A well-timed thriller

Upendra Namburi’s 8 Hours is a page-turner which follows a gusty woman who single-handedly takes on the corporate-politician nexus

November 22, 2017 01:17 pm | Updated 01:17 pm IST

PUTTING IN CONTEXT Upendra Namburi

PUTTING IN CONTEXT Upendra Namburi

Continuing his fascination for numbers, Upendra Namburi has come with another high adrenaline book, 8 Hours (Westland). The Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer with a leading insurance company, for whom writing is a passion, says, “Like my previous two books ‘31’ and ‘60 Minutes’, in this one too I examine the amplification and effect of time on our emotions and actions.” So much so that each segment of the book is marked with a specific time giving the reader the headiness of the rush. “One can feel the clock ticking with every dialogue, thought and emotion rushing through the characters. After all, time doesn’t stop for anyone.”

Set in a period of eight hours, this fast paced contemporary thriller with several layers and intriguing sub plots and gut wrenching action is an intense saga about inter-familial conflicts between two dynastic families. At its centre is Aratrika Reddy, a Chief Executive Officer of a family run conglomerate with several business interests which is threatened by a bank of calling in their loans provided to the company, thereby making it liable to go bankrupt or be taken over by a rival family.

This backdrop is not unfamiliar to the readers and thus connects immediately with them. Agreeing, Upendra reveals, “It is inspired by a host of family-run companies in India which have flourished and perished with the shifting sands of political largesse. The entire setting is reflective of present day corporate India portraying the role and influence of bankers, investment funds and politicians.”

Characters like Aratrika, Siddhartha, Rajyavardhan among others bring to fore the deep link between lenders, politicians and the bureaucracy, the wheeling-dealing and corruption which takes place at varied levels of the society. Fascinating indeed it is to read the constant see-saw battle for power and financial backing between different players trying to assume control of the business. Describing these aspects to be universal and not just specific to Indian corporates, the writer states, “corruption, red tape and political favouritism are common ingredients and obstacles in business. So is the deep rooted nexus between the political and corporate worlds which is by no means recent. In fact the last few years have witnessed several corporate failures and even scams.” Having said that, Upendra is quick to add that there are numerous individuals and organisations who stand high on their ethical beliefs and commitment. “We need so many more of them.”

Taking a leaf from the past as well as recent events like that of Satyam and Kingfisher, the story delves at length on siphoning of corporate funds by businessmen. “This aspect in particular has been the malice for several decades now. It could be attributed to several reasons and intents, but quite clearly the most impacted are the shareholders and the lenders,” he comments.

Upendra’s outlining and sketching of his characters is excellent giving one a feel of their attributes, emotions and turmoil. A case in point is that of Aratrika. He accepts that she has evolved from a host of accomplished women who have led and successfully managed large companies in contemporary India. “She drives home the fire and power of the human spirit as she takes on the father she dreads, a scheming uncle, a conniving estranged husband and an ex-lover who haunts her. A strong woman who has encountered challenges, mental and emotional abuse, deceit and treachery all of which have fired her ambition, she embraces opportunities with zeal and fire.” What is touching indeed is her sense of obligation to her employees and close aides thereby underling the strong undercurrent of morality and ethics, she is constantly battling with.

Stockholm syndrome

Running through the book, one gets a feeling that Aratrika has a mild Stockholm syndrome. Concurring Upendra says, “She begins to empathise and even like her captor, in this case her father, Madhusudhan, the archetypal rags to riches man whom modern society many criticise and even scorn at his rustic ways and tastes. He embodies many men out there who have little respect for women and are fuelled by power, money and ego. A ruthless and selfish oligarch in the truest sense, he is definitely not based on any one particular person as as there are so many out there,” he quips.

Staying clear of business jargon, the plot takes the reader through comfortably across the domains of banking, finance and company affairs without becoming tedious and cumbersome. “Contrary to the corporate setting and backdrop of the story, the book is meant for everyone across age and gender boundaries. It is essentially about a woman seeking respect for her own accomplishments and not willing to operate on the crutches of her family name or her femininity. Besides it gives an insight into what motivates people in their quest for power and the choices they make and the personalities they become.”

Writing whenever he gets time when travelling in cabs or waiting at airport lounges, Upendra is keen to explore non-fiction genre too. He is currently working on two different storylines. “While one is a thriller addressing personal conflicts and friendships, the other is a contemporary romance,” is what he is willing to reveal.

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