Rating:3.5/5
Finished On:December 13th 2013
Parking by Ruchir Joshi(Nizammudin
west) 2.5/5
Finished On:December 13th 2013
Delhi Noir is a book in the Akashic Noir series in which they print noir stories related to a particular city.
i must admit that i came across the book after watching the feature film B A Pass which was based on The Railway Aunty by Mohan Sikka, a story that makes this anthology.
It is a collection of fifteen stories edited by Hirsh Sawhney. The book is divided into three sections and the stories are in a way related to these sections.Each section depicts a particular aspect of the city.
Before reading this book i thought noir
was about dark characters,cynical investigators who are most of the
times eccentric but then when i searched i found out Noir film and
Noir fiction are entirely different things.
was about dark characters,cynical investigators who are most of the
times eccentric but then when i searched i found out Noir film and
Noir fiction are entirely different things.
Noir fiction (or roman noir) is a literary genre closely related to hardboiled genre[1] with a distinction that the protagonist is not a detective, but instead either a victim, a suspect, or a perpetrator.
So in this case most of the stories satisfy the noir title.
So in this case most of the stories satisfy the noir title.
Then there is Film Noir which is entirely different thing.
The book is divided into three sections
and each section has stories centered on it.
and each section has stories centered on it.
The stories in the book are :
Part 1:With you for you always.
The above is the motto of the Delhi
police and so the stories in this part have the stories related to
Delhi police.
police and so the stories in this part have the stories related to
Delhi police.
Yesterday Man by Omair
Ahmad(Ashram)3.5/5.
Ahmad(Ashram)3.5/5.
Suhasini is a Private Investigator. She
had a senior partner called Triloki but when she found out that
Triloki was blackmailing one of the client,she separated her agency
and was now solely running the agency. When she gets a call from her
informer that Triloki has sent a case to her, she gets puzzled. Will
she take the case and why Triloki sent her the case????
had a senior partner called Triloki but when she found out that
Triloki was blackmailing one of the client,she separated her agency
and was now solely running the agency. When she gets a call from her
informer that Triloki has sent a case to her, she gets puzzled. Will
she take the case and why Triloki sent her the case????
The story was an okay read but the
twist was great. I’ll give it
twist was great. I’ll give it
How i lost my clothes by Radhika
Jha(lodhi gardens)2.5/5
Jha(lodhi gardens)2.5/5
The story is about a guy. The narrator
is the CEO of global consultancy company and its sole worker. He’s a
drug addict and lives a responsibility free life. He gets work through
his ex-bosses who all are female. When he finds that the report he
had to sent has been deleted from his laptop, he suspects his ex-wife
of doing it. While on his way to the police station, he comes across
some people taking drugs and decides to join the party. After his drug binge when he wakes up next morning he finds out that he’s stark
naked and evey cloth on his body has been stolen. What happens to
him??
is the CEO of global consultancy company and its sole worker. He’s a
drug addict and lives a responsibility free life. He gets work through
his ex-bosses who all are female. When he finds that the report he
had to sent has been deleted from his laptop, he suspects his ex-wife
of doing it. While on his way to the police station, he comes across
some people taking drugs and decides to join the party. After his drug binge when he wakes up next morning he finds out that he’s stark
naked and evey cloth on his body has been stolen. What happens to
him??
The story was average. Nothing
extraordinary about it.
extraordinary about it.
Last In first out by Irwin allan
seally( Delhi ridge)3.5/5
seally( Delhi ridge)3.5/5
Baba Ganoush is an auto rickshaw
driver.One night during his regular rounds for fare he comes across a
guy who appears to be severely distressed. He finds out that he and
his girl-friend had gone to secluded place and there they were
attacked. After dropping them to their place, he forgets the
incident. But when after some day he reads in a paper, that a gang is
active in the same region where he had picked the victim, who often
targets the couple and often rapes the girl, he know that he’ll have
to do something. What does he plans ?
driver.One night during his regular rounds for fare he comes across a
guy who appears to be severely distressed. He finds out that he and
his girl-friend had gone to secluded place and there they were
attacked. After dropping them to their place, he forgets the
incident. But when after some day he reads in a paper, that a gang is
active in the same region where he had picked the victim, who often
targets the couple and often rapes the girl, he know that he’ll have
to do something. What does he plans ?
I liked the story and the ending was
what i loved.
what i loved.
