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Look no further than the railway station book cart or the ads in regional magazines or the in-train hawker for those over-the-top, bizarre, usually with lurid covers pulp fiction that's so popular among a vast population. Now, the English-reading public too is gaining increasing access to regional pulp fiction (Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali through translations), which may not be literary but are definitely very popular.These books usually play with a whole lot of genres from romance, crime, horror, supernatural—always taking the reader to the edge, deliberately making them unbelievable. And while it's still hard to find them in the branded bookstores, every publishing house is now investing time and money in translating regional pulp fiction. It's the overriding trend, across entertainment sectors from films, TV, print, radio—to go regional—and publishing is just following suit.So, not surprisingly, two of Surender Mohan Pathak's crime thrillers have been translated into English already. The 65 Lakh Heist had already sold three lakh copies in Hindi and had a readership over two million, and now Pathak has been exposed to English readers too, courtesy Blaft Publications. Arunava Sinha, who translated Sankar's Chowringhee into English, has just introduced Bengali pulp writer Moti Nandy to English readers through two novellas Striker, Stopper. Nandy, very popular with Bengali readers, wrote all his novels around sport. Sinha is also compiling a supernatural horror anthology of Bengali stories for Blaft.Anurima Roy, publicity manager, Hachette India, which published Nandy's book, says clearly there is a substantial market for regional pulp fiction and it's growing."Regional pulp has a very big readership and many books are waiting to be translated and read. The Indian market for English books is still very small, so there's a lot of potential for growth," she adds. Bookstore owners on Kolkata's books avenue, College Street, say over the last few years readers too have been demanding a wide variety of books across genres. Random House and Blaft will separately publish the Urdu pulp fiction classics The Imran Series and Jasoosi Duniya respectively in translation. Blaft, the Chennai-based publishing house set up shop two years ago, introducing the Blaft Anthology of Tamil Pulp Fiction to English readers with great success. More than 7,000 copies were sold, a print run even some better known Indian writers in English can't boast of yet.Most of the publishers and writers we spoke to had just one wish—that regional pulp got better display at stores, maybe rub shoulders with the Grishams and the Kings.With the advent of TV how vibrant is the regional pulp fiction space? Rakesh Khanna, founder director Blaft, says most of the authors and publishers it has talked to complain that television has heavily eaten into their audience."But there are still a lot of books coming out all the time. Established Hindi and Tamil writers like Surender Mohan Pathak and Indra Soundar Rajan are starting to see their books released with better production, on nicer paper, costing a little more —it's not really pulp anymore; maybe it's not 'high literature', but people are taking it more seriously."For publishers like Blaft the response has been really good in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Kerala, and many other places around the country. "But for some reason Blaft has had a hard time getting our titles into Kolkata stores. The books are getting more international attention all the time too," he adds.Perfect EightReema MoudgilTranquebarRs 200, Pp 252ANATOMYFollowing a girl "who could smell grief before it struck", Perfect Eight is about a journey of unrequited love. Through floods and communal riots, the protagonist carries her mother's partitioned spirit and her father's indestructible love for life as she makes her way through Patiala, Lahore, Ambrosa, Assam and Bangalore. The outcome is predictable and characters commonplace, but Moudgil's metaphors are woven well.MeetIt is love at first sight for the protagonist. Her object of affection, however, knows not love, used only to passion.Samir: Swaying between blistering fervour and indifference bordering on malice, is always out of reach.USPsDo not look for original plot or imaginative circumstances, and it makes for a leisurely afternoon Sunday read.Pulpmeter:**You've Got to be KiddingLeena WalawalkarIndialogRs 145, Pp 251ANATOMYLondon School of Business is the likely setting for this tale where six driven, ambitious Indians have gathered, essentially to upgrade their corporate skills. Their hopes are quickly dashed as 2008 recession begins.MeetVicky: An MBA from an average institute, wants to improve his career prospects.Samaira: Rich, goal oriented, her priorities lie in getting away from family.Tarun: An IT professional in Singapore, a degree in finance from LBS could do wonders to his career.Riya: His wife. She cites the concerns of a non-working spouse.Swami: The only second generation Brit in the group, his concerns are different.Aditya: The narrator, bored as a consultant, is the one most affected by the recession.USPsIt has the premise of a potentially good tale, but the language is loose, the plot repetitive and attention flags beyond a point.Pulpmeter:*The Betelnut KillersManisha LakheRandom HouseRs 250, Pp 284ANATOMYPortland-based grocery store owner Chimanbhai Shah's world and business goes in a twirl when Supriya opens a store. It's a double grouse for Shah as he was promised to be sold that store. The last minute refusal from Supriya's uncle complicates matters further. He hires Osmanbhai, a contract killer from India who can go to any extent to reach 'Amrika'. What unfolds is a hilarious mix of crime, sensation and comedy.MeetChimanbhai Shah:A true Gujju who loves his