Inspired by real life events, Abhishek Krishnan’s debut novel is all about love, passion and friendship. Just like the young writer’s declaration in the introductory note, “inspired by Chetan Bhagat’s books and the women in director Gautham Menon’s films”, it is no surprise that the plot and narrative bear an uncanny resemblance to Bhagat’s works like
Five Point Someone.
The story revolves around protagonist Abhishek Krishnan (the writer himself) and ‘the Wizguys’—his college friends Chalu, Renjith, Peri, Bala, Nithin and others. Abi, as he is popularly known, is an aspirant actor and is working towards making a name in movie industry since his days in Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science in Chennai. Just like Bhagat, Krishnan too deftly describes the campus life in a casual and easy-going way, which helps the readers to relate to it.
Besides Abi’s passion for cinema, a major part of the book deals with his love life and girlfriend Shruthi—beautiful and witty who every guy dreams of falling in love with. However, all is not well when Shruthi breaks up with him without giving any good reason and suddenly, Abi is left alone to face a world full of deceit and disappointment. He is duped, not once, but many times, by people from the film fraternity who promise to cast him in their ambitious projects. While he waits patiently for almost four years to be cast in any movie, or for that matter in any sitcom, his friends pursue their ambitions successfully. A dejected Abi joins a call centre in Bengaluru where he meets Sushmita, his language-trainer-turned-friend-with-benefits. She, a commitment phobic, was getting over an abusive marriage when Abi steps into her life.
The plot thickens towards the end when Abi discovers a strange truth about Shruthi that throws his life out of balance once again. This perhaps is the best part of the novel, which can be turned into a good movie.
Krishnan wrote in the preface, “This book is a journey. A collection of experiences. A message to film aspirants. A dedication to passion. A celebration of love. An excerpt from everyday life.” Indeed, it reveals the gory reality of the movie industry that every film aspirant faces. Also, it cherishes the simple pleasures of life that friendship and love bring. The author, who is also an aspiring director and actor, has worked as a senior sub-editor and video content head of a famous film portal. This story was initially written as a screenplay, which was later turned into a book.
Clouds Don’t Pass:
Head Over Heels In Love, Passion And Friendship
By: Abhishek Krishnan
Publisher: Notion Press
Price: Rs 300 Pages: 312
The writing, however, is clumsy at times, but this could be intentional with an intent to relate to the colloquial speech. The writer helpfully introduces to the readers local information between the texts—“People in Tamil Nadu have their own distinct ways of addressing people. Men from Kerala are called ‘Cheta’ and women from that state are called ‘Chechi’. Most grocery store keepers are addressed as ‘Annachi’ or ‘Naadar’. A tea shop owned by a Keralite is a ‘Nair Kadai’ and a pawn broker shop is a ‘Marvadi Kadai’ or a ‘Saet Kadai’. A Punjabi is simply called a ‘Singh’ and a Telugu-speaking person is called ‘Gulute’(pg 23).” Also, there are glaring editing mistakes, which, if corrected, would make the book a better read. “…Abi asked, still stuck in between the two ladies who were designing him” (pg. 69).
The book, in a remarkable style, captures the fear, insecurities and challenges that every aspiring actor goes through, and its treatment of these issues makes it an interesting read.