2 States by Chetan Baghat

:) This was my reaction when the book got over. Right from prologue it held my attention. He had dedicated the book to his inlaws. Ithula disclaimer vera..tht its just to show his love for them and nothing otherwise. Athulaye terinju poachu..thalaivar etho sothapirukaarunu. Right throughout the book he teases his in laws so much that at times i wonder what would've been their reaction about the book. Kathai romba simple. DDLJ remake. Punjabi paiyan. Mylapore ponnu. Fall in love at IIM. And Kadhaluku Mariyaathai vijay shalini mathiri parentsoda samthathoda kalyanam pannika decide panraanga. Hero chennaila vela vangitu vararu. The steps he takes to convince the girls parents are almost juvenile..like taking IIT tuitions for her brother..helping her dad in preparing PPT and arranging music concert for her mom. Enakenamo he has written this book with some producer in mindnu thonuthu. Screenplay and dialog are so very ready..just the cameras have to start rolling..avlothaan. I liked the scene where the hero proposes not just to the gal but to the entire family. Very cute. Anniyanla Ambi Sadhavoda Amma kita love letter kudukara scene mathiri. Now the ponnu comes to punjab to woo her inlaws. Ithu total cinematic. Varathakshanaiya ethirthu antha ponnu oru kalyaanathula pesi antha problema solve panuthu. Udanay elarukum heroinea pudichiruthu. Seri kathai over polanu paatha kutti kutti prachaniala rendu familyum again splits. Throw in an irresponsible hero's dad. Soap opera setting is complete. And again the problematic dad turns the troubleshooter here..there by winning his son's love in the process. Kalyaanam mylaporela nadakuthu. Ambututhaan isshtoory.

Romba simple kathai. Infact, at best, the story could've been an interesting blog post. But bestseller??hmm..considering that DDLJ was such a blockbuster hit and is still running..why not. Its a feel good book. With lot of witty lines. The author apologises to tamilians and assures that he has teased his own clan in an equal way. But his barbs at punjabis are more critical in nature and is at this satirical best while making fun of tamilian customs. His comments on M.S Subbulakshmiyoda subrapatham..outright hilarious and in the end when they try to spell the kalyaana mandapam name...too gud :) I dont understand the vulgar language inserted in between used by autowallahs. It wasnt necessary. How much ever he might deny it, the feeling of an autobio is hard to get over. I didnt like the part where he fights with his dad. Totally unwarranted. Maybe it would be taken care while this goes to production. And i fail to understand why does he promotes live in relationships and premarital sex in every book of his!!

Best part about the book is, within minutes you can identify yourself with the character. Enaku book padika padika..ithula yar nadicha nallarukumnu oru casting sessionay mandaikulla oda aarambichidichi :) i could relate myself to that character a lot :) Heroine descriptionlam vachu paatha either Tamanna or Rukmini fit avanga thonuthu. May be Anandha thandavam patha effecta kooda irukalam :) Author has taken special pains to get his tamil spellings correct :) kudos to that. Beginning portionla vara romantic segments are too good. Loved it. Heroine character almost sounds like a maniac. A rebel at best i would say . Hero's mom character sounds very natural.

I am going to read the book again. I am glad i bought the book. Chennai airportla vaanginen and i was laughing all the way to mumbai. I had a great trip and usuala kaathu adaikum flightla vantha. This time didnt feel that. Thanks to the book. Ithey mathiri inum ethana kathai he can churn out is anybody's guess. But his simple narrating style is a sure shot winner. Would definitely wait for his next book.

Comments

Vidya said…
:) Chetan Bhagat is a writer who is a hit or a miss, you know! Sometimes, the story holds your attention for half way through the book and then it just slips.

okay, I will add this book as well to my to-do list!

Vidya
Soin said…
my views on the book are almost the same.. the matter with his books are that he doesnt attempt poetic stuff and all.u can just relate.and written with a book in mind?? hey hes from iim..fcorz he will take these into consideration.either way i have most of the stuff he has written happen to ppl arnd me..free
kanagu said…
appa padikalam nu solreenga... padippom..

/*i could relate myself to that character a lot :) */

oru nayagan udayamaagiram :D :D

/*Heroine descriptionlam vachu paatha either Tamanna or Rukmini fit avanga thonuthu*/

nalla kaalam.. ugly truth oda heroine set aavanga nu sollala.. :P :P
G3 said…
Pesinadhellam podhum.. ozhunga andha booka courier panni vidunga enakku :P
Aarti said…
antha 5.someonekku appuram, antha torture one night at the call center padichein.. athoda kumbudu potein..ini intha aasami book padikka mateinnu..thangala rodhanai...!!! too much i say... :D

etho ponga, neenga flighta enjoy panineengannu engiyo padichein.. nallathu... :P
Aarti said…
G3- courier vera panni padikanuma?? *enga poi mutikaradu theriyala*..hehe
I liked CB's Five point someone, was the first and last book of his that I read.
I like you review of the book, its so straightforward and to the point. Its almost like I what I can and cannot expect from the book..
thanks for the amazing review,will read it defnitely, im a sucker for romantic happy endings..
FunScribbler said…
wow such a gd book review... alrite i am on my way to get this book!:)
Anonymous said…
Nice review. Thanks. Will try to get the book and read.
Swaram said…
Me started reading today :P Wil come bk and read the review when I finish ;)
kanagu said…
விà®°ுது வாà®™்க, வாà®™்க அண்ணா,

http://enadhu-ularalgal.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-post_15.html
gils said…
@viddi:
mudalla lost worldenachu solu.. :) 200 thandiacha?

@soin:
:) u the also iim??

@kanagu:
kandipa..u can definitely read it..
gils said…
//ugly truth oda heroine set aavanga nu sollala.. :P :P//

chacha..i dnt like her

//ozhunga andha booka courier panni vidunga enakku :P//

paapom :))

//antha torture one night at the call center padichein.. athoda kumbudu potein..ini intha aasami book padikka mateinnu//

antha book mokkai..but others are ok i guess..u can give them a try
gils said…
//G3- courier vera panni padikanuma?? *enga poi mutikaradu theriyala*..hehe//

:)) avlo mosamlaam ileenga

//im a sucker for romantic happy endings../

*hifi* :D same blud..itukagavay naan ddlj epovachalum paapen teriyuma :D
gils said…
//alrite i am on my way to get this book!:)//

eggjamku padichtela?

//Will try to get the book and read./

soor athivasi..guess u wud like it :)

@swaram:

oops..i told the story :) lets see ur review
gils said…
@kanagu :
vanthen vanthen
Preethe said…
Dedicated to in-laws*
idha padichapparam .. I am still contemplating ..
should i continue reading this book???
gils said…
//Dedicated to in-laws*
idha padichapparam //

well u shd definitnely read it :D its a masala story..and feelgud
Annam said…
ஒவரா படிச்சிà®™் கில்ஸு பழம் நீயப்பா ஞானப் பழனியப்பா :)))
Annam said…
am going to read the book again//////////////
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 20 20 ithanai vaati read pannunga ithu enathukattalai:)))))
gils said…
//ஒவரா படிச்சிà®™் கில்ஸு பழம் நீயப்பா ஞானப் பழனியப்பா :)))//

:))

//ithanai vaati read pannunga ithu enathukattalai:)))))//

aahaaaa...annam "Madura" vijaya epo maarichi :D
Unknown said…
reading this book right now, so will comment after i complete it.

In so far I have read, it has the usual prejudice against Tamils that we find in other works, apology notwithstanding.

And pre-marital/live-in relationship... it is his signature I guess.

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