is sure to bring back the joy that Amar Chitra Katha’s stories once brought. And readers are sure to wonder what happened to the beautiful maiden who was sent to entice Rishyashringa? Why did he marry the princess if he was so besotted by the beautiful dancer Lalita? Maybe the next set of mythological stories would answer that and the dozens of other unanswered questions that come up during the reading of this Puffin book.
MALA KUMAR
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