Parking by Ruchir Joshi(Nizammudin
west) 2.5/5
Samiran lives in a in nizammudin west.
He is not in good terms with his neighbor. When his girlfriend comes
to visit him one day she gets stopped by the cops as she has parked
in no parking area. The cops have been called by his neighbor to
harass him. But it’s Delhi the place where motto is if you have it, flaunt it and its applicable to not only money but power.
He is not in good terms with his neighbor. When his girlfriend comes
to visit him one day she gets stopped by the cops as she has parked
in no parking area. The cops have been called by his neighbor to
harass him. But it’s Delhi the place where motto is if you have it, flaunt it and its applicable to not only money but power.
The story is an okay read.
Hissing Cobras by Nalinaksha
Bhattacharya (R K Puram) 3/5
Bhattacharya (R K Puram) 3/5
Mukta aggarwal’s mother in law Kamla
agarwal was brought dead to the emergency of the hospital. Raghav
Bakhsi, an Inspector in R K Puram police station,gets an anonymous
call that tells him that Kamla agarwal may have been murdered by
Mukta as Kamla had found about her illicit affair with the
neighborhood army Jawan. Is this true or some one just jealous??
You’ll have to read the story
agarwal was brought dead to the emergency of the hospital. Raghav
Bakhsi, an Inspector in R K Puram police station,gets an anonymous
call that tells him that Kamla agarwal may have been murdered by
Mukta as Kamla had found about her illicit affair with the
neighborhood army Jawan. Is this true or some one just jealous??
You’ll have to read the story
to find out.
It’s one of the good stories of the
collection.
collection.
Part 2 Youngistan
Youngistan is the motto of the cold
drink brand Pepsi. This section contains stories about the young
people of the city.
drink brand Pepsi. This section contains stories about the young
people of the city.
The Railway aunty by Mohan Sikka
(paharganj)3.5/5
When Mukesh’s parents die in an accident, he is
forced to move to his aunt’s colony. There he meets Sarika aunt and
meeting her will change his life for ever.
(paharganj)3.5/5
When Mukesh’s parents die in an accident, he is
forced to move to his aunt’s colony. There he meets Sarika aunt and
meeting her will change his life for ever.
I loved the story. The movie BA pass
was based on this story. And i’ll confess that this was the story due to which i purchased this collection.
was based on this story. And i’ll confess that this was the story due to which i purchased this collection.
Hostel by Sidharta Chowdhary ( Delhi
University, North Campus) 2.5/5
Zorawar singh is the owner of
shoukeen Nivas. Shoukeen Nivas is the hostel for students studying in
the Delhi University. Jishnu Da is the warden of this hostel. When
new boy come to the hostel Jishnu tells them about the history of
Shoukeen Nivas.
University, North Campus) 2.5/5
Zorawar singh is the owner of
shoukeen Nivas. Shoukeen Nivas is the hostel for students studying in
the Delhi University. Jishnu Da is the warden of this hostel. When
new boy come to the hostel Jishnu tells them about the history of
Shoukeen Nivas.
One of the most depressing story in the
collection. It was not that the story was bad but the thing was the
content of story was too dark for me.
collection. It was not that the story was bad but the thing was the
content of story was too dark for me.
Small Fry by Meera Nair (ISBT)
3.5/5
Ramu is a tout living at ISBT. He works at a tea stall and
arranges customers for Hoshiyar Singh to sell tickets too. One night
he spots a couple and his life changes after that.
3.5/5
Ramu is a tout living at ISBT. He works at a tea stall and
arranges customers for Hoshiyar Singh to sell tickets too. One night
he spots a couple and his life changes after that.
One of the better stories of the
collection.
collection.
Fit of Rage by Plash Krishna
Mehrotra(defence colony) 2.5/5
Manik lives as a tenant in Mrs Bindra’s house. He befriends Mrs Bindra’s servant and a rickshaw
driver. They procure drugs for him and during one of their sessions
they tell him a plan.
Mehrotra(defence colony) 2.5/5
Manik lives as a tenant in Mrs Bindra’s house. He befriends Mrs Bindra’s servant and a rickshaw
driver. They procure drugs for him and during one of their sessions
they tell him a plan.
A nice story . We often read stories
like these in the paper.
like these in the paper.
