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Class 12 NCERT Solutions eNGLISH
Class 12 NCERT Solutions eNGLISH
Kaliedoscope Drama Chapter 2
Kaliedoscope Drama Chapter 2
Broken Images
“Broken Images” by Girish Karnad is a sharp, modern psychological monologue that challenges how we see ourselves—and how the world sees us. Set in a TV studio, the play blurs the lines between truth and illusion, success and guilt, language and identity. As Manjula Nayak, an acclaimed writer, speaks to the world, her on-screen image starts questioning her very soul.
This one-act drama is not just about fame or language—it’s about the hidden fractures within us. It compels students to think critically: Can we ever truly escape our past? What price do we pay for success? How do we deal with inner conflict?
At www.dasklibro.com, our solutions help you:
Decode the play’s dramatic techniques with clarity
Answer CBSE-style questions with confidence
Reflect on the deeper meanings beneath the dialogue
Smart minds analyze. Sharp minds empathize. This chapter demands both. Let’s explore it together
THINKING ABOUT THE PLAY
1. How genuine is the love that Manjula expresses for her sister?
20 words:
Manjula truly loved her sister Malini. Her emotions, care, and pain for Malini felt honest and deeply touching throughout the play.
40 words:
Manjula’s love for Malini feels real and emotional. She cared for her, nursed her, and even dedicated her novel to Malini’s memory. Her tears and memories reflect a sincere bond that was full of affection, empathy, and sisterly care.
60 words:
Manjula’s love for Malini seems very genuine. She nursed her during her final years and openly expresses how close they were. Despite Malini’s disability, Manjula respected and admired her intelligence and charm. She dedicated her novel to Malini, showing that her sister was the emotional center of her life and work, which proves her deep love.
80 words:
Manjula’s affection for her sister Malini appears heartfelt and true. She describes how Malini, though disabled, was intelligent, joyful, and full of life. Manjula took care of her after their parents’ death and even called her “my child.” Her emotions are visible when she talks about losing her. The novel being based on Malini’s life and dedicated to her memory further proves how strongly Manjula loved and valued her sister beyond anything else.
2. The sister does not appear in the play but is central to it. What picture of her is built in your mind from references in the play?
20 words:
Malini is shown as intelligent, charming, and brave. Despite her disability, she remained cheerful, well-read, and deeply loved by Manjula.
40 words:
Though Malini never appears on stage, she lives in Manjula’s words. She is seen as wise, gentle, and full of life despite being disabled. Her courage, intelligence, and the way she coped with suffering make her a powerful and unforgettable presence.
60 words:
Malini is portrayed as a disabled yet bright, lively, and strong woman. She read many subjects, had a positive attitude, and showed great emotional strength. Manjula describes her as more attractive, intelligent, and charming than herself. Her warmth, courage, and influence on Manjula’s life and novel show that she is the soul of the story, even without appearing directly.
80 words:
Although Malini never physically appears, she dominates the emotional core of the play. She suffered from a severe disability but remained mentally strong, joyful, and well-read. She was the center of the family’s love, especially Manjula’s. She inspired the novel, and Manjula openly says that her character is the only one based on real life. Her presence in Manjula’s memories, actions, and writing builds a vivid picture of a kind, bright, and inspiring personality.
3. When the image says—‘Her illness was unfortunate. But because of it, she got the best of everything’:
(i) What is the nature of Manjula’s reply?
20 words:
Manjula replies defensively. She insists Malini never demanded anything and earned love because of her strength and grace.
40 words:
Manjula’s reply is defensive yet honest. She explains that Malini didn’t ask for extra care. Instead, her disability drew love naturally from their parents. Manjula accepts being second in attention but doesn’t hold any clear bitterness against her sister for it.
60 words:
Manjula’s reaction is defensive but emotional. She strongly clarifies that Malini never sought pity or advantage. She admires her sister’s intelligence and grace and feels her parents’ love for Malini was natural. Though she indirectly hints at being overlooked, her response shows a mix of acceptance, love, and perhaps some inner sadness.
80 words:
Manjula’s response to the image’s comment is partly defensive and partly reflective. She insists that Malini did not ask for special treatment and instead earned everyone’s love through her charm and determination. She admits feeling like the second-best sibling but never blames Malini for that. Her tone reveals a deep mix of love, hidden hurt, and acceptance of how life treated them differently due to Malini’s condition. It is an honest and layered reply showing emotional depth.
