Structural and Narratological Nuances in Anand Neelakantan’s Asura: Tale of the Vanquished

Abstract

Anand Neelakantan, known for his mythological fiction and screenplays for mythology-based TV shows, authored the novel Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, which draws on the Ramayana. True to his style of writing from the perspective of the vanquished, this novel offers Ravana’s viewpoint, aiming to rectify his legacy. The novel opens with Ravana on the battlefield, reflecting on his life as he nears death, while another narrative thread is provided by Bhadra, a servant of Ravana. The paper looks at the narrative and structural dimensions with post modern outlook by beginning to look at the battle from the perspective of the vanquished.