Book picks similar to
The Aayakudi Murders by Indra Soundar Rajan


tamil
south-asia
crime-thriller-tamil
in-translation

Lost Libido and other Gulp Fiction


Salil Desai - 2012
    Desai's writing is energetic and contemporary’

Pethavan: The Begetter


இமையம் - 2013
    Pazhani, her father, is ordered to kill her. But how can a father murder his own daughter? Imayam's powerful tale about caste bitterness—sickness that continues to plague Indian society—eerily preceded an actual event that occurred two months later. The narrative, constructed on short, crisp dialogues, is an unflinching account of the ugliness and trauma that await those who dare to transcend caste borders.

Moong Over Microchips


Venkat Iyer - 2018
    Disheartened by his stressful existence in the city, he decided to give it all up and take up organic farming in a small village near Mumbai. But it wasn't easy. With no experience in agriculture, his journey was fraught with uncertainty. He soon went from negotiating tough clients, strict deadlines and traffic to looking forward to his first bumper crop of moong. As he battled erratic weather conditions and stubborn farm animals, he discovered a world with fresh air and organic food, one where he could lead a more wholesome existence. At times hilarious, and other times profound, this book follows his extraordinary story.

The Madras Affair


Sundari Venkatraman - 2015
    When Sangita catches the eye of Gautam Sinclair she is a simple, homely girl; utterly unaware of her charms & capabilities. She has the devil’s own time in overcoming her inhibitions, hesitation, and her family’s orthodox and outdated rules before recognising her love for Gautam. Will Gautam be able to solve Sangita’s Dilemma or will she be forever trapped in her past?NOTE: This extensive edition comes with two extra chapters (10000 words)

ரிஷி மூலம் [Rishi Moolam]


Jayakanthan - 1969
    The protagonists are helpless victims of psychological maladies. Their suppressed libido and Oedipus complex are areas Tamil writers generally dared not enter - at any rate in the 1960s, when they were written.The brilliant introvert Rajaraman is the quintessential good boy. The play of circumstances kindles oedipal fancies in him. The incandescent consummation with Sarada Mami is a catharsis. A rishi is born looking at the world with a disdain at once benignly distant and compellingly personal.Well-educated and well-employed Janaki lives under the protective cover of her paranoid, possessive, puritanical mother. Her healthy friendship with a collegemate of yesteryear promises liberation. Her short-lived taste of freedom is stamped out and she is sucked back into her mother's bizarre, overwhelming orbit. The success of Jayakanthan lies in evoking in the reader a profound empathy with the tragically deviant characters of the two stories.

Fear of God


Vadhan - 2020
    The reason for the murder appears bizarre. As videos of the slaughter of several corrupt politicians go viral on social media, those who considered themselves untouchable are scurrying for cover. The vigilante’s next target is a war hero and top constitutional lawyer who took three bullets for the country. Why then is he a target? Jagan Jigyasi and his Special Crimes Division of the CBI have to race against time to stop the killings. The legendary lawman has never failed to solve a crime. The war hero is as brilliant in a courtroom as he is fearless in facing a speeding bullet. The vigilante is as devious as he is effective in instilling the fear of God into those who think they are above the law! Who will be the last man standing?

Shoes of the Dead


Kota Neelima - 2013
    The powerful district committee of Mityala routinely dismisses the suicide and refuses compensation to his widow. Gangiri, his brother, makes it his life’s mission to bring justice to the dead by influencing the committee to validate similar farmer suicides.Keyur Kashinath of the Democratic Party - first-time member of Parliament from Mityala, and son of Vaishnav Kashinath, the party’s general secretary - is the heir to his father’s power in Delhi politics. He faces his first crisis every suicide in his constituency certified by the committee as debt-related is a blot on the party’s image, and his competence.The brilliant farmer battles his inheritance of despair, the arrogant politician fights for the power he has received as legacy. Their two worlds collide in a conflict that pushes both to the limits of morality from where there is no turning back. At stake is the truth about ‘inherited’ democratic power. And at the end, there can only be one winner. Passionate and startlingly insightful, Shoes of the Dead is a chilling parable of modern-day India.A book that will make you stroll through India’s corridors of power and politics with a perfect portrayal of how its consequences creep into the lives of the farmers forcing them to commit suicide. Get ready to read a gripping tale by Kota Neelima.

Salman Rushdie: Midnight's Children-The Satanic Verses


David Smale - 2002
    As a novelist and icon, Rushdie has embraced both 'popular' and 'high' culture; reflecting this, the Guide brings together both academic criticism and journalism to investigate the passions and preoccupations of Rushdie's many critics, steering the reader through the inflamed debates and rhetoric surrounding this much admired but controversial author.

