India pop literature dons a stage avatar

Indian pop literature is looking stage ward. While Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone premiers today, Robin Sharma's cult title The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari inches towards its theatrical debut

It's a formula that seems to have worked for the theatre group that strives to "make the world happier". Audience response to the 40-odd shows of Five Point Someone have been phenomenal as Sunil Vishnu, director of the play, puts it. "If the story can have such an impact as a book, we thought about what kind of impact it might have when it's performed live. It's about pursuing one's dreams and not conforming -- it's about ideas that the young audience connects with," explains Vishnu.u00a0

This past week also saw the launch of the stage version of Robin Sharma's bestseller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Ashvin Gidwani's production house. Sharma's book hit the stands 12 years ago but Gidwani thinks it's the right time to create a theatrical version for the Indian audience. "Everyone's become part of the rat race. We're at a place where America was 12 years ago. We're aging faster, we have no time for family and friends and the book addresses these issues," says Gidwani. The play is scheduled to have a Diwali premiere.u00a0

Vishnu and Gidwani agree that it's a tough task to convert a book into a theatrical production. "We have stayed true to the soul of the book," claims Vishnu. "The treatment and transition of the book is very critical otherwise it gets boring so we're will give the play a new and refreshing angle," explains Gidwani. Of course, it helps that these books have a strong fan base so the task of bringing in the audience is eased. As a treat for fans, Evam has also roped in Bhagat to perform a cameo in the play. The move has created the right kind of buzz but it gives us jitters to think the young author might compare himself to Shakespeare next.

Catch Five Point Someone today and tomorrow, 7 pm, at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Call 22824567
Tickets Rs 500, Rs 400, Rs 320, Rs 240 and Rs 200

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