Language: English
Author: Vamsee Juluri
Historical fantasy is a historic fiction genre that weaves beautiful visuals into the story spun. Prof Juluri in this work paints a beautiful picture of the life in the Ramayanic Kishkinda, the people and their politics. This volume travels with Hanuman who blossoms from an active, naughty Kishkindavaasi to someone haunted by an accidental Paramadharma Apachaara (breach of a code of conduct) to emerging a superhero, a saviour of the civilization.
The simple Paramadharma Apachaara forms the basis of this volume, taking us through a roller coaster ride, a beautiful one from the moment Sugreeva takes a tumble. Prof Juluri does a beautiful job of making sure all the characters are etched deep into your memory long after you've finished the volume, from a selfish, scheming Risksharaja, the sagely Kesari & Anjana, the wise guru Vishwamitra and Vaishnavi (Suvarchala). The Ganeshas, Jatayus and the rest make this Kishkindan journey a very memorable one. The exchanges between Vaishnavi and Hanuman offer a bit more colour and volume to the narrative.
Overall, this is a great book to read, a story / narrative that stays with you like an Illayaraja BGM. In story telling, Prof Juluri would come a close second to the (fabled & celebrated) grandmothers of India who always had the great knack and ability to weave a bit of fantasy to the Puranic or historic story they narrated.
And yes, this volume is a Ragamaalika of sorts. As you turn the pages you get transported from Adventure to Sentiment to War to Spiritual to Philosophy (in a readable, understandable form !!) to Romance (was it ?).
Fantastic read !! I am looking forward to the next volume.
