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Baahubali: Before the Beginning #2
Chaturanga
Political intrigue is astir in the land of Mahishmathi. After the failed coup staged by the Vaithalikas, Sivagami finds herself elevated to the position of bhoomipathi, from where she can more ably pursue her burning goal to avenge her father’s death. Meanwhile, there is a tussle between the two sons of the maharaja of Mahishmathi for the crown. And behind the scenes, a wily, skilled player of the political game moves the pieces to topple the king, Somadeva.
Will the maharaja—usually able to match wits with the best of them—prevail? Or will one of his many enemies finally be able to best him at this game of Chaturanga?
Set against a backdrop of ambition, love, loyalty, passion and greed, the second book in the Bā Before the Beginning series is a twist-a-minute page-turner—riveting and deeply satisfying.
Will the maharaja—usually able to match wits with the best of them—prevail? Or will one of his many enemies finally be able to best him at this game of Chaturanga?
Set against a backdrop of ambition, love, loyalty, passion and greed, the second book in the Bā Before the Beginning series is a twist-a-minute page-turner—riveting and deeply satisfying.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2020
87 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Anand Neelakantan
30 books1,750 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 84 reviews
September 17, 2020
Have done a video review of this one on my channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw_bF...
Read the review on my blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/chaturanga-a...
Read the review on my blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/chaturanga-a...
October 18, 2020
The Baahubali Prequel Trilogy has become a world of its own for me. Yes, I picked up this series only because I am a massive fan of the Baahubali movies but as I wrote in my review of The Rise of Sivagami, the books have their own feel even though they are set in the same universe as the films.
Chaturanga, the second book in the Trilogy, picks up from the cliffhanger where the first book ended. So yes, you need to read the first book pehle. Thankfully, Mr. Anand Neelakantan has included a quick recap of the story as many readers (like yours truly) might have forgotten the finer details from the first book.
The story is pretty simple and as we already know where all the characters will end up it is fascinating to see their journey and to observe the changes that they underwent. Sivagami inches one step closer to the throne of Mahishmati and Kattappa is still torn between his loyalty to the throne and what he believes to be right. The mystery of Gauri Parvat gets a tad bit clearer and the last few chapters take us through the inside of the mystical mountain on a literal rollercoaster. Other pieces on this chessboard like Shivappa, Bijjala, Mahadev, Pattarya, Brihannala are making this game even more complex and interesting.
The best part about this book is the very sharp, veiled (or not-so-veiled) political satire and very obvious commentary on the current political situation in the country that Mr. Neelakantan has made throughout the book. This book is not just a fictional story but also a very powerful allegory about all that is happening around us. I wish more people wrote like this. Baat bhi samajhdaar junta tak pahunch jaayegi aur log aapki books jalyaaenge bhi nahi! I heard Mr. Neelakantan talk about the legendary "Malayali Wit and Satire" in a podcast and it is best exemplified in this book. Bhigo bhigo ke pyaar se jootey maare hain.
The writing is simple yet beautiful. The word "atmospheric" comes to my mind immediately if I have to describe the writing style of this book. Even though I did not remember all the events and details from the first book, I very vividly remember the locations, the mood, the ambience, the overall “feel” from the first book and it was so wonderful to go back to that familiar world that now exists in my mind's eye.
I have rated this book one star lower than the first one because a few of the tropes are getting repetitive now and we are already two-thirds through the story yet there seems to be so much ground that has to be covered to reach Baahubali: The Begining and I am praying that it doesn't end in an anti-climax. Perhaps, I will revisit my rating once I finish the third book with the added benefit of hindsight.
Speaking of the third book, I hope Mr. Neelakantan wouldn’t make us wait too long this time as the flow kinda breaks and it feels a bit tedious to recap and realign to the story.
There are quite a few typos and grammatical errors in the book which I found to be really annoying. Especially when you are publishing a book which is part of a world-famous film series and that too under such a big and reputed publishing house such as Westland Books (An Amazon Company). Doing a proper proofread is the least that you can do, right?
I understand that my love for this book might be a bit influenced by my love for the movies but still, I once again recommend this trilogy to everyone even if you haven’t seen the movies. It is genuinely good world-class Indian Fiction with some epic level storytelling.
PS: I heard Mr. Neelakantan mention in an interview that they are planning to turn these books into a Netflix series! Now that’s a reason to live, right there!!!
Chaturanga, the second book in the Trilogy, picks up from the cliffhanger where the first book ended. So yes, you need to read the first book pehle. Thankfully, Mr. Anand Neelakantan has included a quick recap of the story as many readers (like yours truly) might have forgotten the finer details from the first book.
The story is pretty simple and as we already know where all the characters will end up it is fascinating to see their journey and to observe the changes that they underwent. Sivagami inches one step closer to the throne of Mahishmati and Kattappa is still torn between his loyalty to the throne and what he believes to be right. The mystery of Gauri Parvat gets a tad bit clearer and the last few chapters take us through the inside of the mystical mountain on a literal rollercoaster. Other pieces on this chessboard like Shivappa, Bijjala, Mahadev, Pattarya, Brihannala are making this game even more complex and interesting.
The best part about this book is the very sharp, veiled (or not-so-veiled) political satire and very obvious commentary on the current political situation in the country that Mr. Neelakantan has made throughout the book. This book is not just a fictional story but also a very powerful allegory about all that is happening around us. I wish more people wrote like this. Baat bhi samajhdaar junta tak pahunch jaayegi aur log aapki books jalyaaenge bhi nahi! I heard Mr. Neelakantan talk about the legendary "Malayali Wit and Satire" in a podcast and it is best exemplified in this book. Bhigo bhigo ke pyaar se jootey maare hain.
The writing is simple yet beautiful. The word "atmospheric" comes to my mind immediately if I have to describe the writing style of this book. Even though I did not remember all the events and details from the first book, I very vividly remember the locations, the mood, the ambience, the overall “feel” from the first book and it was so wonderful to go back to that familiar world that now exists in my mind's eye.
