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Sanku's story 'Mirages'
Ganapathi rao Sanku is a rare individual that captures the essence of women, their trials and tribulations and weaves them into stories that grab at your heart and you find your self cheering for the female to overcome and conquer.
--- Ms. Mary Alice, CA, USA.
PREFACE TO S. GANAPATHIRAO’S SHORT-STORIES titled "MANAMINTHENA"
FROM
Ms. SAROJINI PREMCHAND
The one-century old Telugu short-story has gained great strength in form and content and evolved into a powerful instrument of communication. In the past It has expose d the maladies of society ; it can do it now and also it can transform the indi viduals if not the entire society. From Gurazada Apparao Pantulu , who wrote the very first short-story in telugu to the present day writer the main aspiration has been to bring to focus the ills of society and instil in the reader a desire for a new and better world.
A warning to the readers. If you are looking for entertaining reading material these stories are not for you. They reflect the ugly facet ---- the violence, the heartless cruelty ,the inequalities, the injustice that prevail in the present day Indian society.
Ganapathirao’s stories penetrate and reveal the diverse layers in the lives of men and women with the help of an uninhibited pen.
Each story has a family or a situation or a psychologically complex person as the central theme. In every story one encounters unexpected turns and surprises.
It is purely a domestic situation in “Manamintena?” Conflict between older and younger members is understandable. But how manipulative and inhumane a relationship can become is shown in a shockingly candid way. The problems of the aged and dependent , their insecurity and the lack of feeling , lack of care and concern in others are highlighted in this story.
One gets utterly disturbed and distressed by the stories “Veerulunnaru” and “Peddapparayudu”. And this exactly is the writer’s intention. An honest and incorruptible incometax official probing into the misdeeds of a businessman who has accumulated enormous wealth. The businessman’s villainy and his vicious ways are horrifyingly laid out.Peddapparayudu commits every single sin to amass money and power. But he had to meet his day of reckoning ;he plunges into guilt and as an offer of retribution gives up all his possessions for the benefit of the victims of his atrocious crimes. In these and other stories like “Mirages” and “Marige Tarusarovaram” the perpetrators of heinous brutalities are not from the underworld. The criminals belong rather to the upperworld ----the higher strata of society!
“Triumph of Love” tells about the reluctance of the affluent to accept their daughter’s love for a lower class boy.
There is an impelling quality in Ganapathirao’s writing. Tightly structured story-line helps maintain the tempo. At many instances narration runs like a screen-play.
“Mu Ma” is written with surrealistic fervour. The protagonist is a 20 year old village lad, alone, starving and looking for succour. He goes through bizarre experiences.
The piteous tale of bank-clerk Trimurti evokes mixed feelings.He lives in a fantasy world , imagining he has divine powers. His posturing and smearing sacred ash prominently on forehead turns him into a figure of fun . Colleagues exploit his craving for praise.Even his daughter fleeces him. He ends up in debts and and loses his job.”Pathuluri Parvati” , his wife finally dins some sense into his head. We see such characters with psychological complexities impairing their relationships and causing suffering in other stories in this collection.
“Bambultho Jawabu” portrays the life of Neela, a beautiful young dancer who dedicates her talent to the service of the poor and needy. Due to her ignorance of the ways of the world and her vulnerable age she falls a victim to the mayor’s son , a crooked and unscrupulous character. The misery and deprivation she undergoes and her destitute state are recounted with such appalling detail that it leaves the reader in great anguish. In the end the enraged victims of the horrors committed by the mayor to expand his real estate business destroy him, his family and his property completely .The English version of this story “Mirages” ends in a different way.
I can not imagine anyone remaining unmoved after reading these stories. They provoke either disbelief and indolence or anger, despair and distress.
These stories give voice to Ganapathirao’s perceptions of the society . One may or may not be pleased with the tone of his presentation. But there is absolutely no dispute to the fact that there is debasement and decadence in every sphere of society. He is to be commended for his righteous and undaunted approach.
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The Inevitable
Yet another heartrending story from the author "Mirages"!!
An excerpt from the story, The Inevitable:
"Thilakam�s problem is how to find a little time when this lady is unprotected by the dog. Such a moment arrives sooner than expected. And Thilakam lowers a boulder like huge stone on the head of the old woman who died an instantaneous death".
This "The Inevitable" story has an appeal to a compassionate woman and more of the philanthropist. Although I write stories about women, mine are more directed to the circumstances of love and romance in our relationships and between a man and a woman. I rarely write, but I have on the inevitable hurt that comes from a bad relationship. I guess pain is pain and I like your conclusion. Good luck with your writings in the future. -Mr.Curt Stokes Jr. US. Author,"Between the two of us" 8th March 2010
February 16, 2010
Thanks Gan, for finally finding a way so that I could read this story. Honestly I like this one better than your first one. In this one you do tell a more complete story which will give screen writers much more to write upon. In reading your new story I could see a film being made with the screen writers giving the main characters words to say which will further enlarge the message you want to be told.
Mirages are also a good story but you did leave a lot of open areas that needed to be filled with more information.
I wish you success with both stories and will continue praying that a film director will take your stories and make movies from them.
Hugs, much love
- Ms, Mary Alice, USA
Feb. 21, 2010
Dear Sanku,
I took a break from my nutty life and read your story.
I think you are very good at writing and illustrating "fables." Your tales have morals and are reflections of your culture. This one also reflects a trend that is probably world wide--the growing lack of respect for our elders, and the selfishness that is taking over society. Also, the preference for money over spirituality. This is a good illustration of my favorite saying, "What goes around comes around.�This works well as a short story. In fact you could do a collection of your fables.
