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Vanara

Written by Anand Neelakantan

5.01 rating

330 pages, about 7 hours of reading

Fiction

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About this book

Baali and Sugreeva of the Vana Nara tribe were orphan brothers who were born in abject poverty and grew up as slaves like most of their fellow tribesmen. They were often mocked as the vanaras, the monkey men. Sandwiched between the never-ending war between the Deva tribes in the north and the Asura tribes in the south, the Vana Naras seemed to have lost all hope. But Baali was determined not to die a slave. Aided by his beloved brother, Sugreeva, Baali built a country for his people. The capital city, Kishkindha, became a beacon of hope for emancipated slaves from across the world. It was a city of the people, by the people, for the people, where there was no discrimination based on caste, creed, language or the colour of skin. For a brief period in history, it seemed as if mankind had found its ideal hero in Baali. But then fate intervened through the beautiful Tara, the daughter of a tribal physician. Loved by Baali and lusted after by Sugreeva, Tara became the cause of a fraternal war that would change history for ever. The love triangle between Baali, Tara and Sugreeva is arguably the world's first. Written by Anand Neelakantan who gave a voice to Ravana in Asura, Duryodhana in the Ajaya series and Sivagami in the Baahubali series, Vanara is a classic tale of love, lust and betrayal. Shakespearean in its tragic depth and epic in its sweep, Vanara gives voice to the greatest warrior in the Ramayana-Baali.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Vanara, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • Tragic
  • Epic
  • Intense

Anand Neelakantan's 'Vanara' reimagines the epic tale of Baali and Sugreeva, two orphan brothers from the marginalized Vana Nara tribe, often scorned as 'monkey men.' Rising from slavery, Baali, aided by Sugreeva, forges the utopian city of Kishkindha, a sanctuary for emancipated slaves free from discrimination. For a time, Baali embodies the ideal hero, establishing a just society amidst the warring Deva and Asura tribes. However, their bond and Baali's legacy are shattered by the arrival of Tara, a tribal physician's daughter, whose beauty ignites a destructive love triangle between the brothers, leading to a tragic fraternal war that irrevocably alters history.

“"A slave's greatest weapon is not his strength, but his refusal to die a slave."”

Key themes

Reinterpretation of Myth and Marginalized Voices
The novel's core strength lies in its re-narration of the Ramayana from the perspective of Baali and the Vana Naras, characters often overlooked or villainized in traditional tellings. It gives agency and human complexity to those historically marginalized, challenging the monolithic 'hero' narrative and exploring the idea that history is written by the victors. Neelakantan seeks to understand the motivations and humanity behind characters deemed 'demons' or 'monkey men.'
Fraternal Love and Betrayal
Central to the tragedy is the profound bond between Baali and Sugreeva, which evolves from unwavering loyalty and shared ambition to bitter rivalry and ultimate betrayal. The theme explores the complexities of brotherhood, how envy and desire can corrupt even the strongest familial ties, and the devastating consequences of such a rupture.
Love, Lust, and Desire as Destructive Forces
The love triangle between Baali, Tara, and Sugreeva is depicted as a powerful, almost fated, force that unravels the brothers' bond and the stability of their kingdom. The theme distinguishes between selfless love and destructive lust, showing how unchecked desire can lead to envy, betrayal, and catastrophic outcomes.

Worth discussing

How does 'Vanara' challenge traditional portrayals of Baali and Sugreeva from the Ramayana? What is the significance of giving voice to the 'vanquished'?

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