Simian

01 July, 2014

Vikram Balagopal

HarperCollins India

260 pages, RS750

When Bhima chances upon an ailing monkey blocking his path in the forest, little does he realise that he is meeting Hanuman, one of the greatest heroes of his time, and Ram’s closest ally. As they settle in for a night of exchanging stories, Hanuman tells a surprising tale—of the great war between Ram and Ravan. In the twilit world of war, things are not what they seem, and this chance encounter between a warrior and a legend will destroy a long-standing myth. Balagopal’s graphic novel is a gritty, black-and-white reimagining of the Ramayana, told from Hanuman’s point of view.