Full review here: FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES

This was my first read from the author Kavita Kane. I had heard great things about her work and how she chooses different female characters from Indian mythology and present them with a new angle. And I would say, I loved Kavita Kané and her unusual story about Surpanakha.

Ramayana is the epic tale which I believe every Indian have heard while growing up. All the main characters are household names – Ram, Laxman, Sita, Ravan. But the character of Surpanakha is something that we grew up hating. We have been taught that how Laxman cut her nose and in turn, Ravan abducted Sita and then it started the epic war between Ram and Ravan. But do we know more than this about Surpanakha? Do we know who was Surpanakha other than a girl having a cut nose and sister of Ravan? I surely hadn’t known. This story is a fresh take on Surpanakha’s life and lets you go to the details of why she did what she did.

The story starts when Krishna meet Kubja, a hunchback and he cures her. He tells her the story of her past life in which she was Meenakshi a.k.a Surpanakha.

Meenakshi was the fourth child to the learned Rishi Vishravas and Asur Kanya Kaikesi. When she was born, Kaikesi was not at all happy as she wanted a boy, instead she got an ugly, dark-skinned girl. Visharavas was happy with the girl and thought she was as beautiful and dark skinned as her mother but Kaikesi opposed him and never gave that love to Meenakshi that she gave to her fair skinned son Ravan.

When Ravan wins Lanka, as it was her mother’s dream, their father leaves them to live back at the Ashram while the whole family moves to the Lanka. Meenakshi was devastated when her father left. She found her love in Vidyujiva who was an enemy to Ravan. in spite of the hatred from everyone towards Vidyujiva, Meenkashi managed to get married to him. But the fate snatched him from her too. She had hatred for her brother Ravan too much and she was burning in the fire of vengeance. She cursed her brother to die and plotted schemes for his death. her choices lead to the destruction of not only Ravan but the death of her entire generation.

Kavita Kane has portrayed a strong and vicious female character here. She proved herself to be a feminist and decide to stand up for her own rights when no one supported her. Surpanakha had her own opinions and knew when to use something to hurt someone. She was courageous enough to go against her brother Ravan when no one else can be stood against him.

She was the woman portrayed a vamp in Ramayan. We get to know a little more about her in this book as the author here has given her another life in the book.

There are not vast differences in the portrayal of other characters in Ramayan. The main focus was given to the characters in her family like Ravan, Kumbhkaran, Vibhishan, Mandodari, Kaikesi, Vishravas etc. It was quite interesting to read about some lesser known characters specially about Kumbha. All we know about him is he used to spend six-month sleeping/eating. But here it was good to know his point of view on some major events. It was good to know that how loyality to his brother ended him up dead.

The narration of the story is simple and kind of modern-day. The writing is simple and will keep you engaged through each character.

The storyline hasn’t been changed to a great extent. Kavita Kane has kept the story same as the Ramayan. However, the story is from Surpanakha‘s point of view. We all know her role in the epic but I am glad that Kavita Kane presented a whole new recognition for this character. Lanka’s Princess is a book that will make you realize the extent of her involvement in the epic war and the turn of events! The character of Meenakshi is something that will keep you mesmerized. We can find both the sides of Meenakshi here. Another thing that is worth mentioning is that Kavita has not wasted her time dragging each and every part of the Ramayan.

Being the first book of Kavita Kane that I read, I really liked it. Mythological fiction is a very tricky genre as I understand. The writer has to keep their facts straight sothat they don’t change them too much and also there is a challenge to bring something new to the reader. Kavita Kane has perfectly blend that mixture in Lanka’s Princess. It is simply brilliant, new and refreshing. I am definitely picking more books by the author in near future. If you love Indian mythology and need some new angle, you should definitely read this.

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