I have rated this book one star lower than the first one because a few of the tropes are getting repetitive now and we are already two-thirds through the story yet there seems to be so much ground that has to be covered to reach Baahubali: The Begining and I am praying that it doesn't end in an anti-climax. Perhaps, I will revisit my rating once I finish the third book with the added benefit of hindsight.
Speaking of the third book, I hope Mr. Neelakantan wouldn’t make us wait too long this time as the flow kinda breaks and it feels a bit tedious to recap and realign to the story.
There are quite a few typos and grammatical errors in the book which I found to be really annoying. Especially when you are publishing a book which is part of a world-famous film series and that too under such a big and reputed publishing house such as Westland Books (An Amazon Company). Doing a proper proofread is the least that you can do, right?
I understand that my love for this book might be a bit influenced by my love for the movies but still, I once again recommend this trilogy to everyone even if you haven’t seen the movies. It is genuinely good world-class Indian Fiction with some epic level storytelling.
PS: I heard Mr. Neelakantan mention in an interview that they are planning to turn these books into a Netflix series! Now that’s a reason to live, right there!!!
August 8, 2020
I wish I had not bought this book in the first place! Now I have to wait for at least 6 months before the next book in this series comes! I hope the author sticks to his promise of releasing the third book before this year-end because the wait is too long!
Coming to Chaturanga, it is an adventure. The author has included a new POV of some existing characters in the story to give a glimpse of how every character is moving its pieces in the elaborate game of Chaturanga. The second book in Bahubali - Before the Beginning series closes some loose ends from the first book and opens up the story that will link the stories to the movie. But it has also some more loose ends to tie up and more new storylines to continue.
Coming to the plot of the second book, I felt some of the parts were unnecessarily dragged especially Shivappa's part because if I remove Shivappa's story from the second book, it makes no impact to the story - he was unconscious at the start of the book and unconscious at the end of the book. A lot of characters that held a lot of importance in the first book was left with a mere mention in the second book - Pratapa, Jeemotha, Achi Nagamma, and some characters who lost their shine like Hidumba, Mahadeva, Ally, Brihannala where they had very less to tell.
There were some points in the book where I truly felt that the writing was amazing. Somadeva's POV gave an important revelation, Gundu Ramu's interaction with Vamana opened up about Kalakeya, Pattaraya's plan, and how it seemingly went south were some of the parts I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very eager and excited to see how the books will link up to the movies.
A very good read, which leaves me waiting for a conclusion on a bittersweet note!
Coming to Chaturanga, it is an adventure. The author has included a new POV of some existing characters in the story to give a glimpse of how every character is moving its pieces in the elaborate game of Chaturanga. The second book in Bahubali - Before the Beginning series closes some loose ends from the first book and opens up the story that will link the stories to the movie. But it has also some more loose ends to tie up and more new storylines to continue.
Coming to the plot of the second book, I felt some of the parts were unnecessarily dragged especially Shivappa's part because if I remove Shivappa's story from the second book, it makes no impact to the story - he was unconscious at the start of the book and unconscious at the end of the book. A lot of characters that held a lot of importance in the first book was left with a mere mention in the second book - Pratapa, Jeemotha, Achi Nagamma, and some characters who lost their shine like Hidumba, Mahadeva, Ally, Brihannala where they had very less to tell.
There were some points in the book where I truly felt that the writing was amazing. Somadeva's POV gave an important revelation, Gundu Ramu's interaction with Vamana opened up about Kalakeya, Pattaraya's plan, and how it seemingly went south were some of the parts I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very eager and excited to see how the books will link up to the movies.
A very good read, which leaves me waiting for a conclusion on a bittersweet note!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2020
Chaturanga
.
A lesser follow up on the events leading to Bahubali-The beginning. Falls below my expectations. No great reveal or build up!
Waiting for the 3rd book to revive this trilogy!!
Hopefully Anand Neelakantan does a better job in it and it's a little more intricately woven and with a profound climax!
P.S.: The backdrop of Katappa is so good, I rewatched the 2 movies of the Bahubali series!
.
A lesser follow up on the events leading to Bahubali-The beginning. Falls below my expectations. No great reveal or build up!
Waiting for the 3rd book to revive this trilogy!!
Hopefully Anand Neelakantan does a better job in it and it's a little more intricately woven and with a profound climax!
P.S.: The backdrop of Katappa is so good, I rewatched the 2 movies of the Bahubali series!
August 12, 2020
Another fantastic book by Anand Neelakantan. Bahubali is one of the best Indian fantasy fiction series. The first book was excellent and this one is equally good. A must-read.
September 23, 2020
Confused!!!
There are a number of confusing story changes in this book. Reason for this review follows.
1. In ‘Rise of Sivagami’ there is one scene where Sivagami sees her Mother’s picture when she goes back to get her father’s mysterious book. And there it says Sivagami has no living memory of her mother and her father used to stare at the picture longingly.
But here in prologue it says differently.
2. In the first book Pattaraya thinks of his dead wife, the mother of his daughter. In here it’s like the deposed queen of kadarimandalam has always been his partner.
3. When Kattappa is taken to Vaithalika village in the first book, he was told that he would be the 12th or 13th generation of traitors in Vaithalika by becoming slaves. But here when Rudra Bhatta is telling Sivagami the story at the end, he tells that Mallyappa was the Vaithalika who made the slave pact with Somadeva.
4. Skandadasa infers that the book in paishachi would have been stolen from the royal library. But here it is given to devaraya by the dwarf.
Either these are huge blunders or still need clarification which may be explained in the third book.
Either way the book doesn’t deserve even a star.
There are a number of confusing story changes in this book. Reason for this review follows.
1. In ‘Rise of Sivagami’ there is one scene where Sivagami sees her Mother’s picture when she goes back to get her father’s mysterious book. And there it says Sivagami has no living memory of her mother and her father used to stare at the picture longingly.
But here in prologue it says differently.
2. In the first book Pattaraya thinks of his dead wife, the mother of his daughter. In here it’s like the deposed queen of kadarimandalam has always been his partner.
