Jun 18, 2015 12:23 AM
6921 Views
(Updated Jun 18, 2015 12:36 AM)
A daring attempt to portray life of a society considered prost-itute, through which telling the story of a city, Lizy's'Vilappurangal' is a novel which takes the readers to the darkest corners of the city and mind of a female. The author makes sure that the journey breaks more than one barrier which you consider as sacred.
Mariam Magdalene, is the central character of the story. Oh no, her representative in the modern world, from the city'Trissur'. Her name is Maria, Panamkeri Maria(Maria who climb on palm tree). Failed by her teenage lover and got pregnant. She had to marry a'she-man like' but not really, to save the family prestige. Maria decide to live her life on her own terms. Her doors were always open but only to those whom she selects. She gives life to more than a dozen children. Then, she emerges as a strong woman in more than one field which was mainly reserved for men as well. When Christ told Mariam Magdalene'not to sin', she asks back in the novel, 'what is sin?' The author does not tell the answer in the beginning but in the end. The question remains, 'do that all?' The subject of Mariam Magdalene is quite clichéd for it has already appeared through different hands. Then, the novelty is in its mixture with the story of the city, Thrissur. Thrissur, the cultural city of Kerala and the city of festivals! Who can forget'Thrissur Pooram' which is one of the finest festivals of the world(If you have any doubts just search for youtube videos of it and you will realise it). The novel shows different faces of Thrissur, through years. It takes you to different festivals, different streets through several decades so much so that you become part of the city while reading the novel.
I can recall two books written based on a city, the first one, the famous'The Hunchback of the Notre Dome' and Khushwant Singh's Delhi. The first one is my favorite and the second one I din't like much. Lizy's first novel'Mumbai' too is distantly telling the story of a city but'Vilappurangal' take it to the higher level. It do not reach anywhere near the hunchback, but it is far far better than Delhi in its craft and story. The entire novel is written in the Thrissur slang and we get the feel that the city is writing the novel. This doesn't prevent reader to enjoy for it is written in good simple Malayalam as well, which is compelling. The novel takes the reader to the underbelly of the city and the language cannot be otherwise but matches to the people which we meet. I do have my reservation on explicit baptism and usage of vulgar terms used by people in literature/films without dots of beeps, but the author takes the risk by retaining them which will block its reach to certain class of the society though many others will consider as a bold step which they too can follow. Barring this, the language of the novel is giving a very good reading experience.
The best plus of the novel is its description of Thrissur Pooram, the Fireworks, Pulikkali(Dance of tigers) etc. Here the author takes the readers to in-house view with many a technical details but without compromising on the entertainment value. Very good! There is a layer for sex in each chapter of it. It takes the readers through the inside talks of teenagers, men and women. The torn veil of false morality is removed and the author challenges the meaninglessness of unwanted hypocrisy. When the story of the city is been told, it is also telling the sex stories circulated in the city through decades. There are descriptions which we may doubt how a woman find this men secret talks but yes, it is all circulated stories in youth gatherings. In Bible old testaments, Eve tempted Adam to sin. In the new media the role is reversed for only men tempts women. In Vilappurangal, Men and Women, both are equal sinners, but wait, what you said is sin? The author makes an attempt to release the humankind from the'sin' of sex which is not in control of the individuals. The attempt is only partly successful but it is a rare attempt and need to be applauded for it is different and novel.
The female in Vilappurangal is not the complaining feminist female, but a real bold woman who do not want any reservation but talk on equal terms if not with an upper hand. The author does not make herself as the advocate of all female characters. Lizy's characters are human. Men or women they do wrong. They are good at heart as well. They are not plastic but raw people. Here the writer succeeds in growing one level up from her fellow writers.
The myths, the history, politics, incidents of importance, it all gets its share when the city tells its story. Its religious base, political importance and important individuals, all visits us through the novel. Shakthan Thamburan, Karunakaran, Nawab Rajendran, Theeta Rappai.the novel permits the readers to walk with important personalities from different socio political spheres. Novel like'Vilappurangal' does not visit us often. It took many decades for the author to grow to this. It announces the arrival of a'great' novelist whom we will see sharing chairs with the leaders in the field.
Having said this, the novel too has its shares of flaws which could have been corrected with little more care. Firstly, the period of the story in the novel include the one we got independence but the novel lacks any mention of it. Some political statement on this could have been helpful. Secondly, the narration gets monotonous at times, in some chapters before reaching the climax. Some editing could have been helpful. Thirdly, I felt the transformation of Maria or say the realisation of Maria is hurried without much backing. A bit more thought before the savior meets her in the end could have made wonderful boosting to the character of Maria.
Overall, Vilappurangal is a grand novel from an author who knows the craft and executes the mission'meet the savior' in style. It is one of the finest novels of the present day Malayalam novels and recommended to all serious readers.
