Mayamridanga by Syed Mustafa Siraj [Hardcover]

In Bengali literature, novels dealing with love between men are quite rare. One of the notable ones is Mayamridanga. Though the author has focused more on the spiritual or psychological aspects of the relationship rather than the physical side, the story delves into deeper emotional connections. The narrative primarily revolves around Alkap (a traditional folk theatre), so the theme of male-to-male love does not make an inexperienced reader uncomfortable. Instead, the fates of characters like Gangamani or Sudha evoke sadness and touch the heart, as does the life of Kalachand Khuro.

The inner mental struggles of characters like Subarn and Shanti, who work as choakra (young male performers) in the Alkap troupe, perhaps could have been explored further. The painful experience of being male but having the desire to present as female—or being a woman at heart but trapped in a male body—feels somewhat overlooked. Despite this, Mayamridanga remains a captivating and beautifully crafted novel.