3. When Kattappa is taken to Vaithalika village in the first book, he was told that he would be the 12th or 13th generation of traitors in Vaithalika by becoming slaves. But here when Rudra Bhatta is telling Sivagami the story at the end, he tells that Mallyappa was the Vaithalika who made the slave pact with Somadeva.
4. Skandadasa infers that the book in paishachi would have been stolen from the royal library. But here it is given to devaraya by the dwarf.
Either these are huge blunders or still need clarification which may be explained in the third book.
Either way the book doesn’t deserve even a star.
December 15, 2020
This is so good and an extension to the Bahubali world. As big as the movie. Every information you get at each turn of a page makes you finish the book in no time and wait for the next one. Chaturanga is the perfect title for the book. Every character in way is piece on the board at thier place to make there position serve. This book ends on a very high note. I am eagerly waiting for the next one. I aslo hope that it will not make me wait so long as this one did.
September 6, 2020
Thankyou for the ride. Couldn't put the book down. After reading the last few pages... I was able to feel the rage shivagami was going through and they just gave a glimpse of what I saw in the movie. 🙌
September 30, 2020
3.5 actually.
I didn't have any idea of the first book (everything got evaporated obviously) except some characters and that's all. So, in an apprehension, I okayed the buddy-read of this second part of the trilogy. But thankfully, the recap was written deftly that it made further immersion into the story very smooth. The story picks up from where it is left and told in a linear fashion without lengthy flashbacks or non-linear timelines. (And having read GoT very recently, made it a cakewalk - but not too pleasant, for me). The mystery around Gauri parvat and things around it, creates apt suspense despite some cringeworthy loopholes.
In the end, that makes the telling hurried and plain at places. (Obviously I am spoiled). It could have been way better with more depth, but I think there is a pressure to finish this lavish scaled tale in 3 books? Anyways... Having been a fan of Anand's writing, I was curious about his socio-political commentary in this one as well, which he has not disappointed. But still, it felt a bit shallow compared to what he has written in the past.
But still, as a continuation to this tale of deceit, politics, love and mystery is still better pick then the ones out there *wink wink*. And would be eagerly waiting for the finale, which I sincerely hope would come out pretty soon, may be next year?
p.s.: Be ready for the continuous stuck-in-head of Baahubali soundtrack, while you read it.
I didn't have any idea of the first book (everything got evaporated obviously) except some characters and that's all. So, in an apprehension, I okayed the buddy-read of this second part of the trilogy. But thankfully, the recap was written deftly that it made further immersion into the story very smooth. The story picks up from where it is left and told in a linear fashion without lengthy flashbacks or non-linear timelines. (And having read GoT very recently, made it a cakewalk - but not too pleasant, for me). The mystery around Gauri parvat and things around it, creates apt suspense despite some cringeworthy loopholes.
In the end, that makes the telling hurried and plain at places. (Obviously I am spoiled). It could have been way better with more depth, but I think there is a pressure to finish this lavish scaled tale in 3 books? Anyways... Having been a fan of Anand's writing, I was curious about his socio-political commentary in this one as well, which he has not disappointed. But still, it felt a bit shallow compared to what he has written in the past.
But still, as a continuation to this tale of deceit, politics, love and mystery is still better pick then the ones out there *wink wink*. And would be eagerly waiting for the finale, which I sincerely hope would come out pretty soon, may be next year?
p.s.: Be ready for the continuous stuck-in-head of Baahubali soundtrack, while you read it.
December 9, 2020
"Chaturanga" also Known as Shatranj or The Game of Chess is Basically a Game... with Lot of Tactics and Mind and in that the Title is Very appropriate for the Novel, the Only difference though... There are not only 2 Players in this Game Of Power...
The 2nd Part of The Baahubali Series Is a highly Exciting Read, it has passed its predecessor by a big Margin... The Sinister Game of Power and The Equally Sinister Players always hold the readers interest...
Shivagami is the Central Character here as well, but the Center Stage is taken by a lot of different characters everyone has their personal agendas and are ready to go to any extent to fulfill it...
The Story Stood perfect on my hopes and even exceeded it by the amount of entertainment it Provided...
Will Now be Waiting for the Concluding Part With Much Eagerness...
A Definite Read for all the Baahubali Fans, For All the Mytho/Fantasy Fans... But yes, Read the First Part before Reading this...
Happy Reading....
The 2nd Part of The Baahubali Series Is a highly Exciting Read, it has passed its predecessor by a big Margin... The Sinister Game of Power and The Equally Sinister Players always hold the readers interest...
Shivagami is the Central Character here as well, but the Center Stage is taken by a lot of different characters everyone has their personal agendas and are ready to go to any extent to fulfill it...
The Story Stood perfect on my hopes and even exceeded it by the amount of entertainment it Provided...
Will Now be Waiting for the Concluding Part With Much Eagerness...
A Definite Read for all the Baahubali Fans, For All the Mytho/Fantasy Fans... But yes, Read the First Part before Reading this...
Happy Reading....
August 31, 2020
A formidable author's 2nd book Chaturanga in baahubali series ( before the beginning) is an awesome roller coaster ride. Read to know the depth of social interpretation in fiction. He is a new gen trend setter who picture the Indian society as it was and as it remains. If u r yet to read the first book, Rise of Sivagami then read Chaturanga only after that, both r fast pace page turner
September 2, 2020
The book is the part 2 of bahubali before the beginning, it revolves under different parts of lives that changed after the first book.
The book is good continuing the lives of main character and building upon the secrets of mahesmati.
Hoping the best for the next part.
The book is good continuing the lives of main character and building upon the secrets of mahesmati.
Hoping the best for the next part.
September 6, 2020
Full Review To Come... But a good follow-up of the first book, somethings are quite obvious still a decent read overall. 6 out of 10
September 20, 2020
A great read as expected with the royal touch of Baahubali franchise. 😃 Impressed that author has reduced "adult" language (as in Book 1) this time to make it suitable for young readers too.
