The many shades of Ramayana
Editor’s note: Our sister site, Souk, has the best shopping guides and recommendations for every moment and occasion. This one is for those of you looking to read different interpretations of Indian mythology.
(Don't forget to check out our Read section this week, with a reading list full of Indian myth retellings!)
Over to Souk...
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With the festive weekend here, we are officially checked out of work and into festive mode. And if like us, your long-weekend plans look less like hectic party hopping and more like one party followed by curling up with drinks, mithai and a book in an anti-firecracker-fortress with your dog, below are 6 unique takes on the Ramayana that have recently snagged our attention.
But before you start adding to your bookshelves and tbr piles, Happy Diwali! Here's wishing us all cleaner air, a fairer, more empathetic world, and lots of festive food and drink.
(A quick note on links: We independently select and love every item featured on Souk. When you use our direct links to shop from a brand's website, we may earn a small affiliate commission that keeps our platform running, at zero extra cost to you—but our opinions are always entirely our own. Thank you for supporting what we do!)
Ramayana, but a fast-paced fantasy retelling full of cinematic flair, warring gods, terrifying monsters, and questing heroes.
Price: Rs. 499
Asura: Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan
Ramayana, but a provocative retelling from the point-of-view of Ravana and the vanquished Asura people.
Price: Rs. 499
Ramayana, but a lyrical novel that flips the script on the epic's most hated queen—reframing her as a warrior and diplomat determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.
Price: Rs. 1,960
The Girl who Chose by Devdutt Patnaik
Ramayana, but framed around 5 critical choices made by Sita.
Price: Rs. 299
Ramayana: Divine Loophole by Sanjay Patel
Ramayana, but a vibrantly illustrated retelling by a veteran Pixar artist and animator.
Price: Rs. 3,357
Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni & Moyna Chitrakar
Ramayana, but a female-centric graphic novel illustrated in the Patua scroll art style.
Price: Rs. 750
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Head over to the Souk website for more exciting lists and recommendations!
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