Language English Media type Print (paperback) ISBN 9789350294178 Genre Fiction Country India | Publication date May 2014 Pages 260 Publisher HarperCollins | |
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SIMIAN is a graphic novel trilogy written and illustrated by Vikram Balagopal, with parts one and two published as a single book by HarperCollins Publishers India in May 2014. The book launch was held on May 13 in New Delhi at the India Habitat Centre.
Contents
SIMIAN received the award for Best Graphic Novel of the year 2014 at Comic Con India held in Bangalore on April 4, 2015
Plot synopsis
SIMIAN is an epic retelling of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, from the point of view of one of its protagonists, the Vanar, Hanuman. The story is contained within the often glossed-over episode in the other Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where one of its protagonists, Bhima, chances upon Hanuman. They share a kinship, both being sons of the god of wind, Vayu, and they settle in for a night of exchanging stories and notes.
When Bhima tells Hanuman of the feud between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Hanuman decides to persuade him that war is not the ideal solution by relating the great war between Ram and Ravan in the Ramayana, through his eyes, to dissect the decisions one has to make in life and war, and to see their consequences. He starts by telling Bhima, "for war to be truly understood, one must start at the end. To see what it left behind".
Development and publication
The work is a trilogy, conceived as SIMIAN volume one, with three parts, each part comprising three chapters. The book published in May 2014 contains parts one and two of volume one. The author is at work on part three of volume one, to be released at a later date.
In response to why he chose to split the trilogy in two, Balagopal has said, "That wasn’t my decision because I’ve treated each part as a separate book. I completed the first part in January of 2011 so there is a part of me that would have loved to have seen it come out then. I have no qualms at this point about having the first two parts in a single book because it is what it is."
While staying faithful to the popular narrative of events in the Ramayana, Balagopal has made some changes to their depiction and some details, as well as added a few scenes. For instance, he chose to depict Jambavan as part of the Vanar clan, and not as the king of bears (a not-very-uncommon practice); and has Hanuman leap to grab the moon instead of the sun. He has also chosen to depict the Vanars based on the gelada baboon.
About the Author
Following his training at the New York Film Academy (New York), Vikram Balagopal has worked in India with various film-makers and his screenplay was chosen for Mira Nairs Maisha Screenwriters Lab. A published poet, illustrator and cartoonist in magazines, this is the first installment of his graphic novel, Simian, consisting of books 1 and 2 from the trilogy.
Reception
The book has gained generally positive reviews. It was the co-winner of Best Graphic Novel of the year 2014 at the Comic Con India, held in Bangalore on April 4, 2015. Vikram Balagopal was present to receive the award from artist Aabid Surti.