Jerzy Kosinski's 'The Painted Bird'

 

My article on 'Being There,' published in 'Subamangala', a Tamil magazine, was the first introduction of Jerzy Kosinski to the Tamil literary world. It was about his famous novel, a short but poignant work that was also adapted into a film. It's a novel that critiques the image-worshipping contemporary society.

Jerzy Kosinski was a writer who immigrated from Poland to America, began writing in English, and made a significant mark in English literature.

His novel 'The Painted Bird' is considered a major work in 20th-century American literature. Published in 1965, it has been translated into over thirty world languages. The novel shocked readers due to its often brutal descriptions of human rights violations during World War II, which chilled the hearts of those who read it. A Jewish boy's parents send him away with another person, hoping he will escape the Nazis. This boy then wanders across Eastern European countries during the war, trying to survive. He undergoes various experiences, and 'The Painted Bird' describes them.

Many years ago, when discussing this novel with my friend Sneha Balaji, he was so captivated by it that he expressed a desire to publish it in Tamil through Sneha Publications. He asked me to send him the novel if I had it. I acquired the novel and sent it to Balaji. The information Balaji shared with me about this is as follows:

"Sir, the film adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski's 'The Painted Bird,' which you recommended earlier, was screened this year at the Goa International Film Festival. They have done a good job with the film. For your attention... It was the one you bought and sent, sir. For a while, it was with Brahmma Rajan Sir. Then we gave it to Peru Murugan and asked him to do it for Sneha. It was our book, sir... Dear Sir, Sneha did not publish it. The translator, out of his own interest, translated it and published it through another publishing house. Since he was a friend, like our protagonist boy, I couldn't say anything and let it go. I thought of it as another butterfly for Tamil literature."

 

The book I obtained and sent was initially given to writer Brahmma Rajan. Later, it was given to Peru Murugan, with the intention of it being published by Sneha Publications. However, after translating it, writer Peru Murugan contacted Pulam Publications and released it. That book was published under the title 'Vannam Poosiya Paravai' (The Painted Bird).

It is also noteworthy that the aforementioned novel has now been adapted into a film, which has received several awards at various international film festivals. In this film, the scenes are depicted just as they are in the book, which has reportedly shocked many viewers, causing some to leave midway, unable to continue watching.

[Digital painting technology, Google Nano Banana, Assistance: VNG] 

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