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Kannagi : Based On A Great Tamil Classic (666)
Life is the virtuous Kannagi deserves a loving husband, but selfish beauties and foolish kings combine to rob her of happiness. Her patience snaps, eventually. Pure in her love, this gentle woman is transformed into an avenging angel, raining death and doom on all her foes, until the gods are forced to intervene. Ilango Adigal's Tamil classic, Shilappadikaram presents life with all its flaws but also with hope.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 14, 2025
Okay wtf??
July 5, 2022
[2.5 stars] Interesting story. Love Kannagi for being a rebellious badass, tho a bit dissapointed at her for forgiving a cheater of a husband. Am starting a Kovalan hate club too!
December 23, 2021
I read this as a child, not knowing (as with most Amar Chitra Katha titles), what a rich piece of Indian culture I was consuming. KANNAGI is the story laid out in one of the oldest pieces of Tamil literature, an epic poem called Sillapathikkaram. It extolls the beauty of the performance arts. Movies have been made on it, there's even a Wikipedia entry. And the myth of Kannagi surrounds some of the ancient statues and temples in South India.
The story is a powerful one, containing elements of romance, drama, political machinations, revenge & redemption. While the story is also popularly known as Kovalan-Kannagi, it is fitting that ACK named its version just Kannagi. Because Kannagi is the primary character, the one who evolves through the tale of love, betrayal, reunion, grief & justice. I remember thinking at the beginning that it felt like a moral parable (stories that use the word 'chaste' to describe women always do). But as the events unfold, you see the real character of the woman emerge, the metaphorical jewels within the gold anklet. It even has feminist notes especially for its time.
As a children's comicbook, it is still very accessible retaining all the original story elements as well as its grandeur. I re-read it after Kannagi came up in a feminist discussion. And it was a double delight to revive a childhood memory & realise how my politics were informed even by ancient mythology.
The story is a powerful one, containing elements of romance, drama, political machinations, revenge & redemption. While the story is also popularly known as Kovalan-Kannagi, it is fitting that ACK named its version just Kannagi. Because Kannagi is the primary character, the one who evolves through the tale of love, betrayal, reunion, grief & justice. I remember thinking at the beginning that it felt like a moral parable (stories that use the word 'chaste' to describe women always do). But as the events unfold, you see the real character of the woman emerge, the metaphorical jewels within the gold anklet. It even has feminist notes especially for its time.
As a children's comicbook, it is still very accessible retaining all the original story elements as well as its grandeur. I re-read it after Kannagi came up in a feminist discussion. And it was a double delight to revive a childhood memory & realise how my politics were informed even by ancient mythology.
January 9, 2022
Kannagi- As always Amar Chitra Katha delivers
Amar Chitra Katha in its own unique way brings to life the ancient stories otherwise lost in time. It helps create an interest to delve further into our rich and diverse heritage and culture and learn and imbibe from it.
Keep up the good work.
Amar Chitra Katha in its own unique way brings to life the ancient stories otherwise lost in time. It helps create an interest to delve further into our rich and diverse heritage and culture and learn and imbibe from it.
Keep up the good work.
October 10, 2021
This is a classic from Tamil Literature about Kannagi.
July 16, 2019
Beautiful art!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews