Recalling an era of screen
The ushering in of the new millennium marked the end of an era of iconic screen legends who drew audiences…
One of the sisters runs a cinema hall, an old family commitment, in the heart of Kolkata. The other works for a multinational corporation in Gurgaon. What has kept them together is the passion for reading, writing and travelling since childhood. The result is a joint endeavour to produce a fantasy aimed predominantly at young readers. Suvarnabhumi – The Mystical Journey delves into myth and adventure to keep children thoroughly engaged. Bipasa Vidisha, the first names of the authors combined for this literary venture, should be pleased with the neatly presented book that is enriched with illustrations that capture the spirit of the tale. To the growing number of children burdened by the pressure of school books, this should offer a refreshing departure.
What makes it more interesting are the faint echoes of the widely read story of the kingdom of the good king threatened by his war-loving monarch in the neighbouring kingdom. It was adapted to the screen by Satyajit Ray with the focus on a singer and drummer that turned out to be a huge success. This is also the tale of a kingdom blessed with gold by a goddess but now threatened by a witch who has an eye on the magical gift that has kept the kingdom in a state of peace and happiness. The effort fails but the curse hits the prince who becomes a hapless wanderer. The story has a racy flow through diverse encounters that predictably marks the triumph of good over evil. But by then the readers may be left wondering whether the adventures of Suvarna, the wandering prince, can inspire creative minds in the way myriad adaptations have emerged from the exploits Goopy and Bagha.
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