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Chetan Bhagat - Author of 'Five Point Someone ...'

Submitted by Karthik on 2 June, 2004 - 13:21

Chetan Bhagat is the best-selling author of the recently released 'Five Point Someone - What not to do at IIT'. He has been kind enough to agree to an email interview, to answer a few of our questions.

  • First of all, congratulations on a well-written book. I finished the book in one session, so I'm sure that that speaks for itself :) To the questions:
  • Thank you so much Karthik for your regards. I must say that it was my intention that the book reads smoothly, and a lot of time and drafts went into achieving that objective. Was not sure if people could actually read 270 pages in one sitting, but it does seem to be working. Thanks.
  • i) I realise that you've thrown in a "This is a work of fiction" disclaimer in your prologue, but how close to the truth is this book ? How do you believe Hari would've reacted if he'd read this book at the end of his time at IIT ?
  • Like you said, this book is in the category of fiction. However, some of the characters are based on real inspirations, and none of the events are implausible – and that is why the story connects. I do identify with Hari as I was 15kgs overweight in college and had similar self-worth issues. So I guess if Hari is me, he would say – "hey, that sounds kind of right"
  • ii) How have the real-world characters in the book reacted to it? Anyone complain about the violation of their privacy?
  • The real-world characters are some of my best friends. And if friends start using tounge-twisting terms like "violation of privacy", that is the end of it.

    But seriously, what matters is the intention of the writer. They know I am doing it to tell a good story with a message, that is it. And I have taken sufficient care make sure their identity etc is protected.

  • iii) So, how does one get a book published in India and distributed world-wide? On that note, when will the book be available on Amazon & Rediff (as mentioned on your site)?
  • To get a book published in India, you first need to submit a 1-page proposal and a synopis to a number of publishers/agents. Then, if they like it, they will request sample chapters and then the full book. The entire process takes months, and selection ratios are bleak. So, one has to be patient and persistent.

    For international distribution, my publisher has to find a publisher abroad and then sell the rights. This process is currently underway, and if that happens the book reaches international bookstores.

    Amazon and Rediff are relatively simpler, but we are currently focused on meeting the India demand so much that it has not happened yet. But it should happen in a couple of weeks. I know it is very important.

  • iv) Were the characters easier to build up in this book as they were based on real flesh_and_blood people ? Conversely, do you believe ficitonal characters are easier to portray?
  • Yes, certainly. As a first time writer, it becomes easier if you have real life inspirations. You start with a blank sheet of paper and the character goes through several situations – happy, sad, tension, scary ones etc. One has to be sure the characters behaviour is consistent with their personality in each situation. A real life inspiration helps a lot there "how would he react?" is the question you ask yourself. Because, even if you are writing fiction – it has to make sense.
  • v) What is with IIT, Floyd, Grass and Vodka ?! Seems to be a ritual that all IIT students (who I know) have all (regardless of branch) undergone at some point or the other :) Oh, and I’ve missed out on the Hawaii Chappals.. which seem to be a NIFT recommendation for IIT casual wear :P
  • That is a great question as I am also trying to find an answer to it. It is still intriguing to me how a British band, a Russian liquor and a weed that is legal only in Amsterdam blends together so seamlessly in an Indian college. Talk about globalization.

    Incidentally, some people are reading the insti roof scenes in the book with Floyd music as backdrop, gives a whole new effect – try it.

    And chappals are quite a comfortable form of footwear. Haven’t you heard – utility defines aesthetics. I am sure NIFT will catch on to it someday.

  • vi) Do you foresee Western audiences taking up "Five Point Someone"? Were they included in your target audience when you draughted your book?
  • I hope the western audiences like it as well. I think western people who are interested in India are interested in modern India as well. Also, it is a story about friendship and judgement, which is quite a universal theme.
  • vii) A heart-felt tribute to Bill Gates in your prologue, hate sci-fi movies, an ardent Bollywood fan... are you sure you went to IIT ? ;)
  • Oh c’mon, I hope we are not taking ourselves so seriously!

