Padmavati
Translated from Tamil by Meenakshi Tyagarajan
A Madhaviah
Katha
288 pages/Rs 250
Dated novels, like period films, are forever suspended in timelessness. Their attention to authentic detail may be of use to the student of history or sociology, but once the milieu they so painstakingly portray is consigned to history, it is the eternal human drama that continues to connect with the general reader.
It helps that, unlike period films, the now-dated novel was never an attempt at recreating times long past. So there is none of the affected attempt at situating the story. But, then again, perhaps the likening to period films is slightly erroneous. For, both in its form and attitude, this novel appears to have a lot more in common with classical Indian theatre.
Padmavati Charithiram, Anantanarayanan Madhaviah