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

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.

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