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Baahubali: Before the Beginning #1
शिवगामी कथा [Shivagami Katha]
When five-year-old Sivagami witnesses her father being branded a traitor and executed by the maharaja of Mahishmathi, she vows to one day destroy the kingdom. At seventeen, she recovers a manuscript from her crumbling ancestral mansion. Written in a strange language called Paisachi, the manuscript contains a secret that may redeem her father or condemn him further.
Meanwhile, Kattappa, a proud and idealistic young slave who blindly believes in his duty, finds himself in the service of a spoilt prince. Alongside, he must try and keep his brother, who resents their social position and yearns for freedom, out of trouble.
As Sivagami tries to unravel the secret of the manuscript, she finds that the empire of Mahishmathi is teeming with conspirators, palace intrigues, corrupt officials and revolutionaries. An ambitious nobleman will do anything for power and money. A secret group of warriors under the leadership of a seventy-year-old woman is determined to stop the slave trade. A forest tribe, deeply resentful of having been driven away from their holy mountain three hundred years ago, is preparing to wage war against the king.
From the pen of Anand Neelakantan, the bestselling author of Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, Roll of the Dice and Rise of Kali, comes The Rise of Sivagami, filled with staggering intrigues and unforgettable characters. A riveting tale of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal, The Rise of Sivagami is a befitting prequel to S. S. Rajamouli’s blockbuster film Bāhubali.
Meanwhile, Kattappa, a proud and idealistic young slave who blindly believes in his duty, finds himself in the service of a spoilt prince. Alongside, he must try and keep his brother, who resents their social position and yearns for freedom, out of trouble.
As Sivagami tries to unravel the secret of the manuscript, she finds that the empire of Mahishmathi is teeming with conspirators, palace intrigues, corrupt officials and revolutionaries. An ambitious nobleman will do anything for power and money. A secret group of warriors under the leadership of a seventy-year-old woman is determined to stop the slave trade. A forest tribe, deeply resentful of having been driven away from their holy mountain three hundred years ago, is preparing to wage war against the king.
From the pen of Anand Neelakantan, the bestselling author of Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, Roll of the Dice and Rise of Kali, comes The Rise of Sivagami, filled with staggering intrigues and unforgettable characters. A riveting tale of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal, The Rise of Sivagami is a befitting prequel to S. S. Rajamouli’s blockbuster film Bāhubali.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2017
742 people are currently reading
4719 people want to read
About the author
Anand Neelakantan
30 books1,757 followersAnand Neelakantan is an Indian author, columnist, screenwriter, and public speaker. He is known for writing mythological fictions and has authored ten books in English and one in Malayalam. He follows the style of telling stories based on the perspective of the antagonists or supporting characters of a larger work. His debut work Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012) was based on the Indian epic Ramayana, told from the perspective of Ravana—the first book in his Ramayana series. It was followed by series of books based on characters from Mahabharata and Baahubali. His books have been translated to different languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali , Gujarati, Assamese, English and Indonesian Bahasa.
Anand's Asura is one of the 100 books to be read in a life time as per Amazon.[1] The book has sold more than half a million copies across the years. Three of his books have been shortlisted for Crossword Book Award during the respective years. He was listed as one among the "100 top celebrities in India" in 2015 and 2017 by Forbes India. Anand also writes a column for The New Indian Express on current affairs and his fortnightly column is called "Acute Angle".
Anand's Asura is one of the 100 books to be read in a life time as per Amazon.[1] The book has sold more than half a million copies across the years. Three of his books have been shortlisted for Crossword Book Award during the respective years. He was listed as one among the "100 top celebrities in India" in 2015 and 2017 by Forbes India. Anand also writes a column for The New Indian Express on current affairs and his fortnightly column is called "Acute Angle".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
June 29, 2017
The book has multiple plots going on that keep you glued. Excellent writing mixed with a lot of interesting characters and a somewhat mysterious plot.
The book as a standalone was a good read. It was moderately paced and keeps you entertained.
However, if you're reading it as the BahuBali prequel, you would expect more. It didn't match the grandeur of the story. It doesn't make you sit straight and wait restlessly to know what happens next. I wouldn't even match the ending of Bahubali with this one.
Just focusing on the Bahubali movie's story and the story of this book, I would say the book did miss a few rungs of the ladder.
It is good, but not great. It is worth reading but not worth spending sleepless nights on it.
The book as a standalone was a good read. It was moderately paced and keeps you entertained.
However, if you're reading it as the BahuBali prequel, you would expect more. It didn't match the grandeur of the story. It doesn't make you sit straight and wait restlessly to know what happens next. I wouldn't even match the ending of Bahubali with this one.
Just focusing on the Bahubali movie's story and the story of this book, I would say the book did miss a few rungs of the ladder.
It is good, but not great. It is worth reading but not worth spending sleepless nights on it.
June 13, 2017
2.5 stars.
The Rise of Sivagami stands prequel to the movie, Bahubali. Anand Neelakantan gives his voice to S.S. Rajamouli’s creation and crafts the history of Mahishmathi from scratch with his words. But what really lies behind the doors of this prosperous kingdom is not what any onlooker would picture it from outside. Masked by colours of progress,is the overpowering greed of the ones in power, stampeding the poor and the needy, creating an unfair balance of humanity. Every nook and corner reeks of crookery where the oppressor continues to oppress and the sufferer is persistently made to suffer.
About the characters, no one is black or white; all are shades of grey (no pun intended. :P). Neelakantan projects each character in a dilemma of sorts. That, in itself is thought-provoking, because faced with the same circumstances, one might just follow the grey path the character choses, however immoral or nasty it would seem from the outside. I liked this quality of his character building to some extent, but it was all very hurried. You are not allowed to dwell in the mindset of one person for long because soon another ominous twist has crept from behind. This annoyed the hell out of me as I’d rather have preferred more length than jerking out suddenly from such brief episodes of interest.
And that is not limited to the characters only. The world building is ineffective, ending as soon as it began. As you try to commit the scene to your mind, the entire set of characters have been altered cruelly and something entirely dissimilar is ensuing in its place. No, that doesn’t quirk up your anticipation, but rather irritates you to the core because the entire process of assembling your curiosity turns out to be futile. Mentally tiresome in a way.
Some subplots in the story are half done. I don’t know if they would have any role to play in the books that follow, but right now they have left me nowhere. Brihannala’s character had a queer ring to it but there were no more heads to that. Skandadasa’s motive to chase the Vaithalikas using Katappa as a pawn was unnecessarily put, because nothing followed after that one instance in the book. I don’t know if this was brought up to throw some light on Skandadasa’s character, but it was poorly executed.
I have more complaints than applause for this book. The twists were strong; the subplots had immense potential but the execution failed miserably for me. Had a lot of expectations from this book but to no avail.
Might be looking out for the next book, only to satisfy my curiosity, but that again is a diffeent story.
2.5 stars for me.
The Rise of Sivagami stands prequel to the movie, Bahubali. Anand Neelakantan gives his voice to S.S. Rajamouli’s creation and crafts the history of Mahishmathi from scratch with his words. But what really lies behind the doors of this prosperous kingdom is not what any onlooker would picture it from outside. Masked by colours of progress,is the overpowering greed of the ones in power, stampeding the poor and the needy, creating an unfair balance of humanity. Every nook and corner reeks of crookery where the oppressor continues to oppress and the sufferer is persistently made to suffer.
About the characters, no one is black or white; all are shades of grey (no pun intended. :P). Neelakantan projects each character in a dilemma of sorts. That, in itself is thought-provoking, because faced with the same circumstances, one might just follow the grey path the character choses, however immoral or nasty it would seem from the outside. I liked this quality of his character building to some extent, but it was all very hurried. You are not allowed to dwell in the mindset of one person for long because soon another ominous twist has crept from behind. This annoyed the hell out of me as I’d rather have preferred more length than jerking out suddenly from such brief episodes of interest.
And that is not limited to the characters only. The world building is ineffective, ending as soon as it began. As you try to commit the scene to your mind, the entire set of characters have been altered cruelly and something entirely dissimilar is ensuing in its place. No, that doesn’t quirk up your anticipation, but rather irritates you to the core because the entire process of assembling your curiosity turns out to be futile. Mentally tiresome in a way.