    And really there are Bollywood lovers in IIT galore. I know a guy who had pasted his entire hostel room wall with Madhuri Dixit posters. Somehow, I haven’t seen such devotion to science fiction.

    And Mr. Gates needs to be thanked every now and then as we use his products every day.

  • viii) Speaking of Bollywood, I hear that you are pushing for a Bollywood rendition of your book ? Who would you like to be cast in it - esp. as Neha and Hari ;D ? Considering the recent trends in the industry, would five-point someone escape with a .. PG rating ?
  • Not me as much, but more the press which has talked about how FPS could be a good movie. But yes, if that happens, it would be great.

    No ideas yet on who would be Hari and Neha, but whoever does it will have to really understand the multi-layered nature of the seemingly simple characters very well. And I do hope Neha is really charming.

    On what rating the movie will get is an interesting question – the story is very realistic and that integrity should be maintained – we shouldn’t really chase a rating, just let Hari, Alok and Ryan do what they are supposed to do.

  • ix) How long did you take to finish this book ? What were your writing habits like?
  • It took three and a half years to finish FPS. I used to write 45 minutes in the morning before going to work, longer on weekends. I also wrote quite a bit of it while traveling. I prefer to write first a sizeable piece and then go through the painful process of editing – if anything is boring or too hard to read – its cut.
  • x) Who were your inspirations in terms of your writing style ? What genres do you like? Can you recommend other Indian authors for those who enjoyed your book?
  • Many inspirations, some of which I have given on my website (chetanbhagat.com). I like modern fiction, humor and relationship oriented stories in interesting settings.
  • xi) How have all your launch events gone? Did you enjoy interacting with your fans? What were some of the interesting questions you were asked?
  • The launch events were amazing. I was very nervous to begin with but my readers gave me the confidence and encouraged me every step of the way. Thank you! I love meeting readers, as I think ultimately books are about a one-to-one connection between the author and the reader. One of the most interesting question that was asked were "If Ryan was so gutsy to take on the system, why didn’t you have the guts to ask Prof. Cherian for Neha’s hand in marriage?". I am sure poor Hari is doing a lot of soul searching on that one.
  • xii) What would your advice be to a young aspiring Indian writer?
  • I would say learn the art to the extent possible – by reading, finding a mentor, meeting people etc. Also, keep writing and keep getting feedback. For this, writing small first is better. Maybe contribute articles first and really see what you could do better the next time.

    Also, write from your heart. Inspirations we all need, but your own personal style has to come through – that is what god gave you and that is what you should use.

    Finally, be patient. Rejections, editing, critiques are all painful things that really transform a writer and his writing. Live through it – though I know it is not easy.

  • xiii) Did you ever face "writer’s block" ? Did you face bouts of indecision on whether to include a certain passage in the book?
  • Oh yes, lots of times. I would go for days without knowing what to put next. Then I’d tell myself to start editing – which was so painful, ideas came right back.

    In terms of passages to keep or not, I was not sure if the intimate scene between Neha and Hari should be described in detail. That scene was written over ten times, as I did want to give some detail of the intimate moments, but wanted to keep adding humourous takes on it, consistent with the rest of the book’s style. At the same time, the scene comes at a very delicate moment for Neha, so wasn’t sure if Hari’s silly wisecracks will be appreciated by all at this time. Ultimately, the scene is now more subtle and less detailed – but still leaves an impact. There is one wisecrack left there though, ‘Life would be so much better without hooks’.

  • xiv) What did you find the most challenging part of writing this book?
  • One real challenge was to keep a balance of nostalgia and keep the story moving forward. Some people want to enjoy the college nostaligia part a lot, while some want the story to keep moving fast. This means there is a lot of decisions about what scene to keep or not.

    Finally, I think it is not perfect but a good balance has been struck that everyone enjoys the story – no matter what you were seeking out of it.

  • xv) What next? Are there any plans in place for a sequel or a new book?
  • I need to learn and evolve as a writer. I have given myself a target to read 20 books before I write the next. Not sure about sequel, as they can be tricky sometimes. I do have some ideas, but nothing so defined that I can share at this moment. A lot depends on my readers feedback, as they are the people I write for.