November 29, 2020
An excellent thriller, page turner, an apt second part of this trilogy. Anand Neelakantan comes up with a political plot and perfectly named as Chaturanga, all the characters are scheming some plot for theirs or their countries benefit. The first part was more of introduction and a appetizer but this book has the real meat. The plot is engaging and keeps the reader wanting for more.
I could never have envisaged a plot so well written to match the magnitude at which the Bahubali movie was created. This prequel looks like it is also going to be as entertaining as the Bahubali movie.
The twists and turns, the grey shades of the characters brings the plot to life and the writing is so beautiful, that you can see it like a scene from a movie.
Overall a brilliant writing and perfectly poised for the third book in the waiting. Would surely love to see this prequel also as a movie.
I could never have envisaged a plot so well written to match the magnitude at which the Bahubali movie was created. This prequel looks like it is also going to be as entertaining as the Bahubali movie.
The twists and turns, the grey shades of the characters brings the plot to life and the writing is so beautiful, that you can see it like a scene from a movie.
Overall a brilliant writing and perfectly poised for the third book in the waiting. Would surely love to see this prequel also as a movie.
August 9, 2020
After seeing the progressive improvement from Asura to Ajaya to Vanara, this series is not quite the same. For one, the book is too "racy" - every chapter has someone running, chasing, dying, fighting, and there's no time to nuance the characters some more... Also, it's got so little Sivagami in the story and the little we see also shows her doing ordinary things, not the heroine stuff... still, a good one time read, though I prefer to wait for something along the lines of Vanara!
September 1, 2020
Review
Chaturanga is the second book in the highly anticipated Bahubali : Before the Beginning series. The second book starts right from where the first book ended and just like the first book, The Rise of Sivagami, the second book is also an ultimate page turner which will keep the readers engaged till the very end.
The beginning of the book was absolutely heart-breaking and very emotional. Getting past the first few chapters will make the readers hearts rip apart. It was certainly too emotional to handle. In this book, the author had exclusively told about Sivagami’s parents and how brutal the Kingdom of Mahishmati acted towards her family. This will make you rethink about everything you have known about the mighty Mahishmati.
Chaturanga was comparatively a very short read than the first book, the readers will be able to finish the book in a jiffy. Because it was well written, engaging and entertaining. This books will make the readers see a totally different side of all the characters in the book. The transformation of these characters was thunderously wonderful, one cannot simply stop gasping while getting to know about each character’s inner core.
This book was kind of confusing, that sense, the readers cannot make out which character is good and which character is evil. Because the author had spectacularly justified why a character behaves and does a things in a certain way. And remarkably one such character was Pattaraya, he is the most evilest character in book but his point of view will shatter the readers perspective about him.
The character of the King Somadeva will also profoundly astonishing because at certain sequences you will feel like damn he is the King in this game of Chaturanga. Though he is smiling and calm all the time but he is so brave, calculative, cunning and definitely a master. And as I told you before, Pattaraya is also one such personality. These two characters can aptly be called as Evil Intelligence. In fact, most of the characters in this trilogy will jolt you with their evil thought process and their determination in achieving their goals.
So, definitely this book will solve most of the mysteries that existed in the first book and also paved path to raise the curiosity of the readers for the finale of the trilogy. The only problem with the book was, there seems to be a couple of minor plot holes here and there, which wasn’t actually very obvious but nonetheless it was quite confusing at times. Certain scenes in the book was rushed upon, it would have been really more interesting if the author had extensively explained them. It felt like it was cut short abruptly.
This book shows a very tender side of Sivagami which was completely hidden behind her hardcore strong facade. And at the same time, the author had also focused on how a teenage girl had turned into this strong personality. The character of Sivagami was more interesting and gripping in this book than the previous one.
The author had not only focused on the Kingdom of Mahishmati but also a couple of other kingdoms. He had comprehensively said how different they are all from one another which was interesting and anew. This diversity in the plot, characters, values and practices was highly commendable.
The climax was seriously very good and nice. Anand Neelakantan knows how to end a book with a hiked curiosity which will make the readers crave for the release of the next book. And the thing is, in the climax, you could most precisely see Bahubali’s resembles in Sivagami’s character. In fact, while reading that part you will feel like Sivagami has brought up Bahubali with the same thoughts and values as her and he had learnt it well unlike Bhallaladeva. This realization made the climax even more fascinating. And the writing style of Anand Neelakantan was as amazing as ever. His flawless narrative style will hook even a non-reader’s attention completely from page one.
My Views
So, the character I was watching out for while starting this book was Shivappa but to my disappointment, he wasn’t as good and valiant as he used to be, in this book. He was quite cranky and I don’t really blame him. But to appease that short coming, Sivagami’s character was marvelous and also Mahadeva has become an efficient star in this book. He was this one character who was kind, soft and good, without a tinge of bad motives and selfishness, that made him stand out. I’m looking out for this guy to become a great King and I’m pinning all my hopes on him, for the betterment of Mahishmati.
For me, personally it was a pretty emotional journey, particularly the beginning. And it took me sometime to make peace with these issues and proceed with the reading. But once I got back to it, I don’t know how the 300 pages have gone.
The readability level of Anand Neelakantan’s writing style is one of my most favorite things about his books. As usual he had pretty hard things to be told in an extremely straightforward manner and that’s the second thing I like about him. And I’m proud to call myself his fan.
Now I can’t wait for the release of the third book, I dearly hope it will be release sooner than the time taken for the release of the second book.
My rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars
I would recommend this book to all the Bahubali movie Franchise lovers. If you had enjoyed the movies then obviously you will love the book the same. Even if you are not a reader, you should read this trilogy. And it is written in such a way even a beginner could read enthusiastically. There are high chances you might even end up getting addicted reading, who knows ?
Happy reading folks!!
Meenu
Chaturanga is the second book in the highly anticipated Bahubali : Before the Beginning series. The second book starts right from where the first book ended and just like the first book, The Rise of Sivagami, the second book is also an ultimate page turner which will keep the readers engaged till the very end.
