Lankalakshmi by C.N. Sreekandan Nair (Malayalam)

Lankalakshmi

Before I start writing the review, let me take the excuse. I haven’t read much plays to analyze one and not any Malayalam plays at all. Why I bought Lankalakshmi was only in the form of a gift for my mother and happened to leaf through its pages. However the attempt was worth rewarded. 

Lankalakshmi takes us to some scenes that have been missed out from the so familiar scenes of Indian epic Ramayana. Instead of concentrating on the adventures of Lord Rama, the simple play shows the history of Lanka, the kingdom of the demon lord Ravana.

The name ‘Lankalakshmi’ is very symbolical in this play. In Ramayana, there is the reference to the character named Lankalakshmi, who is a demon and who keeps the vigilance for the kingdom. In the play Lankalakshmi, the character appears only in the first scene. However all along the play, there is the allusion for Lankalakshmy that is the prosperity of the kingdom of Lanka.

In this play, the demonic king Ravana has been portrayed in a heroic light. He is the one behind the prosperity of Lanka (Lankalakshmi) and always vigilant in keeping its pride. The sufferings that Ravana had endured to bring back the glory of his race is highlighted through the dialogues between him and his courtiers.  There is also a reference to the atrocities of caste system that must have been prevalent during the time of the story and how the demon race suffered under that!

Apart from Ravana, each character is viewed in a different light in this play. Though the play doesn’t justify the abduction of Seetha, it does justify the motive of Ravana. Ravana didn’t abduct Seetha to make her his own but as an adornment for kingdom of Lanka. He made it clear that he would get the finest things in the world to improve the prosperity of Lanka. 

Ravana was determined in his mind that if he loose Seetha for the power of Rama, he would be losing a part of Lanka’s acquired prosperity. In that way he would be lowering the pride of his kingdom. He was not ready to give up his fight for the pride of his race even when he lost his dear ones.  Here, the playwright has shown a different characteristic of Ravana, the fearless one who is ready to do anything for the pride of his race. It is the prosperity of Lanka that matters the most for him. 

The inevitable demise of Ravana happens at the end.  With him, an era of Lanka also comes to an end. We haven’t heard of Lanka under the rule of Vibhishana even in Ramayana. So, we cannot tell whether the end of Ravana also took away the prosperity of Lanka also. When others felt that the end of Ravana marked the end of darkness, was it so in the case of the kingdom of Lanka? In the words of Seetha, there is a shadow in the glorious sunrise of the new Lanka (p.64). After reading the entire play, it is easy to understand what the playwright implied that is the end of Ravana means the end of the prosperity of Lanka too.

The play was a good read altogether. Even though the play comprises a minimum number of 64 pages, each page has something deeper to ponder on.  The book also rewarded me with the lyrics of ‘Pancha Chamaram’ that is the Lord Shiva Stothra, supposed to be written by Ravana. The language used is pure literary Malayalam and crafted in a poetic manner. There is an insightful introduction to the play written by K. Ayyappa Panicker. However if you are looking for some book for easy reading, I won’t suggest you this one.