When eminent film maker Rajkumar Hirani decided to make his version of Five Point Someone, little did he know that he would be creating cinema that defines a whole new generation. Little did the top Indian author, Chetan Bhagat, know that when he would pen down four years of his growing up, he would create a rage among readers and publishers alike. His simple choice of words, a captivating storyline and most importantly his understanding of the Indian mind-set not only made him an instant hit among regular readers but also created an urge to read in people who had never ever stepped into a book store. Today, almost every youngster in the country carries at least one of his publishing. As for the rest, online book stores in India come to the rescue. Though many critics have slashed him, the truth remains that Bhagat's books are bestsellers even after years of their release and the youth of the country idolize him in more ways than one.
He has in a way paved the way for books by Indian authors to hit stands and eventually sell like hot cakes cinema. Karan Bajaj's Johnny Gone Down and Keep of the Grass, Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan's I am here and Anuja Chauhan's Zoya Factor are all examples of a complete new genre of writing. They are all funny, witty and casual yet very engrossing and complete page turners. Most importantly these recent books by Indian authors have inculcated a habit of reading amongst the younger generation.
Though Salman Rushdie is one of the top Indian authors, not everyone can enjoy a Midnight's Children and more so be able to understand it in order to follow it. These recent books by Indian authors though mostly fiction stories, their base and approach is towards realistic and day-to-day situations, many a time a chronicle of the authors' experiences. This helps readers to connect and relate more with the writer. Readers now buy books not just for the intellectual but also for the entertainment quotient. For such readers, authors like Meenakshi have helped get books back on the rack.