The battle of ten kings and Rishi Vishvamitra is the earliest Indian writing on war, written in the hymns of Rig Ved. Since then, every Indian state and language has produced detailed accounts of kingdoms, warriors, war strategy and weapons. Pick up a thrilling story of war and claim the genre!
Love theme features across languages in Indian Literature. Shakuntala, Love Songs of Tagore, Guide by R.K. Narayan, Radha-Madhavam by Telugu poet Jayadeva. The Legends of Pensam- the story of a young woman who falls in love with a man from a different tribe and the eternal love stories of Punjab. Present a tale of passion and love at Kathaalok. You can also present original writing.
From The postmaster by Rabindranath Tagore to The Room by Ismat Chugtai and Companions by Raja Rao, every decade, every year has produced master storytellers who picked up social issues or depicted the social milieu of their time. Pick up a classic or your own original story showing the social milieu at present in your town, city or village and rock the stage.
Narad Muni was one of the very first storytellers of India. Pick up a story from the Vedic times, or the Puran, a lesser-known sub-story from Ramayan or Mahabharat and present it in a refreshing way without hurting sentiments.
Byomkesh Bakshi, The Malabar House, Inspector Ghote, Karamchand, Feluda, Indian literature has had a fair share of mystery, thrill and suspense. You can present your own mystery writing, a short story or pick one up from the classics.
India has always kept its funny bone from fracturing no matter the era or the situation. Do an adaptation of the Malgudi Days or The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown or make a story around yourself, just ensure there are lots of laughs.
Vikram Betal, Chandrakanta and numerous stories that come out of the Indian households of magic, wonder, paranormal and supernatural, gives us a lot to hold on to and weave a new tale of magic for the stage of Kathaalok.
Fictionalized or real stories of kings and queens, ancient regions and states of India are welcome in this category. How King Lalitaditya from Kashmir got an ancient river cleaned up to Dhoomketu’s writing on Gujarat and Magadh to the Bhopal Gas tragedy, make history come alive on stage.