theplas and khandvi.Radhikaben Shah: Chimanbahi's penny pincher housewife.Suraj: Chimanbahi's son and the accidental mastermind.Supriya: Sexy siren who steals Chimanbhai's customers with her new store and has the entire Shah clan plotting her murder.Osmanbhai: The hired contract killer who wants to be the next Godfather.Neeraj: Shah's nephew and a free loader. He is heavily into drugs and loves to live off the Shah family.USPsGripping masala dialogues and plenty of the twists and turns in the plot. The beginning lacks the luster, but once the story goes into the flashback mode, it's unputdownable.Pulpmeter: ****Striker StopperMoti NandyHachetteRs 250, Pp 200ANATOMYIt starts with a dream— striker Prasoon Bhattacharya is in it, being coaxed to join Brazil's Santos Football Club to replace Pele no less. When he wakes up, harsh reality confronts him, and he knows he has to first manouevre his way through Calcutta's ruthless football clubs even as "his insides are gnawed away by hunger". Striker is the story of this footballer and his unbelievable journey to success. He gets his five minutes of fame, with fans screaming, Prasoon, Prasoon. Stopper, on the other hand, is about a player who has been there, done that, but plays a last game for a variety of reasons. The excitement builds up as the referee blows his whistle. Will Kamal-da win?MeetPrasoon: A striker who dreams of playing in the big league but struggles to find his feet in the cruel Calcutta football clubs.Kamal: A veteran, who must redeem himself in his final game.USPsCatches the agony and ecstacy of playing a sport. Has a pulse on 70s Bengal, but the story is universal, of the ups and downs, the heartbreaks one must often endure to soar in sport. Crisp translation; good production values.Pulpmeter:****HerogiriMainak DharRandom HouseRs 199, Pp 288ANATOMYArnab is a shy assistant librarian at the Delhi University college. His greatest ambition is to become a bank manager. A beating during a bank robbery sees him acquire some superhuman powers - greatly enhanced strength and speed and what pleases him most—night vision. While his little neighbour Chintu is the first to recognize the powers, Arnab himself is more hesitant to believe in them, till he finds himself involved in vigilante justice. And not everything is smooth, and super beings suffer too, he is quick to discover. Unexpectedly, larger contemporary issues affecting India, corrupt political system and terror overtake him as he has to make difficult choices.MeetArnab Bannerjee: The most super man ever, this affable, retiring 25-year old is possibly the most likeable of all characters you shall Meet this summer.Khan Chacha: His mentor and guideBalwant Singh, PC Sharma, DCP Upadhyay: They who run the country, a motley crew of unlovelies that all Indians are familiar with.Mishti: Not all women want the same things!USPsExcellent balance between super powers and what they leave out, Hero giri also has a surprisingly refreshing take on politics and society. Arnab 'GA' Bannerjee is the unpretentious hero you want by your side.Pulpmeter:****It Happened That NightAkash VermaSrishtiRs 100, Pp 192ANATOMYA global cola giant, 2002 Gujarat riots and a blooming love affair between the MNC executive and a TV journo. It's a story that is defined by a battle between personal and professional life and how the protagonist is caught between the two. He witnesses a murder during the riots and is caught in a dilemma whether to reveal the truth about the killing or suffer silently.MeetChandan Mathur: caught between a promising job, his lady love and a gruesome murder.Bhavna: A TV journo and Chandan's girlfriendSumanta Sen aka Sumo: Chandan's boss and his pillar of support.Anwar: The victim killed in the name of religious fanaticism.USPsA relevant concept and similar references to the 2002 Gujarat riots make it easy for a reader to relate.Pulpmeter:**Broken NewsAmrita TripathiTranquebarRs 250, Pp 236ANATOMYM already has a mid-level position in her channel, but finds personal life and demands of cut-throat rivalry take their toll on her. Pretty close to life as seen by the TV insider, as the author has been for about a decade. Starting off brightly, at the Japiur Lit Fest, the book starts breezily, but then the progress of the plot is almost proportionate to the addition of dark overtones. It defies the happy ending of most popular fiction, but is an informative read nevertheless.MeetM: The protagonist has more than perhaps her fair share of misfortune.Janki: Wannabe BTM who upstages M.Rashmi: Ex-friend, ex colleague, exits life causing heroine's heartburn.Samit: The typical edit room boss.Deepa: M's security blanket.Susheel, Nikhil, and Vikram: Smart and mostly teflon survivors.USPsYou were right. TV isn't all about myth, magic and glitter and news is often broken.Pulpmeter:***The Immortals of MeluhaAmishTaraRs 295, Pp xii+398ANATOMYMore of Indian mythology- inspired modern interpretations. The once near perfect land of Meluha stands threatened. Shiva is the hero out to save the Suryavanshis, read good guys, from the evil nexus of the Chandravanshis and Nagas in the first part of atrilogy.MeetShiva: The chillum-drinking protagonist overshadows all else in this book of epic pretensions. There is a huge support cast, largely caricatures.USPsThe story is set in 1900 BC, and the Suryavanshis are descendants of Rama. Contradictory, as any historian will tell you, as the earliest Rama tales are from the Iron Age, nearly a 1,000 years later. There are references to Manusmriti, composed about two millennia later! Shiva as a Tibetan leading the armies of Meluha, roughly corresponding to the Harappan Civilisation, is more interesting. You almost root for the Chandravanshi terrorists! The book is fast-paced, gore and battlements abound and good beats evil, again. Groan.Pulpmeter:*
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