One Night @ the Call Center
Having read ‘Five Point Someone’, I expected this to be a good read. The first few pages begin with an ‘Alaipayuthey/Saathiya’ style screenplay that seems to have become Chetan’s signature tune.
The Call center dudes and dudettes, the lifeline of the novel, arrive with a truckload (well….. I am exaggerating here !) of call-center jargon. The story is narrated through a character called Shyam, one similar to Hari in 5.some1. I have a sneaky feeling that CB is exactly this kinda guy !
The part where these folks get a call from God could have used a little more build-up. This part should have formed the crux of the book, but is sadly reduced to nothing more than a few pages.
It is almost the book-verion of K.Balachander’s Vaname Ellai , albeit sans the depth. I felt that the characterization could have been more intense than it was.
CB has thrown in all the ingredients like sex, romance, casting-couch et al…. all to make a Masala mix that leave a sour taste in the mouth!! Could have been a much better novel had he not introduced the frequent flash-backs of his dates with Priyanka that Shyam has.
Likes
1. The way he checks the reservation chart to see if there any F18-27 in the compartent. I have done this a zillion times :P without any luck !2. The potrayal of Bakshi’s character. Believe me…. this man will definitely remind you of your (ex)Boss…. and like CB says, the Ultimate Indian Male Fantasy is to get even with your boss.
3. Debunking the Yankee superiority complex.
Dislikes1. Everyone seems to relish using the F word and the likes.
2. Ending – a double whammy, I felt it was a very weak ending, pretty cinematic too!
3. The way the characters get even with Bakshi – Plain stupid and stereotyped.
4. Ridiculing all Americans as dumbos – Might not augur well !
Labels: Review
posted by Unknown at 8:01 PM
4 Comments:
Surprisingly, even though the book was average, it has managed to do well in the market.
@Kaps : I guess you are right ! I guess people who read his first book were so enchanted by the simple style of story-telling that they remained that way thro this one too.
wel .. i was one among those who bought the book when it was jus released in the market .. and like u told, was disappointed with it ..guess ppl like me r one big reason for the book to do wel in the market .. :)
@Robbie : It is like watching a movie without checking out the reviews just because the hero's previous film had turned out to be a grosser :)
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