நிலா நிழல் - சுஜாதா

Hero :)

 
This is a story about a boy turning into a man with cricket, father-son relationship, love in the background. I remember starting to read this novel so many years before when I was in school just because of the picture in the cover. It was a picture of a batsman in whites. But, I might have read maximum of five to six pages and don't even remember the title after that or didn't even realize I was reading Sujatha's book. After many years when I started "reading books" really I bought this book, this time the cover was different didn't have a cricketer on it, but never mind the author is Sujatha.

Small town boy Mugundh, wants to be a cricketer and his father hates it very much. He wants him to just study, get a job and be like his brother. Mugundth was happy to be selected in his college team and wants to go to Bombay for a tournament, obviously his father didn't accept. So Mugundh lies and travels to Bombay with the help of his sister. He falls in love (or infatuation) with a girl in his relative's home in Bombay, where she initially just uses him. What happens in Bombay, whether his father found out and how did this Bombay trip transform his life is the story as usual narrated in Sujatha style.

Sujatha brings the game in front of your eyes, right from the practice sessions to the actual matches. He explains about in-swinger, out-swinger, slog, edges, partnerships, etc. He brings each and every match live with his words. Mugundh being hero of this story helps his team win some matches in the tournament, who was obviously the man of the tournament. It was much like Chennai 600028 movie with the perfect mix of cricket, love, friendship.

The book is less than 150 pages I guess. If you start you will finish it one sitting. It was interesting even though it isn't a thriller. Only at few places will make us think what's going to happen next, like when his father visits his relative's house in Mumbai where Mugundh is staying, otherwise it's a feel good book. Those who love Sujatha and Cricket, like me,  this book is a perfect combination. I really enjoyed this book, which was one of the best non Ganesh-Vasanth Sujatha book.

கொலையுதிர் காலம் - சுஜாதா

கொலையுதிர் காலம் - சுஜாதா

My first post on a Sujatha's book, Kolai Uthir Kalam. It's one among his famous Ganesh-Vasanth series. Those who have read Sujatha must be familiar about these two, some may have seen them in DD serials.

I am a very big fan of Ganesh - Vasanth series, I almost liked all of the Ganesh-Vasanth stories. I don't know why I have decided to write about this one. This is one of his best in Ganesh - Vasanth series and an absolute thriller. Actually I started reading this book at night and stopped after few pages in fear :).

I would say, Ganesh - Vasanth series is more Indian version of Sherlock Holmes by Sujatha. Ganesh is a famous lawyer and a very brilliant one too who can easily find a solution to any problem and Vasanth his assistant, is a funny guy and makes us laugh with his playboy behaviour.

Sujatha deals about ghost, spirit, etc, in this Kolai Uthir Kalam in his own style. This novel is about a series of murder and also trying to solve the mystery of whether it's all happening because of a spirit. Sujatha keeps us guessing at the end of every chapter.

Actually this book is more of a debate in existence and non-existence of ghost. Vasanth believes in ghost, he thinks all the events are due to some spirit and Ganesh doesn't believe in it, he tries to find a scientific reason for every unusual things happening. While reading when you start to believe in Vasanth's side, Sujatha also gives scientific explanation for the unusual events through Ganesh.

And at the end Sujatha leaves the question open. He tells you about the unusual ghost activities which cannot be done by a normal human and then he also takes an effort in identifying the near possibility of doing such things using some technologies. So its up-to us to decide whether to believe in the scientific explanations or to believe in ghosts.

Actually I was little disappointed with the end since I expected him to give me an judgement. I think even Sujatha got the similar feedback when this novel released I guess since in his another novel a policeman asks Ganesh, "Antha Kolai Uthir Kalam case eh yen apdi mudichuteenga?", where Ganesh just says, leave that sir.  Anyhow it's still a best thriller and a best among Ganesh-Vasanth series.

என் இனிய சுஜாதா

என் இனிய சுஜாதா

I think I should have written this as my first post. Once I have started reading books, I was reading historic novels following Udayar, like Ponniyin Selvan, Parthiban Kanavu of Kalki, Yavana Rani, Kadal Pura of Sandilyan. After reading all these, I decided to move on to other author's.

I started with Sujatha's 'En iniya Iyanthira'. After reading the novels, with the plot happening so many years before in the past, this book was so many years ahead in the future. Not just this one, most of his books and his ideas were way ahead in that time.

Sujatha's books or his stories will never have a dull moment. He doesn't fall into any formula. He has his own style of writing which was very new. You cannot imagine where he is going. He always slaps you with a surprise in every novel or story. If you start reading his book, it's very difficult to keep the book down at any point. I'm not simply saying this as a cliche, I have actually read many of his books in single sitting. After started reading his books, every month I get into the bookshop and get a minimum of ten Sujatha books at a time. It was very difficult for me to read other author's books after reading Sujatha's.

I don't think of any topic that Sujatha haven't touched in his writing. His "Science-fiction" stories and novels were so good that you wish they are true. I strongly believe if some life existed outside this world, they might have surely contacted Sujatha :).

Sujatha usually didn't like the movies which are based on his books. He feels that they actually kill the originality of his characters in the movies. Especially he didn't like the movie adaption of his book "Priya", which has Superstar and Sridevi in the lead roles. The Ganesh in the movie Priya was nowhere near Sujatha's Ganesh. But he worked in many successful movie's story and dialogue departments. He worked with Shankar, Manirathnam, Kamal and Rajni. I am sure Shankar and Manirathnam miss him the most in the film industry. In my opinion, Tamil industry didn't use him well. He worked in few films only.

I regret starting to read his books late, I regret for not meeting (or see) him once. I wish I could read all of his books in my lifetime. I think I will be able to do that.

I have read so many (or few) other author's books, but my favorite author will be always 'என் இனிய சுஜாதா'.