Book Review #82: Nanna Thamma Shankara By Ananth Nag

Title: Nanna Thamma Shankara

Author: Ananth Nag

Publishers: Total Kannada

Genre: Memoir/Biography

Pages: 180+ (Paperbound)

Source: Personal Copy

As a Kannadiga, I am a huge fan of Actor/Director/Theatre Personality Shankar Nag. A man who has achieved so much in such a short span of time is something remarkable. Acted in more than 80 movies in just 12 years. Directed many award winning films. First person to shoot a film in underwater in India. Man who directed the evergreen television serial ‘Malgudi Days’ and performer of hundreds of plays and a great visionary. Words are short to describe Shankar Nag. He is one of those amazing personalities in the Indian cinema that left this world at a young age of 36 in a tragic accident.

Ananth Nag, another legend in the Kannada film industry and more than that, the elder brother of Shankar Nag decides to write this book, a kind of dual biography where he describes his life and upbringing along with Shankar Nag. Surely, this is a riveting account. We get to read the early childhood days of Ananth Nag and Shankar Nag. The way they brought themselves in the film industry is something unthinkable.

Ananth begins his book by writing about his parents and his siblings, especially Shankar Nag. The Ananda Ashrama where they spent their early childhood is something very pleasant to read from the book. As usual, Ananth and Shankar grew up as any normal brothers. They shared every bit of happiness, joy, sorrow and fights together. Shankar Nag being the youngest in the family was an eye candy for all of them. Both brothers had completed their schooling life in Mumbai and their interests for acting took from that place.

As the book progresses further, we can read about how both Ananth and Shankar has grew up as best friends instead of brothers. They have common interests, that is, films and theatre. While Ananth has debuted years earlier than Shankar, Shankar took his time to debut as an actor. He was more interested in the Direction department than acting. With the strong persuasion from Ananth, Shankar agreed to act in films, and the rest is history.

Shankar has achieved a lot not only through his films, but also from other creative ideas that he has planned and meticulously executed. He has started the first fully equipped electronic recording studio in Bangalore, that is, Sanketh Electronics. He also had a great ideas of the society and that’s when Shankar had this idea of economic houses for the poor. Shankar Nag’s ideas were not only limited to that, he has also expressed his interest in starting a full-fledged country club in Bangalore. This was resulted in the construction of the Country club in the outskirts of Bangalore.

Shankar was also an active supporter of his elder brother, especially when Ananth was contesting in the elections. Shankar took special care in conducting the door to door campaigns, arranging for the helpers during election rallies, organizing most of the public meetings where his brother could deliver his election speeches, etc…

It is really hard to digest the fact that one man can do so many things in life within a short span of time. Ananth was really proud that, his younger brother could able to achieve more fame and name than him. His was a genuine fatherly concern towards his younger brother. Life is really unpredictable as Ananth puts in his own words. When whole family was having a happy time together for the successful opening of their country club, that’s when Ananth received the shocking news of his life. It was the accident news of Shankar Nag. Shankar was declared spot dead in that severe accident. And, he was just 36!!

The book is an excellent narration. Overall, Ananth could able to pass the readers his message. For sure, what might’ve gone through Ananth Nag’s mind when he penned this book is evident in every page. A must read for all the Shankar Nag’s fans. This legend lives in the hearts of millions of Kannadigas.

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #81: Stolen Hope: Ramayana Series: Book #3: By Shubha Vilas

Title: The Stolen Hope (Book 3: Ramayana Series)

Author: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 300+ (Paper bound)

Source: Review copy by the author

After receiving this book from the author for the review, I’ve thought for a while and purchased the first two books in the series (The Rise of the Sun Prince, and The Shattered Dreams) to get along with the plot and the subplots. Though as an Indian, I’ve known the entire story of the Ramayana and how it had happened by reading numerous books, this book series seems to be very specials regarding its authentic style of narration and the anecdotes, life lessons explained in every page of the book.

The book 1 explains about the birth and growth of the Rama as a toddler to a responsible scion. The book 2 explains the details about the decision of the King Dasharath to coronate Rama as the next king of Ayodhya, and the later events of Kaikeyi asking her two boons from the King Dasharatha resulting in the banishment of Rama to the exile for 14 years and Bharata to be made as a King of the Ayodhya, hence the dreams of the Dasharatha has shattered.

The book 3 begins from the story of the Dandakaranya where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana planned to spend their exile of 14 years. The journey of all three in the forest, their encounters with several rakshasas, and meeting several learned rishis like Agastya, and also the intervention of the Surpanakha and a small fun incident with her that turned out to be a major breakthrough in the story has been captured brilliantly by the author. The killing of Surpanakha’s cousins Khara and Dushana in an epic battle, and a beautiful narration of Rama meeting Shabari has been explained elegantly.

