What makes Chetan Bhagat, India's only author selling in millions, such a publishing phenomenon?
Whether you love him or hate him, chances are, you've read him. With almost five million books sold since his first paperback blockbuster came out, almost everyone owns a copy of at least one of Bhagat's five bestsellers. He might not be a literary purist's favourite man, but Bhagat has made India sit up and notice him. What more, Bhagat has made India read.
His fan base is so strong it dwarfs the haters by the sheer power of numbers. His books are read and reread, becoming blueprint for successful and unsuccessful films. His latest book, Revolution 2020, had the online bookstore, Flipkart.com, hiring 500 extra delivery boys just for a day to deliver the pre-ordered copies. And again and again, we come back to the question of…why?
Meshing literature and popular fiction has always been a controversial subject, and authors like Bhagat crank up the heat on the already fiery debate amongst readers and literary theorists. The word within literary circuits is that writing like Bhagats isn't really literature, but the word on the street says otherwise. And in the world of publishing and book sales, the word on the street definitely counts. Saying Chetan Bhagat is widely read is probably understating the fact, and there is something, or perhaps many things, that are making his books work, and work well. Light, frothy plotlines, fairly surmountable problems, underdog heroes and girls-next-door make up almost every Chetan Bhagat book. Voracious readers have probably read a Chetan Bhagat and told themselves that anyone could write like that. But let's look a little closer. Could they?
Priced nice
There is, of course, the question of pricing. Books are more expensive than ever before, and the more beautiful, hard bound wonders are nearly unaffordable for most students and youngsters. Books have become assets in more ways than one, and reading them is no longer only a question of choice and preference, but also a financial consideration. And then we have Chetan Bhagat's first four books available at an easy Rs. 95, and his newest one marked at Rs. 140, which is still much lower than most paperbacks lining the shelves. While this cannot be quoted as the only reason for his success, it definitely encourages sales, allowing even the non-readers to pick up a copy without thinking twice.
The pricing though, is just part of the story, and the idea of understanding and appreciating Chetan Bhagat's appeal brings us to the all-important question of ‘good writing' and ‘bad writing', a tricky subject in itself. There is a widespread assumption that good writing, by virtue of being good, also has to be rarefied, eloquent, often complicated and deeply layered. By elimination, bad writing therefore becomes anything that is too simple and unchallenging. And yes, Bhagat's books are definitely those things. They don't speak in coded metaphors and allusions. In fact, the message in them is as plain as daylight. But they have managed to reach out to more people than any esoteric tome ever could.
Repetitive?
Some critics accuse Bhagat's books of having almost identical characters and elementary plotlines. Every book is basically a love story, and Bhagat admitted in Revolution 2020's Delhi book launch that he thinks youngsters treat their love-lives as one of their biggest priorities, which makes him choose love stories as the framework of his books. Whether he is right or not, the romantic plotlines have definitely worked for him so far. At the same time, he also weaves in contemporary urban issues in each of his books, touching upon the problems of coaching institutes, call centres, student suicides, corruption and misplaced ambition. His books deal with urban cities and urban issues; inter-caste marriages, parental pressures, career choices. The latest, Revolution 2020, mixes it up a little, by setting the scene of the action in Varanasi. In each of his books, there's the almost certain possibility of the reader finding at least one character to relate to. The language too, is our very own — a familiar, fast spreading mix of Hindi, English and the appropriate regional language based on the context of that particular book. Bhagat doesn't make you guess your way through the meaning of a word; he doesn't make you run to your dictionaries. He writes like he talks, and he talks like most of India is talking. English isn't our first language, and classical literature not accessible to majority of the population. Bhagat has given a voice to the middleclass indian, and allowed each one of his readers to pick up his book and think that if they wanted to, they could write what he's written. That they could tell their own story in the same words, because, after all, the words Bhagat uses are their own, the jokes and references ones they understand and use themselves, the problems so familiar they get to the solution before the book can. Before authors like Chetan Bhagat, English fiction was rendered unapproachable to a majority of people. Now, even the non-readers don't mind an occasional quick read, and if a book can get even the non-readers reading, it must be doing something right. Stephen King has been known to call himself the literary equivalent of a ‘big mac and cheese'. Perhaps in Bhagat, we have found the literary equivalent of chaat and paani puri.
The numbers game
Bhagat’s new book,Revolution 2020, has already sold 750,000 copies since its publication in October, 2011. Some of the other bestsellers in the popular fiction genre:
Advaita Kala’s Almost Single (HarperCollins India) sold 15,000 copies in its first 10 months.
Anuja Chauhan’sZoya Factor(HarperCollins India) sold 20,000 copies in its first six months.
Amit Varma’sMy Friend Sancho(Hachette India) sold over 15,000 copies in the first few months.
Karan Bajaj’s debut novel Keep off the Grass(HarperCollins India) sold 25,000 copies in the first six months.
Keywords: Chetan Bhagat, Indian literature, Indian novelists
"We all know that the Rushdies, Ghoshes and the Seths the so called
literary types get much critical aclaim but they cant sell a single
book."
"Well other readers do read them but how do urban readers connect to
stories set in the Sunderbands or in Kalimpong especially when the
intent of the writer is show off his vocabulary and skills of
confusing the readers rather than telling a story like a story."
