Asura: Tale of the Vanquished
{{Short description|Book by Anand Neelakantan}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Asura: Tale of the Vanquished
| image = Asura - Tale of the Vanquished.jpg
| author = Anand Neelakantan
| country = India
| language = English
| genre = Mythological fiction
| publisher = Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd
| published = 14 May 2012
| media_type = Print (paperback)
| pages = 504
| isbn = 9789381576052
| oclc = 811206898
| followed_by = Vanara: The Legend of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara
}}
Asura: Tale of the Vanquished is the first novel of Anand Neelakantan. It was published by Leadstart publishing on 14 May 2012. This mythological fiction depicts the tale of Ramayana from the perspective of Ravana and a common Asura, Bhadra.
Plot
The book attempts to highlight the voice of the vanquished as opposed to the victor’s version of Ramayana that is commonly known.{{cite news|title=The enthralling story of Ravana and his people|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/the-enthralling-story-of-ravana-and-his-people/article3794443.ece|accessdate=4 August 2017|work=The Hindu|date=August 19, 2012}} It explores the struggles of Ravana and his life that made him what he was and attempts to create a link between the social construct as it may have existed and varied at the time and the well known instances described in legend of Ramayana as it is known today.
Reception
Asura broke into the top seller charts within a week of its launch.{{cite news|title='Our mythology is a story that keeps reinventing itself'|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/on-campus/our-mythology-is-a-story-that-keeps-reinventing-itself/article5515649.ece|accessdate=4 August 2017|issue=Business Line|work=The Hindu|date=December 29, 2013}} It became the number one bestseller of 2012 as per Crossword list and CNN IBN.{{cite web|title='Ajaya' Book Launch by Nagarjuna and Amala|url=http://www.raagalahari.com/localevents/6567/ajaya-book-launch-nagarjuna-amala.aspx|website=Ragalahari|accessdate=4 August 2017}}{{cite news|title='Asura', a bestseller|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/asura-a-bestseller/article4263852.ece|accessdate=4 August 2017|work=The Hindu|date=January 2, 2013}} It was also nominated for Crossword’s Popular Award in 2013.{{cite news|title=Anand's 'Asura' in the race for Crossword prize|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/anands-asura-in-the-race-for-crossword-prize/article5346016.ece|accessdate=4 August 2017|work=The Hindu|date=November 13, 2013}} The book has since been republished in many Indian languages.