Manjula Padmanabhan: Harvest (ENG)

Vidya-mitra・2 minutes read

Manjula Padmanaban, known for her diverse literary works, wrote the play "Harvest" exploring themes of organ donation, poverty, and technology, which was later adapted into the film "Nahum." Through this narrative, she critiques the commodification of organ trade and ethical dilemmas surrounding financial gain from selling organs, prompting readers to ponder the ethical complexities of modern-day organ trade.

Insights

  • Manjula Padmanaban, a versatile artist known for her comic strip character Suki, has a diverse body of work including plays, short stories, and novels, showcasing her varied writing style and artistic talent.
  • The play "Harvest" by Manjula Padmanaban delves into the dark world of organ trade, emphasizing themes of poverty, commodification of organ donation, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding financial gain through selling one's organs, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of technology, capitalism, and human vulnerability.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Manjula Padmanaban?

    An Indian writer and artist known for diverse works.

  • What is the play "Harvest" about?

    Focuses on organ donation, poverty, and societal issues.

  • What award did "Harvest" win?

    Espana Prize for Theatres in 1997.

  • How did "Harvest" impact readers?

    Prompts reflection on ethical complexities of organ trade.

  • What is the film adaptation of "Harvest"?

    "Nahum" directed by Govind Nihalani in 2001.

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Summary

00:00

Manjula Padmanaban: Writer Explores Organ Trade Ethics

  • Manjula Padmanaban, born in 1953 in Delhi, spent her early years in Europe and Southeast Asia before returning to India for her education, including an MA in history from Bombay University.
  • Besides being a writer, she is also an artist known for her comic strip character Suki, which first appeared in the 1980s and continues to be featured in various publications.
  • Manjula has written plays like "Harvest," "Lights Out," and "Hidden Fires," along with short stories and fiction for children, including works like "Double-Talk," "Hot Death Cold Soup," and "Suki Clipped Ammonia."
  • Notable novels by Manjula include "Getting There," "Escape," "Mouse Invader," "We Are Different," and "The Island of Lost Girls," showcasing her diverse writing style.
  • Her play "Harvest" won the Espana Prize for Theatres in 1997, known for its realistic and issue-oriented approach, particularly focusing on women-centric themes and social realities.
  • "Harvest" was later adapted into the film "Nahum" in 2001 by Govind Nihalani, set in an Indian metropolis and delving into the complexities of organ donation between the third and first world.
  • The play's plot revolves around a poor family in Mumbai facing economic hardships, with the protagonist, Ohm, agreeing to donate his organs to a first-world recipient, leading to a series of dramatic events within the family.
  • The play highlights themes like commodification of organ donation, poverty, human relationships, and the impact of technology on society, portraying a dark world of institutionalized organ trade and its consequences.
  • Manjula's narrative skillfully intertwines the characters' struggles with societal issues, emphasizing the ethical dilemmas and moral implications of selling one's organs for financial gain.
  • Through "Harvest," Manjula Padmanaban offers a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of technology, capitalism, and human vulnerability, urging readers to reflect on the ethical complexities of modern-day organ trade.

21:50

"Harvest": Third-world organ trade and economic disparities

  • The play "Harvest" explores the seduction of third-world individuals to sell organs like kidneys and corneas due to financial struggles, highlighting the futuristic concept of machines replacing human organs. The play delves into the economic disparities between first and third world citizens, discussing the playwright Manjula Padmanaban, her literary works, the play's themes, settings, and the broader economic realities and conflicts between different worlds, emphasizing the impact of technological and scientific advancements on common people's lives.
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