Some subplots in the story are half done. I don’t know if they would have any role to play in the books that follow, but right now they have left me nowhere. Brihannala’s character had a queer ring to it but there were no more heads to that. Skandadasa’s motive to chase the Vaithalikas using Katappa as a pawn was unnecessarily put, because nothing followed after that one instance in the book. I don’t know if this was brought up to throw some light on Skandadasa’s character, but it was poorly executed.
I have more complaints than applause for this book. The twists were strong; the subplots had immense potential but the execution failed miserably for me. Had a lot of expectations from this book but to no avail.
Might be looking out for the next book, only to satisfy my curiosity, but that again is a diffeent story.
2.5 stars for me.
May 7, 2017
2.5/5 The author is known for his interesting takes on Ramayana (Asura) and Mahabharata (Ajaya) from the point-of-view of d villains Ravana and Duryodhana/Kauravas respectively. His twists to those tales were cunning, dark and d books were enjoyable and believable.
Unfortunately in this book he has overdone everything - darkness , detailed description of rapes/orgies (which I have not read in an Indian or any book b4), the rant against caste etc. Another major flaw is the huge number of characters and none of them inspire empathy. A result of which there r excessive threads, some of them r ordinary and wasteful and none of them provide thrills n intelligent twists. One can feel that d book has been written in a hurry and needed more crafting and editing.
It is fast-paced and that is d saving grace. While this one was picked up bcoz of d Bahubali-2 movie fever, I m not sure whether I will pick up book #2 in the trilogy.
Unfortunately in this book he has overdone everything - darkness , detailed description of rapes/orgies (which I have not read in an Indian or any book b4), the rant against caste etc. Another major flaw is the huge number of characters and none of them inspire empathy. A result of which there r excessive threads, some of them r ordinary and wasteful and none of them provide thrills n intelligent twists. One can feel that d book has been written in a hurry and needed more crafting and editing.
It is fast-paced and that is d saving grace. While this one was picked up bcoz of d Bahubali-2 movie fever, I m not sure whether I will pick up book #2 in the trilogy.
April 24, 2017
So, have you watched Baahubali? The movie has two really strong characters – Sivagami and Kattappa. First, you see Sivagami (played by Ramya Krishnan) fight warriors whilst feeding a baby and then flee. She manages to save the baby at the cost of her life. Kattappa (played by Sathyaraj) is shown as the humble manservant/slave to the heir to the kingdom of Mahishmati. The movie ends with Kattappa telling the tale of Amarendra Baahubali, and confessing to killing his king.
Sivagami and Kattappa are truly bad ass characters. The Rise of Sivagami shows us what came before. Who was Kattappa? Who was Sivagami? And how did they get to where they are in the movie. The Rise of Sivagami is essentially a flashback into their histories. And also a glimpse into the complexities of the movie. Some questions are answered and for the rest, we have to wait for books 2 and 3.
There are so many more characters of interest in this book. And since the series is a trilogy, the next two books should be more interesting. But The Rise of Sivagami is packed with twists and turns, vile plots and gripping wars. Betrayal, scams, and prejudice find a prominent place as well.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was insightful about how Sivagami and Kattappa, and gave a much better understanding of the kingdom of Mahishmati. It is written in a very simple manner and is paced well. There are no boring parts that you may want to skip.
I would definitely recommend it. Go read.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite
Sivagami and Kattappa are truly bad ass characters. The Rise of Sivagami shows us what came before. Who was Kattappa? Who was Sivagami? And how did they get to where they are in the movie. The Rise of Sivagami is essentially a flashback into their histories. And also a glimpse into the complexities of the movie. Some questions are answered and for the rest, we have to wait for books 2 and 3.
There are so many more characters of interest in this book. And since the series is a trilogy, the next two books should be more interesting. But The Rise of Sivagami is packed with twists and turns, vile plots and gripping wars. Betrayal, scams, and prejudice find a prominent place as well.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was insightful about how Sivagami and Kattappa, and gave a much better understanding of the kingdom of Mahishmati. It is written in a very simple manner and is paced well. There are no boring parts that you may want to skip.
I would definitely recommend it. Go read.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite
May 23, 2017
If I had to choose one word to describe this book, I would have to say : Underwhelming.
Maybe it was because the movies left me so impressed, that I expected a lot from the book as well. Anand Neelakantan has a reputation for being one of the best authors in the genre.
After reading the foreword where it was mentioned that S.S. Rajamouli personally asked Anand Neelakantan to write this book, I jumped in, with a lot of hopes.
Firstly, the one thing that confounded me is the entire plot of the Gauridhooli. It was mentioned no where in the movies, and the Gauriparvat either. The whole thing was new, and although the characters were familiar and the setting of the Kingdom was familiar, the entire plot seemed alien .
'That is alright', I thought, and I pursued to finish the novel anyway, since Sivagami seemed interesting enough to keep the plot moving.
Kattapa's story is rather monotonous. I think Anand Neelakantan tried to give him some Snape vibes, with the whole "Bound to duty" and "regrets" thing, but it didn't really work that well.
The two characters that really made the story worth reading other than Sivagami, are Bijjala Deva and Mahadeva. Both men brought realism into the otherwise random story with various plots and sub-plots.
The ending was rather interesting though, and I won't give away any spoilers.
This is expected to be a trilogy and I shall hope for the other two books in the series to be more interesting. (Hopefully relevant to the movie too!)
Maybe it was because the movies left me so impressed, that I expected a lot from the book as well. Anand Neelakantan has a reputation for being one of the best authors in the genre.
After reading the foreword where it was mentioned that S.S. Rajamouli personally asked Anand Neelakantan to write this book, I jumped in, with a lot of hopes.
Firstly, the one thing that confounded me is the entire plot of the Gauridhooli. It was mentioned no where in the movies, and the Gauriparvat either. The whole thing was new, and although the characters were familiar and the setting of the Kingdom was familiar, the entire plot seemed alien .
'That is alright', I thought, and I pursued to finish the novel anyway, since Sivagami seemed interesting enough to keep the plot moving.
Kattapa's story is rather monotonous. I think Anand Neelakantan tried to give him some Snape vibes, with the whole "Bound to duty" and "regrets" thing, but it didn't really work that well.
The two characters that really made the story worth reading other than Sivagami, are Bijjala Deva and Mahadeva. Both men brought realism into the otherwise random story with various plots and sub-plots.
The ending was rather interesting though, and I won't give away any spoilers.
This is expected to be a trilogy and I shall hope for the other two books in the series to be more interesting. (Hopefully relevant to the movie too!)
April 5, 2017
Writing a book after taking inspiration from a movie, which made an entire country watch in awe, is by no means an easy task and the author deserves praise for taking on the story and adding history to it. After reading the book I am a tad disappointed that it didn't engross me as much as I would have liked. Part of the reason might be that I expected a lot more from the book given the success of the movie and partly due to the fact that there a lot of subplots going around, it feels like a lot is happening but with very little end product.
Characters in the book are all varied and there is an uncanny resemblance with Game Of Thrones characters. Sivagami's characterisation and story line was good and so was Kattapa's until the got too stubborn and somehow survived thrice from dying.
An interesting thing was the number of coincidences that occurred which made it engaging. However the book didn't explore much of the kingdom of Mahishmathi and I couldn't get much clarity about where the certain scenes were taking place.
Overall a good book to read and hope the other books are better!!
Characters in the book are all varied and there is an uncanny resemblance with Game Of Thrones characters. Sivagami's characterisation and story line was good and so was Kattapa's until the got too stubborn and somehow survived thrice from dying.
An interesting thing was the number of coincidences that occurred which made it engaging. However the book didn't explore much of the kingdom of Mahishmathi and I couldn't get much clarity about where the certain scenes were taking place.
Overall a good book to read and hope the other books are better!!
May 24, 2017
It is rare for a book to be based off a powerful character adapted from celluloid. It was with this curiosity that I started reading this book. This book is a page turner. It seldom gets boring. That being said I believe the author tried mimicking series like 'A Song of Ice and Fire' and 'The lord of the Rings'. Hidumba of this book reminded me of Tyrion Lannister while Sivagami herself I think has been fashioned after Arya Stark. It looks like a poor copy of Game of Thrones. There is a good minister who gets executed. A daughter who wants revenge. A good prince and a bad prince. I could go on and on. All in all the author manages not to disappoint his reader though. It was a good read but I won't say it is a must read.