-Ms. Sans Sou�i
New York, NY , USA
Feb.23,2010
I just read your story. It was very good, well written.. The only thing is I thought at the end the mother and daughter would get to be friends again, but that didn't happen...
I sure hope your stories will get to be put in a book soon... The answer is always patients... And the waiting is the most difficult..It will all happen in God's perfect timing.... He has things under control .
--Ms. Phyllis, USA
February 23, 2010
such a sad story. Too bad the daughter learned from the mother. U should learn to love your family and cherish them. Why too much greed in this world.
--Ms. Catie,USA
Feb 25,2010
I never let you know that I received and read that story you wrote called "The Inevitable." It was quite alright for you to send it to me. I really enjoyed reading it. It was sad, but still a wonderful way of expressing the meaning of "Do unto others." �Ms. Peachie. M., USA
MIRAGES:
Good is scarce but evil abundant!!
"The story is very cinematic in its treatment. I am sure it will do well as a film".--- Smt.Maneka Gandhi, New Delhi. Jan. 4, 2010.
WOMAN ORIENTED STORY TO MAKE A GREAT HUMAN INTERESTING MOVIE!
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"It (Mirages) can evolve as an off beat movie, that can earn laurels. I could see a good film sense on the part of this writer in weaving the story". MS, Stage actor, former member of Central Board of Film Certification, Chennai, India.
"Mirages', is a well-constructed dramatic story. It was disappointed with the "climax". Though this may be way the present day world is"!!--Ravi. N, Film Maker, Mumbai, India.
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This is a woman oriented story, for making a very great human interesting movie!!"Mirages" is the saga of an unfortunate woman Neela, a great danseuse and singer, an extremely beautiful woman besides being a paragon of virtue.
The son of a local city mayor has evil intentions and wants to make her a victim of his lust. Once he manages to trick her into getting in his car and he manages to molest her during the drive. But in the scuffle that ensues during the drive, the car remits with a ghastly accident violently crashing against a big tree resulting the loss of Neela's both legs.
A rickshawala who was himself earlier a victim of the mayor and his son's violence,is picked up by Neela in her heyday and helped him to recover and become normal. The same rickshawala now happens to see Neela deserted,uncared and unwept on a deserted road!!
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REVIEWS BY BELOVED ONLINE FRIENDS:
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24th August
Hello Brother,
what a touching and painful story!.You have managed to show the evil versus the good. Unfortunately evil prevailed, and good died. Isn't this daily life though. the evil we see in the world today seems to out weigh God's goodness, but we know the ending to God's story, Good will prevail! I enjoyed your story Mirages. I felt drawn into the story as I read it, which is good because you captured the reader. thank-you for sharing your story with me. hugs Brenda.
(FL , USA)
4/27/09
My observation:
Hello Sanku, thanks for allowing me to read a glimpse into what can become a best seller. Here are a few observations from my perspective.
First of all, I’m not sure if this is just a narration or bits and pieces from the actual story, but if it’s the story, it needs to be shown and not told. We need to see more action and less narration in the story. Especially with the parts of Neela singing and dancing, we need to see her doing these things in different scenes of the story. Maybe showing the mayor in action of his corruption would also add spice to the story. You could also show the close relationship and how the mayor idolizes his son and has a daughter but probably hates her because she’s a girl.
Concerning the accident, show the accident in deep graphic detail, I want to feel the accident when it takes place and show the emotion of the mayor, his son and the nasty, evil doctor who dumped Neela on side of road.
Third, the scene when Neela is in the second hospital and needs to leave needs to be developed more. Show the transition of her being in the hospital and moving to the side of the road. Show when or how Neela is able to drive the car to pick up Nazarayan or otherwise it’s a contradiction of the story.
What I love about the story is the correlation you made of Neela and the beggar on the side of the road; it reminds me of the blind beggar who Jesus healed. The second scene I love is when Narayan is thrown in the fire and survives it reminds me of when the three Hebrew boys were thrown in the fire and Jesus protected them.
I think with some developing this story will be a blockbuster in many countries. I was sad at how Neela died, I thought she would overcome her injuries and go on to be a huge singer, but its great how she dies but you have to show how the evil mayor and company gets justice served to them.
-Ms. Puddyn, US.
AFTER READING NEW CLIMAX:
Hey I like especially how Neela is driving the truck that hits them and how their eyes are left in the front of the truck.....I'm loving it....
May 1, 2009
Author Ms. Puddyn
Orlando,
United States
"Dear Sanku:
Sanku, I think you are on your way to succeeding!
Neela makes me very sad while Giridhar gets only
distain from me -- and his evil father even more
so... I find MIRAGES both intriguing and suspenseful.
Heavy with sorrow (no legs for a dancer) I can
already feel the passion in your content and I felt I
understood the characters as I went deeper into your
story. The unhappy ending was unexpected - That is
good. And I liked that I knew how life continued for
each of the characters. The Very Best Wishes for Your Success (and I hope I have been in some way helpful)."
--Ms. Frani. US
"I am sure that you know that you wrote an excellent short story. ain, you have a place where you ran a place together, but must say it kept my interest".
-Ms. Gloria Hendricks, US.
"I think you have the making of a good story, all in all I think the potential is there in the plot. Lots could happen and she could find recovery and love in a union with her saviour".
--Ms. Linn, UK
"Thank you for sending your story to me to read. You have an excellent story but you are telling it, as a reporter would relate to either a newspaper or television station. You need to place your characters in a story with dialogue between all of them. In other words take your synopsis of what happens and make it into book form. I hope you understand what I am trying to say. I know you have read many books and this is what you
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