Wooden Cow, a translation of T. Janakiraman´s path-breaking novel Marappasu, is the coming-of-age story of a young, beautiful, intelligent, fiercely independent, yet deeply emotional woman who does not believe in the institution of marriage, or in human bondage of any kind, and her unconventional and volatile relationship with a renowned and gifted musician. Bound by their love of music, and their rejection of social morality, they have equally strong differences.
Ammani´s laughter is her ammunition against the many ironies of life and love, and a mask for her complex, tumultuous inner world—one which Janakiraman unravels with rare insight and empathy, but without judgement. In Ammani, we meet a modern, layered character who is unsettlingly real and credible and who, despite her contradictions, remains true to herself and endures.
Janakiraman belongs to the Manikkodi group of writers whose work established the foundations of modernism in Tamil literature. His language—distinctive of his birthplace Thanjavur—is colourful, playful and sensual, marked by simplicity and honesty. His sensitivity and courage in depicting the transience of human relationships, his astute observations of people and their motivations, his deeply musical ear and ability to weave Carnatic music into the interstices of everyday life, and his ever-present wry humour make this unusual novel both contemporary and timeless.
Lakshmi Kannan, an acclaimed writer and poet herself, absorbs the silences of the unsaid and recreates them seamlessly in translation. She evocatively brings to life small-town Tamil Nadu, especially Annavasal where Ammani grows up, and its whimsical, lovingly-etched inhabitants. This is a must-read for all lovers of literature.