One Hell of a Lover is much more than the literal translation of Oru Bhayankara Kamukan ; it is a work that has multiple layers to it; layers that Malayalam author Unni R tries to delve into, in a collection of short stories. It discusses everything — from machismo to women’s standing in society, and eroticism in the mundane, albeit in an unassuming, colloquial manner. Translated to English by historian J Devika and published by Eka (Westland Books), this collection comprises stories that have been in the works for long.
“I have written only around 50 stories in a span of 20 years. For this collection, I have chosen stories which are diverse in style, language and themes,” says the author, who is known for his black humour and unapologetic social criticism. These stories, he says, were written at different points of time.
Speaking of his journey with words, Unni says, “My mother was a good storyteller who used to narrate even everyday incidents like a story. Every Saturday, she would watch a film at the local theatre and then tell me the censored version in her unique style. After my father’s death, she stopped going for movies, which put an end to her narration too. Maybe it is that vacuum which brought out the narrator in me.” For Unni, the narration is not only restricted to short stories — “A short story requires the precision of an arrow shot. A novel is a long journey, incorporating diverse human ways, plural selves and multiple smells of life; while scripting for cinema ultimately aims at a commercial product. The three strands are different.”
Unni’s storytelling is often lauded (and sometimes criticised) for being outrightly political. “As Brecht says, our everyday life is permeated with politics. Writing cannot but reflect life. Since I began to write after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, I cannot help but be critical about the political situation in India.” In a conflicting political situation, Unni says writing cannot afford to be apolitical. “I am watchful in that aspect and prefer the message to be subtle rather than propagandist.”
