Koogai: The Owl

Koogai, the owl-

huddled in its hollow

with the sun overhead,

it flies free

when darkness descends

Bird of the night-

an abuse, a bad omen

attacked and shunned

by birds, by humans …

Strong, but unaware of

its immense power,

Koogai, the owl-

foolish

or wise?

Set in post-Independence Tamil Nadu’s era of agrarian and industrial change, Koogai reflects the nuances of an authentic contemporary myth leavened with irony and fierce humour. Empowering themselves with the image of the owl, a totem of self-respect and hope, men and women break free of old caste taboos only to find themselves entangled in the doublespeak of an egalitarian rhetoric.