March 26, 2017
In the mythical land of Mahishmathi, the much-revered Gauriparvat looms large, dominating the landscape and the lives of the people of Mahishmathi. Deep inside Gauriparvat, too, lie the magical blue stones known as Gaurikanta, which when powdered, yield a dust used to forge weapons like none other. These are stones more precious than anything else in this land, and for them, men will kill, maim, kidnap, and drive to death others.
Anand Neelakantan’s first book in the series, The Rise of Sivagami, is a prequel to SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster hit film Baahubali. Baahubali focused on the life of Shivudu, a man who, by a series of twists and turns, ends up returning to his rightful place in the grand palace of Mahishmathi, where a glimpse of the past shows us a tantalizingly strong-willed and intelligent woman, Sivagami, once wife of the would-be king.
The Rise of Sivagami is Neelakantan’s attempt to spin a tale that has Sivagami at its centre. It begins decades before the story of Baahubali, when an eighteen-year old Sivagami sets out to find out the truth about her father, executed as a traitor when Sivagami was just five years old. Sivagami’s quest will lead her from the foster home where she has been brought up, to the royal palace, bringing her way unexpected friends, as well as unexpected enemies.
This is not, however, just the story of Sivagami herself. The cast of characters runs into dozens here. There are conniving and greedy government officials; traitors; a debauched prince who will let his libido govern everything he does. There is the stubbornly loyal slave Kattappa, who will let nothing—not blood relations, not family ties, not even his own conscience—come in the way of what he sees as his duty. There are wily eunuchs, seductive prostitutes, women warriors, forest dwellers who are working silently together to topple the corrupt regime that rules Mahishmathi.
Love, lust, greed, ambition, pride, loyalty, treachery, and more come together in a roller coaster ride of a book: the pace never flags, and the immensely complex but well-plotted storyline never loses steam. Neelakantan’s ploy, of switching perspectives from one chapter to another, of swift changes of setting, character, and motive, works well to keep the story hurtling along.
This is an engrossing fantasy novel, but two important details mark it as more than just a great entertainer. One is the feistiness of several of its female characters. Sivagami herself is a strong-willed, focused young woman who, despite being driven by a need for vengeance, is compassionate and kind. Ally, Achi Nagamma, and their fellow women warriors, too, are refreshing departures from the norm: women who make their own choices, women who carve their own destinies.
The other interesting thing about The Rise of Sivagami is the occasional reflection of issues that are age-old, as relevant today as they might have been in ancient India (or a mythological ‘ancient’ India). Socialism. The struggle between poor and wealthy, weak and powerful. The need to crush the corrupt and power-hungry: all of these are there, but there are other, more insightful, instances: “… You always say bad things about our country. Traitors, all are traitors except me and those who agree with me…”
A fine adventure, and one that promises to be the start of a gripping series.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
Anand Neelakantan’s first book in the series, The Rise of Sivagami, is a prequel to SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster hit film Baahubali. Baahubali focused on the life of Shivudu, a man who, by a series of twists and turns, ends up returning to his rightful place in the grand palace of Mahishmathi, where a glimpse of the past shows us a tantalizingly strong-willed and intelligent woman, Sivagami, once wife of the would-be king.
The Rise of Sivagami is Neelakantan’s attempt to spin a tale that has Sivagami at its centre. It begins decades before the story of Baahubali, when an eighteen-year old Sivagami sets out to find out the truth about her father, executed as a traitor when Sivagami was just five years old. Sivagami’s quest will lead her from the foster home where she has been brought up, to the royal palace, bringing her way unexpected friends, as well as unexpected enemies.
This is not, however, just the story of Sivagami herself. The cast of characters runs into dozens here. There are conniving and greedy government officials; traitors; a debauched prince who will let his libido govern everything he does. There is the stubbornly loyal slave Kattappa, who will let nothing—not blood relations, not family ties, not even his own conscience—come in the way of what he sees as his duty. There are wily eunuchs, seductive prostitutes, women warriors, forest dwellers who are working silently together to topple the corrupt regime that rules Mahishmathi.
Love, lust, greed, ambition, pride, loyalty, treachery, and more come together in a roller coaster ride of a book: the pace never flags, and the immensely complex but well-plotted storyline never loses steam. Neelakantan’s ploy, of switching perspectives from one chapter to another, of swift changes of setting, character, and motive, works well to keep the story hurtling along.
This is an engrossing fantasy novel, but two important details mark it as more than just a great entertainer. One is the feistiness of several of its female characters. Sivagami herself is a strong-willed, focused young woman who, despite being driven by a need for vengeance, is compassionate and kind. Ally, Achi Nagamma, and their fellow women warriors, too, are refreshing departures from the norm: women who make their own choices, women who carve their own destinies.
The other interesting thing about The Rise of Sivagami is the occasional reflection of issues that are age-old, as relevant today as they might have been in ancient India (or a mythological ‘ancient’ India). Socialism. The struggle between poor and wealthy, weak and powerful. The need to crush the corrupt and power-hungry: all of these are there, but there are other, more insightful, instances: “… You always say bad things about our country. Traitors, all are traitors except me and those who agree with me…”
A fine adventure, and one that promises to be the start of a gripping series.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
September 13, 2018
If Amish Tripathi is the Tolkein of India, then Anand Neelakantan is definitely India's answer to George R R Martin. Well, not really but Indian fantasy fiction genre was virtually unoccupied since Ramayana and Mahabharata. I think these baby steps are worth encouraging.
The book was absolutely engaging. The tension was very real and the cliffhangers worked really well. Also, the author had the courage to go dark. It's not the villains-do-bad-things, hero-saves-the-day, justice-shall-prevail type of narrative. The book just shares the same universe as Bāhubali, the setup is completely different. I could imagine Sivagmi in the movie, sitting on her leopard throne and thinking... "Well, the world ain't fucked up as it used to be" Some may not appreciate this well enough as it is a tried and tested trope for Hollywood but people who know Bollywood would know how risky that would be for an Indian audience. The characters are layered and everyone shares an equal risk of losing their lives - except Sivagami and Kattappa of course.
About the negatives... Well, its a bit too fast paced. I could understand the situation: The author has this labyrinth of a plot but the publisher put a limit on pages. Still, if he could spare some pages to explain the luxuries of a grand brothel, then he could at least give an equal number of pages while introducing or killing off its main characters. Also, the book's end doesn't resolve even a fraction of its setup. I know it's part of a trilogy but there should be some reward for finishing a book.
In conclusion, The rise of Sivagami is not as much about Sivagami as it is about a realistic portrayal of the Mahishmati empire. If there is anyone out there who, like me, love Amish's stories but think they are bit too idealistic, you should definitely check this out.
The book was absolutely engaging. The tension was very real and the cliffhangers worked really well. Also, the author had the courage to go dark. It's not the villains-do-bad-things, hero-saves-the-day, justice-shall-prevail type of narrative. The book just shares the same universe as Bāhubali, the setup is completely different. I could imagine Sivagmi in the movie, sitting on her leopard throne and thinking... "Well, the world ain't fucked up as it used to be" Some may not appreciate this well enough as it is a tried and tested trope for Hollywood but people who know Bollywood would know how risky that would be for an Indian audience. The characters are layered and everyone shares an equal risk of losing their lives - except Sivagami and Kattappa of course.
About the negatives... Well, its a bit too fast paced. I could understand the situation: The author has this labyrinth of a plot but the publisher put a limit on pages. Still, if he could spare some pages to explain the luxuries of a grand brothel, then he could at least give an equal number of pages while introducing or killing off its main characters. Also, the book's end doesn't resolve even a fraction of its setup. I know it's part of a trilogy but there should be some reward for finishing a book.
In conclusion, The rise of Sivagami is not as much about Sivagami as it is about a realistic portrayal of the Mahishmati empire. If there is anyone out there who, like me, love Amish's stories but think they are bit too idealistic, you should definitely check this out.
