In The Kali Ramayana: Volume 1 – The Rise of Shyam, the ancient world of gods, demons, and cosmic forces is brought to life in a stunning modern retelling of mythological fiction. This epic saga follows Shyam, an ordinary man thrust into an extraordinary journey of spiritual transformation, cosmic battles, and ultimate destiny. Disillusioned with the monotony of modern life, Shyam embarks on a quest for truth and enlightenment. Guided by Ram and the immortal sage Parashurama, Shyam soon learns that his destiny is intertwined with the cosmic battle between light and darkness. His journey is filled with profound encounters that push him to the limits of his physical, mental, and spiritual capacities. Shyam’s path crosses with powerful allies and terrifying enemies alike. He is protected by Kaalyavana, a celestial guardian who sacrifices himself to save Shyam in moments of peril. Kaalyavana’s undying loyalty becomes a beacon of hope as Shyam faces insurmountable odds. The celestial arbiter of karma, Shani, challenges Shyam to confront the karmic debts of his past, pushing him to reckon with his soul’s imperfections. Through these trials, Shyam learns the weight of karma and the importance of transcending his inner flaws. Shyam also finds guidance from the mighty Hanuman, whose immortality is restored by Shyam’s sacrifice. Hanuman serves as a mentor, preparing Shyam for the cosmic battles ahead, while Ayyappa, the embodiment of balance and righteousness, leads Shyam to spiritual revelations that deepen his understanding of divinity and discipline. At the heart of this epic tale is the rise of the dark lord Kali, who threatens to plunge the world into chaos and destruction. As the embodiment of cosmic justice, Kaala Bhairava steps in to halt the conflict, wielding his divine power to restore balance in the universe. With each encounter, Shyam edges closer to fulfilling the prophecy of Kalki, Vishnu’s final avatar, who will bring an end to the dark age of Kali Yuga. But first, Shyam must confront the shadows within himself and the forces of destruction that rise to meet him.

In the forest of insecurities, is it possible to discover humanity through pleasure? Can we stop seeing each other as predator, prey, rival or mate, and rediscover ourselves as lovers? Does the divine reside in sensual delight, in emotional intimacy and in aesthetic experience? Yes, yes, yes. That is the promise of the Bhagavata. The Bhagavata is the story of Krishna, known as Shyam to those who find beauty, wisdom and love in his dark complexion. It is the third great Hindu epic after the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. However, this narration was composed in fragments over thousands of years, first as the Harivamsa, then as the Bhagavata Purana, and finally as the passionate songs of poet-sages in various regional languages. This book seamlessly weaves the story from Krishna's birth to his death, or rather from his descent to the butter-smeared world of happy women to his ascent from the blood-soaked world of angry men.

Amrith comes to terms with his sexuality in this sweeping coming-of-age story set against the stormy backdrop of monsoon season in 1980s Sri Lanka. For fans of Call Me By Your Name. Shyam Selvadurai’s brilliant novels, Funny Boy and Cinnamon Gardens, have garnered him international acclaim. In his first young adult novel, he explores first love with clarity, humor and compassion. The setting is Sri Lanka, 1980, and it is the season of monsoons. Fourteen-year-old Amrith is caught up in the life of the cheerful, well-to-do household in which he is being raised by his vibrant Auntie Bundle and kindly Uncle Lucky. He tries not to think of his life “before,” when his doting mother was still alive. Amrith’s holiday plans seem unpromising: he wants to appear in his school’s production of Othello and he is learning to type at Uncle Lucky’s tropical fish business. Then, like an unexpected monsoon, his cousin arrives from Canada and Amrith’s ordered life is storm-tossed. He finds himself falling in love with the Canadian boy. Othello, with its powerful theme of disastrous jealousy, is the backdrop to the drama in which Amrith finds himself immersed.

In this remarkable debut novel, a boy’s bittersweet passage to maturity and sexual awakening is set against escalating political tensions in Sri Lanka, during the seven years leading up to the 1983 riots. Arjie Chelvaratnam is a Tamil boy growing up in an extended family in Colombo. It is through his eyes that the story unfolds and we meet a delightful, sometimes eccentric cast of characters. Arjie’s journey from the luminous simplicity of childhood days into the more intricately shaded world of adults – with its secrets, its injustices, and its capacity for violence – is a memorable one, as time and time again the true longings of the human heart are held against the way things are.

High above the sky stands Swarga, paradise, abode of the gods. Still above is Vaikuntha, heaven, abode of God. The doorkeepers of Vaikuntha are the twins, Jaya and Vijaya, both whose names mean ‘victory’. One keeps you in Swarga; the other raises you into Vaikuntha. In Vaikuntha there is bliss forever, in Swarga there is pleasure for only as long as you deserve. What is the difference between Jaya and Vijaya? Solve this puzzle and you will solve the mystery of the Mahabharata. In this enthralling retelling of India’s greatest epic, the Mahabharata, originally known as Jaya, Devdutt Pattanaik seamlessly weaves into a single narrative plots from the Sanskrit classic as well as its many folk and regional variants, including the Pandavani of Chattisgarh, Gondhal of Maharashtra, Terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu, and Yakshagana of Karnataka. Richly illustrated with over 250 line drawings by the author, the 108 chapters abound with little-known details such as the names of the hundred Kauravas, the worship of Draupadi as a goddess in Tamil Nadu, the stories of Astika, Madhavi, Jaimini, Aravan and Barbareek, the Mahabharata version of the Shakuntalam and the Ramayana, and the dating of the war based on astronomical data. With clarity and simplicity, the tales in this elegant volume reveal the eternal relevance of the Mahabharata, the complex and disturbing meditation on the human condition that has shaped Indian thought for over 3000 years.

Shyam Benegal is the best known and most prolific contemporary film-maker from India's arthouse or 'New Cinema' tradition. This work traces a career with its beginnings in political cinema and a realist aesthetic. Sangeeta Datta demonstrates how the struggles of women and the dispossessed and marginalised in Indian society have found an eloquent expression in films as diverse as Nishant, Bhumika, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satwan Ghoda and Kalyug. The book also traces Benegal's work with his protégés and collaborators including many of the biggest names in Indian Cinema - Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Karishma Kapoor and A.R. Rahman.