Hate him or love him, Chetan Bhagat can never be ignored. his books have deeply influenced young urban indians. After his latest novel was launched, suchayan mandal catches up with India's paperback king
"Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure." When Albert Camus wrote this in the opening line of his novel, The Stranger, the uncertainty of the fiction got merged with the strange reality Camus lived in. On a similar note, Chetan Bhagat’s uncertainty that he lives in and the one he writes in has often been questioned by critics, who have many a times discarded his writing as literature. Bhagat came under fire, probably because his English was the same that the tank top wearing girl in club speaks and also the young chap at CCD ~ which better defines urban India. His writing has always been “filmy” and based on middle class mentalities rather than delving into post Partition crisis.
In his sixth novel and seventh book, Chetan underlines an issue that is crucial and needs to be highlighted. Excerpts from the interview:
Why is it Half Girlfriend?
It’s a love story. Half Girlfriend is a novel about a timid, non-English speaking Bihari boy’s journey in a world dominated by “English types”, and who “half-romances” a rich Delhi girl. The girl knows that the guy is more than friends but unsure whether to date him because he can’t speak English.
Isn’t the title too sexist?
It’s from the guy’s perspective. Had it been from the girl’s perspective, it would surely have been half boyfriend.
Do you think that a Bihari who can’t speak isnt a dating material?
The whole country suffers from complexes. There is a lot of inferiority around this language. There’s a line in the book: he says, ‘My English is not that good. I have a Bihari accent.’ He says French people have French accent and it’s considered very sexy. So why is it? There’s an assumption of inferiority associated with the whole culture.
Right from Five Point Someone to Half Girlfriend, we have noticed a decreasing numeric value?
Yes. That’s because I was an engineer and a banker. And that’s the reason for my love for numbers.
Half Girlfriend is being adapted into a Bollywood film even before it hits the stands? Your opinion.
For me whether Twitter or movies or books ~ it's everywhere. It helps in creating a hype around the book. People want to know what the book is all about, if a movie is made on it. I had asked them to first see if the audience is picking the book or not. But yes, they had read the book beforehand. I am not doing anything extra for them. If they want to come and make something then it’s OK with me.
How is the experience seeing your book’s characters on screen?
The first time, I remember, I saw Salman and Katrina playing the roles, it felt bizarre. It was like wow, what’s going on here! But now I am used to it. It does feel beautiful, whenI see the trailer of the movie and I know I am the one who created it.
Critics have often said that Chetan Bhagat’s isn’t literature. What would be your response?
I think they have a very limited understanding of what literature is. Literature, I believe issomething that mirrors society. And it has to reach the masses. There can’t be just one kind of literature. If something is accepted by the masses in such huge numbers we must try to understand that something must be there so that people are accepting it.
Do you believe that since Five Point Someone you have become a better writer?
I think so. I have improved as a writer from my first book. The flow of writing has got better. There’s a lot more confidence. As a person, I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve been writing so much or it’s because of age, I’ve just become more mature, calmer, less reactive and more in touch with myself.
How did you deal with the criticism? Did it affect your self-confidence?
That’s where I feel in 10 years I have changed. I have become much better at handling it. I can dispassionately talk about it. It cannot bother me enough to disrupt me. But in the initial stages there were real moments of doubt. Maybe I write very badly. I don’t know. Do I write really awfully? Why are so many people criticizing it?
Can you define which genre you write for?
No, I don’t think I can do that. I think it’s like the DNA. It’s like your face, your writing. I don’t think you can alter it too much. I don’t want to. Why would I? I enjoy doing it. People love it. Is there a certain need? Am I supposed to feel inadequate somehow after doing so much? I don’t feel the need at all. It’s not a competition with other writers for me. Ever. It never has been. I have to wean the young kids away from YouTube, from WhatsApp, from Candy Crush and make them read my book.
What is your upcoming project?
I haven’t decided anything yet. I’d concentrate on my health as of now.
Half Girlfriend has been published by Rupa Publishers. INR 176
Available through: http://www.flipkart.com/half-girlfriend-english/p/itmdys62bm3pvww8
Published in The Statesman dated 16 Oct'14.
"Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure." When Albert Camus wrote this in the opening line of his novel, The Stranger, the uncertainty of the fiction got merged with the strange reality Camus lived in. On a similar note, Chetan Bhagat’s uncertainty that he lives in and the one he writes in has often been questioned by critics, who have many a times discarded his writing as literature. Bhagat came under fire, probably because his English was the same that the tank top wearing girl in club speaks and also the young chap at CCD ~ which better defines urban India. His writing has always been “filmy” and based on middle class mentalities rather than delving into post Partition crisis.
In his sixth novel and seventh book, Chetan underlines an issue that is crucial and needs to be highlighted. Excerpts from the interview:
Why is it Half Girlfriend?
It’s a love story. Half Girlfriend is a novel about a timid, non-English speaking Bihari boy’s journey in a world dominated by “English types”, and who “half-romances” a rich Delhi girl. The girl knows that the guy is more than friends but unsure whether to date him because he can’t speak English.
Isn’t the title too sexist?
It’s from the guy’s perspective. Had it been from the girl’s perspective, it would surely have been half boyfriend.
Do you think that a Bihari who can’t speak isnt a dating material?
The whole country suffers from complexes. There is a lot of inferiority around this language. There’s a line in the book: he says, ‘My English is not that good. I have a Bihari accent.’ He says French people have French accent and it’s considered very sexy. So why is it? There’s an assumption of inferiority associated with the whole culture.
Right from Five Point Someone to Half Girlfriend, we have noticed a decreasing numeric value?
Yes. That’s because I was an engineer and a banker. And that’s the reason for my love for numbers.
Half Girlfriend is being adapted into a Bollywood film even before it hits the stands? Your opinion.
For me whether Twitter or movies or books ~ it's everywhere. It helps in creating a hype around the book. People want to know what the book is all about, if a movie is made on it. I had asked them to first see if the audience is picking the book or not. But yes, they had read the book beforehand. I am not doing anything extra for them. If they want to come and make something then it’s OK with me.
How is the experience seeing your book’s characters on screen?
The first time, I remember, I saw Salman and Katrina playing the roles, it felt bizarre. It was like wow, what’s going on here! But now I am used to it. It does feel beautiful, whenI see the trailer of the movie and I know I am the one who created it.
Critics have often said that Chetan Bhagat’s isn’t literature. What would be your response?
I think they have a very limited understanding of what literature is. Literature, I believe issomething that mirrors society. And it has to reach the masses. There can’t be just one kind of literature. If something is accepted by the masses in such huge numbers we must try to understand that something must be there so that people are accepting it.
Do you believe that since Five Point Someone you have become a better writer?
I think so. I have improved as a writer from my first book. The flow of writing has got better. There’s a lot more confidence. As a person, I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve been writing so much or it’s because of age, I’ve just become more mature, calmer, less reactive and more in touch with myself.
How did you deal with the criticism? Did it affect your self-confidence?
That’s where I feel in 10 years I have changed. I have become much better at handling it. I can dispassionately talk about it. It cannot bother me enough to disrupt me. But in the initial stages there were real moments of doubt. Maybe I write very badly. I don’t know. Do I write really awfully? Why are so many people criticizing it?
Can you define which genre you write for?
No, I don’t think I can do that. I think it’s like the DNA. It’s like your face, your writing. I don’t think you can alter it too much. I don’t want to. Why would I? I enjoy doing it. People love it. Is there a certain need? Am I supposed to feel inadequate somehow after doing so much? I don’t feel the need at all. It’s not a competition with other writers for me. Ever. It never has been. I have to wean the young kids away from YouTube, from WhatsApp, from Candy Crush and make them read my book.
What is your upcoming project?
I haven’t decided anything yet. I’d concentrate on my health as of now.
Half Girlfriend has been published by Rupa Publishers. INR 176
Available through: http://www.flipkart.com/half-girlfriend-english/p/itmdys62bm3pvww8
Published in The Statesman dated 16 Oct'14.
The day bhagat is able to write 5 pages on the subject of death, i will accept this point.
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