Randamoozham
{{Short description|1984 drama novel by M.T Vasudevan Nair}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Randamoozham}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Randamoozham
| image = Randamoozham 30th edition cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of 30th edition
| author = M. T. Vasudevan Nair
| title_orig =
| translator =
| illustrator = Namboothiri (first edition)
| cover_artist = Vinaylal (first edition)
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| set_in = Ancient India
| publisher = Current Books
| pub_date = December 1984
| media_type = Print (Paperback)
| pages = 300{{cite web|author=M. T. Vasudevan Nair|title=Randamoozham|url=http://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/randamoozham|publisher=DC Books|access-date=9 January 2017|date=6 August 2012}}
| awards = Vayalar Award
Muttathu Varkey Award
| isbn = 81-226-0731-4
}}
Randamoozham ({{trans|Second turn}}) is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language mythological drama novel by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, widely credited as his masterpiece.{{cite web|author=M. T. Vasudevan Nair|title=Randamoozham|url=http://www.indulekha.com/randamoozham-novel-m-t-vasudevan-nair|publisher=Indulekha.com|access-date=10 January 2017|date=August 2016}} First serialized in Kalakaumudi Weekly, it won the Vayalar Award for the best literary work in Malayalam in 1985.{{cite web|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm|title=Jnanpith Awards|publisher=Department of Information and Public Relations|access-date=11 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm|archive-date=24 May 2007}} It also won the Muttathu Varkey Award in 1994.
The novel is a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the perspective of Bhima, the second Pandava. The story deviates from the traditional story as it avoids the divine elements and re-represent the characters and events realistically. One of the reasons critics cite for the novel's cult following is its revisionism.
The novel has been translated into multiple languages. It was translated into English as Second Turn by P. K. Ravindranath in 1997. Another English translation by Gita Krishnankutty published in 2013 is titled Bhima: Lone Warrior.{{cite news|last=Kunhikrishnan|first=K.|title=Bhima, The Wronged|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/bhima-the-wronged/204603|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Outlook India|date=24 November 1997}}{{cite news|last=Srilata|first=K.|title=An exercise in guilt|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/an-exercise-in-guilt/article5534780.ece|access-date=10 January 2017|work=The Hindu|date=4 January 2014}} The book was translated into Tamil by Kurunjivelan as Irandaam Idam with the cover illustration by Trotsky Marudu.
Plot
The plot begins with the incident of Mahaprasthanika Parva where the Pandavas leave for the pilgrimage to Himalayas, forsaking all worldly possessions. The story runs through the eyes of Bhima who faces seemingly severe frustrations as a young man. Always destined to be second to his weak elder brother, Yudhishthira, in seniority and younger brother, Arjuna, in fame and popularity, Bhima is not given his due as the main architect of the Pandava victory over their cousins, Kauravas, in the Kurukshetra war, despite killing all the 100 Kauravas.
The book unravels all the hardships and dilemmas encountered by Bhima which remain unnoticed. It explores the emotions of the mighty Pandava as a son, brother, husband, and father. The story brings to light his affection for his wife, Draupadi, and how unnoticed his acts of love remain. The narrative questions the mourning of Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, when he is killed during the battle while trying to break the Chakravyuh formation, while Bhima's son, Ghatokkach, is led to his death by sacrificing his life to save Arjuna's life. Ghatokkach's sacrifice too remains unsung and everyone finds happiness in saving Arjuna. Towards the end, Bhima is shown as the only husband who stops and tries to stay with Draupadi in her last moments during their pilgrimage.
Film adaptation
In 2011, director Hariharan announced his plan to adapt Randamoozham to screen, scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair himself with Mohanlal cast to play Bhima.{{cite news| url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/bheemas-outing/article2615566.ece| title = Bheema's outing - The Hindu| website = The Hindu| date = 10 November 2011}} Later, V. A. Shrikumar Menon took the project again with Mohanlal in the lead. It was announced in April 2017 that the film adaptation will be produced by B. R. Shetty.{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/apr/17/mohanlals-randamoozham-to-be-most-expensive-indian-movie-at-rs-1000-crore-1594581.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418081830/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/apr/17/mohanlals-randamoozham-to-be-most-expensive-indian-movie-at-rs-1000-crore-1594581.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2017 |title=Mohanlal's Mahabharatha to be most expensive Indian movie at Rs 1,000 crore |last=Suresh |first=Mera |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=21 April 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/randamoozhams-pre-production-works-begin/articleshow/56499667.cms |title=Randamoozham's pre-production works begin |last=Somani |first=Deepa |newspaper=The Times of India |date=27 January 2017 |access-date=21 April 2017}} With its {{INRConvert|1000|c}} budget, the film is expected to be the most expensive film in Indian cinema, and one of the most expensive non-English language film. The film was to be shot in two parts.{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/18/entertainment/india-most-expensive-film/ |title='Randamoozham': India to produce its most expensive film ever |last=Suri |first=Manveena |newspaper=CNN Entertainment |date=19 April 2017 |access-date=21 April 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/19/mahabharata-epic-randamoozham-india-most-expensive-movie-mohanlal |title=Mahabharata epic set to become India's most expensive movie ever |last=Mumford |first=Gwilum |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 April 2017 |access-date=21 April 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://newsable.asianetnews.tv/karnataka/karnataka-billionaire-to-bring-malayalam-mahabharata-on-screen-at-rs-1000-cr |title=Karnataka billionaire to bring Malayalam Mahabharata on screen at Rs 1000 cr |newspaper=Asia News Network |date= 18 April 2017|access-date=21 April 2017}} Plans for the movie has since been shelved after M. T. Vasudevan Nair was upset with the pace at which the film was progressing and demanded Srikumar Menon to return the script.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mohanlal-rs-1000-crore-mahabharata-shelved-5656020/|title=Mohanlal's Rs 1000 crore film Randamoozham shelved|date=2019-04-03|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/-randamoozham-case-verdict-on-march-15-1.3616967|title='Randamoozham' case: Verdict on March 15|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|access-date=2020-02-07}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dcbookshop.net/books/randamoozham Randamoozham on DC Books]
{{Malayalam Literature|state=collapsed}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}
{{Vayalar Awards}}
Category:Novels based on the Mahabharata
Category:Indian novels adapted into films