The Girl with the Golden Parasol


Uday Prakash - 2008
    . . .The yellow glowed beautifully in the morning light. There was something different about this particular yellow. This one entered through his eyes, dissolved in his blood, and went straight to his heart.” Uday Prakash’s novel of contemporary India is a tender love story—university student Rahul is swept away by a “sweet fever” of love for Anjali, the enchanting girl with the golden parasol. But Prakash’s tale is set in a world where the 3,000-year-old Hindu caste system still holds sway and social realities doom the chances of a non-Brahmin boy who loves a Brahmin girl. The Girl with the Golden Parasol is the first English translation of Prakash’s work to be published in the United States. His audacious novel captures the profound contradictions of India today, where the forces aligned against change outweigh even the power of love.

Sunset by the River


Sameer Saxena - 2020
    

Stranger


Satyajit Ray - 2001
    * New Edition. * Includes a new translation of 'Fotikchand'.

Kamaraj: The Life and Times of K. Kamaraj


Bala Jeyaraman - 2013
    His political career afforded him many roles, and he is recognized till today for his accomplishments as a freedom fighter, Congress party boss, chief minister, national leader, kingmaker and opposition leader.Of his many achievements, the ones that Kamaraj is remembered most for are bringing school education to millions of the rural poor by introducing free education and the free Midday Meal Scheme during his tenure as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and the role he played in bringing to power as prime minister first Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi.Known for his integrity and his modesty in conduct, Kamaraj exercised his political power for the benefit of the masses and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1976. Dealing with significant phases of Kamaraj’s life, Bala Jeyaraman explains his actions in a larger historical context.A concise yet comprehensive biography, this book unravels for the reader the story of this exceptional visionary and leader.

The Snake Charmer


Sanjay Nigam - 1998
    Magazine, The Snake Charmer tells the story of Sonalal, a middle-age snake charmer making a living with his been pipe and his beloved cobra, Raju. Despite his great skills, Sonalal's drinking and womanizing seem to have marked him for a life of insignificance. But that all changes one remarkable afternoon when he produces music so beautiful he is certain the gods must be listening. In a moment that will change his life forever, Raju bites Sonalal, and Sonalal bites back, destroying the one creature who loves him. The Snake Charmer traces Sonalal's bumpy journey through brief celebrity, profound remorse, and a quest for answers to unanswerable questions of love, life, and art. Sparely and beautifully written, this "novel of enchantments" (Oscar Hijuelos) is an unforgettable debut, confirming the Washington Post's comparison of Nigam to Arundhati Roy and Vikram Chandra.

No Matter What . . . I will always love you!


Rohit Dawesar - 2020
    From romantic escapes in the beaches of Goa to witnessing the beautiful Manali sky lit up with fireworks on a Diwali night, Rishi and Mishika’s lives were like an exciting roller-coaster ride every moment that they were together. But when Mishika disappears on the morning of their engagement without leaving so much as a wisp of a trace behind, Rishi finds himself alone and adrift in a dark sea of doubts and fears. Was this one of those pranks that Mishika loved to pull on him to test his love for her? Or had something happened to her? Join Rishi as he tries to look for answers in an unforgiving world where holding on to even the slightest bit of hope is a daily struggle. Will he ever find Mishika? Was she even alive? What unbelievable things would his love for her make him do? From the bestselling author of the stupid somebody comes yet another gripping story that will make you laugh, cry, and reaffirm your faith in the strength of love.About the AuthorRohit Dawesar is an author from Indore, whose debut novel, The Stupid Somebody, became a national bestseller soon after its release in 2017. Popular for his Nanotales, short stories and poems that he posts on his social media accounts and on his website, Rohit started writing when he realised that the story he had in his mind was a unique tale that needed to be told. Now a full-time writer who creates magic with his words, he also owned a coaching institute for engineering and MBA students at one point in time, was a director at Entrepreneurs Consulting Pvt. Ltd., and is also the co-founder and director of a fast-food restaurant brand named The Urban Gumti. He is a book lover and a movie and television series fanatic who will hardly say no to a cup of coffee any time.

Gauri..!!


Sathya Sam - 2020
    Her character is similar to that of many women we see in our lives. But what is different is the dramatic twist in the tale, which you won’t see coming. The protagonist Gauri is patient and persistent, with an undying love and affection for her husband, much like many women in the country. Indeed, Gauri’s story is the tale of many women in India, who sacrifice their needs, desires and dreams for the sake of people dear to them. This work of fiction is a tribute to every unsung woman in every household. A big salute to these strong women, without whom society will perish.