April 3, 2017
True Wonderer
This was my second book by Anand Neelakantan, The First one "ASURA", the reason of his widespread fame, didn't appeal to me all that much and so i was apprehensive about picking up this one. But curiosity got the better of me and i am glad that it did. I won the book in Goodread's Giveaways and what a ride it has been. Firstly, Watch the movie (i suspect this was a major reason for the commission of this book), Secondly, even if you don't this will work just fine (But you will watch the movie afterwards anyways, trust me, these are clever clever people indeed.). Anand Neelakantan has a specific way of writing, he loves being on the bad guy's side, by his own admission this was his first book where he wrote for a positive character but i felt that his habit of coloring things grey has stayed in this one too. Which, adds a splendid 'anti hero' flavor to the book. The world of 'Mahishmathi' can be experienced in more detail, with its social and power structures sketched out as well as all that ails that world from slavery to the draconian social norms of the 'Varna System'. The story focuses not only on the three main characters with which the audience(of 'Bahubali') would already be familiar with Sivagami, Kattapa (The ever loyal slave) & Bijjala (the arrogant prince) but adds a host of new ones too like 'Keki the eunuch' , 'Skandadasa the deputy prime minister','Gundu ram the lovable orphan', 'Shivappa the rebel', 'Jeemotha the pirate' and many more. The book unfolds as a series of POV's so you get to enjoy different characters in their element. The story itself was good though i feel it could have been better, but considering the 108 days deadline (that's how long he had apparently) you can't really fault the author. The writing thus feels patchy sometimes with the characters being too obvious in their dialogues, giving a somehow rough feel to the reading experience. But the imagination and expansion of the world was glorious. We get to know some new kingdoms and the overall picture of the power hierarchy among them and the secret to the success of the kingdom of 'Mahishmathi'.
Other than the awesome tale of 'Sivagami' and the brilliant moral conundrums & struggles of 'Kattapa', the element that works for the book or rather for the whole trilogy is the suspense of the unanswered questions. How did a girl who wanted to see all the royals dead, ended up being the Queen Mother? What happened to Bijjala ? What became of 'Mahadeva' the young prince and his crush ? What is the 'Manuscript' all about ? And Why in the name of all that is possible and impossible did Kattapa did what he did in the End of the movie ? ( I know i am digressing a bit here but well IT is the burning question).
So, yes, i would read the next two. And yes, i feel that these books are a welcome addition to the Indian Fantasy genre. I just hope Mr. Neelakantan uses a bit more finesse in the upcoming ones. The books are quite alluring, and i suspect after the release of the next and final movie (This April's end i am told) that allure would go up ten fold. So, read on my dear friends and experience the glory of this fantastical world. "Jai! 'Mahishmathi'" (Hail! 'Mahishmathi').
This was my second book by Anand Neelakantan, The First one "ASURA", the reason of his widespread fame, didn't appeal to me all that much and so i was apprehensive about picking up this one. But curiosity got the better of me and i am glad that it did. I won the book in Goodread's Giveaways and what a ride it has been. Firstly, Watch the movie (i suspect this was a major reason for the commission of this book), Secondly, even if you don't this will work just fine (But you will watch the movie afterwards anyways, trust me, these are clever clever people indeed.). Anand Neelakantan has a specific way of writing, he loves being on the bad guy's side, by his own admission this was his first book where he wrote for a positive character but i felt that his habit of coloring things grey has stayed in this one too. Which, adds a splendid 'anti hero' flavor to the book. The world of 'Mahishmathi' can be experienced in more detail, with its social and power structures sketched out as well as all that ails that world from slavery to the draconian social norms of the 'Varna System'. The story focuses not only on the three main characters with which the audience(of 'Bahubali') would already be familiar with Sivagami, Kattapa (The ever loyal slave) & Bijjala (the arrogant prince) but adds a host of new ones too like 'Keki the eunuch' , 'Skandadasa the deputy prime minister','Gundu ram the lovable orphan', 'Shivappa the rebel', 'Jeemotha the pirate' and many more. The book unfolds as a series of POV's so you get to enjoy different characters in their element. The story itself was good though i feel it could have been better, but considering the 108 days deadline (that's how long he had apparently) you can't really fault the author. The writing thus feels patchy sometimes with the characters being too obvious in their dialogues, giving a somehow rough feel to the reading experience. But the imagination and expansion of the world was glorious. We get to know some new kingdoms and the overall picture of the power hierarchy among them and the secret to the success of the kingdom of 'Mahishmathi'.
Other than the awesome tale of 'Sivagami' and the brilliant moral conundrums & struggles of 'Kattapa', the element that works for the book or rather for the whole trilogy is the suspense of the unanswered questions. How did a girl who wanted to see all the royals dead, ended up being the Queen Mother? What happened to Bijjala ? What became of 'Mahadeva' the young prince and his crush ? What is the 'Manuscript' all about ? And Why in the name of all that is possible and impossible did Kattapa did what he did in the End of the movie ? ( I know i am digressing a bit here but well IT is the burning question).
So, yes, i would read the next two. And yes, i feel that these books are a welcome addition to the Indian Fantasy genre. I just hope Mr. Neelakantan uses a bit more finesse in the upcoming ones. The books are quite alluring, and i suspect after the release of the next and final movie (This April's end i am told) that allure would go up ten fold. So, read on my dear friends and experience the glory of this fantastical world. "Jai! 'Mahishmathi'" (Hail! 'Mahishmathi').
January 27, 2017
The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan is the first book of the Bahubali: Before the Begining trilogy which is the prequel to the blockbuster movie Bahubali. In this book, The Rise of Sivagami, Anand Neelakantan tells the epic story of the revenge of Sivagami from the King of the state of Mahismathi. The Rise of Sivagami is a gripping tale of power, betrayal and revenge.
Anand Neelakantan begins the story of The Rise of Sivagami with the history and prosperity of Mahishmathi, a powerful empire at foothills of mountain Gauriparvat. Sivagami, an orphan girl who lost her father in a wicked conspiracy involving the King, is the protagonist of the first book of the Bahubali trilogy.
The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan traces the audacious journey of Sivagami as she is determined to avenge her father’s death from her enemy, none other than the King. On her quest to clean the name of his father ...see review
Anand Neelakantan begins the story of The Rise of Sivagami with the history and prosperity of Mahishmathi, a powerful empire at foothills of mountain Gauriparvat. Sivagami, an orphan girl who lost her father in a wicked conspiracy involving the King, is the protagonist of the first book of the Bahubali trilogy.
The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan traces the audacious journey of Sivagami as she is determined to avenge her father’s death from her enemy, none other than the King. On her quest to clean the name of his father ...see review
May 25, 2017
Writing a prequel to an epic movie which has become a phenomenon of sorts in Indian cinema and has raised the standards of regional films in mammoth proportions has to be out of the ordinary. The Rise of Sivagami, the first book in the series Baahubali: Before the Beginning authored by Anand Neelakantan is a prodigious attempt in this regard. I have not read his previous works and Baahubali fandom is an untrodden territory for me, therefore my opinion is pretty much unlike that of a kid in a candy store. One must admit that subconsciously we are lured by the expectations all the publicity that has been created.
A director’s magnum opus with characters and visuals as strong and stunning as it gets, if needs a prequel it also calls for words that weave ‘Magic’. I liked the turn of events and the element of surprise in every chapter but I was not very pleased with the language. A reader does care ‘a rat’s arse’ about the vocabulary and the manner in which conversations take place in the story.
Paulo Coelho writes in Alchemist “The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader. That's why we go to movies and say, "Oh, the book is better.” In this book even this seemed impossible because the story is a rewind of events before the movie, so there is no comparing! I was completely blown away with the map of the Mahishmathi kingdom and the supercalifragilisticexpialidicious list of Dramatis personae. But somehow it seems impossible for me to imagine and attribute some things in the book to people who belonged to that era. Perhaps a better editing would have helped; this work was indeed published in a rush.
Drawing parallels with other works of fantasy fiction like ‘A Game of Thrones’ or ‘The Lord of The Rings’ would be sheer imprudence. Indian literature is a treasure chest, exploring it by itself is an adventure of sorts. Authors and we as readers need to understand that what we write is what we read and what we encourage, and what we finally show to the world. In an age where everything is available at the touch of a button and forgotten in the same way, the excitement of seeing or reading something never seen or read before is definitely beyond compare. Truth be told, there is room for more.
