Contents

Preface: Compiling a Anthology xiii Acknowledgments xvii Note on Transliteration, Translation, and Pronunciation xxi

Introduction: Whose Ramayana Is It? 1 Foundations Plot Line for Reference 2 Classifying 8 Modern Retellings in the South Modern Tellings as a Category 12 South India as a Ramayana Region 13 Shared Features Caste, Gender, and Hierarchy 19 Modes of Expression and Literary Genres 23 Transformations Three Nodes of Narrative Diversity 26 Why Ramkatha? 29

PART 1. IN CONTEXT

Introduction 37 1. Asking Sita: The Questions Return by VijayaDabbe, 43 Translated by Shashi Deshpande and Pratibha Nandakumar 2. Sartorial Dilemmas: Letters from Lady Sita by Kumudini, Tamil 45 Translated by Paula Richman 3. A Mother-in-Law's Support: Sita Locked Out Women's folksong, Telugu 50 Translated by Velcheru Narayana Rao 4. Sita's Powers: Do You Accept My Truth, My Lord? Women's folksong, Kannada 55 Translated by Leela Prasad 5. Talking Back: Sita Enters the Fire by Gudipati Venkata Chalam, Telugu 58 Translated by Sailaza Easwari Pal x Contents

6. The Pensive Queen: Sita Immersed in Reflection by Kumaran Asan, Malayalam 64 Translated by Rizio Yohannan Raj 7. Choosing Music: Forest (excerpt) by Ambai, Tamil 88 Translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom 8. Forest of Possibilities: Reunion by Volga, Tel ugu 91 Translated by Krishna Rao Maddipati 9. Union with Nature: Prakriti and Sovereignty in Aravindan's Kanchana Sita 99 Film analysis, Malayalam By Usha Zacharias 10. Struggling with an Ideal: In the Shadow of Sita by Lalitha Lenin, Malayalam 108 Translated by Rizio Yohannan Raj

PART 2. STIGMATIZED CHARACTERS Introduction 111 11. Transforming a : Tapasvi (excerpt) by "Kuvempu" Kuppalli Venkata Puttappa, Kannada 119 Translated by Girish Karnad and K. Marulasiddappa 12. Shambuka's Story Anew: Basavalingaiah Re-presents Shudra Tapasvi 135 Performance essay, Kannada By Paula Richman 13. Later: Woman of Stone by K. B. Sreedevi, Malayalam 141 Translated by Gita Krishnankutty 14. Consequences of a Misdeed: Deliverance from the Curse by Pudumaippittan, Tamil 146 Translated by Lakshmi 1 Iolmstrom 15. The Nature of Stone: Ahalya by S. Sivasekaram, Tamil 158 Translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom 16. Domestic Abuse and the Neurologist: Ahalya by N. S. Madhavan, Malayalam 160 Translated by Rizio Yohannan Raj

PART 3. SO-CALLED DEMONS Introduction 173 Contents xi

17. Gender Reversal: The Horns of the Horse by C. Subramania Bharati, Tamil 181 Translated bv Paula Richman j 18. Male Rivalry and Women: Shurpanakhas Sorrow by Kavanasarma, Telugu 187 Translated by Alladi Uma and M. Sridhar 19. Marriage Offers: Mappila Ramayana of Hassankutty ("the Mad") Collected by M. N. Karassery from T. H. Kunhiraman Nambiar, Malayalam 193 Translated by [John] Rich[ardson] Freeman 20. Sita Creates : Portrait Ramayana (excerpt) by H. S. Venkatesha Murthy, Kannada 201 Translated by Manu Shetty 21. Ravana's Letter from Heaven: Come Unto Me, Janaki by K. Satchidanandan, Malayalam 215 Translated by Rizio Yohannan Raj

EPILOGUE: META-NARRATIVE 22. Everyone Has Anxieties: Lakshmands Laugh Women's folksong, Telugu 221 Translated by Velcheru Narayana Rao

Glossary 227 Bibliography 235 List of Contributors 243 Index 249

A map of South India is provided on page 15,