Adi Parva: Churning of the Ocean

Never read or seen anything like it.It's not just words or pictures but a graphic novel on our oldest tale by a new age female graphic novelist, some say she is India's first.Amruta Patil has done her BFA and MFA from Goa and Boston Art schools respectively. With the help of a grant from French embassy she worked on this book scripting and drawing simultaneously. Like other Indian kids exposed early on through TV serials on Mahabarata or through Amar Chitra Katha, she started reading various versions by the age of 21 and never stopped. And says "I was meant to do this"Amruta employs the concept of "sutradhaar" (in this case Ganga) to tell the tale (not the whole of Mahabharata but pieces of it) in a altogether new and revealing way. Here I quote Rituparna Sengupta "In a world saturated with the sophisticated gloss of 3D computer graphics, Patil’s various aesthetic methods and mediums from charcoal sketches to collages of fashion magazine photos to pastiches of famous works of art, places her work both, in a multivalent narrative epic tradition, and also the postmodern present, with its layered and multiple sources of inspiration. What makes her work even more significant is the special care with which she carves out spaces for scepticism, dissent and debate within the texts themselves, reminding us about the dynamic contexts which the epic has evolved in and emerged from."The artwork is gorgeous, simply takes your breath away!! With this book you feel as though you own so many pieces of different art works. The narrative script is unique, she mixes modern words with the ancient in a unique manner entirely her own.Will be buying the sequel Sauptik soon!!!

Update:It’s okay,vague storyline’s,some storylines were more interesting,Overall I found it not engaging .Time is limited and if you don’t like feeling like you wasted yours then maybe this isn’t for you.I like books that impart some meaning,some usefulness something more tangible .This wasn’t anything like that to me.What I disliked in this book was the vague art style, the words and imagery not adding up in my mind clearing,The story and meaning lost on me except on a few occasions.It just wasn’t satisfying to me.To conclude ,this book is not for the strata of readers like me who like concise impactful books and also I don’t personally like the art style.I’m sorry XD......Really.It didn't draw me in - the artwork was vague.Anyway I'll complete the book and update my review.Maybe this book isn't my kinda book that's all.I read something on the back about a feminist perspective.Idk what I was expecting but so far I'm just like dragging myself through it.The narrative felt a bit lackluster I suppose.Feels like she uses too many fillers(paintings of landscapes and flowers)Will update as soon as I can finish reading it.

A piece of the vast ocean of mythology explained through vivid contemporary artwork by Amruta Patil.The narrative is woven across the eons (yugas) and beautifully toggles between the narrator's present setting and the story being told. Amruta makes remarkable use of charcoal and paints to effect the toggle.The research is quite impressive and the fact that an artist produced thousands of panels to tell the story is overwhelming to think of.Gripping read. Finished it in one sitting. A prized possession on the bookshelf.

Amazing illustrations. Love the author's spin on the traditional tale.

Received the book in very good condition.This book is the first part of the Parva Duology by Amruta Patil. It mainly talks about the events of Mahabharata through Ganga as the Sutradhar which almost gives it a feminist revision.A must read for those interested in the mythology!

A must read for all graphic novel lovers. Beautifully drawn and written. Putting the book to words is very difficult. Amruta has done an amazing job with the visuals and the way the story is written. Gives you a whole new Visual perspective on the story of Mahabarath's beginning with the same underlying plot. Must buy.

Liked the subtle narration which was supported aptly by the art... Finally found a good reference to make the mythological stories interesting.

I must say it is really a wonderful book to go through. Got to know about it from a friend and it doesn't disappoint me. This is the first book I'm reading which is full of illustrations.More than reading, you must enjoy the sketches. It has got a lot to say.Grab your copy now.

There's so much to say about this incredibly beautiful work. Please don't miss this. It is an experience.

Delighted with book and service.