(ii) How can it be related to what follows in the play?
20 words:
It hints at Manjula’s hidden jealousy and guilt, which grows as the image questions her intentions and past choices.
40 words:
This reply sets the stage for deeper conflict in the play. It reveals Manjula’s complex feelings—her love for Malini and her own insecurities. As the image digs deeper, these hidden emotions come out, showing inner guilt and self-questioning.
60 words:
Manjula’s defensive tone early in the play suggests that she carries unresolved feelings about her sister. As the play progresses, the image’s probing questions uncover more about Manjula’s past, including her choices, regrets, and inner guilt. This reply foreshadows the play’s central tension—between public success and private emotions, between love and competition, between truth and denial.
80 words:
This early defensive answer foreshadows Manjula’s emotional journey in the play. Her hidden resentment, guilt, and insecurities begin to surface when the image—her alter ego—questions her life, choices, and relationship with Malini. Her reply shows she is not at peace inside. As the play unfolds, we see how her success is shadowed by doubts, unresolved pain, and the fear of having emotionally or ethically betrayed her sister’s memory, possibly even using it for personal gain.
4. What are the issues that the playwright satirises through this TV monologue of a celebrity?
20 words:
The playwright satirizes fake public images, language politics, media hype, and how personal emotions are used for fame and sympathy.
40 words:
Through the monologue, the playwright mocks how celebrities build false images for fame. He also satirizes the language debate, media sensationalism, and how personal pain is sometimes used as an emotional tool to gain sympathy and recognition from the public.
60 words:
The play cleverly satirizes how public figures use emotional stories to gain sympathy and fame. It questions the honesty behind Manjula's success and highlights how media turns personal life into a public show. The playwright also targets the language politics in India—whether writing in English is a betrayal—and explores how image matters more than truth in today’s celebrity culture.
80 words:
The playwright Girish Karnad satirizes the modern celebrity culture, where people present a carefully crafted image to the public. He mocks how genuine emotions are packaged for public sympathy and media praise. The play also comments on the politics of language—questioning whether writing in English makes one less Indian. It highlights the hypocrisy of intellectuals and how fame can sometimes hide inner guilt, insecurity, and complex emotions. Through Manjula, the play critiques society’s obsession with appearance over truth.
TALKING ABOUT THE PLAY
1. ‘Broken Images’ takes up a debate that has grown steadily since 1947—the politics of language in Indian literary culture, specifically in relation to modern Indian languages and English. Discuss.
Girish Karnad’s ‘Broken Images’ highlights the ongoing language debate in Indian literature. Since 1947, English has been both a bridge and a barrier. Manjula, a Kannada writer, is criticized for choosing English for her novel. The play questions whether English-language writers are less Indian or less honest. It portrays how society pressures writers to stick to regional languages and mocks the intellectual hypocrisy surrounding literary purity, ultimately showing that language should serve creativity, not control it.
2. The play deals with a Kannada woman writer who unexpectedly produces an international bestseller in English.
(i) Can a writer be a truly bilingual practitioner?
20 words:
Yes, a writer can write in two languages. Creativity is not limited by language but by thought and expression.
40 words:
A truly bilingual writer can express thoughts in both languages. Manjula proves that strong emotions and stories can emerge in any language naturally. Language is just a medium—what matters more is how well the writer connects with the audience.
60 words:
Yes, a writer can be truly bilingual. Manjula, though a Kannada writer, finds her story flowing naturally in English. Bilingual writers think, feel, and express in multiple languages. Creativity isn’t bound by language. It’s about truth, clarity, and emotional impact. The play defends writers’ freedom to use any language they connect with, without being accused of betrayal.
80 words:
The play shows that a writer can be genuinely bilingual. Manjula, though rooted in Kannada culture, writes her bestselling novel in English because the story came to her in that language. It proves that language doesn’t limit creativity. A bilingual writer can switch between languages without losing authenticity. The play suggests that emotions, truth, and storytelling matter more than the language used, and criticizes those who shame bilingual writers for not sticking to their native tongue.
(ii) Does writing in an ‘other tongue’ amount to betrayal of the mother tongue?
20 words:
No. Writing in another language isn’t betrayal. It’s an expression of thought. Emotion matters more than the medium used.
40 words:
Writing in English doesn’t mean betraying one’s mother tongue. Manjula’s story came naturally in English. True writing is about expressing real emotions, not proving loyalty to a language. The play argues that storytelling should be free of guilt or judgment.
