Being of Indian descent and knowing fairly little about my ancestors' motherland I am constantly striving to gain more knowledge of India. I have recently stumbled upon a movie named Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, and enjoyed it so much that I have acquired a copy of the book on which it was based.
As with most books that have been converted to movies, the real essence resides within the pages of the book. Rushdie had spent 2 years on downsizing the 600 page book into a 130 page script (Nolen, Stephanie,2011).
Midnight's Children is a tale of an Indian boy named Saleem who is born on the stroke of midnight with telepathic abilities, he discovers that he isn't the only one with special abilities, he 'sees' other children who have been born close to midnight with similar abilities and is constantly battling with his identity and India's transition into independence.
The writer uses characters and symbols as allegories of events in India which happened before, after and during India's independence and partition (Pakistan and Bangladesh.)
As with most books that have been converted to movies, the real essence resides within the pages of the book. Rushdie had spent 2 years on downsizing the 600 page book into a 130 page script (Nolen, Stephanie,2011).
Midnight's Children is a tale of an Indian boy named Saleem who is born on the stroke of midnight with telepathic abilities, he discovers that he isn't the only one with special abilities, he 'sees' other children who have been born close to midnight with similar abilities and is constantly battling with his identity and India's transition into independence.
The writer uses characters and symbols as allegories of events in India which happened before, after and during India's independence and partition (Pakistan and Bangladesh.)
It was awarded the "Booker of Bookers" Prize and the best all-time prize winners in 1993 and 2008 to celebrate the Booker Prize 25th and 40th anniversary. In 2003, the novel was listed on the BBC's survey The Big Read. It was also added to the list of Great Books of the 20th Century, published by Penguin Books.
I feel that by basing my re-write on this book, it will not only give me an insight into India's rich past, but also will give me an opportunity to explore what it would be like to have lived back then in a colonized India transitioning into a post-colonized India (like my ancestors).
Hi Kamal,
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a really interesting and appropriate choice.
Salman Rushdie is, as you know, a celebrated Postcolonial writer. We actually used to include 1 of his works on this paper.
The text obviously already has a Postcolonial slant to it - so i was just wondering how you would take this further, or what 'parts' you would rewrite?
Thanks for your comment Esther, I found that in the movie there was a few blank areas, for example, when Saleem's parents kiss they next shot is of them house hunting, and theres a period where Saleem disappears for 8 months during which his girlfriend falls pregnant to his rival, the baby with whom he traded places with, he returns to ask her to marry him and take care of the child. Perhaps I could expand on this a bit more and account for the time which he spent away?
DeleteYou could definitely use the rewrite to 'fill a gap' in the story.
ReplyDeleteWhat you could think about is any 'difference' in perspective that adding to a part of the narrative could offer you, rather than just giving more of a back-story etc. you are then actually engaing with, contesting if you like, the existing text
I will definitely be looking at a difference in perspective and talking about post colonial themes such as the violent 'clash of cultures'. The Englishman within the story had an affair with (and impregnated) a lady whom used to come around to his house with her husband to sing/beg for money which is common practice in India. This led to a half white baby being born and the mother dying whilst giving birth, this led to her child not having much of an identity. Realizing that he was switched at birth, being rejected by the father he grew up with and not knowing his actual father, I will attempt to describe his journal in search of self identity.
ReplyDelete