    Thank you so much!

The paperback edition of the book is available for Rs.95 at your local book store. Links to excerpts and reviews can be seen here.

Feel free to add your comments using the reply button..

Forums:

Hi Chetan,

I must admit to u that i have gained interest in reading books only after a read both of ur books..... amazing.. just loved them....but too many questions in my mind... could u pls answer them....

# who is RYAN in ur real life???does that person really exist????
# wat happened to neha n hari????
# If u call urself hari, is it neha to whom u have dedicated the book( along with ur kids)
#how come prof CHERIAN cooled off suddenly n why did he thank Hari?????
# In ur second book u have concluded it very well as to wat happened to all the caracters but wat happened with five point someone???????
#I mean why din u tell us about all the 4 characters n their present status????????
#Are u SHYAM in the other book????
#wats all that about the girl/god the train giving u story for this book????????

Pls i m waiting for ur reply

Thanks n Regards,
Divya

if you have got the answers for your questions then please do mail me

hi divya
just lovedddddd the book ....but lot of qtns. in mind....if u hv got the answers to dem... do mail me plz.

thanx

cheers
ramya

hey DIVYA.. i think five point someone is a gr8 buk... i mean if nebody doesnt read n he wants to start readin dn fps is d best option ..!!! i found it awesome bt i hav d same set f qustions in ma mind as u hav..
so plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz if u ve got d answers dn plz plz plz plz plz plz mail dm to me ... !
thanx,,..
parth
staycool_parth@yahoo.com

Hay divya,have you got answers for all your questions regarding FPS?
If yes, please share with me.

hi!

I just read five point someone a few days back and i enjoyed it completely!!!! this is the first book that I have read by an indian author and I was completely surprised by how different it was to read about indian characters rather than read about american or british culture. It was so much more exciting as I could relate to everything so much better, and also picture everything so much better! I hope this is not a one-off book for Chetan Bhagat and that there will be many more to come!!

Seema

[quote:d4d989e2c5="seema"]hi!

I just read five point someone a few days back and i enjoyed it completely!!!! this is the first book that I have read by an indian author and I was completely surprised by how different it was to read about indian characters rather than read about american or british culture. It was so much more exciting as I could relate to everything so much better, and also picture everything so much better! I hope this is not a one-off book for Chetan Bhagat and that there will be many more to come!!

Seema[/quote:d4d989e2c5]
Hi Seema,

Welcome to Quillem! I finally read the book last week and yes, I quite agree - It is very refreshing to read on a subject that you can relate to. I especially enjoyed Hari's trysts with Neha ;) lol Brought back a lot of memories :)

Enjoy your stay :)
Dinesh

hi!

Thanks dinesh! Yes all the scenes were nicely described, was almost surreal sometimes. my cousin is reading the book now and she just said the same thing. If you know any other good indian authors with a humourous writing style, do let me know!

thanks
Seema

Nope not really :( The only other Indian authors that I can recall reading are Satyajit Ray (and his stories were trying..) and R.K. Lakshman who was entertaining :) Though it must be said that this was a looong time ago, so I'm not sure how I will find them if I read them now..

:)
Dinesh

A friend of mine recommended Anjana Appachana, as a funny and insightful writer. She did warn me that it was a touch feministic [something I tire of rather easily, but you might find.. endearing :P].

I haven't yet had the time to check it out though.. so read at your own risk ;)

Now to be made into a movie..
[quote:9306e7b584]Best-seller becomes a film
By: Upala KBR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India's first film on IITans is all set to be made. And investment banker Chetan Bhagat is laughing all the way to the bank.

His first book, Five Point Someone - What Not To Do At IIT, that takes a humorous look into the lives of IITans, is being made into a film.

The book has been on the best-selling list as number three for the last four-and-a-half weeks. The film rights have been bought by Ritesh Sinha who plans to direct the film and make it in Hindi.