60 words:
The play challenges the idea that writing in English is betrayal. Manjula is criticized for leaving Kannada, but she explains that the novel naturally came in English. Creativity chooses its own language. Writing in English doesn’t erase cultural identity. Instead, it can bring Indian stories to global audiences. The real betrayal would be suppressing one’s voice due to societal pressure or guilt.
80 words:
Girish Karnad uses Manjula’s story to question the belief that writing in English is a betrayal of one’s mother tongue. Manjula faces harsh judgment for switching from Kannada to English. She defends herself by saying the novel simply came to her in English. This challenges the narrow mindset that a writer must prove loyalty to a language. The play suggests that true expression is more important than the language used. Betrayal lies in dishonesty—not in the choice of tongue.
APPRECIATION
1. Why do you think the playwright has used the technique of the image in the play?
20 words:
The image shows Manjula’s inner self. It helps reveal hidden truths, guilt, and conflicts that she cannot share publicly.
40 words:
The image is used as a dramatic device to bring out Manjula’s internal thoughts and emotions. It exposes her secrets, insecurities, and inner guilt. This technique turns a simple monologue into a deep psychological conversation with herself, adding powerful layers.
60 words:
Girish Karnad uses the image to symbolize Manjula’s hidden conscience. It questions her truth, emotions, and intentions. The image becomes her mirror and judge, forcing her to face uncomfortable facts about her sister, husband, and writing. This creative technique makes the play more intense, engaging, and reflective. It gives a deeper insight into her dual life—public fame and private pain.
80 words:
The image in Broken Images is a brilliant dramatic tool used to show the conflict between Manjula’s public image and her private truth. While she presents herself confidently to the world, the image challenges her honesty and motivations. It represents her subconscious, her guilt, and her inner critic. By interacting with the image, the play becomes a dialogue, not just a monologue. This dual-layered structure adds psychological depth and makes the audience question the reality behind every celebrity’s public face.
2. The play is called a monologue. Why is it made to turn dialogic?
20 words:
It starts as a monologue but turns into a dialogue to show Manjula’s inner conflict and emotional struggle with herself.
40 words:
Though the play begins as a monologue, it becomes a dialogue between Manjula and her image. This shift reveals her hidden guilt, truth, and contradictions. The dialogic form adds drama and helps explore her dual personality—what she shows and what she hides.
60 words:
The monologue turns into a dialogue to explore Manjula’s inner world. As the image begins speaking, it challenges her story, making her confront secrets and self-doubt. The conversation becomes intense and revealing. It changes the structure from a speech to a confession. This transformation keeps the audience engaged and highlights the duality between one’s outer image and internal truth.
80 words:
While the play starts as a confident monologue, it turns dialogic when Manjula’s own image begins questioning her. This shift is symbolic—it shows the conflict between how she wants to be seen and who she truly is inside. The image exposes contradictions, guilt, and hidden truths that a monologue alone could not reveal. The dialogic form adds suspense, emotion, and depth, turning the play from a public speech into a powerful psychological drama about identity, truth, and inner voices.
3. What is the posture the celebrity adopts when the camera is on and when it is off?
20 words:
When the camera is on, Manjula is confident and calm. When it’s off, she becomes nervous, emotional, and insecure.
40 words:
Manjula appears polished and controlled when speaking on camera. She uses charm and confidence. But once the camera is off, her real self emerges—she shows anxiety, fear, and hidden emotions. The contrast reveals the difference between public image and private reality.
60 words:
When on camera, Manjula acts like a perfect celebrity—calm, expressive, and confident. She speaks smoothly, handles emotions well, and maintains her image. But once the camera is off, she’s vulnerable, uncertain, and even disturbed. Her emotional cracks start to show, especially when facing her image. This contrast highlights the gap between what celebrities show to the world and what they hide inside.
80 words:
Manjula’s posture changes drastically between her on-camera and off-camera moments. While the camera is on, she appears graceful, composed, and in control—projecting the image of a successful and honest writer. But once the broadcast ends, her mask slips. She becomes unsure, anxious, and exposed. Her private insecurities and guilt come out when she interacts with her image. This duality reflects how public figures carefully manage their persona while hiding personal struggles behind polished appearances, making the play emotionally rich and realistic.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
✅ 1. Why is Manjula criticized for writing in English?
20 words:
She’s criticized for betraying Kannada by choosing English. Intellectuals and friends feel she abandoned her mother tongue for fame.
