Review: SREEDEVI TALKIES

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SREEDEVI TALKIES SREEDEVI TALKIES by Karunakaran Shaji
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Movies are part of the life of any small town be it any part of India. The extinct single screen theaters are now a thing of past in metros. But in small towns they still exist. The book is written around one such small town of Kerala.

Sreedevi Talkies is in small town of Kotta in Kerala. This is a sleepy place and the only thing alive is the talkies. Mythical movies of Gemini Ganesan are a big draw. James Bond Rajan is frustrated and is married to Devika. He doesn’t want the marriage but he has no choice. Even after 5 years of marriage Devika is unmarried and then she strays. There is communist movement, wars, caste discrimination and all.

The canvas is large. Language is beautiful. See the sample of Devika’s sexual union:

“Devika knew that the lips which were drawing out her soul, were not of the James Bond. But she did not feel the need to resist them. She let herself be carried to the crystal palace of mermaids on the oceanic floor.”

The book is nice but takes time to finish. Canvas is large and for north Indians like me it is a bit unknown atmosphere. Good book and is recommended.


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