Men of Pukar

2017-2018

Men of Pukar is the third part of my ongoing five-part series titled Story of Love, Desire & Agony that takes a re-look at Classical Tamil epic tragedy Cilappathikaram in the contemporary context. The photographs were shot in and around the contemporary locations of ancient sea-port Pukar, popularly known as Kaveripoompatinam. It is said to have been an active port as early as the Indian Iron Age (1000BCE) and was destroyed in 300BCE. It is here, the hero Kovalan, a wealthy merchant was born, gets married to heroine Kannaki, and later falls in love with courtesan dancer Matavi.