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Vaadivaasal: The Arena
A story of violence, death and vengeance… by a Gandhian—ASHOKAMITRAN
A gripping graphic adaptation of the modern literary classic by International Booker Prize-nominated author Perumal Murugan and critically acclaimed graphic novelist Appupen
Chellayipuram—famed for hosting the most exhilarating jallikattu contests of strength between man and bull. This year, Pichi, from distant Usilanoor, is here to face the Kaari bull, the zamindar’s pride, both menacing in appearance and undefeated in the bull-taming contest. It’s been two years since his father Ambuli had been gored to death by this same beast. In the billowing dust of the arena, as Pichi grabs hold of the Kaari’s horn in an attempt to make it bow its head, watching the contest from his high perch with narrowing eyes is the zamindar. Will his prize animal—and, by association, the zamindar himself—be finally humbled by this ordinary young man? Vaadivaasal—The Arena is a story of revenge, pride and power.
A gripping graphic adaptation of the modern literary classic by International Booker Prize-nominated author Perumal Murugan and critically acclaimed graphic novelist Appupen
Chellayipuram—famed for hosting the most exhilarating jallikattu contests of strength between man and bull. This year, Pichi, from distant Usilanoor, is here to face the Kaari bull, the zamindar’s pride, both menacing in appearance and undefeated in the bull-taming contest. It’s been two years since his father Ambuli had been gored to death by this same beast. In the billowing dust of the arena, as Pichi grabs hold of the Kaari’s horn in an attempt to make it bow its head, watching the contest from his high perch with narrowing eyes is the zamindar. Will his prize animal—and, by association, the zamindar himself—be finally humbled by this ordinary young man? Vaadivaasal—The Arena is a story of revenge, pride and power.
114 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2025
About the author
C.S. Chellappa
76 books63 followersசி.சு. செல்லப்பா (C.S. Chellappa) ஒரு எழுத்தாளர் மற்றும் இலக்கிய விமர்சகர். "எழுத்து" என்ற பத்திரிக்கையினை தொடங்கி நவீன தமிழ் இலக்கிய மறுமலர்ச்சிக்கு வித்திட்டவர் செல்லப்பா.
பல நல்ல எழுத்தாளர்களையும் விமர்சகர்களையும் தன் எழுத்து பத்திரிக்கையின் மூலம் ஊக்குவித்தவர் செல்லப்பா. சிறந்த விமர்சகர்களாகவும், எழுத்தாளர்களாகவும் கருதப்படும் வெங்கட் சாமிநாதன், பிரமீள், ந.முத்துசாமி மற்றும் பல எழுத்தாளர்கள் சி.சு.செல்லப்பாவினால் ஊக்குவிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள். தமிழின் சிறந்த நாவல்களாக கருதப்படும் வாடிவாசல், "சுதந்திர தாகம்" போன்றவற்றை எழுதியவர் செல்லப்பா. காந்தியக் கொள்கைகளில் மிகுந்த பற்றும் ஈடுபாடும் கொண்டவர்.
Cinnamanur Subramaniam Chellappa (Tamil: சி.சு. செல்லப்பா) was a Tamil writer, journalist and Indian independence movement activist.He belonged to the "Manikodi" literary movement along with Pudhumaipithan, Ku Pa Ra, Va. Ramasamy, N. Pichamurthy and A. N. Sivaraman. He also founded Ezhuthu, a literary magazine. His novel Suthanthira Thagam won the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2001
பல நல்ல எழுத்தாளர்களையும் விமர்சகர்களையும் தன் எழுத்து பத்திரிக்கையின் மூலம் ஊக்குவித்தவர் செல்லப்பா. சிறந்த விமர்சகர்களாகவும், எழுத்தாளர்களாகவும் கருதப்படும் வெங்கட் சாமிநாதன், பிரமீள், ந.முத்துசாமி மற்றும் பல எழுத்தாளர்கள் சி.சு.செல்லப்பாவினால் ஊக்குவிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள். தமிழின் சிறந்த நாவல்களாக கருதப்படும் வாடிவாசல், "சுதந்திர தாகம்" போன்றவற்றை எழுதியவர் செல்லப்பா. காந்தியக் கொள்கைகளில் மிகுந்த பற்றும் ஈடுபாடும் கொண்டவர்.
Cinnamanur Subramaniam Chellappa (Tamil: சி.சு. செல்லப்பா) was a Tamil writer, journalist and Indian independence movement activist.He belonged to the "Manikodi" literary movement along with Pudhumaipithan, Ku Pa Ra, Va. Ramasamy, N. Pichamurthy and A. N. Sivaraman. He also founded Ezhuthu, a literary magazine. His novel Suthanthira Thagam won the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2001
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 26, 2025
A gripping tale of man, animal, and ego, intertwined with class struggles and family legacy. The story follows Kaari, a famed bull that is the pride of the Zamindar—the landed elite of rural India. Muscular and unpredictable, Kaari has killed several men and has never been subdued. When a young man, whose father died trying to conquer the beast, steps into the bull arena—"The Vaadivaasal"—he is determined to fulfill his father’s last wish by taming Kaari.
