Chetan Bhagat : Author s Review by a Cynic
For the readers.. This piece of blog post is not a review of Chetan Bhagat India’s bestselling novelist‘s latest book Revolution 2020. So why am I writing this when I have not read his latest book? Why shouldn’t I??
Well what I know about him?? An IIT/IIM grad, a writer… Enough right?
I learnt about Chetan Bhagat only when 3 idiot’s promos were out on TV. *Serious*. So I thought I might want to read that book before watching the movie. Getting his books is not that tuff. Just borrow from your friends; everyone is his fan you see. Well half way through the book I ended up watching the movie and never read it.
Ok fact is I’m not a reader. I still haven’t finished Paulo Coelho‘s “The Alchemist “. So I never cared about his second book either. Yeah I ended up watching the movie instead. By this time I guessed his content and write up. He became predictable I guess. I always wondered what new is that he writes. His books are typical bollywood tales with masala climax like his 3rd book. The one mistake I did was to read 3 mistakes. No wonder he connects to the youth. His books revolve around the youth protagonists, love, some masala. That’s it. Right. Nothing new. His 4th book was no different. Yes I read his 3rd and 4th book completely. L It was just a day’s affair. Not much to remember about the characters like those Dan Brown books. Not much of complexity in his writing. Nothing new as usual, the same old love, gal, sex stuff…. Youth connect to such things. So only he is the “Youth Icon”. He has written but repeatedly written the same stuff. Nothing inspiring in his writing. There are many chetan bhagat type of writers but nobody have been so successful as him. What is more depressing is that he seems to have stuck in his bollywood style of writing. With 4 books down I expected him to rise above the filmy stuff and write something serious. But Revolution 2020 is the sadly of the same genre, same thing. I guess I’ll wait for the movie instead.
He has learnt the way of commercializing his books and make money. The better part of his books is fun, entertainment, masala. He gets beautiful actress to release his books.
Probably best thing Mr Bhagat can do is stop writing and commenting on people are actually do things. Yes he can direct movies based on his scripts instead of writing and publishing his books selling them for cheap 80bucks and then expecting someone like “The Khans” to make them into some amazing movies and earn money :P :P
Might be this is his way of making money. IIM way: D
I would prefer watching a masala movie rather than waste time reading his books. I get to listen to such stories on a daily basis in the neighborhood. The books/ novels need to be educative, make a person reading it think rather than just entertain.
I like his first book, Five Point Someone... Your take is also valid but we can't deny the fact that he has mass following.
ReplyDeleteSaru
youth love sex sells no matter what :)
ReplyDeleteI dont like his writings either..I mean, I can say he is not an author...he just write stories..he should probably enter the Bollywood..like all other hindi movie he will be able to give a low-class love masala :P
ReplyDeleteread this, if you haven't
http://sharanjayendra.com/blogs/?p=515
totally !! he is perfect match for bollywood....
ReplyDeletei did read ur post :)
i dont like his writings either..he writes just bollywood love mix..my sincere request to him..please join bollywood :P
ReplyDeleteread this if you haven't
http://sharanjayendra.com/blogs/?p=515
i read some of his books in this last one year.. really cant remember much.. i guess u r right.. bcos i still can remember vividly Tom and Maggi in Eliot's 'Mill on the Floss', which was a ninth standard reader as per my school syllabi
ReplyDeletegood review sourabh..bold and original!
exactly pyg :) ur right ... that was the whole essence of my post...A book i expect to relate and relive even after yrs... sadly his books are just timepass ...
ReplyDeletethanks :)
i have not read any of his books. but i have seen the film based on his books.
ReplyDeleteI love reading books. But actually his first book didn't have the filmy ending that the movie had. It was quite realistic which is why I liked it. never read his other books. Except the 2 states one. too much drama for me. and I've decided not to bother buying the new one. But you have to admit, how much ever one might hate him there's no point because he's made his life and he's made his living.
ReplyDeleteme neither kranthi... his books and films are quite same :) but only the cream part..the essence of the films are wide :)
ReplyDeleteyea kofykat so true... the movie 3 idiots touched upon our educational system which the book didnt...i agree the movie and book were similar but he should learn " how much is too much ".... too much drama... i don hate him . but neither do i like him...he is not a writer..just a businessmen ... he is putting his IIM credentials to perfect use :D
ReplyDeleteWell i agree with you to some extent. I don’t respect him as an author. I have a piquancy towards english language. He cant be called as an author. But he touches the sensational topics which will obviously ignite fire among youth. I truly enjoyed reading his books :P
ReplyDeleteHe might be a businessman marketing his product (aka books) but customers have surely grabbed them. And i can tell you without any qualms that I cant wait to read the new book though I heard it is *too* “Chetan Bhagat” types.
Cheers.
Megha Sarin
http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com
yea i agree to your point.... He writes , his writing is targeted to a particular section of youth.. Yes we all are at sometime in our life been part of that section... Universal appeal of a writer is missing in him...
ReplyDeletePS : I do/ did enjoy reading his books...but not now :P