All For An Anklet

Inspired by Ilanko Adikal's classic The Cilapaikaram, an epic poem comprising 5730 lines, All For An Anklet is a tragedy dictated by fate and karma. Our tale begins in Poompuhar, a flourishing seaport of the early Chola Kingdom, before it moves to Madurai and eventually the sacred hills of Palani.

Here is a story enriched by complex characters like Kannagi who is worshipped to this day and Kovalan - easily swayed, wayward as a child, lover of all things beautiful but also, effortlessly unfaithful. Meanwhile, Madhavi, although a courtesan and unmarried, finds herself blessed with a daughter. The questions posed therefore are many including that of socially dictated gender norms, morality and the chastity of women. Even more fundamentally, there is the question of destiny versus free will.

Replete with kings and queens, traders and cowherds, oracles and tribespeople, courtesans and crooks, gods and goddesses, and equally irresistible plot points, this is Sangam Literature at its lush, versatile best.

For instance - Madurai is razed to the ground. The question is, why?