MY NAME IS NOT DEVDAS BY AAYUSH GUPTA

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BOOK NAME: MY NAME IS NOT DEVDAS

AUTHOR NAME: AAYUSH GUPTA

GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION 

PUBLISHER: HARPERCOLLINS INDIA

BOOK BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.in/Name-Not-Devdas-Aayush-Gupta/dp/9356292825


Have you read any books retold based on your favourite classic book or movie? I have tried a few before, and it was so terrific to witness the author's nuances to maintain the book's core while presenting it creatively. This book is based on the ever-classic movie 'Devdas' set in the contemporary world.


In a parallel universe, there exists a Paro, Devdas and Chandramukhi, trapped in a twisted love triangle, living in a world of half-lies, bruised egos and obsessions. In contrast to the movie, this book is set in modern Delhi amidst student politics, burning protests, marches, and divided ideologies. Paro and Chandramukhi share much in common though their worlds are poles apart. They both are law students in Jamia Milia Islamia; both grew up without parents under the care of the professor; both pursued the same man and were scarred permanently by the man they loved.

 



Unlike shah rukh khan, Dev here isn't a hopeless romantic who wasted his life away in memory of his loving Paro. Dev is a feminist who follows Marxist ideas but screws up his own ideologies with his impulsive decisions. Though Dev did not live in castles like our very own hero did, he managed to receive Paro and Chandramukhi's love in abundance. But did Dev somehow manage to destroy himself, if not by lovesickness? Well, go ahead and read this book to know.


From the first page, I knew this book would be excellent with its slick and flawless writing. I got merged with Paro's and Chandramukhi's worlds and felt every emotion of theirs as my own. I was able to relate to all the circumstances and the characters. Paro and Chandramukhi were both strong and independent women who were lovelorn and got blind-sighted temporarily, but they did stand up for justice in the end. I couldn't stop thinking about Chandramukhi and her mother and the struggles they had to go through to live in a biased society.


Paro is the protagonist that our society needs but doesn't deserve. She was fierce, ambitious and straightforward. The chapters were all narrated in first-person voice with POVs of Dev, Chandramukhi and Paro and that made it easy for me to connect with the characters and the plot.


It's very inspiring when authors execute brilliant writing in such short books; like the book is only 150 pages long, yet it kept me hooked from start to end. As much as its cover and title, the retelling of the classic is much more quirky and candid. Pick this book if you love to read something that is different and stands out from the crowd that will make you mull over it for a long.



MY REVIEW: 5/5

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Comments

  1. Tomichan MatheikalFebruary 28, 2023 at 2:07 AM

    The novel is a contemporary retelling of the classic and the author has done a pretty good job.

    ReplyDelete

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