40 words:
Manjula faces harsh criticism for writing her first novel in English. Critics accuse her of ignoring Kannada literature and selling out to the global market. She’s deeply hurt by this judgment, especially when it comes from fellow Kannada writers and mentors.
60 words:
Manjula is criticized for writing in English instead of Kannada. People feel she betrayed her language and culture for money and fame. Writers and intellectuals, especially those she admired, feel she ignored her roots. This makes Manjula feel misunderstood, as her story naturally came to her in English. She struggles with this emotional and cultural conflict throughout the play.
80 words:
Manjula faces serious backlash after publishing her English novel. People believe she abandoned her mother tongue, Kannada, for money, fame, and foreign appeal. Even respected intellectuals and mentors accuse her of betrayal. Some even claim that Indian writers cannot be honest in English. This deeply hurts Manjula, who insists that she didn’t choose English—it chose her. Her emotions show how difficult it is for writers to balance creative freedom with language loyalty in a critical society.
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✅ 2. How does the play explore the theme of identity?
20 words:
The play shows Manjula’s struggle between her public image and real emotions, exposing the conflict within her true identity.
40 words:
Manjula lives two lives—one as a celebrated writer and the other filled with hidden guilt, insecurity, and sadness. The image questions her choices, forcing her to confront truths. This reveals her identity crisis and emotional struggle beneath her fame.
60 words:
Identity is a central theme in the play. Manjula appears confident, successful, and composed on screen. But her inner image reveals guilt, jealousy, and emotional wounds. Her struggle between being a Kannada writer and a famous English novelist reflects her confusion. She also hides the reality of her personal relationships, showing how identity is often constructed to please the public while concealing the real self.
80 words:
‘Broken Images’ powerfully explores identity through the dual role of Manjula and her image. On camera, she’s confident and successful, but the image reflects her suppressed guilt, insecurities, and emotional pain. She’s torn between being a Kannada writer and an English novelist, between personal truth and public acceptance. Her relationship with her sister and husband adds to this identity conflict. The play reveals how identity is not always what we show to the world but what we hide from ourselves.
✅ 3. What does the title ‘Broken Images’ suggest?
20 words:
The title reflects Manjula’s inner conflict, her split identity, and the gap between her public image and private truth.
40 words:
‘Broken Images’ symbolizes Manjula’s divided self. Her confident outer image clashes with her insecure, emotional inner self. The image on the screen challenges her carefully built persona. The title represents her emotional cracks, guilt, and the fragmented truth behind her success.
60 words:
The title ‘Broken Images’ points to the duality in Manjula’s life—how she shows one perfect image to the world while hiding her inner pain and insecurity. It also suggests how the media creates artificial images of people. Her image on screen literally confronts her, breaking her composed personality and exposing hidden truths. It symbolizes shattered illusions and fractured identity.
80 words:
Girish Karnad’s title ‘Broken Images’ is symbolic of Manjula’s fragmented personality. Outwardly, she is a successful writer, but inwardly, she struggles with self-doubt, guilt, and emotional trauma. The play shows how her outer public image conflicts with her inner emotional truth. Her image on the screen acts like a mirror that breaks her self-created illusions. It reflects the broken emotional pieces of her life, her unresolved past, and the complex truth hidden behind a seemingly perfect face.
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✅ 4. Why is the image important in the play?
20 words:
The image reveals Manjula’s real emotions. It questions her choices, exposes hidden guilt, and makes the drama more intense.
40 words:
The image is Manjula’s alter ego. It confronts her with uncomfortable truths about her life, her novel, and her relationships. Without the image, the play would be a flat monologue. It adds tension, psychological depth, and emotional complexity to the story.
60 words:
The image is not just a screen figure—it is Manjula’s inner self. It questions her honesty, identity, and intentions. The image becomes the voice of her suppressed guilt, her jealousy, and her regrets. It transforms the play from a public speech to an emotional confrontation. Through the image, the audience sees the gap between appearance and reality in Manjula’s life.
80 words:
The image in Broken Images plays a powerful role. It turns the play into a dramatic dialogue and represents Manjula’s subconscious. While she appears polished and proud on the outside, the image reveals her hidden guilt about her sister, her insecurities as a writer, and even doubts about her marriage. It forces her to answer questions she avoids in real life. The image brings truth to the surface, making the play more honest, intense, and emotionally layered.
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✅ 5. What kind of relationship did Manjula have with her sister Malini?
20 words:
Manjula deeply loved Malini, cared for her, and even based her novel on her life. They shared a close bond.
40 words:
Manjula had a strong emotional connection with Malini. Despite her sister’s illness, she admired her intelligence and spirit. Manjula cared for her deeply and dedicated her novel to her. Their bond was filled with affection, dependence, and emotional strength.
60 words:
Manjula and Malini shared a close and caring bond. After their parents’ death, Malini lived with Manjula, who became her primary caregiver. Manjula says Malini became like her own child. She loved her sister deeply and based her novel on her life. This relationship shaped Manjula emotionally and creatively, revealing a deep love mixed with unspoken emotional struggles.
80 words:
Manjula’s relationship with her sister Malini was emotionally intense and deeply affectionate. Despite Malini’s disability, Manjula saw her as more attractive, intelligent, and lively. After their parents died, she took care of Malini and formed a motherly bond with her. Malini inspired Manjula’s bestseller novel, and her memory remained central to Manjula’s life. Although full of love, the relationship also carried unspoken emotional burdens, as Manjula may have unconsciously felt overshadowed, adding to her inner conflict.
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✅ 6. What role did Pramod, Manjula’s husband, play in her success?
20 words:
Pramod supported Manjula emotionally during her tough times. His encouragement helped her complete her first English novel successfully.
40 words:
Manjula says she couldn’t have completed her novel without her husband, Pramod. During emotional breakdowns and creative struggles, he stood by her side. His belief in her strength gave her confidence. His support was a key pillar in her success.
60 words:
Pramod, Manjula’s husband, played a crucial part in her literary journey. She was emotionally weak and confused while writing the novel, especially after her sister’s death. Pramod encouraged her at every step, gave her moral support, and helped her push through. Though he is later seen as distant, she acknowledges that without him, she wouldn’t have completed her book.
80 words:
Pramod is shown as a strong emotional support in Manjula’s writing phase. When she was working full-time and grieving her sister’s death, Pramod stood by her. He comforted her during emotional breakdowns and encouraged her to finish her novel. Manjula admits that his presence helped her survive those tough moments. Even though he later becomes distant and moves to the US, she remembers his earlier support with gratitude. He was the quiet strength behind her biggest creative success.
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✅ 7. What does the play say about society’s view of success?
20 words:
The play shows that society often envies success and judges people harshly, especially when they break traditional norms.
40 words:
Manjula’s success invites criticism, not just praise. People feel she betrayed Kannada for English. This shows how society praises talent but also attacks those who become successful outside traditional boundaries. Success often brings jealousy, doubt, and unfair judgment.
60 words:
The play highlights how society loves to celebrate success but also quickly turns critical. Manjula’s fame from her English novel makes people question her loyalty, honesty, and motive. Instead of being appreciated, she is accused of betrayal and greed. This reflects society’s discomfort with success—especially when it challenges traditions. Girish Karnad shows how fame can be both a gift and a burden.
80 words:
Through Manjula’s story, the play reveals society’s double standards toward success. While people admire achievers, they often attack or question their journey—especially if it involves change or personal freedom. Manjula is judged for writing in English, even though her work is deeply Indian. She’s accused of seeking money and fame, not creativity. The play shows how public appreciation can be mixed with envy, and how people are quick to criticize what they don’t fully understand.
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✅ 8. How does the play question the idea of truth?
20 words:
The play questions what truth really means—public truth, private truth, or emotional truth hidden behind perfect appearances.
40 words:
Through the image, the play explores different layers of truth. Manjula says one thing to the world but hides other feelings inside. The image reveals that people often show only parts of the truth while hiding deeper emotional realities.
60 words:
‘Broken Images’ questions the meaning of truth. Is it what we say, what we feel, or what we hide? Manjula appears truthful on screen but hides emotional guilt and personal pain. Her image challenges the honesty of her words and feelings. The play shows how truth is complex—it can be masked by appearances, shaped by fear, or altered by self-interest.
80 words:
Girish Karnad’s play challenges the idea of a single, fixed truth. Manjula presents her version of truth to the world, but her image reveals contradictions, hidden feelings, and emotional discomfort. It makes the audience ask: Is truth what we see, what we believe, or what we hide? The play suggests that truth is not absolute—it’s layered and often shaped by guilt, memory, and emotion. Through Manjula’s dialogue with her image, we understand how fragile and broken truth can be.
✅ 9. How does Manjula justify writing her novel in English?
20 words:
Manjula says the novel came to her in English naturally. She didn’t plan it; it just flowed that way.
40 words:
Manjula explains that she didn’t choose English deliberately. The story simply emerged in English. Even she was surprised. She believes that writers must follow their creative flow, and not restrict themselves to one language. She didn’t mean to hurt Kannada lovers.
60 words:
Manjula justifies writing in English by saying the novel was born in English—it wasn’t a conscious decision. The words, emotions, and story came to her in that language, so she wrote it honestly. She says creativity should not be limited by language. Her intention was never to betray Kannada, but to express the story as it naturally came to her.
80 words:
Manjula defends her decision to write in English by saying it wasn’t planned—it just happened. The novel came to her in English with such force and clarity that she couldn’t ignore it. She didn’t intend to hurt Kannada readers or abandon her roots. She also shares that her British publishers praised her for the novel’s Indian feel. Manjula believes that writers should express truth, not worry about language politics. For her, honesty in expression mattered more than the choice of language.
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✅ 10. What emotions does Manjula reveal when talking about Malini’s death?
20 words:
Manjula becomes emotional, tearful, and sensitive. She reveals how deeply she loved and missed her sister after her death.
40 words:
When talking about Malini’s death, Manjula breaks down emotionally. She calls Malini her child and shares how much she misses her. Her voice softens, and she shows her vulnerability. This part of the play reveals her genuine love and grief.
60 words:
Manjula shows deep emotions while speaking about her sister’s death. She talks lovingly about nursing Malini in her final days and calls her more than a sister—almost like a daughter. Her eyes well up as she recalls their time together. She confesses that the novel is dedicated to Malini’s memory, proving how central Malini was to her heart and creativity.
80 words:
While remembering Malini’s death, Manjula becomes visibly emotional. She recalls how she cared for her sister during her last months and how she became more like a daughter to her. Her voice trembles, and tears come to her eyes. She admits that the novel is truly about Malini and is a tribute to her beautiful, gentle soul. This heartfelt confession shows that behind Manjula’s confident image is a grieving, affectionate sister who still feels the loss very deeply.
✅ 11. What does the play reveal about the role of media in shaping public opinion?
20 words:
The play shows how media creates and controls a person’s image, often hiding the truth and promoting surface-level impressions.
40 words:
Through Manjula’s TV speech, the play shows how media presents a polished version of reality. It builds celebrity images, promotes fame, and influences public opinion. But the truth behind these images is often hidden or distorted, creating a gap between image and reality.
60 words:
The play exposes how media can shape, manipulate, and glorify public figures. Manjula is presented as a literary star on TV, but her deeper emotional struggles remain unseen. The image on screen becomes a tool to question the fake perfection that media portrays. The play shows that media often focuses on success stories while ignoring the pain, doubt, and real emotions behind them.
80 words:
Girish Karnad’s play shows how media turns people into public products. Manjula is introduced on TV as a “literary phenomenon,” admired for her English novel. But this image is carefully curated and doesn’t reveal her emotional truth. Her inner self (the image) exposes what the media ignores—guilt, doubt, and grief. The play criticizes how media celebrates polished images, builds public opinion, and ignores real struggles. It questions whether the media shows truth—or just an edited version of what sells.
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✅ 12. Why does the image accuse Manjula of ‘using’ Malini?
20 words:
The image hints that Manjula gained fame by turning her sister’s life into a novel, possibly for personal success.
40 words:
The image suggests that Manjula may have used Malini’s emotional life and disability as a subject for her novel. It questions whether Manjula’s love was pure or mixed with ambition. This accusation shakes Manjula and exposes her guilt.
60 words:
The image subtly accuses Manjula of using her sister Malini’s life for creative gain. Though Manjula says the novel is a tribute, the image questions whether she unconsciously turned Malini’s pain into a way to earn fame and success. This painful accusation creates emotional conflict in Manjula and forces her to reflect deeply on her intentions and conscience.
80 words:
The image’s accusation challenges Manjula’s morality. It implies that by turning Malini’s suffering into a best-selling novel, Manjula may have used her sister’s life to gain popularity and money. While Manjula claims the novel is a tribute, the image forces her to face the uncomfortable truth—did she benefit from Malini’s pain? This moment reveals Manjula’s inner guilt, the blurred line between love and ambition, and how even well-meant actions can carry selfish motivations unknowingly.