A director’s magnum opus with characters and visuals as strong and stunning as it gets, if needs a prequel it also calls for words that weave ‘Magic’. I liked the turn of events and the element of surprise in every chapter but I was not very pleased with the language. A reader does care ‘a rat’s arse’ about the vocabulary and the manner in which conversations take place in the story.
Paulo Coelho writes in Alchemist “The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader. That's why we go to movies and say, "Oh, the book is better.” In this book even this seemed impossible because the story is a rewind of events before the movie, so there is no comparing! I was completely blown away with the map of the Mahishmathi kingdom and the supercalifragilisticexpialidicious list of Dramatis personae. But somehow it seems impossible for me to imagine and attribute some things in the book to people who belonged to that era. Perhaps a better editing would have helped; this work was indeed published in a rush.
Drawing parallels with other works of fantasy fiction like ‘A Game of Thrones’ or ‘The Lord of The Rings’ would be sheer imprudence. Indian literature is a treasure chest, exploring it by itself is an adventure of sorts. Authors and we as readers need to understand that what we write is what we read and what we encourage, and what we finally show to the world. In an age where everything is available at the touch of a button and forgotten in the same way, the excitement of seeing or reading something never seen or read before is definitely beyond compare. Truth be told, there is room for more.
July 19, 2017
A prequel of the very amazing and grand movie, bahubali: the beginning, a lot is to be expected from this book. Even though the grandeur of the movies is hard to adopt in any book, Anand Neelakantan did a great job with this book.
Even though the book has so many characters, the book mainly brings light to the characters of Sivagami and Kattappa- both very important characters in the movies as well. Also, we find some new characters like Pattaraya, Rudra Bhatta , Pratapa and Skandadasa who influence the story in a major manner.
With so many characters, this book gave me the feels of Game of Thrones to some extent. With first half making us used to this kingdom of Mahishmati and the places near it, I must say that it wasn't very fast paced or exciting. But in the second half, the story quickly picked up the pace and it turns into a page turner.
This book has abundance of cruelty, greed, selfishness, betrayal and any other such emotion which indulges the characters in some really dangerous activities. You are going to feel a lot of pity for the low caste people there- they become the prey of the greedy.
I think I pretty much enjoyed this book because this is that proper Indian historical fiction, which is sure to transfer you to a totally another world. For me, this book was a complete package of drama, thrill and fantasy. I can't wait for the second book!!
Even though the book has so many characters, the book mainly brings light to the characters of Sivagami and Kattappa- both very important characters in the movies as well. Also, we find some new characters like Pattaraya, Rudra Bhatta , Pratapa and Skandadasa who influence the story in a major manner.
With so many characters, this book gave me the feels of Game of Thrones to some extent. With first half making us used to this kingdom of Mahishmati and the places near it, I must say that it wasn't very fast paced or exciting. But in the second half, the story quickly picked up the pace and it turns into a page turner.
This book has abundance of cruelty, greed, selfishness, betrayal and any other such emotion which indulges the characters in some really dangerous activities. You are going to feel a lot of pity for the low caste people there- they become the prey of the greedy.
I think I pretty much enjoyed this book because this is that proper Indian historical fiction, which is sure to transfer you to a totally another world. For me, this book was a complete package of drama, thrill and fantasy. I can't wait for the second book!!
May 22, 2017
3.5/5
One of my favorite things about Bahubali is that it is a straight-forward story about a great kingdom and how the rightful heir wins the throne. No hidden ulterior motives, no dramatic reason behind characters' actions, everything moves along AND WORKS BEAUTIFULLY, due to the circumstances and pure black & white emotions of love, jealousy, and loyalty. In some ways, it reminds me of the Mahabharatha , the epic about righteousness winning the day. Unfortunately (for me), the book moves away from this clean-cut narrative and instead delves into a mesh of plots, and sub-plots, almost all of which are fueled by vengeance.
Had this book been a standalone, or even part of a trilogy, in a universe where the Bahubali movies did not exist, I'd have gobbled up the book. Why? Because the story moved so quickly. Sivagami's quick temper, and sharp tongue, along with her composed self for the sake of her father, for the sake of her Thimma, elicits nothing short of respect from the reader. Katappa's constant struggle to do his Dharma, in spite of what he knows is right or would be just, definitely got to me, as it would anyone who second-guesses themselves often. Overall, it was a good book but I have some complaints:
For all my complaints, this book still won me over. I'm definitely eager for the next one in the trilogy, and the one after that.
One of my favorite things about Bahubali is that it is a straight-forward story about a great kingdom and how the rightful heir wins the throne. No hidden ulterior motives, no dramatic reason behind characters' actions, everything moves along AND WORKS BEAUTIFULLY, due to the circumstances and pure black & white emotions of love, jealousy, and loyalty. In some ways, it reminds me of the Mahabharatha , the epic about righteousness winning the day. Unfortunately (for me), the book moves away from this clean-cut narrative and instead delves into a mesh of plots, and sub-plots, almost all of which are fueled by vengeance.
Had this book been a standalone, or even part of a trilogy, in a universe where the Bahubali movies did not exist, I'd have gobbled up the book. Why? Because the story moved so quickly. Sivagami's quick temper, and sharp tongue, along with her composed self for the sake of her father, for the sake of her Thimma, elicits nothing short of respect from the reader. Katappa's constant struggle to do his Dharma, in spite of what he knows is right or would be just, definitely got to me, as it would anyone who second-guesses themselves often. Overall, it was a good book but I have some complaints:
For all my complaints, this book still won me over. I'm definitely eager for the next one in the trilogy, and the one after that.
April 7, 2017
I picked up the book being a fan of the movie and previous books by the author. I was still a bit skeptic as I was doubtful of a novel written in relation to a movie, having never read one. Also, since the author having finished the book in 109 days, there was a great chance of things going sideways. But I can say all those doubts were put to rest as The Rise of Sivagami was splendid. It was a real difficulty putting down the book for other important works.
The book is written with POVs of many characters, but clearly the protagonists are Sivagami and Kattappa. Sivagami, whose only aim in life is revenge for hanging of her father for what she believed a falsely alleged treason and Kattappa, who follows the path of loyalty and servitude taught to him by his father but still have doubts in his mind seeing his brother profess about freedom and dignity, clears the fact that the author have moulded his protagonists well. There are other notable characters like Skandadasa, Shivappa, Kamakshi, Mahadeva, etc. The main difference of the book from the movie is that the characters dwells in shades of grey rather than being all black and white characters like in the movie. And that is exactly something desired in novel for adults.
The story begins with Sivagami finding a hidden document by breaking into in her late father's home which was sealed by royal decree. The document in an unknown language holds the secret as to what was the reason for the fate of her father. Kattappa is introduced who is anointed slave of Bijjaladeva (last character who is in the movie other than Sivagami and Kattappa) after saving Bijjaladeva and young prince Mahadeva (name mentioned in the movie), but still subjected to ill-treatment by his master even after saving the life of latter a number of times. The story takes us through corruption and lust filled life in Mahishmathi and people who wants to bring an end to it and those who plans to corrupt it more for their advantage. The book had lots of heart pacing moments and it was a joy ride reading it.
The book ended with a number of cliffhangers and hence, really looking forward to the second installment of this series.
The book is written with POVs of many characters, but clearly the protagonists are Sivagami and Kattappa. Sivagami, whose only aim in life is revenge for hanging of her father for what she believed a falsely alleged treason and Kattappa, who follows the path of loyalty and servitude taught to him by his father but still have doubts in his mind seeing his brother profess about freedom and dignity, clears the fact that the author have moulded his protagonists well. There are other notable characters like Skandadasa, Shivappa, Kamakshi, Mahadeva, etc. The main difference of the book from the movie is that the characters dwells in shades of grey rather than being all black and white characters like in the movie. And that is exactly something desired in novel for adults.