People here crack good jokes :D
I must admit that I have not read Bhagat and I don't think I would like to, precisely because of most of the "positive" comments on this page. Why do I say so? These "positive" comments are not helpful for people like me who read, seriously read (note: not read serious books alone, but seriously read). The writer has connected with the masses? Really? Which ones? The self obsessed, urban, middle classes? Those who like "messages in an entertaining way"? "We all know that the Rushdies, Ghoshes and the Seths the so called literary types get much critical aclaim but they cant sell a single book." Is this a real comment? Unbelievable what people can convince themselves about literature! What would such readers would say about Kalidasa or even V.S.Naipaul. Anyway, such people must be the ones Bhagat writes for. That is fair enough. Every writer has an audience and every reader has the right to "like" and "dislike" authors. I suppose I should blame their education rather than them!
chetan bhagat books gives messages in an entertaining way.
messages in a light mode fits better than in heavy loads.
Apart from all the qualities in reading his books, on thing remains constant that "he connects damn well with masses, not just classes". That is the X-Factor which keeps his sales graph bouncing above all boundaries...
India emerged as a pop cultural era.Want cheap entertaining books.for club member type male and society ladies . Bhagat and Shobha Day are providing them this kind trash books that why their books sold just like hot cake
Chetan bhagat supports spicy writing..... he covers the facts which are really liked by the youngsters.... in fact, I must say "like" is not a suitable word, one aspect of his writings is, he stresses on the points which the present day youth is really curious about... and yeah its free of esoteric allusions, so more people get engaged in reading his novels...
He has succeeded because he chooses topic different from other
Chetan Bhagat has demystified the Indian English novel. We all know that the Rushdies, Ghoshes and the Seths the so called literary types get much critical aclaim but they cant sell a single book. Only two types of people buy their books. The critics who make a living out of critiquing and those who want to use these books are beautiful interiors in their study.Well other readers do read them but how do urban readers connect to stories set in the Sunderbands or in Kalimpong especially when the intent of the writer is show off his vocabulary and skills of confusing the readers rather than telling a story like a story. Chetan Bhagat tells a story as it should be told. He may never get a Booker or a Nobel but the Indian reader cares two hoots about a Booker or a Nobel.
We like his novels because we belong to Chetan Bhagat's INDIA
I think his style of writing is the key to his success. I dont think there is some thing unique in his story line, it is the way it is told that makes the difference. He has his pulse on the masses. While reading his book, you dont have to think, you just go with the flow.
I dont understnad the problem of critics. Why does a good novel has to be esoteric?? Though I do enjoy reading heavy novels once in a while, It is practically difficult for many not-so-serious readers(Yet book lovers) to read those "good novels" frequently. These light reads provide that when you are short on time or dont want to stress your mind too much. And it is fun too! Chetan Bagat definitly made me laugh many times in his books. We want to be entertained :)
In India everyone writes at certain age in certain conditions(mostly when he/she is sad)...but it will never go in print..because who cares and who can even think that his/er writing is that capable enough to attract some ones's attention. CB is a class guy(obviously iit/iim tag helped him) representing all Indians and their every bit of emotions...With 5point some1 -got 14-25 age group,with 1ni8@cc-he caught 18-30(basically not so qualified hi-fi),with 3 mistakes -he gave us a shocker,with 2 states-aged between 20-45..and R2020--story of evry UP and Bihari Boy-it's a mania now...And obviously less cost helped him ...overall he is an asset to five crores of indians ..and he has to go a long way till the rest of the population identify him that who is he..may be regional language news channel can help him.
@DS Raja : I am not going to get into a debate here. But Chetan Bhagat has not "moulded" the younger generation in any positive manner in any of his previous books. His books contain love and sex in an never-ending circle. And his books in no way represents our culture. Yes, Chetan Bhagat's writings are very simple that even a 15 year kid can easily understand but if the kid reads "Five Point Someone", do you think that he is going to be positively influenced? There is no "content" in any of his books.
Absolutely, as the article says Chetan's characters have every single possibility of the readers to relate to. He made India read, of course my first novel was his Five.someone.
Chetan Baghat writings are in very simple language which can be read by all sorts of people irrespective of their English knowledge. Furthermore, his books express the present way of life and facts in our culture. He is one of the best Indian writer I ever come across. I request him to write books at regular intervals in such way to mould the younger generation to prosper in their life in a positive and successful manner.
The success of his books can traced to easy style, wit and ability to relate to real life happenings in India and of course inexpensive paper packs. His novel "2 States: The Story Of My Marriage" is a very likable for its near non fiction atmosphere and story plot keeping pace with reality of South and North Indian societal divide. A reader cannot but help developing kin ship with the author.
"Perhaps in Bhagat, we have found the literary equivalent of chaat and paani puri." You got that right there. Dominoes' pizza also sells a lot, doesn't make it a healthy alternative to home cooked food. The article got also got another thing right in, "In fact, the message in them is as plain as daylight. But they have managed to reach out to more people than any esoteric tome ever could." Many Indian writers use words/phrases which we don't use in everyday, disconnecting us from the story. Bhagat doesn't do that. Smart fellow. I guess he understands Peter's Principle.
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