Mistress is a beautiful novel by veteran novelist Anita Nair, with Kerala and Kathakali as the backdrop. It is the story of a great Kathakali artist (Koman) as told to Christopher Stewart (Chris) a travel writer from abroad. It is also the story of Radha (Koman’s niece) and her husband Shyam. It is also the story of the attraction, infatuation and passion between Radha and Shyam. It is also about the marriage of Radha and Shyam and what went wrong and how it is heading for a disaster. It is the story of Sethu (Koman’s dad) and his life.

It is a story of art and adultery, passion and profession, oppression and frustration, self-abnegation and self-indulgence, truths and lies, all woven very dexterously and seamlessly using various Kathakali metaphors and myths. The author’s knowledge about Kathakali and the time spent on research shines through each page of the book. The book is structured within the framework of navarasas—sringaaram (love), haasyam (humor), karunam (sorrow), raudram (fury), veeram (courage), bhayaanakam (fear), beebhalsam (disgust), adbutham (wonder) and shaantham (peace). The organization of book into nine chapters (the navarasas) and making the characters telling their side of the story is very nice. It makes the book more interesting and intimate.

This novel is about people making choices in their lives and they have to pay for what they have chosen. The author does not judge anyone or the choices they make.

Book Details:

• Author: Anita Nair
• Publisher: Penguin
• Year: 2005
• ISBN: 0144000334
• Cover & Page Count: Paperback, 426 Pages