Mathilukal

Walls are a funny thing. On the one hand they separate and divide. On the other hand they are liberating. They liberate the mind to think, desire and yearn for things or people that we would otherwise not care for. Basheer’s character in the novel goes through feelings and emotions that are quite commonplace and relatable. Basheer’s ability to create two strong characters and a small prison world in such few words is applaudable.

I started listening to the story as an audiobook during a bus ride from Bangalore to Kochi during the Diwali weekend. The unusual rush in Hosur road accompanied with a lack of sleep prompted me to open the Storytel app and listen to something short and good. I had been meaning to explore Basheer’s work for some time now, but it was the one hour runtime of Mathilukal that really triggered me to start listening.