The best part of the Bahubali novels is the detailed manner in which Anand Neelakantan has sketched the character of Sivagamini unlike the movies where she is just one of the important characters. A major highlight of the third book is the depiction of the Kalekaya tribe who got a very raw deal in the first Bahubali movie.
The third part of Anand Neelakantan’s trilogy primarily focuses on the increasing rise of Sivagamini. In this final chapter she becomes a queen navigating various battles under the guidance of Maharaja Somadeva, she has to navigate numerous political intrigues. At the same time Sivagamini is also forced to make difficult choices regarding love and ambition.
Much like the first two books a major highlight of this one too is Mahadeva. There is a very endearing quality to him in terms of his righteous nature. It’s easy to see from where Bahubali gets the ideals of justice and a sense of what is right and wrong. Mahadeva more often than not feels like an odd one out when compared to the other key characters specifically Somadeva and Bijjladeva. The understated romance between them makes the readers wish that Sivagamini and Mahadeva had an happily ever after.
Another big strength of the novel is the subplot of Kalekaya’s. In the movie the subplot comes across as very jarring due to a lack of subtext however in the novel it’s a very different case. Anand Neelakantan has done a fine job in giving a social subtext into the civilazation of these people. The way Anand Neelakantan has presented the cultural background of the Kalekaya and their vanquished civilization gives the readers a fresh perspective.
Coming to the titular character the growth of Sivagamini continues to enthrall. On numerous occasions the inner strength of Sivagamini comes out in a striking manner. The various dilemmas that she goes through particularly regarding her feelings with Mahadeva makes you root for the woman in spite of her somewhat ruthless nature. Anand Neelakantan truly deserves distinction marks for how he has built the character over the three books. Wish the novels are made into a solid web series one day. Through the character of Sivagamini Anand Neelakantan has written an empowered woman someone is both bold and capable of handling any tough situation irrespective of how hard it may appear.
The war sequences have also been well conceptualized creating an immersive experience for the readers. There is a lot of detailing. Mention also be made of the impactful social commentary. There are many meaningful quotes in the novel, some of them are as follows
1 Evil happens not because there are evil men, but because good people stand by indifferent to the deeds of evil men.
2 Politics is about mining religion and selling what is holy
3 Give some charity and there will always be people to defend you, even if you have committed a series of murders
4 I don’t think the world is as evil as we all think. Even in the worst of men there is a sense of goodness. We need to water it with love and nurture it with trust.
As far as the other characters go Kattapa’s role is a static as ever with no fresh dimensions in comparison to the movie however the triology does give a better understanding of his personal life and his devotion to Mahismati kingdom. The character of Sivappa in the third novel too is disappointing. Its sad to see a character of great potential from the first part going waste.
Final word: The Queen of Mahismati is a treat for fans of Bahubali movies and lovers of fantasy novels.
