Title: Lanka: The Prophecy of the Bloodline
Author: Prakash Mohandas
Publisher: Astitva Prakashan
Pages: 257
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Some stories never truly end. They simply wait patiently, powerfully to be retold through the imagination of a storyteller bold enough to ask, “What if?” In Lanka – The Prophecy of the Bloodline, Prakash Mohandas becomes that storyteller. With unflinching creativity and mythic vision, he dares to pick up the threads of the great Indian epic Ramayana and weaves them into a fictional continuation that is both breathtaking and audacious.

What happened after the war? What became of the island of Lanka after Ravana’s defeat? Was peace everlasting, or were darker forces merely waiting to rise again? These are the questions that fuel Lanka, a three-part saga that explores what may have unfolded in the aftermath of Rama’s victory. Set in a richly imagined version of ancient Lanka, this book invites readers to experience myth not as static memory but as a living, evolving entity.

At the center of this epic lies a prophecy, one that speaks of a royal bloodline destined to restore peace to a fractured kingdom. Lanka, once a land of fierce warriors and proud Rakshasa heritage, is now divided between two powerful clans. On one side are the Lankans, the noble descendants of Ravana’s brother Vibhishana, now banished to the forests. On the other are the Mayas, enslaved under the influence of dark magic and led by the ambitious, cunning, and treacherous Shurpanakha, Ravana’s sister, long overlooked, but never forgotten.

This reimagining of Shurpanakha is one of the book’s most riveting elements. Often portrayed in the original epic as a minor figure, Prakash Mohandas resurrects her with a chilling clarity giving her voice, agency, and a dangerously ambitious mind. She is no longer a footnote in Ravana’s story but the architect of a new Lanka one built on deception, manipulation, and a hunger for legacy. She imprisons Vibhishana, claims the throne, and sets in motion her own plan to ensure her bloodline rules Lanka forever. But destiny, as the book shows, is not so easily controlled.

Prakash Mohandas writes this mythological fantasy with the fervor of someone who deeply respects the past yet refuses to be confined by it. The story is as much about heritage and power as it is about the search for identity and justice. The lines between good and evil are blurred, the characters layered and human, and the landscape of Lanka itself becomes a character haunted by war, echoing with secrets, and waiting for the one who can truly unite it.

The figure of Maveera, leader of the exiled Lankans, stands in contrast to the shadow of Shurpanakha. Noble, determined, and deeply loyal, Maveera represents the soul of a people fighting not just for their land, but for truth, history, and the right to exist. When the sage Vishwamitra reveals the ancient prophecy, that a child born of the true bloodline will be the one to restore balance the stage is set for a conflict that is not merely physical but ideological, spiritual, and generational.

Prakash’s storytelling is immersive, cinematic, and emotionally charged. His prose moves with rhythm and purpose, balancing action with introspection, battles with belief, and politics with prophecy. Each character has weight, each scene is rich in detail, and the stakes feel monumental. But what truly elevates this work is the way Prakash brings mythological imagination into modern relevance, exploring power struggles, family legacies, gendered narratives, and the eternal tension between fate and free will.

Beyond the pages, Prakash Mohandas is a true renaissance man. An author, dancer, actor, filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur, he is the founder of Agni Dance, Agni Entertainment, and the Agni Foundation for the Arts all of which are dedicated to the production and promotion of South Asian art in its myriad forms. His creative journey spans continents and disciplines, but whether on stage or screen or page, one thing remains constant, his passion for storytelling.

That passion is evident in every element of Lanka – The Prophecy of the Bloodline. You feel it in the careful reimagining of ancient characters. You see it in the ambitious world-building. You hear it in the echoes of drums and war cries that seem to leap off the page. This is not just a novel,  it is the beginning of a saga, one that promises to evolve with each installment of the trilogy.

Perhaps the most admirable aspect of Prakash’s work is the way it invites readers to engage with mythology not as dogma but as narrative. He encourages us to question the silences of the past, to listen to the voices that were once ignored, and to imagine possibilities that challenge traditional conclusions. In doing so, he opens the door for a new generation of readers, those who grew up with the epics but still yearn for stories that surprise, challenge, and inspire.

In a time when mythology is being rediscovered across genres and cultures, Prakash Mohandas stands out not just for his ambition, but for his originality and heart. Lanka – The Prophecy of the Bloodline is a powerful debut one that combines ancient wisdom with contemporary storytelling, all while staying rooted in cultural depth and artistic integrity.

With this book, Prakash doesn’t just revisit the past. He reshapes it. And in doing so, he reminds us that the greatest stories are never truly over, they are simply waiting for someone to tell them again.