The story begins with Sivagami finding a hidden document by breaking into in her late father's home which was sealed by royal decree. The document in an unknown language holds the secret as to what was the reason for the fate of her father. Kattappa is introduced who is anointed slave of Bijjaladeva (last character who is in the movie other than Sivagami and Kattappa) after saving Bijjaladeva and young prince Mahadeva (name mentioned in the movie), but still subjected to ill-treatment by his master even after saving the life of latter a number of times. The story takes us through corruption and lust filled life in Mahishmathi and people who wants to bring an end to it and those who plans to corrupt it more for their advantage. The book had lots of heart pacing moments and it was a joy ride reading it.
The book ended with a number of cliffhangers and hence, really looking forward to the second installment of this series.
July 23, 2017
Plot
Although it was exciting to read about the corruption and dirty politics in Mahishmathi, it was tough to wrap my head around all of the parallel stories in the plot. The first 16 or 17 chapters just feel like an introduction to a ton of different plot lines, characters and parallel stories that would one day converge into the main event, in a very Game of Thrones-esq manner. I read the first few chapters at least a couple of times to even grasp what was happening and where the origin of the story's plot was. For any novel that I read, this is super taxing unless the big reveal is really that… REALLY BIG. Which it wasn’t (not completely) in this case. It ended with a cliff-hanger, which is not as thrilling as #WKKB.
Writing Style
An origin story, it took a total of 18 sittings for me to finish this book. I usually read through a book with a maximum of 3 sittings (meaning, I pick up where I left off at most 3 times). With a ton of names of people, places, and objects completely unfamiliar to me, it was a draining task to finish reading this novel and wrap my head around the plot. But, with a flair for rich description, Anand Neelakantan paints Bahubali in (appropriately) suffocating hot tones, that goes best with describing the diminishing morality and increasing dirty politics in the kingdom.
Characters
There were lots of characters, but the book felt short in the sense that I could not spend a lot of time reading (or being with) some main characters like Sivagami and Vikramadeva/Bijjaladeva. Kattappa had a lot of pages dedicated to him because he wove through 3 or 4 different parallel plot lines bringing them together, but this novel didn't feel like it was about Sivagami as much as it was about Kattappa.
Overall
Read if you’re all up for being dragged into the world of Mahishmathi, and its dirty tricks and mind games. I prefer the two movies much more, to be honest. Maybe because it has Prabhas and Rana in it. ;)
Recommended Age.
18+
Although it was exciting to read about the corruption and dirty politics in Mahishmathi, it was tough to wrap my head around all of the parallel stories in the plot. The first 16 or 17 chapters just feel like an introduction to a ton of different plot lines, characters and parallel stories that would one day converge into the main event, in a very Game of Thrones-esq manner. I read the first few chapters at least a couple of times to even grasp what was happening and where the origin of the story's plot was. For any novel that I read, this is super taxing unless the big reveal is really that… REALLY BIG. Which it wasn’t (not completely) in this case. It ended with a cliff-hanger, which is not as thrilling as #WKKB.
Writing Style
An origin story, it took a total of 18 sittings for me to finish this book. I usually read through a book with a maximum of 3 sittings (meaning, I pick up where I left off at most 3 times). With a ton of names of people, places, and objects completely unfamiliar to me, it was a draining task to finish reading this novel and wrap my head around the plot. But, with a flair for rich description, Anand Neelakantan paints Bahubali in (appropriately) suffocating hot tones, that goes best with describing the diminishing morality and increasing dirty politics in the kingdom.
Characters
There were lots of characters, but the book felt short in the sense that I could not spend a lot of time reading (or being with) some main characters like Sivagami and Vikramadeva/Bijjaladeva. Kattappa had a lot of pages dedicated to him because he wove through 3 or 4 different parallel plot lines bringing them together, but this novel didn't feel like it was about Sivagami as much as it was about Kattappa.
Overall
Read if you’re all up for being dragged into the world of Mahishmathi, and its dirty tricks and mind games. I prefer the two movies much more, to be honest. Maybe because it has Prabhas and Rana in it. ;)
Recommended Age.
18+
October 3, 2017
i enjoyed the book throughout. As a huge fan of bahubali movie, i was interested to know more about the characters in that film. This book gave a great introduction to mahismathi and its characters. This book is absolutely a page turner. Its just q first part in the trilogy. I am waiting for the second part as there was a lot of questions remained unanswered.
Only a very few parts of the book, i didn't like. sometimes i felt author is describing slavery too much but overall story and the narration is a thumbs up☺
eagerly waiting for the second book. Hope it will release soon.
Only a very few parts of the book, i didn't like. sometimes i felt author is describing slavery too much but overall story and the narration is a thumbs up☺
eagerly waiting for the second book. Hope it will release soon.
Want to read
May 8, 2017I love the movies so much, I'm almost scared to read this book!
August 31, 2018
Writing a prequel to such an amazing movie is a very challenging task. But the author has nailed it with his simple writing.
A good plot which is not much fast paced, but the end makes you wait for the next in series.
Waiting for the next book!!!!
A good plot which is not much fast paced, but the end makes you wait for the next in series.
Waiting for the next book!!!!
March 27, 2017
Anand Neelakantan manages to keep the mystery alive throughout the book and makes sure the reader is engrossed until the very end. A delicious mixture of revenge, honour, power, and politics, this book is a great start in establishing a backstory for one of the most powerful female characters in the movie. Can't wait for part two!
June 30, 2017
‘Baahubali’ movie, I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t watched the movie and not smitten by the characters. This book is a prequel to the ‘Baahubali’ movie. I wanted to buy this book since the time this book was available for pre-order but I was not able to pre-order it and finally bought its Kindle edition. So let’s see what this book offers.
Please do check the full book review on our blog The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan - Book review
Plot summary:
The story of this book moves with the characters. Each chapter is titled with the name of characters.
Sivagami, our powerful queen is a teenager. She is the daughter of traitor Devaraya, who was punished by the King Somadeva in a very cruel manner. The only aim of her life is to destroy the kingship of Mahismati and revenge her father’s death. Destiny or plan (we can’t say anything now) makes her live in the royal orphanage of Mahismati, which is ‘royal’ just by the name. Here she meets Kamakshi and Gundu Ramu. Which later plays interesting role in story.
Another powerful character of ‘Baahubali’ was Kattapa, this book gives a detailed insight of Kattapa’s life. He is the son of Malyappa, slave of King Somadeva. He is dedicated to his duty of slave towards Prince Bijjala. His other brother Shivappa is totally opposite and doesn’t accept the destiny of slave. The life account of Kattapa is really interesting to read.
My perception
Incredible! I know Anand Neelakantan is a master storyteller but never actually read his any of books. This was the first book of him I read and I am totally impressed. I am going to read his other books soon. 🙂 This book has every element which gets your attention and makes you hooked till the last.
Please do check the full book review on our blog The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan - Book review
Plot summary:
The story of this book moves with the characters. Each chapter is titled with the name of characters.
Sivagami, our powerful queen is a teenager. She is the daughter of traitor Devaraya, who was punished by the King Somadeva in a very cruel manner. The only aim of her life is to destroy the kingship of Mahismati and revenge her father’s death. Destiny or plan (we can’t say anything now) makes her live in the royal orphanage of Mahismati, which is ‘royal’ just by the name. Here she meets Kamakshi and Gundu Ramu. Which later plays interesting role in story.
Another powerful character of ‘Baahubali’ was Kattapa, this book gives a detailed insight of Kattapa’s life. He is the son of Malyappa, slave of King Somadeva. He is dedicated to his duty of slave towards Prince Bijjala. His other brother Shivappa is totally opposite and doesn’t accept the destiny of slave. The life account of Kattapa is really interesting to read.
My perception
Incredible! I know Anand Neelakantan is a master storyteller but never actually read his any of books. This was the first book of him I read and I am totally impressed. I am going to read his other books soon. 🙂 This book has every element which gets your attention and makes you hooked till the last.
August 6, 2019
One of the rare instances when a book based on movie is written after the movie is released. Written as a prequel to blockbuster movie Bahubali, Anand creates a rich tapestry of conspiracy, palace intrigues, mystery, loyalty and bravery that keeps the reader glued till the end. The book serves as a perfect setting for the first part of the movie. However the book itself is not complete and is first part of planned series. A must for all Bahubali fans.
