A TRANSLATION TRIBUTE

Published by Penguin Books

- NIRMAL JOVIAL

TWO PLAYS

By Chandrasekhar Kambar Translated by Krishna Manavalli

Chandrasekhar Kambar, one of the leading figures in contemporary Indian literature, is known for his works rooted in the rural lore of north Karnataka. The very fact that his works carry a rich folk idiom from his land makes their translation a tough job. Krishna Manavalli, however, has triumphed in providing a faithful translation to his mesmerising works, The Bringer of Rain: Rishyasringa and Mahmoud Gawan, in the book Two Plays.

The Bringer of Rain: Rishyashringa is a spin-offof Kambar’s long poem Heleatini Kela (Listen, I Will Tell You). Both the poem and the play are set in a fictional village, Shivapura.

The play starts with the famine-struck Shivapura waiting for village chieftain's son Balagonda; there is a prophecy that his homecoming would bring rain. But it becomes evident that his mere presence will not bring rain. The correction needs to be done to get rid of the “bundle of old karma”, and Balagonda has to confront his father for that.