Five Point Someone is a light-hearted, coming-of-age story on three hostel mates - Alok, Hari and Ryan who get off to a bad start in India?s most respected educational institution, IIT. Before they know it they are at the lowest echeleons of IIT society with a five point something GPA out of ten. This GPA becomes a tattoo that remains with them and comes in the way of anything that matters ? their friendship, future and love life.

Both Bhagat (who is based in Hong Kong) and Sinha share an easy camaraderie. Sinha says what he loved best about the book was that ?it is a landmark book the context of which everyone will identify with ? from the old to the youth. I read the book in two days and thought it was a fantastic subject to make a film on.

Content is the key of all films and this it. It is a timeless book that will become a timeless film. Adds Bhagat, "There is so much stress on today's youth to prove themselves, so many labels being put on them. Five Point Someone is an attitude that says I will not let myself be judged."

Bhagat is "thrilled and amazed that his book is being made into a film." A film buff who watches two films a week and was writing the book with the thought that it would be made into a film, his favourite films are Dil Chahta Hai and Fight Club. He insists the book can never be a repeat of Dil Chahta Hai because DCH was on a gas stove.

The main protagonists had one intention how to get the girl whereas in my book the future of the boys are at stake. It is about male bonding, non-judgmental attitude of the guys and male friendships. It's about finding love and friendship in a realistic setting.

Both refuse to mention the sum at which the rights were bought saying they are "contractually bound not to talk." Sinha wants to start the film as soon as possible with a great cast. "Casting will be a challenge as people who fit the characters will be taken." Bhagat adds that one of the main protagonists Hari has been modeled on him. "I was a fat kid with a lot of baggage at my age."

Sinha who is also producing and directing the Manoj Bajpai starrer All Alone plans to shoot both the films back-to-back.

From indian novel to desi film

Mystic Masseur - V S Naipaul (filmed by Merchant Ivory productions)

Heat and Dust - Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (filmed by Merchant Ivory productions)

English August - Upamanyu Chatterjee (filmed by Tropic films)

Ice Candy Man - Bapsi Sidhwa (filmed by Deepa Mehta)[/quote:9306e7b584]

Source : http://web.mid-day.com/entertainment/movies/2004/june/86162.htm

Looks like everything is going according to script for Chetan :)

Dinesh

[quote:90f3519904]Teenage Wasteland
Can slackers succeed at India's élite universities?
BY JEFF PLUNKETT

Graduates from India's prestigious technology universities get good jobs, make great money and are eagerly sought-after marriage partners. But according to Chetan Bhagat's charming debut novel Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT, they end up in a Faustian bargain: students at the seven India Institutes of Technology sacrifice their youth for the sake of a successful adulthood.

Five Point Someone tells the story of three IIT students who refuse to make that trade-off, choosing instead to study less and play more. Hari, Alok and Ryan sleep, stumble and cheat their way through Manufacturing Processes and Applied Mechanics to leave room for bigger priorities: vodka, weed and Pink Floyd. Throw in a love affair with a professor's daughter, and you've got every Indian teen's dream. "It's amazing how happy one can be," realizes narrator Hari, "with low expectations of one's self."

Parental pressure, familial obligations, gender roles, dating, sex, drugs, suicide—just about every teen issue is addressed, and the book has struck a chord in India. Chat rooms are buzzing, and sales have topped 15,000 in just six weeks (making the book a best seller in India's small English-language fiction market). A Bombay-based production company bought the film rights in June.

