Book Review: Oru Modiram, Iru Kolaigal

Translating a masterpiece is a tricky issue. You firmly stick to the original like glue and the readers get bored. You add some spice and you are accused of sacrilege.

In his Tamil translation of Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet" Badri Seshadri has walked this tight rope with little success.

Readers who haven't read the original, may please click here: A study in Scarlet

Coming to the translated work, one appreciates the effort the author has taken to reproduce the text, word for word, in Tamil.

Try these: "Veezhpadivu" for "precipitate"; "Tharavu" for "data".

But, a word for word translation simply showcases the author's diligence but does nothing much to grip the reader.

In fact, in certain cases, it seems unwarranted. For instance,phrases like "Young Stamford", "Young Hope" sound all right in English. But such phrases are not used commonly in Tamil and a literal translation ("Ilaya Stamford"),spoils the joy of reading.Same can be said for "Malattu malai" (for "barren hill"). Technically correct,no doubt, but the average Tamil reader is left baffled.

"அவர் மாவை மெதுவாகவும் மிகக் குறைவாகவும் அரைக்கிறார்" ("He grindeth slowly but exceeding small" ) leaves most readers wondering who this "avar" is and why he should grind his idli or dosa flour in the manner described. A footnote here would not have been out of place.

The worst is yet to come: "தொலைகாட்சி நிகழ்ச்சித் தொகுப்பாளராக நினைத்துக் கொண்டு" ("..like a showman exhibiting his show")!T.V?? In 1887????

How could any translator have overlooked such a blunder???

I suppose this is the flip side of working on a translation as if you are writing a dictionary - You lose focus on the story.

All in all,a monumental effort. Badri comes across as an able lexicographer, but not as a story - teller.

Will advise readers to read the book, but read the English text (or a synopsis)first.