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| Author | Devaki Nandan Khatri |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Lehri Book Depot, Varanasi, India |
| Publication place | India |
Chandrakanta Santati is a popular Hindi novel series by Devaki Nandan Khatri. It is the sequel to his debut novel Chandrakanta which is considered to be the first work of prose in the modern Hindi language, and may have significantly contributed to the language's popularity. The series span six books excluding the original Chandrakanta.
It inspired the TV serial of the same name.
Story
editMany years have passed since the events of Chandrakanta. The heart of the story are Chandrakanta's sons and their friends. There is also romantic fantasy about two lovers who belong to rival kingdoms: the princess Chandrakanta of Vijaygarh, and the prince Virendra Singh of Naugarh.
Tilism and Aiyyars
editChandrakanta Santati continues with the concepts of "Aiyar" and "Tilism".
Aiyyar/a
editAccording to Devaki nandan Khatri, An Aiyyar (male) or Aiyara (female) is a secret agent cum spy cum fighter. He or she is expert in many arts like:
- Disguise
- Fighting skills
- Spying
- Science
- Fine arts
- Medical
- Chemistry
Disguise is must (Aiyar/a may change him/herself into person of same or even of opposite sex but of resembling body built, by makeup).
Fighting skills are also must, for self-defence. An Aiyyar/a always overpowers any small group of ordinary soldiers.
He/she may need to spy for taking out some secrets or for finding some missing persons.
Knowledge of science and fine arts is also necessary, as it may come handy many times.
Medical knowledge, and specially that of Anaesthesia is needed for him/her.
Chemical knowledge is also needed
In a nutshell an Aiyar is a Jack of all trades. But contrary to common belief, Khatrian Aiyar/a are unfamiliar with magic and spells. He/she may join into any king's or landlord's service or may remain free.
The items must for an Aiyar/a: Kamand (a long very strong cord used to climb over building secretly, or for tying opposite Aiyar/a or captured person/s) Batua or purse (used to keep necessary medicines, makeup items, money and dry fruits) Lakhlakh must also be in the 'Batua' (lakhlakha is a medicine, used to revive any unconscious person) Khanjar or dagger (for safety and for attack) Langot or short smart pants are usually worn by Aiyars (but not by Aiyaras) when in easy mood
Ethics of Aiyars:
Never kill or torture any other Aiyar/a (but can arrest him/her)
Never cheat your master
Never attack too many Aiyars over a single person
The novel depicts a number of friendly and unfriendly Aiyar.
- Bhootnath
- Nanak
- Bhairo Singh
- Tara singh
- Indra Dev
- Kamla
- Kamini
- Sher Singh
- Kamalini
- Ladili/ Lali
- Dhanpati/ Kundan
- Tara (not to be confused with Tara Sing)
- Harnam Singh (only name in this epic allotted to two totally different characters)
- Bihari Singh
- Raja Gopal Singh
- Laxmi Devi (Gopal Singh' wife)
- Mayarani (Gopal Singh' fraud wife)
Adaptations
editChandrakanta was made into a television serial in the mid-1990s, but the serial was never completed due to financial reasons. However, the only congruence between the novel and the teleserial was in the name of a few characters, the rest of the storyline being completely different from the book. The teleserial also introduced many new characters and both these deviations were not popular with viewers. The teleserial took far too many liberties with the original script and failed to attract wide viewership.
A new serial named Kahani Chandrakanta Ki has been started in 2011 on Sahara One TV Channel, Based on his next novel in Chandrakanta series named Chandrakanta Santati (story about achandrakanta's sons) by the same director Sunil Agnihotri, with same degree of deviations from the original devki nandan khatri novel. The story of Chandrakanta Santati is very much different from the story shown by new TV serial "Kahani Chandrakanta Ki".
Indian filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra is producing a film adaptation of the book, which will be directed by Ram Madhvani. The film has been titled Taalismaan and includes Amitabh Bachchan among the cast, playing an Aiyyar. Abhishek Bachchan will also be seen in this screen adaption of the tale of Chandrakanta.
External links
edit- Complete Chandrakanta in Gadya Kosh
- Chandrakanta at the Digital Library of India