Bhagat's irreverence stops short of tearing down the ivory tower: all three of his main characters manage to graduate, and all seem poised to follow in the successful footsteps of the author himself, who graduated from New Delhi's IIT in 1995 and now works in Hong Kong for an investment bank. Bhagat was the mastermind of a website promoting the book, offering a monthly contest and his own e-mail address for fan letters. In that sense, even a critical alum like Bhagat makes IIT proud. [/quote:90f3519904]
Source : http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501040809-674813,00.html

For all interested readers living abroad, the book is now available for [url=http://www.chetanbhagat.com/where2buy/salesinfo.html]online purchase[/url] - USD17.95 including delivery, ex-Hong Kong. I heartily recommend it once again :)

Aaahh...An awesome work...It certainly took me back to my college days at REC...Heard that Chetan is gonna comeup with a book called "Night @ Call Centre"

I think it came out in the last couple of days - though his website doesn't seem to indicate it.. But I must say it's rather presumptuous of him to declare it a contemporary classic [as per his website] even before it's been bloody released lol! Screwy marketing bs.

haha
Din.

well i just happened to go through this book.i was so fascinated by reading it that i finished the whole book in one session only.
I would like to thanks Mr. bhagat for this kind of work.

Nirab Sinha
Electronics and Communication Engineering

Hi Chetan,
Today i read 'five point someone'. Basically i m not much of a reader but these days i m getting enough free time so i just thought of reading some book. My cousin suggested novel reading.. so i told her to select one for me. She came with five point someone. At first i didnt understand the title..but she said he is the same author who has written 'on@tcc'... i know that on@tcc is appreciated a lot..though i have yet not read on@tcc..but i just felt like reading 5.someone. And i would like to tell you that the book is wonderful.. i enjoyed a lot reading it... i liked your writing style... specially at places where you have given your personal feelings at what guys think of girls when they talk to you... Ryan is my favourite character.. he resembles one of my classmates... now i am planning to read on@tcc..i m sure it would give me the same enjoyment.. congratulations for writing such a nice book... keep up the good work.
Happy writing...
Regards,
Monica.

hello mr chetan bhagat
well long back i had read da buk n o my god whn it finished it seemed as tho one part of my life has ended i neva wanted da buk 2 end n das y towards da end i started readin it on a very slow pace.
well ur 2nd buk is also amazin but dis one is jus gr8
i wish very gud luk 4 ur future n hope u give us more buks like these

take care
bubyeee

I must admit to u that i have gained interest in reading books only after i read five points someone.i think its a great book just loved it....but too many questions in my mind... could u pls answer them
1.i really liked ryan .i think he's kool.does that person really exist???????
2. wat happened to neha n hari????
3.wat is neha doing at present.

will b waitin for ur reply.

hey Chetan.. i've just got one word for you and ur book.... AWESOME!!!!! am a big big fan of you n ur book FIVE POINT SOMEONE

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CHEERS!!!

hi chetan,

i read ur on@tcc first (last month)....it was awesome....but ur five point someone (which i completed yest. ) is just superb....i do not have words to describe how much i liked it....i visualised Ryan as arjun rampal, neha as aarti chabbria...hari as just a fatto neighbor of ours...and alok as hrithik's funny friend in kaho na pyaar hai ( i do not know this actors name).....and offcourse mr. cherian as the dean in munnabhai mbbs....i think all the characters were superb.... i was remembering all my friends of +2 and college days while reading ur book....thanx a lot....i just hope i can meet u in person someday....may be sometime when i go to hongkong or delhi (presently iam in vizag)....since, i do face reading...from ur picture (in the book)..u seem to b a nice n warm person...all the best....keep writing such witty books more....

bye

somita

HI CHETAN IS TOO MUCH.............NICE BOOK U HAVE WRITTEN..
I READ BOTH (FIVE..,ONE NIGHT)..I HAVE UNDERSTAND ALL THE THINGS BUT ONE IS NOT..........
"MAN WHO IS THE BEAUTIFUL LADY TELLING THE STORY IN THE TRAIN"
PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ TELL ME I AM TOO MUCH ANXIOUS TO KNOW...

Hi Chetan,
Awesome man!!! had fun reading da book n finished in one strech...i m in luv wid the 3 characters especially Ryan n hey dat innocent n senti fatso is also cute....but i guess m more like Hari...takes u back to the college days...SUPERCOOLLLLL :-)
But sum doubts :
1.does Ryan really exist?
2.wat happened to hari n neha?

plz let me kno asap
waiting for ur reply

cheers
Ramya

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