THE POISON OF LOVE- A CAUTIONARY TALE
K. R. Meera is an Indian author and journalist who writes in Malayalam. She initially worked as a journalist and started writing fiction in 2001. Her first short story collection, “Ormayude Njarambu,” was published in 2002. Since then, she has published five collections of short stories, two novellas, five novels, and two children’s books.
KR Meera’s new novel, “The Poison of Love,” is a cautionary tale about the much-abused and mythified emotion of love. The daughter of an IPS officer, the beautiful Tulsi has just graduated with a record score from IIT and is engaged to be married to an NRI engineer. But she falls for Madhav, a journalist as charming and eloquent as the deity he is named after. Like a gopika enchanted with Krishna’s divine flute music, Tulsi is persuaded by her gently persistent admirer to elope with him just a few days before her wedding. The consequences, both short-term for her family and long-term on Tulsi’s life, are disastrous.
One of KR Meera’s latest works, “The Poison of Love,” serves as a cautionary narrative delving into the often-misused and romanticized emotion of love. The protagonist, Tulsi, hailing from a family with a distinguished IPS officer, excels academically, graduating with top honors from IIT, and is on the verge of marrying an NRI engineer. However, her life takes an unforeseen turn when she encounters Madhav, a journalist whose charisma and eloquence rival the deity he is named after. Drawn to Madhav’s allure “like a gopika enchanted with Krishna’s divine flute music,” Tulsi succumbs to his persuasive charms, eloping with him just days before her scheduled wedding. The repercussions of this impulsive decision unfold both in the short term for her family and have enduring consequences for Tulsi’s life.
K. R. Meera’s literary oeuvre encompasses five novels, six novellas, six collections of short fiction, two children’s novels, and two collections of essays in Malayalam. Her literary prowess has earned her numerous accolades, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Novel and Best Short Fiction, the Vayalar Award, and the Odakkuzhal Award. Several of her works have been translated into English, including titles such as “Jezebel,” “Hangwoman,” “The Unseeing Idol of Light,” “Yellow Is the Colour of Longing,” “The Gospel of Yudas,” “Qabar,” and “The Angel’s Beauty Spots.” – WILLIAMSJI MAVELI