Source : Times of India
Bestselling author Anand Neelakantan is ready with his new book and he just revealed its cover today. The Baahubali author’s latest novel is titled Vanara: The Legend of Bali, Sugreeva and Tara. Published by Penguin Random House India, Vanara will be out this Dussehra.
A press release by the publisher reads, “Vanara is a classic tale of love, lust and betrayal. Shakespearean in its tragic depth and epic in its sweep, Vanara gives voice to the greatest warrior in the Ramayana-Baali.”
Milee Ashwarya, Editor in cheif, Commercial and Business Books, Penguin Random House India,shared her excitement on Twitter over the release of the cover.
Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar also took to social media to share his thoughts on the upcoming book.
Actor Dhanush also showed his excitement over Neelakantan’s book. He said:
Famous for giving unorthodox spins to mythological tales, the Write India author this time will narrate the epic tale of the Vanara brothers from Ramayana — Bali and Sugreeva. Vanara will also focus on Tara, the queen of Kishkindha.
The author himself said, “It is true that, except for my previous novel Rise of Sivagami, which was based on the Baahubali movie, all my novels are from the antagonist perspective… I love to explore our epics from all perspectives. Vanaras have a fascinating story and this novel explores the Vanara Kingdom, its King Baali, his brother Sugreeva and Tara, the woman they both loved. It is arguably the world’s first love triangle.”
Neelakantan also iterates the underlying message in the novel for young readers in the country, “Never believe anything without questioning. Every story has many sides. There are no absolute rights and wrongs. These are the messages that ancient Indian wisdom has given to the world. I try to reiterate the same through my works. That is why I explore age old epics from all angles.”
Neelakantan has previously written five mythological fiction books, all of which are bestsellers. His last novel before Vanara was Baahubali: Rise of Sivagami, the first part of a trilogy, adapted from the blockbuster movie.
Anand Neelakantan has been celebrated for his portrayal of mythological villains in a more neutral light, blurring the
distinctions between what’s good and what’s pure evil. His novels Asura and Ajaya were written from the perspective of Ravana and Duryodhona respectively.
Neelakantan’s latest novel Vanara will illustrate the love story between Bali, Sugreeva, and Tara. and chronicle how the yearning for Tara became the cause of a fraternal war that’s etched in Hindu mythology forever
