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Venmurasu

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Venmurasu
Venmurasu - Mudharkanal
AuthorBahuleyan Jeyamohan
Original titleVenmurasu
IllustratorShanmugavel
LanguageTamil
GenreIndian Magic Realism or Puranic realism[1]
PublisherNatrinai Pathippagam Kizhakku Pathippagam
Publication date
2014
Publication placeIndia
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages22,400

Venmurasu (Tamil: வெண்முரசு Veṇmuracu; transl. "The White Drum") is a Tamil-language novel by Bahuleyan Jeyamohan. It is a modern retelling of the Indian classical epic, the Mahābhārata.

Consisting of 26 volumes and spanning around 22,400 pages, Venmurasu is recognized as one of the longest novels ever published.[2] Jeyamohan began writing the novel in January 2014 and completed it in July 2020.[3][4]

The novel follows a linear narrative style similar to the Mahābhārata. It has been published in both hardcover and paperback editions.

Background

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Jeyamohan was influenced by Kathakali renditions of the Mahābhārata, with portrayals of characters such as Duryodhana and Karna shaping his childhood.[5][6] The Bhagavad Gita also influenced his worldview.[7]

He began writing Venmurasu in January 2014 after a conversation with his daughter.[8] He uploaded a chapter online every day throughout the writing process.

Style

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Jeyamohan has described Venmurasu as a modern novel based on the Mahābhārata. While the epic’s framework guides the storyline, it incorporates modern literary techniques such as nested narratives, intertextuality, and fantasy elements.[9] Jeyamohan refers to this stylistic approach as Puranic Realism.[1]

Drawing from various sources, including the Srimad Bhagavata, the Devi Bhagavata, and folk traditions, Venmurasu interweaves myths and legends from diverse Indian traditions.[10][11] The novel has been compared to classical works like The Odyssey, The Iliad, and Kamba Ramayana.[12]

Beyond its narrative, Venmurasu delves into the philosophical dimensions of Indian thought. Jeyamohan has described it as "a classical work that possesses density and depth while leaving enough space for discerning readers to fill with their imagination."[13]

Although Venmurasu roughly follows the linear structure of the Mahābhārata, its individual episodes are often non-linear. The novel frequently employs Sūtas, traditional traveling bards, to recount stories.[14] The work is structured as a series of interconnected books, each with its own storyline, including: Mudharkanal, Mazhaippadal, Vannakkadal, Neelam, Prayagai, Venmugil Nagaram, Indraneelam, Kaandepam, Veiyon, Panniru Padaikkalam, Solvalarkaadu, Kiratham, Maalamalar, Neerkkolam, EzhuThazhal, Kuruthicharal, Imaikkanam, Senna Vengai, Thisaither Vellam, Kaarkadal, Irutkani, Theein Edai, Neerchudar, Kalittriyaanai Nirai,[15] Kalporusirunurai,[16] and Muthalaavin.[17]

Reception

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Venmurasu has received significant responses from both readers and critics. Writers such as Indira Parthasarathy[18] and A. Muttulingam[19] have praised the work. In 2021, an album titled A Musical Tribute to Venmurasu was released, featuring performances by Kamal Haasan and others under the direction of Mani Ratnam.[20][21]

See also

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  • Kirātārjunīya
  • Astra (weapon)
  • Vedanta
  • Mīmāṃsā
  • Charvaka
  • Usha Parinayam
  • Volumes
    • Mudharkanal – Published online January–February 2014
    • Mazhaippadal – Published online March–May 2014
    • Vannkkadal – Published online June to August 2014.
    • Neelam – Published online August to September 2014
    • Prayagai – Published online October 2014 to January 2015
    • Venmugil Nagaram – Published online February to May 2015
    • Indraneelam – Published online June to August 2015
    • Kaandeepam – Published online September to November 2015
    • Veiyon – Published online December 2015 to early March 2016
    • Panniru Padaikkalam – Published online March 2016, to June 2016
    • Solvalar Kaadu – Published online July 2016 to September 2016
    • Kiratham – Published online October 2016 to January 2017
    • Maamalar – Published online February 2017 to May 2017
    • Neerkolam – Published online May 2017 to August 2017
    • Ezhuthazhal – Published online September 2017 to December 2017
    • Kuruthichaaral – Published online December 2017 to March 2018
    • Imaikkanam – Published online March 2018 to May 2018
    • Sennaa Vaengai – Published online from June 2018 to August 2018
    • Thisaither Vellam – Published online from Sept 2018 to Nov 2018
    • Kaarkadal – Published online from Dec 2018 to March 2019
    • Irutkani – Published online from April 2019 to June 2019
    • Theein Edai – Published online from April 2019 to June 2019
    • Neerchudar – Published online from July 2019 to August 2019
    • kalitriyaanai Nirai – Published online from December 2019 to February 2020
    • kalporu sirunurai – Published online from March 2020 to June 2020
    • Muthalaavin – Published online from 1 July 2020 to 2 July 2020

References

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  1. ^ a b "Venmurasu - Puranic Realism". Jeyamohan.in. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ^ Miller, Nick (25 January 2023). "The Biggest Book in the World". Discovery UK. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Venmurasu Series online". Jeyamohan.in. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Director Mani Ratnam Releases Musical Tribute to Jeyamohan's Epic Venmurasu". www.marketwatch.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Jeyamohan Interview, 12-July-2015". Youtube.com. Canada Multicultural Radio, 101.3 FM. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. ^ Shankarramasubramanian (6 September 2014). "Interview: Writer Jeyamohan". tamil.thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Jeyamohan Speech - 06-Jul-2015". Youtube.com. Columbus Tamil Sangam. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Tamil writer re-writing Mahabharata by posting one chapter every day online". The Straits Times. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Jeyamohan's Venmurasu". India Today, English Magazine (November 2014).
  10. ^ "Venmurasu: Interview with writer Jeyamohan". Kungumam, Tamil Magazine (November 2014).
  11. ^ "I am renarrating the Indian Culture: Interview - writer Jeyamohan". The Hindu Deepavali Malar. Deepavali 2014 (October 2014).
  12. ^ தயாநிதி, வேணுகோபால் (24 October 2021). "வெண்முரசு பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்". சொல்வனம் | இதழ் 330 | 10 நவ 2024 (in Tamil). Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  13. ^ C, Saravanakarthikeyan. "Jeyamohan Interview- Career". tamilmagazine.net. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  14. ^ Thiruvattar, Sindhukumar. "Venmurasu development". Goodreads. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Kalittriyaanai Nirai on Goodreads". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Kalporusirunurai on Goodreads". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Mudhalaavin on Goodreads". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Writer Indira Parthasarathi on Venmurasu". Youtube.com. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Writer A Muttulingam on Venmurasu". Youtube.com. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  20. ^ "வெண் முரசு இசை தொகுப்பு". Dinamalar.com. Dinamalar. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Director Mani Ratnam Releases Musical Tribute to Jeyamohan's Epic Venmurasu". MarketWatch. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
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