Appupen’s black-and-white ink artwork is sublime, vividly capturing the intensity of the bull arena, the emotions of the bull catchers, and the simmering ego clashes between social classes. The bullfighting sequences are masterfully paneled, immersing the reader in the raw energy of the sport—you can almost hear the roars of the crowd and sense the dust in the air. A brilliant story brought to life with stunning illustrations that capture the local nuances and traditions. Fans of Perumal Murugan’s work will also spot subtle nods to his writing, making this a must-read for those who appreciate powerful storytelling and masterful artwork.
Appupen’s black-and-white ink artwork is sublime, vividly capturing the intensity of the bull arena, the emotions of the bull catchers, and the simmering ego clashes between social classes. The bullfighting sequences are masterfully paneled, immersing the reader in the raw energy of the sport—you can almost hear the roars of the crowd and sense the dust in the air. A brilliant story brought to life with stunning illustrations that capture the local nuances and traditions. Fans of Perumal Murugan’s work will also spot subtle nods to his writing, making this a must-read for those who appreciate powerful storytelling and masterful artwork.
February 17, 2025
After a long time, this is a graphic novel from India worth talking about. It's such a gripping read. It's short but packed with so much action and emotion. And the ending hits really really hard. Appupen's illustrations really brought the story to life. The arena teeming with people, every move in the bullfight captured in such detail. Incredible.
February 20, 2025
I love projects like this when regional classics are re-created for a wider audience, and what better new medium than a graphic novel. Having loved Perumal Murugan and Appupen's work individually, I had to see what this first collab was going to look like and it's wonderful. It's a look into jallikattu and how the practice informed what honour, pride and sacrifice meant. What makes this difficult though is that there is no reflection on the ethics of the practice at all, but this isn't the story for it either. The art is absolutely gorgeous, Appupen uses a stylised linocut print look (is that what its called?) which helps brings gravitas to the intensity of the emotions on display.
February 25, 2026
Vaadivasal is a slim novella which takes place over a single afternoon, but it captures not only the electric atmosphere created around the jallikattu in a village in Tamil Nadu, but the social dynamics between the various characters.
Picchi is the son of a bull tamer who was "as cunning as Lord Yama, Lord of Death", who lost his life when trying to tame the bull, Kaari at a jallikattu. His son seeks to restore the lost honour by taming the bull that "not only destroyed his father's dream, but also his very life".
Picchi meets an elderly man who is well versed in jallikattu lore- the man is suspicious of what he thinks is the young upstart, but Picchi wins him over with his humility and the man becomes his staunch ally. The local bull tamer wants to assert his superiority over Picchi, and while Picchi saves his life his honour remains injured. Both these conflicts lead to the main one- between Picchi and Kaari. The actual encounter between the bull and the bull tamer is described in such an intimate way that it comes alive even for someone who is unfamiliar with jallikattu. So much of the power dynamics of the feudal order is described in the encounter between Picchi and the Zamindar who's bull he tamed. Though a clear victor, Picchi still claims a subordinate position when he meets the zamindar, because he could not do otherwise. The Zamindar appears to be magnanimous, but it is clear that his pride was hurt because his prized bull was bested, and he takes his anger out on the bull. "If an animal's pride is hurt, it leads to destruction; it's the same with the man's pride too."
Jallikattu is a violent sport, yet men choose it because of the honour they receive if they manage to tame the bull. They risk their lives, because to not do so will mark them as lesser human beings. Is it the sport that is violent, or is it the society that requires men to prove themselves in this manner?
Most of the dialogue in the original book was apparently in the rural dialect which the people would have used, and the translator notes that it was his choice to render them in regular English instead of attempting a dialect which may not capture the essense of the book. While I would love to hear the book in it's original Tamizh, I felt the translation captured the essense of the moment adequately. Enough Tamizh words were retained to give a glimpse of how the original might read.
Definitely a book I am glad I read. There is also a graphic novel adaptation which I am keen to read.
Picchi is the son of a bull tamer who was "as cunning as Lord Yama, Lord of Death", who lost his life when trying to tame the bull, Kaari at a jallikattu. His son seeks to restore the lost honour by taming the bull that "not only destroyed his father's dream, but also his very life".
