Nagmandala - A Modern Folktale

 This blog is written in response to a task assigned by Sima Rathod Ma'am. We (students) are assigned a task of creative writing in which we are supposed to rewrite the climax of a folktale "Nagmandala" in our own words. It also includes the introduction of writer and the play. 

Introduction of Writer 

Girish kanrad was born on 19th May 1938. He was an India actor, film director and playwriter. He worked in south Indian industry for over a period of four decades. He rose to fame as a playwright in the 1960's. In 1998 he received Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India. 

His major works 

- Yayati

- The dreams of Tipu Sultan

- Nagmandala

- Tughlaq

- Hayavadana

Introduction of the play 

Nagmandala is one of the unprecedented plays written by Girish Kanrad in which he exposes a sarcastic verity of male chauvinism. He raises awareness against the daily intimidation females have to confront in a patriarchal population. In this play he denies the concepts of gender discrimination and resists female supremacy and orthodox practices. 

Summary of the play with  own climax 

The story of the play is about Rani, the central character of the story. She was married to a man named 'Appana'. Appana always locked Rani inside the room and mostly spend his time outside with a concubine as he don't love her and he shuts her up whenever she tries to talk to her.  

One day an old women named 'Kurudhawa'

Comes near Appnana's house with her son Kappana. She learns about her bad situation and informs her about Appnana's love affair and decided to help her by giving her two magical roots.  

Apparently, the small root didn't worked so Rani decided to mix the bigger one in the curry she made. The color of the curry changed into red and afraid to give this to his husband she pours it on an anthill where a Naga used to live.

The Naga consumes it and fell in love with Rani and started visiting her everynight in the form of Appana. Rani was so happy with the change in his husband's mentality who treats her like queen at night, but during the day he treats her like a servant. In reality, it was Naga who was visiting her everynight.

 A few months later, Rani got pregnant and when she informs Appnana about it, he dragges her to Panchayat claiming that she is having an extra-marital affair with someone else and he is the not the father of the baby. 

The Panchayat village elders suggests that Rani has to pass through an ordeal to prove her innocence by taking the Naga in her hand. The Naga turned like a garland over her neck, then it slid through her shoulder and didn't bit her. Thus, her innocence was proved and then Appnana  had no choice except to accept her. 

Some days later, the Naga decided to see Rani so it went to her home and saw her with Appnana. The Naga was so furious to see them toghter that it decided to kill Rani, but couldn't, out of love and turned into a small Naga and hid in her hair. 

Climax 

On next morning, while Rani was combing her hair the Naga fell down, and she started screaming and running towards the door. Mysteriously, when she turns around she saw Appana on the place of Naga and fainted. 

When she woke up, the Naga explained her everything that how it drank the curry and fell in love with her. Devastated to learn the truth, she apologized to the Naga and explained everything to her husband Appnana. Firstly, Appana lashes out on her but then he realized that it was his own mistake that everything happend. 

On the very next day, Rani together with the Naga and Appana, went to meet Kurudhawa to undo the spell of love. The lady gave a tonic to Naga to drink and the spell of love was broken and it forgot everything that happend and goes back to the anthill.  

Appnana accepted the child and after some years, the child grew up with having the supernatural abilities, and they all live happily together.