1. B. Dharamvir Bharati
"Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda" (The Sun's Seventh Horse) is
a 1952 Hindi meta fiction novel by Dharamvir Bharati, one of the pioneers of
modern Hindi literature and the chief editor of the popular Hindi weekly
magazine "Dharmayug" from 1960 till 1987. The novel presents three
related narratives about three women: Jamuna, Sati and Lily narrated by Manik
Mulla, who is also a character in the novel, to his friends over seven
afternoons, in the style of "Panchatantra".
The novel looks at the disappointments in love faced by these women and how
they cope with their lives. "Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda" was published
after Bharati's debut novel "Gunahon Ka Devta" (1949), which
subsequently became a classic.
Sachchidananda Vatsyayan's English translation of the novel
was published in 1999. Earlier in 1992, the novel was made into a film by
director Shyam Benegal, starring Rajit Kapur, Raghuvir Yadav, Pallavi Joshi,
Neena Gupta, Rajeshwari Sachdev and Amrish Puri. The film received wide acclaim
and won the 1992 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
Dharamvir Bharati's "Andha Yug", a play set
immediately after the Mahabharata war, is also considered a classic.
2. C. Bhabendra Nath Saikia
Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia was a well known novelist, short
story writer and film director from Assam. He won many literary awards,
including Sahitya Akademi in 1976 for his short story collection "Srinkhal"
(The Chain) and was also honored with the Padma Shri award in 2001.
(A still
from "Sandhyaraag" - 1977)
Dr Saikia who had obtained his PhD in physics from the
University of London, also edited an Assamese monthly magazine the "Prantik"
and an Assamese children’s magazine named "Xaphura". He also had an
illustrious career in Assamese theatre. As a Film Director, he directed 8
Assamese Films and won National Film Awards ("Rajat Kamal Award") for
seven of them - "Sandhyaraag" in 1977 (the film was screened at the
Cannes Film Festival in 1978), "Anirban" in 1981, "Agnisnaan"
in 1985, "Kolahal" in 1988, "Sarothi" in 1992, "Abartan"
in 1994 and for "Itihaas" in 1996.
3. B. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999),
popularly known as "Thakazhi" after his place of birth, was a Malayalam
novelist and short story writer. He wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over
600 short stories focusing on the lives of the oppressed classes. Known for his
works such as "Kayar" (Coir, 1978) and "Chemmeen" (Prawns,
1956), Pillai was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian
civilian award. He was also a recipient of the Jnanpith, India's highest
literary award, awarded in 1984 for the novel "Kayar".
Kayar (English - "Coir") is widely considered one of
the most seminal works in Malayalam literature. Set in Kuttanad, the novel
traces the evolution of the central Travancore society from the early 19th
century to the mid-twentieth century covering more than two centuries of Kerala
life, encompassing six generations of characters.
Thakazhi's "Chemmeen" (Prawns, 1956) tells the story
of the relationship between "Karuthamma", the daughter of a Hindu
fisherman, and "Pareekutti", the son of a Muslim fish wholesaler. The
theme of the novel is a myth among the fishermen communities along the coastal
Kerala - the myth is about chastity. If the married fisher woman was adulterous
when her husband was in the sea, the "Kadalamma" (Mother Sea) would
consume him. Thakazhi wrote this novel to perpetuate this myth. "Chemmeen"
won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1957. It was adapted into a film of
same name, which won critical acclaim and commercial success - became the first
South Indian film to win the Indian President's Gold Medal for the Best Film,
which it did so in 1965.
4. B. Untouchable
"Untouchable", a novel by Mulk Raj Anand published
in 1935 established him as one of India's leading English authors. The book was
inspired by his aunt's experience when she had a meal with a Muslim woman and
was treated as an outcast by her family. The plot of this book, Anand's first,
revolves around the argument for eradicating the caste system. It depicts a day
in the life of Bakha, a young "sweeper", who is
"untouchable" due to his work of cleaning latrines.
Later editions of the Novel carried a foreword written by E.
M. Forster. In 2004, a commemorative edition including this book was launched
by Indian then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a new introduction by
Ramachandra Guha.
5. C. Govardhanram Tripathi
"Saraswatichandra" is a Gujarati novel by
Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi, an author of early twentieth century from
Gujarat. Set in 19th-century India, it is acclaimed as one of the masterpiece
of Gujarati literature. Though the novel was published in four parts (the novel
spanned about in 2000 pages) - "The Administration of Buddhidhan", "The
Family-maze of Gunasundari", "The Political Administration of
Ratnanagari" and "The Dreamland of Saraswati", each part has a
distinct thematic content, its own cast of characters and independent
beginnings and ends. The novel was written over a period of 15 years, with the
first volume being published in 1887 and the fourth one in 1902.
It was adapted into several plays, radio plays, films and TV
series. The Hindi film "Saraswatichandra" (1968) was based on this
novel. The novel was adapted into 1972 Gujarati film "Gunsundarino
Gharsansar", directed by Govind Saraiya, which won the National Film Award
for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the 20th National Film Awards.
The Novel was well received by critics and was
translated into several Indian languages, along with English.
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