The beginning of the book was absolutely heart-breaking and very emotional. Getting past the first few chapters will make the readers hearts rip apart. It was certainly too emotional to handle. In this book, the author had exclusively told about Sivagami’s parents and how brutal the Kingdom of Mahishmati acted towards her family. This will make you rethink about everything you have known about the mighty Mahishmati.
Chaturanga was comparatively a very short read than the first book, the readers will be able to finish the book in a jiffy. Because it was well written, engaging and entertaining. This books will make the readers see a totally different side of all the characters in the book. The transformation of these characters was thunderously wonderful, one cannot simply stop gasping while getting to know about each character’s inner core.
This book was kind of confusing, that sense, the readers cannot make out which character is good and which character is evil. Because the author had spectacularly justified why a character behaves and does a things in a certain way. And remarkably one such character was Pattaraya, he is the most evilest character in book but his point of view will shatter the readers perspective about him.
The character of the King Somadeva will also profoundly astonishing because at certain sequences you will feel like damn he is the King in this game of Chaturanga. Though he is smiling and calm all the time but he is so brave, calculative, cunning and definitely a master. And as I told you before, Pattaraya is also one such personality. These two characters can aptly be called as Evil Intelligence. In fact, most of the characters in this trilogy will jolt you with their evil thought process and their determination in achieving their goals.
So, definitely this book will solve most of the mysteries that existed in the first book and also paved path to raise the curiosity of the readers for the finale of the trilogy. The only problem with the book was, there seems to be a couple of minor plot holes here and there, which wasn’t actually very obvious but nonetheless it was quite confusing at times. Certain scenes in the book was rushed upon, it would have been really more interesting if the author had extensively explained them. It felt like it was cut short abruptly.
This book shows a very tender side of Sivagami which was completely hidden behind her hardcore strong facade. And at the same time, the author had also focused on how a teenage girl had turned into this strong personality. The character of Sivagami was more interesting and gripping in this book than the previous one.
The author had not only focused on the Kingdom of Mahishmati but also a couple of other kingdoms. He had comprehensively said how different they are all from one another which was interesting and anew. This diversity in the plot, characters, values and practices was highly commendable.
The climax was seriously very good and nice. Anand Neelakantan knows how to end a book with a hiked curiosity which will make the readers crave for the release of the next book. And the thing is, in the climax, you could most precisely see Bahubali’s resembles in Sivagami’s character. In fact, while reading that part you will feel like Sivagami has brought up Bahubali with the same thoughts and values as her and he had learnt it well unlike Bhallaladeva. This realization made the climax even more fascinating. And the writing style of Anand Neelakantan was as amazing as ever. His flawless narrative style will hook even a non-reader’s attention completely from page one.
My Views
So, the character I was watching out for while starting this book was Shivappa but to my disappointment, he wasn’t as good and valiant as he used to be, in this book. He was quite cranky and I don’t really blame him. But to appease that short coming, Sivagami’s character was marvelous and also Mahadeva has become an efficient star in this book. He was this one character who was kind, soft and good, without a tinge of bad motives and selfishness, that made him stand out. I’m looking out for this guy to become a great King and I’m pinning all my hopes on him, for the betterment of Mahishmati.
For me, personally it was a pretty emotional journey, particularly the beginning. And it took me sometime to make peace with these issues and proceed with the reading. But once I got back to it, I don’t know how the 300 pages have gone.
The readability level of Anand Neelakantan’s writing style is one of my most favorite things about his books. As usual he had pretty hard things to be told in an extremely straightforward manner and that’s the second thing I like about him. And I’m proud to call myself his fan.
Now I can’t wait for the release of the third book, I dearly hope it will be release sooner than the time taken for the release of the second book.
My rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars
I would recommend this book to all the Bahubali movie Franchise lovers. If you had enjoyed the movies then obviously you will love the book the same. Even if you are not a reader, you should read this trilogy. And it is written in such a way even a beginner could read enthusiastically. There are high chances you might even end up getting addicted reading, who knows ?
Happy reading folks!!
Meenu
February 22, 2021
Wow, one spectacular ending!
February 20, 2021
The long awaited sequel to Rise of Sivagami, perfectly timed and launched in the pandemic's lockdown seemed to have reinvigorated the interest in many an Indian, for the Bahubali franchise. I rewatched the films (the second one twice in different languages) and started watching the Lost Legends animated series as well after looking at and tempted into buying this book as well as it's predecessor during my long days at home.
Although the 2nd book in the series comes out 3 years after its precursor, and a while after the Bahubali craze died down, this is a much shorter read in comparison. The chessboard was set and the players start moving their pawns and quite nimbly, might I add. Neelkantan drives the story furiously blurring the lines between the clear-cut good and bad characters we had before and shows us many shades of grey. The social commentary is still strong, but takes a back seat to the story here. There are a couple of retcons thrown here and there without much explanation and a few inconsistencies within the book itself which stand out like a sore thumb, but do not fatally damage the experience.
Everyone has matured and learnt since the previous books and character development is faster and the world-building, not so much. It ends with a cliffhanger too but not as strong as the one that preceded it.
A much better written book, by comparison and one that I would say should warrant a revisit and small rewrite of the things that don't add up in the first.
Although the 2nd book in the series comes out 3 years after its precursor, and a while after the Bahubali craze died down, this is a much shorter read in comparison. The chessboard was set and the players start moving their pawns and quite nimbly, might I add. Neelkantan drives the story furiously blurring the lines between the clear-cut good and bad characters we had before and shows us many shades of grey. The social commentary is still strong, but takes a back seat to the story here. There are a couple of retcons thrown here and there without much explanation and a few inconsistencies within the book itself which stand out like a sore thumb, but do not fatally damage the experience.
Everyone has matured and learnt since the previous books and character development is faster and the world-building, not so much. It ends with a cliffhanger too but not as strong as the one that preceded it.
A much better written book, by comparison and one that I would say should warrant a revisit and small rewrite of the things that don't add up in the first.
