Anand Neelakantan

Anand Neelakantan is an Indian novelist, columnist, and screenwriter who has established himself in mythological fiction since 2012. He is particularly known for retelling traditional Indian epics from the perspectives of antagonists or supporting characters, bringing fresh viewpoints to well-known stories. His debut novel "Asura: Tale of the Vanquished" (2012) retold the Ramayana from Ravana's perspective and has sold over a million copies, earning a place in Amazon's "100 books by Indian authors to read in a lifetime." This success was followed by other works including the Ajaya series, which reexamines the Mahabharata, and "The Rise of Sivagami," set in the Baahubali universe. Beyond novels, Neelakantan has written screenplays for numerous television series including "Siya Ke Ram," "Mahabali Hanuman," and "Chakravarthy Ashoka." His works have been translated into multiple languages including Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Japanese, and Indonesian, reaching readers across diverse markets. His regular column in The New Indian Express since 2017 has further established his voice in Indian literature and cultural commentary. Neelakantan's background as an engineering graduate from Government Engineering College, Thrissur, adds an interesting dimension to his career as a storyteller and mythological interpreter.

Readers appreciate Neelakantan's fresh perspective on Indian mythology by telling stories from antagonists' viewpoints. His research and worldbuilding receive frequent mention in reviews, particularly in "Asura" and "Ajaya." Positive reviews focus on: - Complex character motivations - Historical details and research - New angles on familiar stories - Questioning traditional hero narratives Common criticisms include: - Repetitive writing style - Uneven pacing - Too much focus on battle scenes - Some historical inaccuracies Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Asura: 3.8/5 (15,000+ ratings) - Ajaya: 4.0/5 (8,000+ ratings) - Rise of Sivagami: 3.7/5 (3,000+ ratings) Amazon India: - Asura: 4.4/5 - Ajaya: 4.3/5 Multiple readers note the books work better in concept than execution. One reviewer writes: "Great premise but gets bogged down in battlefield minutiae." Another states: "Makes you think differently about stories you grew up with."

Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012) A retelling of the Ramayana from Ravana's perspective, exploring the epic through the eyes of the traditional antagonist.

Ajaya: Roll of the Dice (2013) First part of a duology that narrates the Mahabharata from Duryodhana's viewpoint, examining the epic's events through the Kaurava perspective.

Ajaya: Rise of Kali (2015) Second part of the Ajaya series, continuing the Mahabharata narrative from Duryodhana's perspective through to the war's conclusion.

The Rise of Sivagami (2017) A prequel to the Baahubali films, chronicling the early life of Sivagami and the power politics of the kingdom of Mahishmathi.

Queen of Mahishmathi (2017) The second book in the Baahubali series, following Sivagami's journey as she navigates the complexities of ruling Mahishmathi.

Chaturanga (2020) A historical novel set in ancient India that explores themes of power, loyalty, and warfare through multiple perspectives.

Devdutt Pattanaik writes extensively about Indian mythology and provides alternative interpretations of traditional stories. He specializes in examining lesser-known characters and perspectives from Hindu epics, with works like "Jaya" and "Sita" offering comprehensive retellings.

Amish Tripathi retells Indian mythology with modern interpretations and focuses on humanizing divine characters. His Shiva Trilogy and Ram Chandra Series demonstrate similar approaches to mythological reinterpretation as Neelakantan.

Ashwin Sanghi combines mythology with contemporary thriller elements in his works. His novels like "Chanakya's Chant" and "The Krishna Key" blend historical and mythological elements with modern storylines.

Kavita Kane focuses on female characters from Indian mythology who are often overlooked in traditional tellings. She has written books from the perspectives of characters like Urmila and Menaka, exploring their untold stories.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni retells Indian epics from female perspectives, particularly in works like "The Palace of Illusions" and "The Forest of Enchantments." She explores the emotional depths of characters like Draupadi and Sita, providing alternative viewpoints to traditional narratives.