The Shakespearean Linkages in Unnayi Warrier's Nala Charitham

Unnayi Warrier’s ‘Nala Charitham’ is easily the most popular Kathakali dance drama. With themes including romance, troubled royalty, treachery, banishment, desertion and punishment, the book compares these – and the complex characters – with some of Shakespeare’s most intriguing plays. These deeply thoughtful comparisons – a first of their kind – are insightfully written. Drawing from the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, the book not only narrates Nalan and his wife Damayanthi’s progress through life, but also serves as a window into the cultural and spiritual ethos of ancient India. The story of ‘Nala Charitham’ is a captivating one, with Shakespearean comparisons giving the story a new punch and perspective.