Just another death by Hartosh singh bal
(gyan kunj)3/5
(gyan kunj)3/5
This story is told in past tense. When
the narrator had newly joined Hindustan Express he gets a call from a
guy called Ekka. Ekka was an alcoholic and was campaigning against the
current councilor in the election. He tells narrator that he’s going
to be killed and when narrator reaches the place he finds that Ekka
has been killed. He’s told the reason for his death but that doesn’t
satisfies him, He tries to investigate but all his investigations are
thwarted. After so many year that case still nags his conscience and
when he gets the opportunity to find the truth he goes for it but
does he really cares for it?
the narrator had newly joined Hindustan Express he gets a call from a
guy called Ekka. Ekka was an alcoholic and was campaigning against the
current councilor in the election. He tells narrator that he’s going
to be killed and when narrator reaches the place he finds that Ekka
has been killed. He’s told the reason for his death but that doesn’t
satisfies him, He tries to investigate but all his investigations are
thwarted. After so many year that case still nags his conscience and
when he gets the opportunity to find the truth he goes for it but
does he really cares for it?
Just another story about police
brutality and how money can be used to buy policemen and use them as
your personal henchmen.
brutality and how money can be used to buy policemen and use them as
your personal henchmen.
Part 3 Walled City,World City
Delhi has been an ancient city but now
it’s progressing and is in a transformation from being a city close to
its ancient roots to becoming a cosmopolitan city. These stories
represent these aspects of Delhi.
it’s progressing and is in a transformation from being a city close to
its ancient roots to becoming a cosmopolitan city. These stories
represent these aspects of Delhi.
Gautam Under a tree by Hirsh Swahney
3/5
3/5
Gautam is a journalist who’s asked to
write a story that will unfold the mystery over the death of his
friend Khem who was a tribal activist. He agrees to do it without
realizing that this will put him in a web of deceit and treachery.
write a story that will unfold the mystery over the death of his
friend Khem who was a tribal activist. He agrees to do it without
realizing that this will put him in a web of deceit and treachery.
The scam by Tabish Khair 3/5
Arvind Sinha is a reporter in Times of
India. He has gone to jantar mantar to cover a high profile protest.
He’s a cynical guy. There he meets Preeti and Tina who have come to
cover a caster atrocity that was committed in which a woman’s
relatives were murdered and she and her son were chased away. Sinha
tells them that their protest is just a scam to earn money but the
ladies make a bet and they go to the woman’s town to make sure. While
Preeti and Tina return from the village convinced that they have been
scammed as told by Sinha but Sinha has his doubts.
India. He has gone to jantar mantar to cover a high profile protest.
He’s a cynical guy. There he meets Preeti and Tina who have come to
cover a caster atrocity that was committed in which a woman’s
relatives were murdered and she and her son were chased away. Sinha
tells them that their protest is just a scam to earn money but the
ladies make a bet and they go to the woman’s town to make sure. While
Preeti and Tina return from the village convinced that they have been
scammed as told by Sinha but Sinha has his doubts.
It was an average
story.
story.
The walls of Delhi by Uday Praksh 4/5
It’s said that the walls have ears and
one should be careful about what one utters so that the wrong thing
may not go into ears that could create a problem for you. But the
walls of Delhi can contain certain secrets which may be fatal for
you. Ramnivas finds it a hard way.
One of the best story of the
collection.
one should be careful about what one utters so that the wrong thing
may not go into ears that could create a problem for you. But the
walls of Delhi can contain certain secrets which may be fatal for
you. Ramnivas finds it a hard way.
One of the best story of the
collection.
Cull by Manjula Padmanabhan 2.5/5
This story is set in future Delhi. It
reminded me of the movie District 13. An isolated area is present in
the future Delhi. People who have watched the movie will know what
i’m talking about. People who haven’t should read the story. It was
an ok story. The ending was predictable but it was nicely executed.
reminded me of the movie District 13. An isolated area is present in
the future Delhi. People who have watched the movie will know what
i’m talking about. People who haven’t should read the story. It was
an ok story. The ending was predictable but it was nicely executed.
Some stories were good and some were okay but over all i liked the
collection. Although sometimes all the cynicism in the stories is
depressing and i think it’s because we have come across such stories in
our life.
If you like stories that present the dark side of humanity, you’ll like them.
You can order the book from the following links:
Amazon.in link of Delhi Noir
If you have read the book,please feel free to drop the line about how you liked it and also about any other books that you can recommend.
