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Naayi Neralu (Kannada Novel) by S.L.Bhyrappa

A Kannada novel by S.L.Bhyrappa riding the journey of reincarnation...

Even though he have not spent his career in strolling in any pre-defined genres(instead versatility itself is his special genre), novels of Bhyrappa usually concept with either human values or political consequences. But Naayi-Neralu stands out of this convention by dealing with supernatural beliefs and occult sciences.

Naayi Neralu by Bhyrappa

The plot revolves around a 'pre-independence orthodox Indian family' where two old couple lives with their widowed niece. Their son have died two decades back which people still believes he had committed suicide in the “Holy Prayag”.

Husband's faith in her character is the most valuable asset for an Indian woman
Eventually, they comes to know about a 18 year old guy who recognizes them all as such there is no distrust left regarding he is the reincarnation of their dead son. They brings him to their home and their niece Venkamma(aged around 40 years old) don't accept him as her husband. But, the family consequences prompt her to accept him which results in her pregnancy. They start living as a couple, but Venkamma's first son(the only son) who is being educated under the influence of western culture in a city comes to village and have a strong contempt towards his mother. The whole family expects him to accept the new comer as his father. But he refuses and goes back to city.

But her teen husband is no more modest about Venkamma after she conceives a baby. He gets attracted towards servant's daughter and it turns into an illicit relationship. When it gets the public grasp, they eventually proceed to leave the village .

The title, for first feels so irrelevant but it is clearly depicted that “Naayi-Neralu” meaning “Dog-Shadow”, is a symbol of karma
Venkamma's son search for him and chooses a judicial move and manages to send him to jail for six years. Venkamma leaves the village and starts a new life with her child. After around five years an holy saint comes to her home and blesses her telling “You are the most loyal wife one can have” and goes off. Venkamma notices some similarity in him with her husband, but denies herself as still six months are remaining for his release. After six months, when she goes to find her husband getting released from jail finds out he has been released six months earlier considering his disciplined conduct. She comprehends that, it was her husband who came and blessed her. She feels deceived by her self, but feels proud that her husband still believes her as a “loyal”. Towards the end, her first son comes to take her back to village, but she refuses since once he had doubted his mother's character and the effect was irreversible. At last it is understood that she starts living her normal life but then she is more inspired than ever.

Bhyrappa concludes in a special perspective that 'husband's faith in her character is the most valuable asset for an Indian woman'. The novel have a sub-story of her husband's first incarnation and his death. That is quite breath-taking super natural experience and have to be sensed by every reader. The title, for first feels so irrelevant but it is clearly depicted that “Naayi-Neralu” meaning “Dog-Shadow”, is a symbol of karma. Both follow every person where ever he goes.

The novel can be considered as his best if semiotic(prateeka) and symbolic(chihna) representations can be observed with a special review. When dwelled into the depths of novelist's thought, there is more content for consideration. As 'Dog' and 'Shadow' both follow the person, but they differ as shadow follows only in light, but dog follows even in dark. SLB have used character of DOG as a special element through out the story.

Noted director Girish Kasaravalli made a film based on it, but story-line varies in many aspects. Unlike other novels of Bhyrappa, this gets mixed reviews even by his cult readers. Many calls it “How come Bhyrappa chose a topic of re-incarnation”. But legends don't write for their readers. If so, readers will change as generations perish and the name “Naayi-Neralu” would not have been discussed even after 45 years. Hence Aravind Adiga of debut-Booker fame writes “Bhyrappa – Kannada's best Novelist, may be even India's best”.

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2 Comments:

At 18 May 2020 at 00:54 , Blogger Abhishek Kajagar said...

Very good job sir

 
At 13 March 2022 at 08:06 , Blogger Unknown said...

ನಾಯಿಯ ನೆರಳು ತುಂಬಾ ಸಾರಾಂಶವಾದದು

 

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