Picchi meets an elderly man who is well versed in jallikattu lore- the man is suspicious of what he thinks is the young upstart, but Picchi wins him over with his humility and the man becomes his staunch ally. The local bull tamer wants to assert his superiority over Picchi, and while Picchi saves his life his honour remains injured. Both these conflicts lead to the main one- between Picchi and Kaari. The actual encounter between the bull and the bull tamer is described in such an intimate way that it comes alive even for someone who is unfamiliar with jallikattu. So much of the power dynamics of the feudal order is described in the encounter between Picchi and the Zamindar who's bull he tamed. Though a clear victor, Picchi still claims a subordinate position when he meets the zamindar, because he could not do otherwise. The Zamindar appears to be magnanimous, but it is clear that his pride was hurt because his prized bull was bested, and he takes his anger out on the bull. "If an animal's pride is hurt, it leads to destruction; it's the same with the man's pride too."
Jallikattu is a violent sport, yet men choose it because of the honour they receive if they manage to tame the bull. They risk their lives, because to not do so will mark them as lesser human beings. Is it the sport that is violent, or is it the society that requires men to prove themselves in this manner?
Most of the dialogue in the original book was apparently in the rural dialect which the people would have used, and the translator notes that it was his choice to render them in regular English instead of attempting a dialect which may not capture the essense of the book. While I would love to hear the book in it's original Tamizh, I felt the translation captured the essense of the moment adequately. Enough Tamizh words were retained to give a glimpse of how the original might read.
Definitely a book I am glad I read. There is also a graphic novel adaptation which I am keen to read.
April 5, 2025
I mean, this was animal abuse (but so was The Sun Also Rises and that was way worse in that respect if memory serves). I'm just excited to be reading a Tamil graphic novel in English. 🥹
In addition, the art was phenomenal and for the most part, I enjoyed the story with the exception of the ending!
In addition, the art was phenomenal and for the most part, I enjoyed the story with the exception of the ending!
April 7, 2025
Why it was picked?
For two of my favorite authors - Appupen and Perumal Murugan
Originally written in Tamil by C.S.Chelappa, this is a translated graphic novel adaptation.
Highlights: Entertainment!
A short and crisp read on Jallikattu.
Raw, intense, animal and man, full of ego, violent, legendary and mythical.
Better than watching a film!
For two of my favorite authors - Appupen and Perumal Murugan
Originally written in Tamil by C.S.Chelappa, this is a translated graphic novel adaptation.
Highlights: Entertainment!
A short and crisp read on Jallikattu.
Raw, intense, animal and man, full of ego, violent, legendary and mythical.
Better than watching a film!
April 21, 2025
3.5 stars
May 8, 2025
Love the artwork!
June 9, 2025
The fight between man and a beast. Very well depicted
February 20, 2026
A wonderfully illustrated graphical version of Chellapa’s Vaadivaasal.
April 17, 2026
An adrenaline rush through the pages. Man vs Beast. Brilliant art by Appupen making for a great reading experience.
Read
February 24, 2025Great work by Appupen on the graphics
February 21, 2025
A graphic novel about the Jallikattu contest.
February 16, 2025
This is a good and quick introduction to Chellappa’s work. But given the limitation of this form itself I believe, could not create the literary tension and dilemmas that reader will go through when they are reading the original work and it’s superb introduction published in Oxford English translation.
June 21, 2025
Si.Su.Chellappa’s Vaadivaasal (The Arena) was a unique experience as I read the graphic adaptation by Perumal Murugan and Appupen immediately after listening to the original narrated by Aanand.
A story of adversity and camaraderie between man and animal as well as man and man, the novel follows the events in and around the vaadivaasal (arena) on the afternoon of the jallikattu (bull taming) game at Chellayipuram, Tamilnadu. The adrenaline-driven narration paints a vivid picture of the bull taming, the cultural significance associated with the festival, and the human emotions at stake. The novel effectively invokes ethical and moral questions around animal rights in connection with traditional practices, community dynamics, blood feud, etc. within the narrative, without delving into discourse even once!
The spare-yet-rich adaptation, aided by Appupen’s austere-yet-effective artwork, resonates with the original’s pithiness and narrative structure.
A story of adversity and camaraderie between man and animal as well as man and man, the novel follows the events in and around the vaadivaasal (arena) on the afternoon of the jallikattu (bull taming) game at Chellayipuram, Tamilnadu. The adrenaline-driven narration paints a vivid picture of the bull taming, the cultural significance associated with the festival, and the human emotions at stake. The novel effectively invokes ethical and moral questions around animal rights in connection with traditional practices, community dynamics, blood feud, etc. within the narrative, without delving into discourse even once!
The spare-yet-rich adaptation, aided by Appupen’s austere-yet-effective artwork, resonates with the original’s pithiness and narrative structure.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews