Filmmaker publishes fantasy novel inspired by South African legend

Dayakar Padayachee, an independent film-maker, has taken a leap of faith and decided to publish his first fantasy novel. 

Padayachee, 34, of Musgrave, said the concept for The Ancient Scrolls of Lukutona: The Bleeding Anchors began from an idea he had when he was 13 years old.

The novel took eight years until it was published. 

“I have always been a massive fan of fantasy. In 2015, I started growing the lore, characters, languages and my friends urged me to start writing in 2018.

"I finally completed the book in 2020 during Covid-19. I was fortunate that my cousin, Lohini Moodley, helped me seek an editor, Natasha France, who, in turn, helped me to the finish line." 

He said the novel was about a conflict between different races in Lukutona (elves, wizards, humans, and dwarves), which was intensified by the emergence of a new hybrid race and the impending return of an ancient dragon from the stars.

Padayachee said the story was inspired by the South African legend of Nkanyamba the dragon, who fought Qamata and the four giants in the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Town). 

“I decided to use that as an origin tale of the world of Lukutona. The world is split into four cardinal points and four gods have gifted the world four dragons that will protect the temple points of the world. 

“However one dragon named Horf'Kar decides he wants independence and wages war with the gods, until they ask a wizard to help them cast the dragon into another universe. However, the tears of the sky started looking like an anchor seeping from the cosmos in a chaotic aurora of lights.”

He said he was drawn to fantasy since he watched the Lord of the Rings in 2001 at the age 11. 

“Ever since then, combined with my interests in my own Hindu folk, legends and myth, I have been fascinated with how fantasy has always been a form of allegory. We can take characters like elves, dragons and dwarves and translate that with this view of real socio and political outlook of the world. After extensive research, I decided to take this approach for the story set in this fictional world of Lukutona.”

Padayachee said he hoped the novel would reach different people. 

“I think a young adult and a fantasy fandom group would find the novel interesting. However, with an ancient deep cultural allegory attached to it, with real life history, I feel historical fans would also find it interesting.”

He said he had many things planned for this novel. 

“I want to get an audiobook produced and have a song released for the book. There are also a few music video concepts and teasers with real performers that can help promote the book. There is a trilogy planned, which includes a prequel and a history of the book.” 

Padayachee said he would be featured at Icon Durban 2025 - a comic and games convention -  from October 4 to 5 at Westville Girls' High. At the end of the month, the book launch will be held at Ike's Bookshop on Florida Road. 

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