August 23, 2020
After reading the brilliant Asura and Ajaya series, I was eager to pick up the Bahubali series of books. But this book fell below my expectations. There is hardly anything on Sivagami, and whatever little wasn't worthy of the regal character portrayed in the movies. The background on Katappa is very good, with enough narrative to understand his character. Unfortunately, none of the other characters have been given such scope. The editing could have been much better. There were quite a few mistakes in the print. Hoping the third book would do justice. Being a fan of Anand Neelakandan, I would read it anyway.
December 21, 2020
very good sequel..
first, I read the 1st book again because it released almost 3yrs ago and i had forgot the plot. Many of the books quality and content would deteriorate after the first book, but 'Chaturanga' was very good. The End of Book 2 has a abrupt cliffhanger ending unlike the 1st where it had many exciting events going on.
The Only con would be that some stories are repeated again and again.. the same story is explained to different people by different people but we reader knew it already.It could have been avoided.I mean we could guess what was happening but it was explained multiple times i think.
first, I read the 1st book again because it released almost 3yrs ago and i had forgot the plot. Many of the books quality and content would deteriorate after the first book, but 'Chaturanga' was very good. The End of Book 2 has a abrupt cliffhanger ending unlike the 1st where it had many exciting events going on.
The Only con would be that some stories are repeated again and again.. the same story is explained to different people by different people but we reader knew it already.It could have been avoided.I mean we could guess what was happening but it was explained multiple times i think.
February 7, 2023
2nd part of Bahubali prequel. Once again Anand has really astonished the readers with a mind-blowing story. This book is the further extension after shivagami becomes bhoomipati. How she finds out the reason behind her father's execution stating him as a traitor. This book reveals most treacherous things happening in mahishmati under the rule of King Somadeva. This book is actually short than the previous book but lot of information is provided in this book. Overall i would say it's really good good Goodreads...🙂
August 29, 2020
The second book discusses the greed for power, money, and no tolerance for truth and honesty. The entire kingdom is full of secrets, and the way Sivagami is trying to unravel all of those makes it a fascinating read. It seems a little dragged in the last few chapters, but the part with the Gauriparvat details is truly an eye-opener and reveals the horrible political plan going on in the rulers' minds. I loved the last chapter because of the dialogue by one of the priests to Sivagami Devi (Yes, by now, she has assumed herself to be on the throne of Mahishmathi) - "Your husband and son will betray you." It connects very well with the movie series. Eager to read the third book in the series
August 30, 2020
It is a gripping story and took me just 3 days to complete the book (One of the fastest I have ever read any book). The apt title of Chaturanga where the story is interwoven with many plots and sub-plots. Every character had his or her own motive and it makes most interesting and at the same time surprises us many times.
Chaturanga is played right from the king to the untouchable. It is played at varied levels according to their capacity. I liked how each character stayed true to their motive and it is interesting to see it gets connected to Baahubali : The Begining movie by 3rd book.
Chaturanga is played right from the king to the untouchable. It is played at varied levels according to their capacity. I liked how each character stayed true to their motive and it is interesting to see it gets connected to Baahubali : The Begining movie by 3rd book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2020
Stunning and Page Turner
Book will pick the pace from the very first page and it will surely prompt reader to finish it in single sitting.
As it is prequal to Bahubali Movies, there are still many things left to be revealed. Story is well woven among the characters.
A must read for fiction lovers.
Book will pick the pace from the very first page and it will surely prompt reader to finish it in single sitting.
As it is prequal to Bahubali Movies, there are still many things left to be revealed. Story is well woven among the characters.
A must read for fiction lovers.
January 17, 2021
Authentic
Amazing
I must say much most better reading I felt than the first book
I loved it
Ready to read third one
Excited
Amazing
I must say much most better reading I felt than the first book
I loved it
Ready to read third one
Excited
December 8, 2020
Again a wait for the thrid book. This is wrong. Why can't this be like another epic saga like the Bahubali movies.
August 23, 2024
Can't believe I gave this 5 stars when I first read it. In my defense, I read the first book long before I read this so I was unaware of just how many continuity errors this one has. Seriously, this thing is rife with continuity errors. I am even wondering if the same person who wrote the stellar first book wrote this pile of steaming crap. Just to cement my point:
1) In the first book, it says that Sivagami's mother was dead and her father used to stare longingly at his wife's portrait. In this book it says that she was there for Devaraya's chitravadha and that she was killed alongside him.
2) Similarly, an old maid is the one who hides the book in Devaraya's home office when he is arrested. In this it says Devaraya was arrested before he even set foot in his house.
3) Pattaraya says in the first book that the only woman he had feelings for was his wife. But here it says that he as always been in love with Princess Chitraveni.
4) TIMELINE ISSUES. In the first book when Bhutaraya tells the story of Vaithalikas to Kattappa, he says that Kattappa is the 13th in line of a long line of betrayers. In this when Rudra Bhatta tells Sivagami the story he says it was Malayappa, Kattappa's father who betrayed the Vaithalikas.
5) The bloody book that caused all the problems. The old dwarf Vamana says it was he who gave the book to Devaraya while Skandadasa said in the first book that it was stolen from the royal archives.
I can go on but there's just too many. Its a complete disappointment. Sivagami and Kattappa are the only two characters worth a damn and even they are watered down.
1) In the first book, it says that Sivagami's mother was dead and her father used to stare longingly at his wife's portrait. In this book it says that she was there for Devaraya's chitravadha and that she was killed alongside him.
2) Similarly, an old maid is the one who hides the book in Devaraya's home office when he is arrested. In this it says Devaraya was arrested before he even set foot in his house.
3) Pattaraya says in the first book that the only woman he had feelings for was his wife. But here it says that he as always been in love with Princess Chitraveni.
4) TIMELINE ISSUES. In the first book when Bhutaraya tells the story of Vaithalikas to Kattappa, he says that Kattappa is the 13th in line of a long line of betrayers. In this when Rudra Bhatta tells Sivagami the story he says it was Malayappa, Kattappa's father who betrayed the Vaithalikas.
