Thank god I had not watched the movie before I read the book. (Although I love the song Swarnachamaram Veesheyethunna Swapnayirunnenkil Njyaan, from the same movie it seems).
Yakshi is a fantastic novel. Multilayered and psychedelic, it explores the human mind – particularly the male mind – in its full flowing despondency.
Though it starts slow and the build-up is not really exciting, by the time you are half way through, Yakshi has caught you by the throat.
It is the story of a young and handsome chemistry college professor – Srinivasan -- who, I a quirk of fate, has his face burnt in a freak accident in the laboratory. Just when his life was about to blossom, it wilts.
His lover, a student of his, promptly ditches him. He turns a recluse and decides to take up his passion seriously – a study of Yakshis.
Just when life seems to have got into the new routine, Ragini – an abnormally beautiful woman – literally walks into his life.
He is first astonished, then relieved to have such a beautiful companion and decides to marry her although her background, whereabouts and history are quite murky and vague. If nothing, this is one way Srinivasan can “give it back” to the world which rejected his horribly ugly face.
But unknown to him, Srinivasan has another shock awaiting him. The lab accident, along with an extremely disturbing experience at a brothel just before meeting Ragini, have wrecked him internally too, and he now incapable of making love.
The well-built and athletic Srinivasan painfully realizes that he has become impotent. But his conscious mind refuses to acknowledge the fact. Instead his mind activates the classic defence mechanisms – projection and denial.
He starts believing Ragini is a Yakshi. He begins hallucinating about non-events. Coincidences start throwing up new meanings that reinforce his fear of Ragini.
Malayattoor paints a powerful picture of male ego, Freudian symbolism and schizophrenic desperation. A wonderful read.
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