Chetan Bhagat’s “2 states - The story of my marriage”
The book surely sounds like a true story; of the author’s of course. But here is Bhagat’s clever disclaimer, “The story is inspired by my own family and experiences. However this book should be seen as a work of fiction”.
The story is all about two IIM-A graduates Krish and Ananya who belong to 2 different states of Punjab and Tamil Nadu respectively.
The former is also an IIT graduate, lives in Delhi
The latter is a Tamil Brahmin who outstandingly loves chicken and beer (does being an IIM graduate have anything to do with that?)
After madly in love for two years, they decide to get married. They have got to convince their two very different families as they don’t want to elope. But things aren’t so easy. Their efforts to make their folks like each other, goes in vain. But the determined couple doesn’t let go of the situation just like that. Boy makes the girl’s family like him and girl tries to impress the boy’s family. Though not entirely successful, their objective of getting married is eventually fulfilled (phew!)…….
The narration of the oft-seen and heard inter-state love story is staid yet simple. It wouldn’t hurt Bhagat if he makes some of the dialogues of the other characters longer.
Tamilians are teased to death. Inspite of being a Tamil girl, I can’t help laughing at the instance where he quips about the bad Tamilian way of joking or how funny the translucent loin cloth seems to him (or to Krish, it is all very similar)!
Some Tamil words are mispronounced but they add to the ludicrousness of the situation.
Certain episodes like the Punjabi wedding and the musical concert are interesting but I wish the narrative could’ve been better.
Bhagat stands nowhere when compared to other accomplished writers of love stories the worldover. But he continues to be the leading writer of the Indian urban youth who ape everything westerners do (Even I do; can’t help it!)
I finished the book in half a day as it was so easy to read. I’d take longer to read a novel about the same size if written by a hard hit writer.
Whatever, I had always wanted to read a Chetan Bhagat book seeing how popular his books were. And I don’t regret reading it. At Rs.95, it’s worth its money. It just seems to be an extended version of a lovable short story. In other words, it reads exactly like a Bollywood (or Kollywood!) script.
I too like his writings although he has been dismissed as lowbrow by the critics. You may also read Jhumpa Lahiri's Namesake for contrast. Nice write up.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this! I guess we all gravitate to books which we'l enjoy but it helps to read as varied a set of writers as possible - helps separate wheat from chaff :)
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