5) The bloody book that caused all the problems. The old dwarf Vamana says it was he who gave the book to Devaraya while Skandadasa said in the first book that it was stolen from the royal archives.
I can go on but there's just too many. Its a complete disappointment. Sivagami and Kattappa are the only two characters worth a damn and even they are watered down.
September 19, 2020
🅱🅾🅾🅺 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆: Chaturanga by Anand Neelakantan
“Oh, no. Perhaps she does harbour hatred towards me and my regime. I am used to such hate. That doesn't bother me. What is a chit of a girl going to do against me? Someone more sinister, someone who is a match for me, is playing a dangerous game. He or she is in the shadows, moving the pieces with amazing dexterity, and effectively using people who have a grouse against my regime. Sivagami could be a pawn in his or her game, just like Bhutaraya was, or Thimma. But no, she isn't the master player.’’
"Ah! It could be anyone. A master player would not reveal themselves so easily. And that is what I love about this game. One false throw of the dice, one false move, and whatever we have built over decades will collapse like an anthill stomped by an elephant.Even masters make mistakes. And in the game of chaturanga, skill alone does not ensure victory. One needs luck too. There are too many things that can go wrong. We play as it comes.’’
"You have misused your holy office and lied, cheated and murdered all throughout your life. Your king Somadeva turned a blind eye to the misdeeds committed by you and many others. But that doesn't mean dharma will not be served. When the king fails in his dharma, every subject must became the protector of dharma. For the crime of many child sacrifices, for the crime of accusing an innocent women of immorality and murdering her in cold blood, and for countless other unspeakable crimes, I Sivagami devi, give you the death penalty. You shall die as that innocent woman died many years ago. This is the word of Sivagami."
After the failed coup staged by the Vaithalikas, Sivagami finds herself elevated to the position of bhoomipathi, from where she can more ably pursue her burning goal to avenge her parent’s death.
Shivappa, the run-away slave whom everyone thought long dead, is still alive, awaiting an appropriate chance to avenge his lover's murder, while his brother Kattappa, now the King's guard is hell-bent on finding him in order to kill him.
Prince Bijjaladeva joined hands with Rajguru Rudra Bhatta and organized a charade of tantric puja to catch the alleged ghost of Shivappa, while prince Mahadeva wants to solve the mystery of missing children in the kingdom.
Meanwhile Pattaraya, the bhoomipathi turn rebel played his own game to topple the Mahishmathi's king Somadeva and for that, he will not stop himself in using his own daughter Mekhala.
In the midst of these all, Gundu Ramu, Sivagami's loyal friend who still had her manuscript is caught by the dwarf Hidumba, and transported to Gauriparvat to work there in the mine.
Will prince Mahadeva able to solve the mystery of the missing children? Will Sivagami able to discover the secret of Gauriparvat? will Maharaja Somadeva prevail against Pattaraya in this political game?
🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
♟️The book is the 2nd installment of Baahubali: Before the Beginning trilogy which is a prequel to the renowned Baahubali movies. It follows Sivagami as she matures from a defiant and resentful girl into a wise queen, around the same time when the kingdom of Mahishmathi rises from being a city-state to an influential empire. As you read the book you will realize how apt the cover and the title are to the story. The book also provides a detailed map of Mahishmathi and a character list.
♟️Anand is a master storyteller. His writing is simple, lucid, precise, and vivid. Narrated from multiple character's POVs, the story moves at break-neck speed with new twists and turns in every chapter. As new characters are introduced and old characters' backstories are explored, new revelations are made and you get to see a broader picture of the various political intrigues which are played in Mahishmathi kingdom. However, there are certain plotholes in the story that were neither easily perceptible nor reduce the reading experience.
♟️Each of the characters, having their own distinct personality, independent voice, and back story are wonderfully written. I like how all the female characters are portrayed as strong and powerful women. Sivagami's narrative may be small but that can be understandable since when you are dealing with multiple character narratives sometimes the protagonist takes a back seat and minor characters move the story to set the events of the climax and that is exactly what happened in this book. However, in the ending, she will make a wonderful comeback with her fierce side.
♟️After completing the book I felt a little disappointed since, in spite of waiting for 3 years for this book, it is only 2/3th of the 1st book in size and thus ended too quickly. However the climax is mind-blowing and just like the previous book, this one also ends on a nerve-racking cliffhanger. I hope Anand wouldn't let us wait another 3 years for the final book.
Overall, Chaturanga is totally a page-turner read for me. I usually read 2-3 books simultaneously so it took me a few days to complete a single book. But this book took only one sleepless night to complete. Highly recommended to everyone irrespective of their favorite genre.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Oh, no. Perhaps she does harbour hatred towards me and my regime. I am used to such hate. That doesn't bother me. What is a chit of a girl going to do against me? Someone more sinister, someone who is a match for me, is playing a dangerous game. He or she is in the shadows, moving the pieces with amazing dexterity, and effectively using people who have a grouse against my regime. Sivagami could be a pawn in his or her game, just like Bhutaraya was, or Thimma. But no, she isn't the master player.’’
"Ah! It could be anyone. A master player would not reveal themselves so easily. And that is what I love about this game. One false throw of the dice, one false move, and whatever we have built over decades will collapse like an anthill stomped by an elephant.Even masters make mistakes. And in the game of chaturanga, skill alone does not ensure victory. One needs luck too. There are too many things that can go wrong. We play as it comes.’’
"You have misused your holy office and lied, cheated and murdered all throughout your life. Your king Somadeva turned a blind eye to the misdeeds committed by you and many others. But that doesn't mean dharma will not be served. When the king fails in his dharma, every subject must became the protector of dharma. For the crime of many child sacrifices, for the crime of accusing an innocent women of immorality and murdering her in cold blood, and for countless other unspeakable crimes, I Sivagami devi, give you the death penalty. You shall die as that innocent woman died many years ago. This is the word of Sivagami."
