Novel

After an hour into this erstwhile novel, (its updated version is also by the same name), I was over-joyous and opined that this is the best work of Charu till date. Then, my joy reached a plateau in the mid-course, on reading Anjali's constant complaints. I felt Anjali is cheating on Udhaya. To my surprise, The fifth climax by Kokarako reflected my thoughts. Through the final hour into the novel, my joy reached crests, with five different climaxes ( six actually, counting the one in the first page), reflecting five different possibilities.

The political ideas put forth by Udhaya and Kokarako are very important. Udhaya says the reason he does not want to go into spiritual  business - is that because he does not want to leave behind an organisation in his name after his death. He feels the organisation dictates people what to watch, who to follow, what to read - simply it 'makes' opinion for people.

 

Kokarako, in the fifth climax, questions Anjali of her deeds. He feels it is an 'attitude problem' of women like Anjali. Kokarako goes on to say this political statement: women should come up and lead the men and shepherd the family.

The writer has great guts in writing about Pakkirisamy and the scam involving crores and ministers. The modi-operandi of Pakirisamy are explained in detail and in an easy-to-understand language. And the test, the minister keeps for Pakirisamy involving an actress and not money, is nice.

Udhaya explains sensibly the truth behind the alleged sex-chat and the letter allegedly written by Perundevi to Jimka Saamiyar. I was laughing for five minutes on reading the 'ideal chat' proposed by Kokarako. Perundevi opines that it is even wrong to complain about one's husband to an outsider. Kokarako hit the bull's eye at this point asking Udhaya, whether Anjali has read this line.

The ordeals, Anjali underwent under the hands of Divakar, are not easy to pass by. In the fourth climax, Udhaya's daughter says she had undergone similar child sex abuse. In India, the girl child (children, in general) has socio-politico-cultural barrier in revealing it to her parents.

Kokarako, in the fifth climax, questions Anjali why her narrative is pegged by constant pessimism. It was my thought too. Kokarako mocks that even an eighty year old man, who comes only once in the novel, is shown as a badass by Anjali.

The five different climaxes written by the author is a brilliant move. It envisages the five different moods of the reader. The first climax is spiritual and says Udhaya has passed the 'lust part' of his life. Udhaya, in the most exemplary definition of spiritualism, says that it is an inner warmth that one feels in front of the Almighty.

I felt the love letters by Anjali and Udhaya in the novel contained too little love. The reader thinks the love between them is shallow. And for readers with opinion like me, the author gives the third climax, where they depart.

Altogether, I liked this novel - it started with a high and ended with a high.

(Originally written on December 28, 2013 in Charu Nivedita Readers’ Forum, Facebook.)

Dhegam - Reading Experience

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My Perspective on Charu Nivedita

Charu Nivedita

What deters readers from buying Charu's books is that there is a general notion that his books are vulgar or contain uninteresting page-fillers. When Dhegam was released, Mysskin called it a porn. When Exile was released, many bloggers scanned a page or two from the book in their blog and said it contains nonsense pages. In my opinion, those who say Charu's writings are vulgar- must have not read at-least a novel or two of pulp authors like Sidney Sheldon, Harold Robbins ( The Lonely Lady - which contains finer details of coitus, both homo and heterosexual), Arthur Hailey (Strong Medicine, The Money Changers), James Hadley Chase (Hit and Run).

Even The Hindu comes with articles on the Tamil editions of Mills and Boons. The Landmark stores have an exclusive section for both English and Tamil Mills and Boons. The sex in Charu's writings is a political statement and not merely porn. The sex in Charu's writings speak the politics of body, feminism and transgression; it speaks for the marginalized sections of the society; it speaks for the third gender.

And for those naysayers saying Charu's writings are uninteresting, they miss the fun. As Winston Churchill put it, " Let the sleeping dogs lie."

For those who say that they do not understand Charu's writings, come on people, haven’t you seen Inception (what do you think the climax is?) , Memento (who killed the heroine? ), Run Lola Run, 12B and the like?

From my understanding of postmodernism, which is there in Charu's fiction and the above films, the author / director, engages the reader / viewer in his work. The perception of this art is subjective. My understanding of Memento is that the hero killed the heroine and he is the villain. Some may think otherwise. There is nothing wrong.

Charu introduces good books and good music throughout his literary travel. I heard the names of Michel Foucault, Jean Genet, Sartre, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Nikos Kazantzakis for the first time only through Charu. I plan to read them in future. I plan to read Pattinathar, Devaram, Naalayira Thivya Prabandam in future.

Someone has to introduce you a better book, a better music, a better art. Charu, like a friend, pats on the reader's shoulder and says read this, hear this, see this. He teaches us to see the world.

I saw Inception and read reviews of Charu and S.Ramakrishnan and came to know about Hans Zimmer, penrose stairs, M.C.Escher. The beauty of films / novels like these is that it pulls you in, makes you understand and enjoy the art better and better each time you read / see it. I got mesmerized on hearing Wim Mertens' ‘Struggle For Pleasure.’

Read the tougher chapters again and again, you will understand the meaning. If not, ask your doubts in Vaasagar Vattam. We can engage in active discussion and understand and enjoy the text better.

It does not necessitate an ordinary reader to have read English pulp or to have seen Hollywood films, to understand Charu's writings. Get one of his book. Read it with no preconceived notions, no prejudices. Read it with an open mind. Reading, in general, is a pleasant experience. And particularly the writings of Charu engage oneself's mind and heart. Understand, the baseline of Charuism is - LOVE.

(Originally written on November 15, 2013 in Charu Nivedita Readers’ Forum, Facebook.)