Chetan Bhagat
When Khanna & Iyer met Ek Duje ke Liye. Chetan Bhagat’s works have never been literary classics, relying more on a racy story, wit, and an interesting enough plot. Sadly, this one works only the first count.
The plot is an oft repeated one – the love story of a Punjabi guy and a Chennai girl, who meet each other at IIM, and whose parents are opposed to their relationship. I found the depiction of the stereotypes obnoxious, and I’m neither Punjabi nor Tamilian. Making sure that there are digs aimed at both sides and having a disclaimer at the start that you only take digs at your own, doesn’t change the godawful way of depicting the ways of life of two communities. It definitely isn’t a substitute for wit. If the idea was to change the North-South relationship’s status quo, really sorry, but it only strengthens the stereotypes, and adds a few ones too. Sample this
“They sounded like long wails, as if someone was being slowly strangled” on Carnatic Music.
I finished the book, because I hate leaving books halfway, and thanks to a perverse wish to see the new depths being explored. I was extremely disappointed with the book, more so because I have always defended the author, and asked why books always have to be literary masterpieces, and can’t be just good entertainers. Chetan Bhagat had so far ensured that his books were entertainers, perhaps this one would deliver too, if you can say goodbye to your sensibilities and sensitivity for 267 pages.
Chetan Bhagat never was a great writer, just a narrator of sorts. I lost interest in him ever since the ruckus he created after 3 idiots. Won’t be picking this one up either.
haha, that’s a perspective too… the status of a writer is actually in the mind of each individual reader no? 🙂
The only good thing for me from this book was that my husband ( a north indian) ensured he was not wearing any Mickey Mouse attire!
I got bored after 60% of the book was done.
heh 🙂