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✅ 13. How is Manjula’s relationship with her husband portrayed?
20 words:
Initially strong and supportive, their relationship becomes distant. Pramod later moves to the US, leaving Manjula emotionally alone.
40 words:
Manjula remembers her husband Pramod as caring and helpful during her writing phase. But now, he’s in the US, distant and absent. She doesn’t even know if he’ll listen to her speech. Their bond appears strained and fading.
60 words:
Manjula talks fondly about Pramod’s early support, saying he encouraged her during emotional breakdowns. But now their relationship seems strained. He moved to the US and wasn’t present for her book launch. Manjula hides her sadness, but the distance is clear. The emotional disconnect suggests that while she may appear successful, her personal life is quietly crumbling in the background.
80 words:
Manjula and Pramod once shared a strong bond. He supported her emotionally while she wrote the novel and cared for her sister. But after Malini’s death, Pramod moved to the US and didn’t return even for Manjula’s book launch. Though Manjula tries to act unaffected, her loneliness is evident. The image’s questions reveal emotional cracks in their relationship. Her portrayal of Pramod in the novel is flattering, but reality shows distance, detachment, and growing silence between them.
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✅ 14. What role does guilt play in the play?
20 words:
Guilt is central. Manjula hides feelings of using her sister’s story, resenting attention, and losing emotional honesty.
40 words:
Manjula feels guilty for several reasons—overshadowed love, using her sister’s life in a novel, and her husband’s absence. The image questions her, forcing her to confront emotions she hides. Guilt drives the play’s emotional depth and conflict.
60 words:
Guilt lies at the heart of Broken Images. Manjula feels guilty about using her sister’s life in her novel, about receiving fame, and about her broken relationship with Pramod. The image confronts her repeatedly, asking questions she avoids. Her confident surface hides emotional regret. This guilt adds depth, complexity, and emotional realism to her character and makes the play impactful.
80 words:
Manjula’s outward success hides a deep sense of guilt. She feels bad about gaining fame from her sister’s suffering, receiving more love later in life, and failing to keep her marriage emotionally alive. The image becomes the voice of her guilt, constantly asking if her love was honest or opportunistic. Her awkward silences and defensive tone show how guilt eats away at her peace. This internal struggle gives the play emotional intensity and makes her journey relatable and tragic.
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✅ 15. How does the play depict the emotional cost of fame?
20 words:
The play shows that fame can isolate people emotionally. Manjula becomes lonely, judged, and questioned despite her success.
40 words:
Though Manjula gains global fame, she becomes emotionally distant. Her husband moves away, her friends criticize her, and the public doubts her motives. The play shows how fame doesn’t guarantee happiness—it can come with judgment, guilt, and loneliness.
60 words:
The play shows that fame often brings hidden pain. Manjula becomes a celebrated writer, but the image exposes her emotional cost—distance from her husband, guilt over her sister, and criticism from society. Her fame didn’t bring peace. Instead, it triggered deeper self-doubt and loneliness. Karnad highlights how public applause often masks private suffering and emotional emptiness.
80 words:
Girish Karnad’s play reveals the hidden side of fame. Manjula earns global recognition for her English novel, but she also faces harsh criticism, loneliness, and emotional distance from her husband. Her sister is gone, her marriage is falling apart, and society questions her motives. Her inner image reflects her emotional toll. The play shows that while fame brings money and attention, it can also create guilt, loss, and inner turmoil. Real success often costs more than it seems.
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✅ 16. Why is Malini called the only real character in the novel?
20 words:
Manjula says all other characters are fictional. Only Malini is based on real life, inspired by her sister’s emotions.
40 words:
Manjula admits her novel is fictional, except for Malini’s character. It’s based on her real sister—her pain, personality, and emotional world. This makes Malini the heart of the novel and a living memory for Manjula.
60 words:
In her speech, Manjula says all characters in the novel are imagined, except Malini. Malini is directly inspired by her sister—her charm, disability, and emotional depth. Manjula spent years nursing her and tried to capture her soul in the book. This makes Malini the most honest, real, and emotionally powerful part of the novel’s story.
80 words:
Manjula clearly states that while the plot and characters of her novel are fictional, Malini’s character is drawn from real life—her sister’s life. She cared for her during her final years and felt so connected to her emotional world that she built the entire novel around her. Malini’s spirit, strength, and suffering are deeply personal to Manjula, making her the only character in the book who truly lived and breathed. This makes the novel a tribute to Malini’s memory.