April 2, 2017
So much to say about the book, but I would like to summarize in a sentence. I was in Mahismati Kingdom for the whole weekend. If writing a successful novel is difficult, writing a prequel to a much loved script and making it successful is much more beyond difficult.
June 23, 2017
I am sure all of you out there have watched Baahubali 1 and 2. Most of us have come to love the characters but as with most movies, we do not get to know some of the characters well. In this case, with the focus of the movie plot on Baahubali (first the father and then the son - who share the same second name), we are introduced to some very strong and compelling characters about whom we don't know much.
This book, the first in a trilogy, seeks to close the gaps and give us an insight into those characters who definitely need to be explained. The major questions of - Who are they? Where are they from? How did they get to where they are today? - are brought up and the author seeks to give us the answers.
Sivagami, the strong-willed lady, who is ruthless with her decisions, is a woman who brings out the curiosity in people. Since the movies do not give us anything about her or how she came to be the Queen, this book tells us her story. A girl from humble beginnings, with a thirst for revenge, Sivagami is portrayed as head strong and determined. She takes her time to plot and plan, showing us the strength and cunning in her nature while at the same time, we are shown how much she cares for her friends and can go to any length to protect them.
The book also talks about Kattappa in his youth, at a time when he is just starting out, along with intricate details about his life, his father and brother. It is a completely different person that we are shown, which might take you by surprise, but remember, he is still an unsure youth, trying to understand and find his place in the world.
The book has a lot of subplots and twists, bringing out the darkness of the times and the conspiracies and corruption behind the doors of the kingdom. Everyone has an agenda and something to hide. The characters are all portrayed in shades of grey, making us believe that they aren't as bad as they actually are. Though the story is well written, there are many times when many of the characters introduced do not inspire empathy, in-spite of the dire circumstances. There is so much that seems to be cluttered together into this first part. It feels more like a rant on the system than a portrayal of emotions that arise due to the circumstances, with the nobles and the slaves, and then those who take advantage of and abuse their power!
Pushing these flaws to the side, the story has immense potential and brings out a feeling of nostalgia and a slight sense of satisfaction of knowing who these characters are. Of course, this is just the beginning, there is more to come!
This book, the first in a trilogy, seeks to close the gaps and give us an insight into those characters who definitely need to be explained. The major questions of - Who are they? Where are they from? How did they get to where they are today? - are brought up and the author seeks to give us the answers.
Sivagami, the strong-willed lady, who is ruthless with her decisions, is a woman who brings out the curiosity in people. Since the movies do not give us anything about her or how she came to be the Queen, this book tells us her story. A girl from humble beginnings, with a thirst for revenge, Sivagami is portrayed as head strong and determined. She takes her time to plot and plan, showing us the strength and cunning in her nature while at the same time, we are shown how much she cares for her friends and can go to any length to protect them.
The book also talks about Kattappa in his youth, at a time when he is just starting out, along with intricate details about his life, his father and brother. It is a completely different person that we are shown, which might take you by surprise, but remember, he is still an unsure youth, trying to understand and find his place in the world.
The book has a lot of subplots and twists, bringing out the darkness of the times and the conspiracies and corruption behind the doors of the kingdom. Everyone has an agenda and something to hide. The characters are all portrayed in shades of grey, making us believe that they aren't as bad as they actually are. Though the story is well written, there are many times when many of the characters introduced do not inspire empathy, in-spite of the dire circumstances. There is so much that seems to be cluttered together into this first part. It feels more like a rant on the system than a portrayal of emotions that arise due to the circumstances, with the nobles and the slaves, and then those who take advantage of and abuse their power!
Pushing these flaws to the side, the story has immense potential and brings out a feeling of nostalgia and a slight sense of satisfaction of knowing who these characters are. Of course, this is just the beginning, there is more to come!
August 14, 2018
So, i finished reading this wonderful book, which is a prequel to baahubali movies. And i loved it thoroughly...
This book tells the story of shivagami from her childhood days, this is the story of her desire to destroy the kingdom and to avenge her father's death.
The kingdom of mahismati has a big secret to it. There are corrupt and cunning officials who can go to any limit for their benifit. There are rebel groups standing against the kingdom. There is a prince who only knows how to use his power.
And, then there are characters like kattapa who is highly devoted to his country and to his duty.
There is skandadasa who has attained powerful position in the system through sheer hardwork and all these characters being on the opposite side move the story ahead.
All these made this a completely entertaining read.
The best part of the book is that all the characters are written in such a way that all of them are equally important for the story, you will either love them or hate them but you can not ignore them. Being a part of the series ofcourse the story does not complete at the end of this book and will be continued in the next book of the series, which i now wait much eagerly. The last page ofcourse makes sure you can not stop reading the next book. I loved the book.
Highly recommended for the historical fiction fans, baahubali fans.
This book tells the story of shivagami from her childhood days, this is the story of her desire to destroy the kingdom and to avenge her father's death.
The kingdom of mahismati has a big secret to it. There are corrupt and cunning officials who can go to any limit for their benifit. There are rebel groups standing against the kingdom. There is a prince who only knows how to use his power.
And, then there are characters like kattapa who is highly devoted to his country and to his duty.
There is skandadasa who has attained powerful position in the system through sheer hardwork and all these characters being on the opposite side move the story ahead.
All these made this a completely entertaining read.
The best part of the book is that all the characters are written in such a way that all of them are equally important for the story, you will either love them or hate them but you can not ignore them. Being a part of the series ofcourse the story does not complete at the end of this book and will be continued in the next book of the series, which i now wait much eagerly. The last page ofcourse makes sure you can not stop reading the next book. I loved the book.
Highly recommended for the historical fiction fans, baahubali fans.
September 3, 2017
So even though we all loved Bhaahubali, why have I given this book only three stars?
Cause let's start by saying... somewhere is this book confused me a lot.
I remember during my trip in Thailand, as I was reading this book, one of my Thai friend asked me what I was reading. Though I read this book half I tried and explained saying... I myself don't know what I am reading.
This book is pretty complex in its own way... the relationship between Kattappa and Shivappa, Shivappa and his love interest.
Above all Shivagami. She is one of the most complex character. Then you have Bjiladev and his brother.
The shrewd king and his court. The orphanage.
The scenes are gore and graphic.
I felt sad after I read this book. I was still in Thailand when my friend asked me what happened and my answer was... pointing to the book... I just don't know what happened.
It's that kind of book.
So if you're great reading books which as such are more on characterisation than plot then go ahead and pick this up.
Njoy!!!
Cause let's start by saying... somewhere is this book confused me a lot.
I remember during my trip in Thailand, as I was reading this book, one of my Thai friend asked me what I was reading. Though I read this book half I tried and explained saying... I myself don't know what I am reading.
This book is pretty complex in its own way... the relationship between Kattappa and Shivappa, Shivappa and his love interest.
Above all Shivagami. She is one of the most complex character. Then you have Bjiladev and his brother.
The shrewd king and his court. The orphanage.
The scenes are gore and graphic.
I felt sad after I read this book. I was still in Thailand when my friend asked me what happened and my answer was... pointing to the book... I just don't know what happened.
It's that kind of book.
So if you're great reading books which as such are more on characterisation than plot then go ahead and pick this up.
Njoy!!!
June 5, 2017
If you are a baahubali fan,then what are you waiting for? go grab the book and read,don't you dare waste a single minute.The book was awesome indeed,anand neelakantan has described every scene beautifully.I can visualise mahishmathi very perfectly according to his descriptions.Story wise, each person's point of view has various plots and the way they meet in the climax is unexpected and thrilling.I am eagerly waiting for the other two books and want to find out how exactly he's connecting to the movie or whether it is completely different.
There was a monotonous pace even during the fight scenes,i infact left two to three pages unread because i couldn't withstand the boredom.Anyway criticism apart, Its worth giving a shot,if and only if you love love baahubali and wouldn't complain even if its not fantastic
There was a monotonous pace even during the fight scenes,i infact left two to three pages unread because i couldn't withstand the boredom.Anyway criticism apart, Its worth giving a shot,if and only if you love love baahubali and wouldn't complain even if its not fantastic
May 17, 2020
Rise of Sivagami is the book which is a prequel to the most celebrated movie of this generation Bahubali. In this book its way before the birth of bahubali. In this book sivagami is a traitors daughter who is sent to Royal orphanage. This book shows many corruption going on in the empire of mahishmati. Till the chapter mahamankam the story is very slow and don't understand where it is going. But from this chapter we come to know that it was slowly developing a plot for a climax. Overall i would say it's a good Goodread... 🙂
March 28, 2017
Just finished reading the book 1 Its an amazing book waiting for Book 2 desperately.. This was the first of its kind book which I read after the movie.. now for the next part of the movie I would have a background of Mahishmati kingdom. Worth reading.. very well written by Mr.Neelkanthan. It was so interesting that I had the book always with me and whenever I could find even time while travelling I read the book.
