8.6 Gowri Ramnarayan & Kamlakar Bhat: On Why South Indian Lit Should Be Your Next Obsession

Lost in Translation? Or Found in the Process?

In this episode, we talk to Gowri Ramnarayan and Kamalakar Bhat, two translators dedicated to bringing Tamil and Kannada texts to life in English.

Gowri shares the complex challenges of translating her grandfather’s historical novel, Ponniyin Selvan, from seamlessly blending poetry into prose to interpreting the layered meanings of cultural expressions. Kamalakar opens up about his translation of Kirtinath Kurtkoti's essays, Courtesy of Criticism, and how the process often involves reconstructing missing historical context and striking a balance between accuracy and accessibility. Together, they explore how translation is not just linguistic work but a journey into the heart of a text.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to translate a story without losing its soul, this episode is for you. Expect insights, behind-the-scenes secrets, and a fresh perspective on the art of bringing Indian literature to the world.

Books, shows and films mentioned in this episode:

• Yugadharma Haagu Sahitya Darshana (Kannada) by Kirtinath Kurtkoti
• Sakina's Kiss by Vivek Shanbhag
• Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
• Mithun Number Two and Other Mumbai Stories by Jayant Kaikini
• Tejo Tungabhadra by Vasudhendra
• Author recommendations:
  • Salma
  • Imaya Kumar Jagannathan
  • Prapanchan
  • Mogalli Ganesh
  • Abdul Rasheed
  • H. S. Shivaprakash

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.