2 States by Chetan Bhagat - Book Review!

This is my first time reviewing a book! Its an enjoyable read..promises a few good laugh! If you are a Tamil or a Punjabi, read it only if you can take jokes on your lifestyle and your community.. ;-) If you are a regional fanatic, please stay away from this book! It takes quite a few potshots at the Tamils and Punjabis! It is a progressive book..which looks at modern romance in India through the eyes of a madly-in-love fiercely independent couple of contemporary days! It is written as a sequel to 'Five point someone' taking its gist as the past under-grad life of Krish, the protagonist of 2 States.



Image courtesy: chetanbbhagat.com

Krish Malhotra is a Punjabi pursuing MBA in IIMA and he falls for his classmate Ananya Swaminathan who is a Tamilian. The novel revolves around how they make both sets of parents understand and accept the modern metropolitan romance between them.Krish and Ananya, both are unscrupulous when it comes to making their parents accept their love but the love between them is shown as one without any pretense, one where both know what they want out of the relationship. Krish goes a long way to woo Ananya's parents..from volunteering to tuition her brother who is preparing for IIT entrance exams..to preparing business plans for her banker dad...to getting her bathroom-singing mom a break on a public stage! In the end, he even proposes to her entire family!

Krish is shown as a perfect modern Punjabi guy who wants to go after his girl, but doesn't want to offend his mom. He faces the dilemma most guys do at one point or the other in their life.. the tussle between his mom and his lady! Ananya is shown as a progressive and independent lady of contemporary India who doesn't think of being a woman as a handicap which is quite shocking for Krish's mom who mentally lives in the previous century. The novel explores the quirks of a typical Tamil Brahmin family and a Punjabi family in a humorous way.

Since I am Tamil and I know Chennai, I could relate a lot with the book location-wise! The book takes you back to your younger days when you were willing to do anything stupid or otherwise to make your love succeed..gives you a hope that love can succeed cross-cultural differences.. If you loved 'Five point someone', you will love this too.

Oh!But, I wish I hadn't read the epilogue! The epilogue narrates the ordeal of the couple in a labor room where Ananya is giving birth.Here, the author goes the filmi-way.. Krish and Ananya are surprised that they are having twins as they realize it only on the labor bed!! How ridiculous!?! Didn't they find it in ante-natal check-ups?!? I find it hard to believe! Despite having twins for himself, the author has forgotten to do his homework here!Oh! how I wish I hadn't read the epilogue!

Otherwise, I enjoyed the book thoroughly and I finished it in one go! The narration is contemporary interspersed with Punjabi and Tamil words.I would love to see a sequel to this book..about what happens after the wedding..when the reality starts! ;-) Its a feel good book for a relaxing read!

-Josie