With a brief history of Ravana the story moves on stealthily and Rama is urged to go after the golden deer who is actually Maricha. Then Sita urges Lakshman to go after Rama despite of his unwillingness after hearing her husband's cry.

Ravana comes in form of sinister sage and he praises Ravana and belittle Rama, but Sita praises Rama instead which infuriates Ravana and he takes away Sita. Sita could only inform Jatayu about her abduction. Rama is informed about the abduction by dying Jatayu. Rama meets Shabri who tells them that only Vali can help him find Sita.

There is a short part of story from Lakshman's point of view too.

In-between the relay of the events, the author discusses and analyses certain acts of characters. For instance, at one place, Sita boldly reveals her mind to Rama about choosing the ascetic life instead of his bow and arrow, and immediately the next moment, she could not hold his gaze and begins to stare at her palms. That is, she feels guilty to have counselled Rama. Here the author discusses Sita's act of giving feedback as follows:

Does one have the right authority to give the feedback?

Even if one has the right authority, does one have the right motive to give a feedback?

Even if one has the right authority and motive, is it the right time, place and circumstance to give the feedback?

Although this story is written in parts, it doesn’t feel like it is limited to any particular storyline dividing the epic. The addition of little less important stories all along the way across the entire book has added much value as it would be very useful for the first time readers to obtain sufficient knowledge about the epic. The book is written in a gripping way that it is hard to keep it down, but it seems to be little bit lengthy as we tend to study each and every footnote at the bottom. But to a normal reader the footnotes would provide a Maslin of thoughts which will be forgivable for the length of the reading time.

This book is a must for the readers those who want to know about the Ramayana. Also the author has made this one to be a useful notes by sharing his wisdom and thoughts in every page. Further the summary of the books at the inception of the book makes it clear for the new readers that it’s not a must to read the other two initial books to get a clear view about this particular book.

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #80: Shattered Dreams: Ramayana Series: Book #2: By Shubha Vilas

Title: The Shattered Dreams

Author: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 250+ (Paper bound)

Source: Personal Copy

The first book in the series (The Rise of the Sun Prince) will end on a happy note of 12 years of successful marriage of Rama to Sita. They enjoy each and every day like never before. They were the true testimonial of how a married couple should behave towards each other. The book also explores further into the growing up Rama where he takes his responsibilities seriously and serves his elders with utmost respect. All days were passed without any deviations. People of Ayodhya were able to lead a peaceful and prosperous life until the King Dasharatha decides to coronate his son Rama as the next heir apparent of the Ayodhya.

The Shattered Dreams narrates the entire story of how the unblemished Rama was unfortunately awarded the exile of 14 years. How the deceitful Manthara was successfully able to brainwash Queen Kaikeyi by asking her to remember her two boons from Dasharatha that he had promised her long back.

The story in this book showcases the sacrifices made by many people including Rama who happily agreed to go to the forests for 14 years without even asking a single reason. He had respected his father Dasharatha’s words by every bit of it. Sacrifices made by Sita who readily asked Rama to take her to the forests along with her. Though she was never accustomed to the life of forests, she lived up to her name following the Dharma as a loyal wife of Rama. Apart from these, there is a radiant Lakshmana who accompanied Rama and Sita despite the strong protests from both. And lastly, we should never forget the sacrifice made by the wife of Laskmana’s wife Urmila. She readily agreed to stay back and look after her aged and widowed mother-in-law’s and wished all the success to her husband Lakshmana.

All said and done, the conduct of Bharata is worth to mention here. He readily disagrees with his mother Kaikeyi and repents for not being around in Ayodhya when all these things has happened without his knowledge. He ridicules his mother and tries all his might to get his beloved brother Rama back to Ayodhya. When Rama declined to the requests of Bharata, Bharata made sure that he also never steps in to Ayodhya. He constructed a small hut outside Ayodhya and placed Rama’s footwear on the throne and was ruling the kingdom on behalf of Rama.

Though we have grown up hearing this epic from various sources and watching many television series covering the same but after reading this book, one would definitely understands the real meaning of the tale and how it can be adopted to real life scenarios.

The footnotes and anecdotes in every page is the biggest plus point in this book. It adds a great value to the story. The notes are very educative, knowledgeable and a great source of quotes for those who are quote collectors. There are also great leadership and management lessons given under various circumstances. Two particular incidents worth to be mentioned on this aspects are the questions that Bharata asks himself whether he is eligible to rule the kingdom and the other scenario where Lakshmana asks himself whether he is allowed to advice Sita or Rama.

Overall, I have experienced a very new tale of Ramayana. Leaving its main plot as a known phenomenon, I have also had the fortune of reading many sub-plots and intricate details of the Ramayana. This book series is a must read to get a new perspective of how to look at things from a more broader perspective and definitely an eye opener towards myriad duties and responsibilities which we forget to value at times.

My Rating:

5/5