Poonachi Alladhu Oru Vellattin Kathai

by Perumal Murugan, M S Poonguzhali (Narrator)

புதைந்திருக்கும் கதைகள் எத்தனை காலம்தான் விதையுறக்கத்தில் ஆழ்ந்திருக்கும்? மனிதர்களைப் பற்றி எழுத அச்சம். தெய்வங்களைப் பற்றி எழுதவோ பேரச்சம். அசுரர்களைப் பற்றி எழுதலாம். அசுர வாழ்க்கையும் கொஞ்சம் பழக்கம்தான். இப்போதைக்குத் தொட்டுக்கொள்ளலாம். சரி, விலங்குகளைப் பற்றி எழுதுவோம். ஆழ அறிந்தவை ஐந்தே ஐந்து விலங்குகள்தாம். அவற்றில் நாயும் பூனையும் கவிதைகளுக்கானவை. மாடு, பன்றி ஆகியவற்றைப் பற்றி எழுதவே கூடாது. மிஞ்சியது ஆடு ஒன்றுதான். பிரச்சினை தராத அப்பிராணி ஆடு. ஆட்டில் இரண்டு வகை. வெள்ளாடு, செம்மறி. சுறுசுறுப்பானது வெள்ளாடு. கதையில் ஓட்டம் இருக்க வேண்டும். அதற்கு லாயக்கு வெள்ளாடுதான். இரண்டாண்டுகளுக்குப் பின் இவ்விதமாக உருவான எனது பத்தாவது நாவல் ‘பூனாச்சி அல்லது ஒரு வெள்ளாட்டின் கதை. ’Writer, Poet, Critic Perumal Murugan’s first novel after his self imposed break, following the moral policing and assault on him and his works. Perumal Murugan says the assault imposed a fear to write, to write about men or gods or demons. So he chose to write about animals for now. And of the five animals men know intimately, dog and cat are for poetry, cow and pig can’t be written about, hence that is remaining in only the Goat. Goat being a harmless animal is filled with an enthusiasm. That enthusiasm is translated into flow of the narrative. Thus born the tenth novel of Perumal murugan, the story of a goat or Poonaacchi.

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Published August 23, 2025

About the author

Primary profile for this author.

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Per GR policy, books published in another language/script should have the name on that book as secondary author, with Perumal Murugan as primary author.

Perumal Murugan is a well-known contemporary Tamil writer and poet. He was written six novels, four collections of short stories and four anthologies of poetry. Three of his novels have been translated into English to wide acclaim: Seasons of the Palm, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Kiriyama Award in 2005, Current Show, and most recently, One Part Woman. He has received awards from the Tamil Nadu government as well as from Katha Books.

Reviews

[m_zlina.r]

From the title, I first thought the goat would actually talk. But the book is not written like that. Instead, we are made to imagine what the goat might be thinking and feeling. I was truly amazed at how the author chose to tell the entire story from a goat’s perspective. I kept wondering how he even thought of writing a full novel this way. It takes great imagination and depth to sustain that voice throughout the book.

While reading, I felt completely transported into the village setting. It felt like I was there, raising goats myself, living that rural life. The descriptions were so simple yet vivid.

Beyond the goat’s life, the story also reflects human reality. It quietly shows how society values individuals only when they are useful when they give something, produce something, or serve a purpose. When someone becomes “useless,” the way they are treated changes. That truth hit me deeply.

As always, Perumal Murugan’s ending left me heartbroken. His stories carry a quiet sadness that stays long after finishing the book.

⭐ Rating: 4/5

[T Barath]

Didn't know a tale about a goat would haunt me so much... Had to take some time off to process stuffs and become normal.

There are a lot of things that sounds like a comparison to real life. Some are impactful, some are disturbing, some question the existence of society.
Worth reading!!

[Vijay Anand]

An emotional and beautiful masterpiece♥️♥️♥️