Nov 16, 2011 11:00 PM
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Mahabharata story through the eyes of Bhimsen is Randamoozham, an epic novel written by legendry writer, MT Vasudevan Nair who has won the greatest award for literature in India, the Jnanpith for the year 1997. The novel is written in malayalam, but it has translated version in English, titled Second Turnand an online version titled Bhimsen.
Mahabharata is an ocean which you can find a different sea depending on where you enter. MT Vasudevan Nair found a perspective to read Bharata and guides his readers to that perspective. Bhim have been a shadow of Yudishtara and Arjuna. Without Bhima Pandavas would have never won the Kurukshetra war where most of the major hurdles before and during the war was been overtaken by him. His character and talents was indeed better than both. The writer doesn't attempt to make a new Super Hero out of Bhimsen but tries to his perspective of things bringing him closer to our hearts, a unique and difficult task for any writer.
Krishn and Arjuna are the heroes of popular Mahabharata. In Randamoozham it is a different story. Krishna is no more the hero but a local king who failed to revenge Jharasandan and uses Bhim to make the revenge. Bhima who has killed all of the Kauravas and the glory was all given to Arjuna. Reason? Arujun is brother in law to Krishn. Arjun is known only the fight with arrows where Bhim knows the arrows wrestling and much more. In MTVs Randamoozham it shows how Bhim been sidelined all along, from the days of education. The insult continued to the next generation as well. When Abhimanyu falls the entire camp was sorrowful and all the preaching of Gita could not console the pain. When Gadodgaja falls no equal pain was displayed. Even Krishna was saying, 'it is good that he has fallen otherwise we would have had to deal with him later'. The author mock at Krishna's siding with both sides, saying India's non-alignment movement starts from there! Yudishtara gets many a stone from the author even more than of Arjun. Coward, Selfish and lot more qualities help to make this image for Yudishtara.
The novel throws an arrow or two to the leading ladies of Bharata. Kunthi and Draupadi! We can see their bias to Arjun in each and every action. Draupadi who sparked the fire of war were imagined as a lady who always happy to hear and see fights which give tremendous pleasure to her. Kunthi on the other hand had every opportunity to end this spark with mature intervention but she added fuel to the spark which killed virtually all the boys in the next generation of Pandavas and made a country of widows.
The book is special, in fact more than special. You will not find a Krishna who sent roles and roles of designed sarees to Draupadi. Instead the intervention of Vikarnaand the opinion of the wise saves the show after the initial damage is been done. You will see Kunthi going to the jungle with Dridarashtra, Gandhari and Vidhura and the author deduce that Vidhura must be the father of Yudishtara, otherwise why Kunthi had to go to the jungle where her sons were in power and she could have been the maharani, a position she dreamed all along? The author quotes from original Bharata for his assumption that Vidhura indeed is the father of Yudhishtara which was in fact a revelation to me, I have to admit.
The pace of story telling is fast. In fact very fast! In the process however the writer never misses any events which touch the protagonist's ego. Another focus by the author was to tell some hard truth to the world which they believe as truth, thanks to the fancy popular stories. Here we have to applaud the author's authority attained by research and the courage he shows to call the spade a spade. Since there is a religious aspect as well for the epic the responsibility was huge and the author takes it with utmost maturity. Selection of words and sentences to express emotions, thoughts and dialogues are sharp and it carries many a dimensions in each pose. It works big time!
The author however seems little confused about the characterisation of Karn. One side the author wants to show an annoying Karn where on the other, a talented Karn who deserve sympathy. The character karn fall flats because of this confusion by the author.
There is no doubt that the novel is a classic and it is excellent. Then, if I compare Mrityunjay by Shivaji Sawant to Randamoozham, I think Shivaji scores some fine points for he gave out a lot of attention to the detailed thought process of Karn and many a thought for life in each turning page. MTV however restricted this analysis and do not give any advices but focused on the story telling. That explains why I become a Karn fan soon after reading Mrityunjay and not a Bhim fan after reading Randamoozham. Here one point needs special attention; i.e. the author didn't try to make an out of the world character in the novel. He tried to be realistic as possible. That makes the best plus of the novel - i.e. it presents a Bhimsen who is one among us than an out of the world character. Bhim is winning the fights not simply by his physical strength but also by his efficient use of brain.
No doubt, Randamoozham (Second Turn / Bhimsen) is a very good read for all those who wish to see a different perspective about Bharata. Are you ready to enter this Bhim sea? You are welcome!
The book which was first published in 1984 is still a leading seller in bookstalls and online. The novel probably will be filmed in the year 2012 where Mohanlalis said to be playing the lead role of Bhimsen. Talks are that Mammootty will be playing the role of Karn and Kamal Hassan as that of Duryodana and no doubt it will be one of the blockbusters of Malayalam. While waiting for the story to seen in silver screen I urge you to read the novel if you get a chance to as it take many a years to write such a classic novel and we can reap the fruit of it by spending couple of hours!
