Telugu literature’s glory days seem to be back in the film industry owing to the need for novel content for filmmakers to adapt it for the digital medium. Metro Kathalu, despite not earning unanimous acclaim on Aha, was proof that novels could make for impressive material for web content in the hands of a capable filmmaker. With novels like Kondapolam, Saptabhumi being considered for adaptation across films/web projects, this is a scenario that Telugu writers would be watching with rapt attention.
Earlier this week, it was a rare occasion where a Telugu and a Tamil actor came together for a launch of a novel titled Veeraiah, written by Krishna Gubili and published by Anvikshiki Publishers. Actor Nasser and Tanikella Bharani were present for the virtual book launch, lasting over an hour’s time, where the two spoke of the need for people to embrace their mother tongues with greater fondness.
The premise of the book dates back to the 18th century when slavery was abolished in the British empire in 1835. The demand for sugar was exploding with people consuming increasing amounts of sugar in chocolates, tea and sweets. To fuel the growing first-world sugar industry of the late 1800s, 1.3 million Indians were shipped to labour on sugarcane plantations in Mauritius, South Africa, Caribbean, Fiji and Reunion. The indenture system was not too different from slavery. Coolies laboured from dawn to dusk, day after day, year after year in inhuman working and living conditions. This book is about the search of a man for his great grandfather and the story of Indian Indenture.
Would you want to see the book being adapted into the visual medium?