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✅ 17. What does the play suggest about women’s creative freedom?
20 words:
The play supports women’s right to choose language, topic, and voice. Manjula fights judgment to defend her creative freedom.
40 words:
Manjula faces harsh judgment for writing in English and for writing about personal pain. But she stands firm, showing that women must be free to write honestly. The play celebrates women’s voices and defends their right to creative independence.
60 words:
The play supports women’s freedom to write what they want, how they want. Manjula chooses English over Kannada and a painful personal topic over safer ones. She is judged for it but doesn’t back down. Karnad uses her story to highlight how women’s creative choices are often questioned and how they must fight to keep their voice alive in a critical world.
80 words:
Broken Images defends women’s right to write in any language and about any topic—even if it’s emotional, controversial, or deeply personal. Manjula chooses to write in English, challenging tradition, and uses her sister’s life as inspiration. For this, she’s criticized, judged, and even emotionally attacked. Yet she stands firm. Through her story, the play speaks for all women writers who face double standards and cultural pressure, and encourages them to embrace their voice, language, and truth boldly.
✅ 18. How is Manjula’s success shown as both empowering and isolating?
20 words:
Manjula’s success gives her fame and freedom but also isolates her emotionally—she loses support, love, and understanding.
40 words:
Manjula becomes powerful through her success as an English writer. She earns money and recognition. But this success also distances her from loved ones—her husband leaves, friends turn critical, and she feels lonely. Fame gives her power but steals peace.
60 words:
Manjula’s rise to fame brings empowerment—she gains recognition, financial independence, and a global audience. Yet this success isolates her. Her husband moves abroad, her sister is gone, and friends accuse her of betrayal. She feels more alone than ever. The play shows how public victories can lead to private emptiness, making success a double-edged sword.
80 words:
Manjula’s success gives her professional power and public appreciation. She writes a bestselling novel, gets media attention, and becomes financially secure. But emotionally, she feels lonely. Her husband is absent, her sister has passed away, and her friends criticize her choices. The play shows how success in the spotlight often comes at the cost of meaningful personal connections. Manjula’s case reflects the truth that while success can empower a woman, it can also isolate her emotionally and socially.
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✅ 19. How does the play portray the clash between personal truth and public image?
20 words:
The play shows that Manjula’s public image is polished, but her personal truth is filled with guilt, pain, and doubt.
40 words:
Manjula’s speech projects confidence, love, and gratitude. But when her image speaks, we see her hidden emotions—jealousy, confusion, and inner conflict. This clash between what she shows and what she truly feels creates the play’s emotional depth and tension.
60 words:
Girish Karnad uses the stage and the screen to reflect two sides of Manjula—her public image and private truth. While she appears successful and composed on TV, her screen image reveals buried emotions, guilt over her sister, and doubt about her choices. The contrast between what she says and what she feels shows how personal truth often hides behind a controlled public identity.
80 words:
The central conflict in Broken Images is the difference between what Manjula shows to the world and what she hides inside. Her TV monologue is full of charm and confidence. But her image confronts her about feelings of guilt, jealousy, and emotional distance from her husband. This clash between inner truth and outer image is what makes the play powerful. It exposes how people, especially public figures, often wear masks to fit expectations, hiding pain, regret, and emotional truth behind a polished face.
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✅ 20. What is the significance of the ending of the play?
20 words:
The ending leaves us questioning Manjula’s truth. Her image fades, but her emotional conflict remains unresolved and haunting.
40 words:
The play ends without complete closure. Manjula is emotionally shaken, and the audience is left with questions about her honesty. The ending is powerful because it reflects life’s complexity—truth isn’t always clear, and emotional wounds often remain open.
60 words:
The ending of Broken Images is emotionally intense and open-ended. Manjula is left vulnerable after facing harsh truths from her image. The screen turns off, but her emotional scars stay. It forces the audience to think—was her speech genuine? Was her love real? The unresolved ending shows that not all emotional journeys have clean finishes, making it more relatable and real.
80 words:
The play’s ending is powerful because it doesn’t tie everything up neatly. After a deep and painful confrontation with her inner self, Manjula is left in emotional silence. The image fades, but the truth it revealed lingers. The ending leaves us wondering—was Manjula honest or hiding behind stories? Did her success come from love or ambition? This uncertainty reflects real life, where emotions and truths are rarely black and white. The open-ended finale makes the play thought-provoking and emotionally impactful.
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