NagaMandal - Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad’s Naga-Mandala is a celebrated Indian play that intertwines myth, folklore, and reality. Written in 1988, the play draws on Kannada oral tales and explores themes of gender roles, patriarchy, and identity. Through a rich tapestry of magical realism, Karnad presents a deeply symbolic narrative that remains relevant even today.
Girish Karnad :
Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi films. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada, just as Badal Sarkar did in Bengali, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi, and Mohan Rakesh in Hindi. He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
For four decades Karnad composed plays, often using history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues. He translated his plays into English and received acclaim. His plays have been translated into some Indian languages and directed by directors like Ebrahim Alkazi, B. V. Karanth, Alyque Padamsee, Prasanna, Arvind Gaur, Satyadev Dubey, Vijaya Mehta, Shyamanand Jalan, Amal Allanaa and Zafer Mohiuddin.
He was active in the world of Indian cinema working as an actor, director and screenwriter, in Hindi and Kannada cinema, and has earned awards.
He was conferred Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Filmfare Awards, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award. He was a presenter for a weekly science magazine programme called "Turning Point" that aired on Doordarshan in 1991.
Character :
1. Rani
Rani is the play’s protagonist, symbolizing innocence, vulnerability, and suppressed desires. Married to the indifferent and abusive Appanna, she experiences deep loneliness. Her encounter with Naga, the mystical cobra, transforms her life, awakening her emotionally and giving her a sense of agency. Over time, Rani evolves from a passive, oppressed figure to a self-assured woman who reclaims her identity. She represents the struggles and resilience of women in patriarchal societies.
2. Appanna
Appanna, Rani’s husband, is cold, authoritative, and emotionally detached. He views Rani as a domestic servant and confines her within the house while pursuing a relationship with his mistress. Appanna represents patriarchal power and societal norms that disregard women's emotions and autonomy. His eventual acceptance of Rani after the miraculous snake ordeal suggests his submission to forces beyond his control.
3. Naga (The Cobra)
Naga is a mystical, shape-shifting cobra who assumes Appanna’s appearance at night to be with Rani. Symbolizing love, passion, and transformation, Naga fulfills Rani’s emotional and romantic needs. He embodies the duality of reality and fantasy, illustrating how desires can transcend societal restrictions. His tragic end emphasizes the inevitability of fate and the consequences of crossing natural and social boundaries.
4. Kurudavva (The Blind Old Woman)
Kurudavva is an elderly, wise woman and a symbol of folk wisdom. She acts as a catalyst in Rani’s life by giving her a magical root meant to win Appanna’s love. Her actions stem from kindness, but they inadvertently trigger the mystical events that reshape Rani’s life. Kurudavva represents traditional beliefs, folklore, and the power of ancient remedies.
5. Kappanna
Kappanna is Kurudavva’s son, portrayed as a loyal yet comic character. He reluctantly helps his mother in her attempts to assist Rani but is skeptical of her beliefs. His humorous exchanges add a touch of lightness to the play. He symbolizes youthful skepticism toward age-old customs and traditions.
6. Story and Flames (Narrators)
The Story and Flames are allegorical figures representing the power of oral storytelling and imagination. The Story narrates the events, while the Flames serve as witnesses and commentators. They symbolize the timeless nature of stories that transcend reality and continuously reshape cultural memory.
Summary :
1. Rani’s Marriage and Isolation
Rani, a young and beautiful woman, is married to Appanna, a domineering man who neglects her. He keeps her locked at home while spending his days with his mistress. Rani feels lonely, helpless, and trapped in her loveless marriage.
2. The Magical Root and the Cobra
Kurudavva, a blind old woman familiar with magical remedies, pities Rani and gives her a magical root, suggesting she mix it into Appanna's food to make him fall in love with her. However, fearing the root’s potency, Rani drops it into the anthill near her home.
Unbeknownst to her, the anthill is home to a mystical cobra (Naga), who consumes the root and gains the ability to take human form. He transforms into Appanna at night and visits Rani, treating her with love, tenderness, and affection. Rani, unaware of the deception, believes her husband has changed.
3. The Conflict and Trial
Rani soon becomes pregnant, shocking the real Appanna, who knows he has never touched her. Accusing her of infidelity, he calls for a public trial by the village elders. Rani is forced to undergo the snake ordeal, a folk ritual where she must hold a cobra in her hands to prove her innocence.
Miraculously, the cobra (Naga) recognizes her and coils around her gently without harming her. This divine intervention convinces the villagers of her purity, and Appanna, feeling powerless against fate, accepts her as his wife.
4. Naga’s Sacrifice and Transformation
Having fulfilled his role, Naga realizes he cannot exist in the human world. In a symbolic act of self-sacrifice, he retreats into Rani’s hair, symbolizing eternal protection and an unbreakable emotional bond. Rani becomes a respected and empowered figure, transcending her earlier helpless state.
Themes and Symbolism :
a. Gender and Patriarchy
Rani’s life reflects the plight of many women in patriarchal societies. She is expected to be obedient and confined to domestic roles. However, her relationship with Naga gives her agency, albeit in a mystical and morally ambiguous context. The play questions societal norms that limit women’s freedom and desires.
b. Identity and Duality
Appanna and Naga symbolize the duality of human nature—cruelty versus tenderness, reality versus fantasy. Rani’s identity evolves as she negotiates these dual forces, ultimately redefining her place in a world governed by societal expectations.
c. Truth and Perception
The play questions the nature of truth—what is real, and what is believed to be real. Is Rani’s relationship with Naga an illusion or a deeper emotional truth? This ambiguity creates space for multiple interpretations, reflecting the complexity of human emotions.
Conclusion
Naga-Mandala is a masterpiece that bridges the gap between folklore and modern theater. Girish Karnad’s profound narrative, rich symbolism, and exploration of complex human emotions make the play a timeless work. Its themes of love, identity, and freedom inspire introspection while celebrating the power of storytelling.
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