After the failed coup staged by the Vaithalikas, Sivagami finds herself elevated to the position of bhoomipathi, from where she can more ably pursue her burning goal to avenge her parent’s death.
Shivappa, the run-away slave whom everyone thought long dead, is still alive, awaiting an appropriate chance to avenge his lover's murder, while his brother Kattappa, now the King's guard is hell-bent on finding him in order to kill him.
Prince Bijjaladeva joined hands with Rajguru Rudra Bhatta and organized a charade of tantric puja to catch the alleged ghost of Shivappa, while prince Mahadeva wants to solve the mystery of missing children in the kingdom.
Meanwhile Pattaraya, the bhoomipathi turn rebel played his own game to topple the Mahishmathi's king Somadeva and for that, he will not stop himself in using his own daughter Mekhala.
In the midst of these all, Gundu Ramu, Sivagami's loyal friend who still had her manuscript is caught by the dwarf Hidumba, and transported to Gauriparvat to work there in the mine.
Will prince Mahadeva able to solve the mystery of the missing children? Will Sivagami able to discover the secret of Gauriparvat? will Maharaja Somadeva prevail against Pattaraya in this political game?
🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
♟️The book is the 2nd installment of Baahubali: Before the Beginning trilogy which is a prequel to the renowned Baahubali movies. It follows Sivagami as she matures from a defiant and resentful girl into a wise queen, around the same time when the kingdom of Mahishmathi rises from being a city-state to an influential empire. As you read the book you will realize how apt the cover and the title are to the story. The book also provides a detailed map of Mahishmathi and a character list.
♟️Anand is a master storyteller. His writing is simple, lucid, precise, and vivid. Narrated from multiple character's POVs, the story moves at break-neck speed with new twists and turns in every chapter. As new characters are introduced and old characters' backstories are explored, new revelations are made and you get to see a broader picture of the various political intrigues which are played in Mahishmathi kingdom. However, there are certain plotholes in the story that were neither easily perceptible nor reduce the reading experience.
♟️Each of the characters, having their own distinct personality, independent voice, and back story are wonderfully written. I like how all the female characters are portrayed as strong and powerful women. Sivagami's narrative may be small but that can be understandable since when you are dealing with multiple character narratives sometimes the protagonist takes a back seat and minor characters move the story to set the events of the climax and that is exactly what happened in this book. However, in the ending, she will make a wonderful comeback with her fierce side.
♟️After completing the book I felt a little disappointed since, in spite of waiting for 3 years for this book, it is only 2/3th of the 1st book in size and thus ended too quickly. However the climax is mind-blowing and just like the previous book, this one also ends on a nerve-racking cliffhanger. I hope Anand wouldn't let us wait another 3 years for the final book.
Overall, Chaturanga is totally a page-turner read for me. I usually read 2-3 books simultaneously so it took me a few days to complete a single book. But this book took only one sleepless night to complete. Highly recommended to everyone irrespective of their favorite genre.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 3, 2023
A Captivating Journey into the World of Bahubali
Anand Neelakantan's novel, "Chaturanga," sweeps readers away on an enthralling literary voyage, immersing them in a meticulously crafted universe. With captivating storytelling and vivid imagery, Neelakantan brings to life a world teeming with political machinations, multi-faceted characters, and profound themes.
One of the standout qualities of "Chaturanga" is Neelakantan's remarkable ability to construct a rich and immersive setting. From the very first page, his meticulous attention to detail shines through, effortlessly blending historical elements, cultural nuances, and intricate plotlines to fashion a believable and engrossing realm.
The characters within "Chaturanga" are equally compelling, their complex psyches laid bare by Neelakantan's skilled hand. Each individual grapples with personal dilemmas, moral conflicts, and the relentless pursuit of power. They are crafted with such depth and authenticity that they truly come alive, their interactions and relationships driving the heart of the narrative.
Neelakantan fearlessly delves into thought-provoking themes in "Chaturanga," challenging readers to reconsider notions of heroism, power dynamics, social inequality, and the consequences of personal choices. Through his masterful storytelling, he navigates the murky waters between good and evil, inviting readers to engage in a profound exploration of the human condition.
In summary, "Chaturanga" by Anand Neelakantan is an extraordinary testament to the art of storytelling. With its immersive world-building, complex characters, profound themes, and masterful prose, the novel offers an enriching and captivating literary escapade. Neelakantan's ability to construct a compelling narrative sets him apart as a truly gifted writer, and "Chaturanga" stands as a shining example of his remarkable literary prowess.
Anand Neelakantan's novel, "Chaturanga," sweeps readers away on an enthralling literary voyage, immersing them in a meticulously crafted universe. With captivating storytelling and vivid imagery, Neelakantan brings to life a world teeming with political machinations, multi-faceted characters, and profound themes.
One of the standout qualities of "Chaturanga" is Neelakantan's remarkable ability to construct a rich and immersive setting. From the very first page, his meticulous attention to detail shines through, effortlessly blending historical elements, cultural nuances, and intricate plotlines to fashion a believable and engrossing realm.
The characters within "Chaturanga" are equally compelling, their complex psyches laid bare by Neelakantan's skilled hand. Each individual grapples with personal dilemmas, moral conflicts, and the relentless pursuit of power. They are crafted with such depth and authenticity that they truly come alive, their interactions and relationships driving the heart of the narrative.
Neelakantan fearlessly delves into thought-provoking themes in "Chaturanga," challenging readers to reconsider notions of heroism, power dynamics, social inequality, and the consequences of personal choices. Through his masterful storytelling, he navigates the murky waters between good and evil, inviting readers to engage in a profound exploration of the human condition.
In summary, "Chaturanga" by Anand Neelakantan is an extraordinary testament to the art of storytelling. With its immersive world-building, complex characters, profound themes, and masterful prose, the novel offers an enriching and captivating literary escapade. Neelakantan's ability to construct a compelling narrative sets him apart as a truly gifted writer, and "Chaturanga" stands as a shining example of his remarkable literary prowess.
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