December 16, 2024
Writing a book based on the characters/plots and settings of a movie series is not as common as a movie based on novel. It's a different kind of challenge and that's why I like the idea of writer and the Franchise owners to create a prequel series of the Movie. Baahubali is a worldwide phenomena now so obviously they had to create something on quite a large scale (somewhat similar to the movies) with major involvement of few of the on screen famous characters to cash in their popularity but at the same time it had to be interesting and unique. Well! they succeeded at almost every front except the one which was most important - "Uniqueness". Right from the characters to plots or even the writing style, everything is very much inspired from A Song of Ice and Fire. Just to give you an idea
Shivagami, a fierce young girl Her father was a good man but branded as traitor and executed by king so she swear to destroy the royal family. She acted as a lone wolf and tried to overcome all the odds by herself. There were times when she was trying to hide her fear and was thinking about the lessons from his uncle/mentor to keep her calm, I can almost read the famous line "Fear cuts deeper than swords" in those paras. Ring any bells? Yeah! She is the Arya Stark of Mahishmathi.
skandadasa, probably the only decent man in King's court He became Mahapradhana (as good as King's Hand) in the later part of the book. He is a kindhearted and just person devoted to his country and strictly against the corrupt men and wrong and biased practices and traditions. This is the reason few other politically influential people dislike him He is clearly the Eddard Stark of this story with some small revisions.
Hidumba, a politically powerful dwarf A loudmouth but a man with important connections, always involved in the major events and conspiracies of Mahishmathi. He is so similar to Tyrion Lannister that I always read his dialogue in Peter Dinklage's voice in my head.
Vaithalikas A community claims to be the actual owner of Gauriparvat and Mahishmathi, they are ferocious fighters and have an uncrowned king of their own. They are the Targaryens (but without dragons) of this series .
Brihannala, a Eunuch(???) S/he is conspiring something big in league with Vaithalikas. Baahubali's version of Varys
Pattaraya A great strategist, his ultimate aim is to overthrow the kingdom but he sets smaller goal to avoid suspicion; and though he don't have the ultimate controls on brothels but he used them for his plans in similar ways as Petyr Baelish did in aSoIaF.
Similarly the kingdom has 2 princes, Elder one Bijjaladev is very cruel and spoiled same as Joffrey while the younger one Mahadeva isn't a great warrior, kindhearted but gullible at the same time. He certainly reminds you of Tommen.
Gundu Ramu A fat coward boy but a loyal friend of one of the main characters. He couldn't be more like Samwell.
Achi Nagamma The one who's independent of any banner and fighting for poor, helpless and needy villagers. She is leading the all women vigilante army and more like a female version of Beric Dondarrion
Apart from the above mentioned characters and plot similarities the writing style is also similar to aSoIaF and though it is interesting to have chapters from different characters' point-of-view but its not as effective as it was in aSoIaF series. The main reason is sheer plot vastness of aSoIaF, "George RR Martin" has a much bigger universe than "Anand Neelakantan" so his each character's story POV take you to almost entirely different part of the seven kingdoms while in this novel even with so many different characters almost the entire story is set in Mahismathi it self. GRRM never mixed 2 POVs in single chapter but that had happened quite a few times here. Also almost half of the chapters (barring the climax and few others in between) don't have that many pages so as soon as the momentum is building up the chapter ends. Plus there's a lot of sexual content but it's not as justified as it was in GRRM's creation.
But all these things doesn't mean that this book is not interesting. For me it is something like Eragon Series "inspired from few great hits but still worth reading". As I said, with the Baahubali book series they had the luxury of few well known and wildly loved/hated characters in the form of Shivagami, Kattappa & Bijjaladev and they have utilized them beautifully. Also after initial similarities/inspirations the book takes it's own story forward, which is fast paced and full of turns and twists. I specially loved the last few chapters related with Mahamakam and the final twists in the last page leave you awestruck. I have read in the acknowledgements that Anand finished this book in 109 days which is quite unbelievable because it never gives you the feeling of a book finished in hurry, even if you consider the inspirations from other books.
Overall it's a good effort and now after initial built-up I expect better and more original content from next 2 books of the series. Looking forward to it.
Shivagami, a fierce young girl Her father was a good man but branded as traitor and executed by king so she swear to destroy the royal family. She acted as a lone wolf and tried to overcome all the odds by herself. There were times when she was trying to hide her fear and was thinking about the lessons from his uncle/mentor to keep her calm, I can almost read the famous line "Fear cuts deeper than swords" in those paras. Ring any bells? Yeah! She is the Arya Stark of Mahishmathi.
skandadasa, probably the only decent man in King's court He became Mahapradhana (as good as King's Hand) in the later part of the book. He is a kindhearted and just person devoted to his country and strictly against the corrupt men and wrong and biased practices and traditions. This is the reason few other politically influential people dislike him He is clearly the Eddard Stark of this story with some small revisions.
Hidumba, a politically powerful dwarf A loudmouth but a man with important connections, always involved in the major events and conspiracies of Mahishmathi. He is so similar to Tyrion Lannister that I always read his dialogue in Peter Dinklage's voice in my head.
Vaithalikas A community claims to be the actual owner of Gauriparvat and Mahishmathi, they are ferocious fighters and have an uncrowned king of their own. They are the Targaryens (but without dragons) of this series .
Brihannala, a Eunuch(???) S/he is conspiring something big in league with Vaithalikas. Baahubali's version of Varys
Pattaraya A great strategist, his ultimate aim is to overthrow the kingdom but he sets smaller goal to avoid suspicion; and though he don't have the ultimate controls on brothels but he used them for his plans in similar ways as Petyr Baelish did in aSoIaF.
Similarly the kingdom has 2 princes, Elder one Bijjaladev is very cruel and spoiled same as Joffrey while the younger one Mahadeva isn't a great warrior, kindhearted but gullible at the same time. He certainly reminds you of Tommen.
Gundu Ramu A fat coward boy but a loyal friend of one of the main characters. He couldn't be more like Samwell.
Achi Nagamma The one who's independent of any banner and fighting for poor, helpless and needy villagers. She is leading the all women vigilante army and more like a female version of Beric Dondarrion
Apart from the above mentioned characters and plot similarities the writing style is also similar to aSoIaF and though it is interesting to have chapters from different characters' point-of-view but its not as effective as it was in aSoIaF series. The main reason is sheer plot vastness of aSoIaF, "George RR Martin" has a much bigger universe than "Anand Neelakantan" so his each character's story POV take you to almost entirely different part of the seven kingdoms while in this novel even with so many different characters almost the entire story is set in Mahismathi it self. GRRM never mixed 2 POVs in single chapter but that had happened quite a few times here. Also almost half of the chapters (barring the climax and few others in between) don't have that many pages so as soon as the momentum is building up the chapter ends. Plus there's a lot of sexual content but it's not as justified as it was in GRRM's creation.
But all these things doesn't mean that this book is not interesting. For me it is something like Eragon Series "inspired from few great hits but still worth reading". As I said, with the Baahubali book series they had the luxury of few well known and wildly loved/hated characters in the form of Shivagami, Kattappa & Bijjaladev and they have utilized them beautifully. Also after initial similarities/inspirations the book takes it's own story forward, which is fast paced and full of turns and twists. I specially loved the last few chapters related with Mahamakam and the final twists in the last page leave you awestruck. I have read in the acknowledgements that Anand finished this book in 109 days which is quite unbelievable because it never gives you the feeling of a book finished in hurry, even if you consider the inspirations from other books.
Overall it's a good effort and now after initial built-up I expect better and more original content from next 2 books of the series. Looking forward to it.
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