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Book A Silly Story of Bondapalli
Film Raavan
Author Shamim Padamsee
Director Mani Ratnam
Illustrator Ashok Rajagopalan
Language Hindi
Price `135
WHEN you mix a handful of animated words into a bowl of spicy illustrations and then drop them into a crackling pot brewing with a story, you get the perfect recipe for a children’s book and that’s what ‘A Silly Story of Bondapalli’ is made of. Shamim Padamsee, along with illustrator, Ashok Rajagopalan, has managed to create a believable space, Bondapalli, with characters that come alive with their expressive eyes, be it a cat or a cook, and takes you through the travails of a fussy little prince and his food fetish. What follows is a sometimes funny, sometimes ludicrous set of events that lead to, yes, a happy ending, with the ubiquitous ‘bonda’ (a popular Indian snack) taking centrestage. If you are familiar with the author’s other work, you will recognise Shamim’s lucid narration and careful choice of words, mirroring her passion for “early childhood education”. The illustrator, also a writer himself, lends credibility and visual flavour, making this the perfect pick for reading aloud or letting your child discover the book on his/her own terms. Nothing silly about this book as much as a lively imagination that takes over. And I am glad it says 5 ‘+’, because I don’t have to be the least bit embarrassed about the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Note: Shamim also hosts a not-for-profit initiative at www.youngindiabooks.com that gives you a comprehensive, neatly indexed and reviewed treasure trove of Indian books for children.
MANI Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’ comes close to the Raavan in the Indian epic Ramayana by nature of the abduction of the beautiful Sita (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). However, it goes beyond a simplistic retelling of the well-known story because it highlights the rise of the anti-hero cult in the current socioeconomic and political spheres of life. I have long believed that the mask of cynical brilliance worn by antiheroes serves to hide profound loneliness – the feeling of ‘otherness’ that arises from exclusion of class, language, culture, or sex. The fact that we have all at one time or another experienced this sense of “otherness” is what gives the antihero his power and our sympathy. Here the (anti-)hero has not one but many tragic flaws: he is a product of our times and a victim of circumstances; thus, he arouses our empathy, love, and eventually forgiveness. In ‘Raavan’, Mani Ratnam has presented our world of mediocrity; he portrays life the way it is – with no blacks and whites, only shades of grey. It is in this world that the average man becomes the hero of our times: he is not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and thus has to struggle to survive. In ‘Raavan’, Aishwarya is as exotic, ethereal and convincing as Abhishek is charming and humorous; and the thumping beat of AR Rahman’s music makes the beautiful cinematography spectacularly dramatic. ‘Raavan’ is not only an entertaining and beautiful film to watch but also makes us question the values and morality system of today’s society. — By Jyoti Nair
culturama | november 2010
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