'A Kingdom for his Love' is co-authored by Vani Mahesh and Shinie Antony and published by Amar Chitra Katha. It is a retelling of Bhasa's Sanskrit play "Swapna Vasavadatta."
The authors say they looked at multiple sources - Kathasarithasagara and Bhasa's original Sanskrit play Swapna Vasavadatta as also the Udayana comic from Amar Chitra Katha while working on the book.
According to Vani, Udayana and Vasavadatta is an endearing classic love story - a valourous young king falling in love with a beautiful feisty princess of the enemy land.
"It was a happy experience to research for and write this novel. Shinie and I have strived to bring out a small part of the hidden literary wealth of India and hope people find it an enjoyable read," she told PTI.
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Asked how did this collaboration happened, Shinie says, "Amar Chitra Katha has always been a treasure chest of mythology, and when they turned to adult fiction, it seemed almost biological. Vani works with them and I have worked with them once upon a time, very briefly, so that when they approached us with the story we were only too happy."
kings and princesses falling for each other in an old, more forbidden time. Contemporary romances are easily accessible, but flashback love, with the constraints and conditions of that period, are equally if not more delicious," Shinie says.
Udayana is known for his brave disposition and effective rule. But what makes him truly special is his magical veena, Ghoshavati, with which he can subdue even the wildest creatures, leave alone humans.
Udayana's particular interest is in taming wild elephants, and during one such forest sojourn, he is tricked and brutally captured by members of the rival kingdom of Ujjaini.
Everything is going according to plan, except fate, in the form of the beautiful Princess Vasavadatta, daughter of King Pradyota of Ujjaini, lays everything to waste.
Udayana falls in love at first sight and does not wish to leave Ujjaini until he has secured Vasavadatta's affections.