They've been mortal enemies since birth because of a bizarre family feud. But now Ravan and Eddie's lives converge as they share an obsession: having grown up in Bombay, the city of dancing movie stars and glitzy glamour, both dream of strutting down the road to superstardom.
Can Ravan (a lowly taxi driver) and Eddie (a bouncer-cum-bartender at a speakeasy) rise from their dusty CWD chawls to the glittering heights of international fame?
Peopled by a cast of soul-searching drunks, some of the most memorable women in recent literature and Ravan's nemesis, Three Point One, The Extras is much more than a book about Bollywood or Bombay. Outrageously exuberant in the telling and profoundly moving in its depiction of the big and small tragedies that shape our lives, the novel asks the reader to decide: are we protagonists and superstars or are we extras in that movie called life?
Kiran Nagarkar was born in Bombay in 1942. In addition to plays and screenplays, he has written four novels, establishing his reputation as an outstanding representative of contemporary Indian literature. His books are a target of ideological critique due to the hybrid nature of his version of postcolonialism, involving irreverence alongside seriousness.
Nagarkar studied at the Ferguson College in Bombay and then worked as an assistant professor at some colleges, as a journalist and screenplay writer, and, notably, in the advertising industry. He wrote his first book Saat Sakkam Trechalis (1974; Eng. Seven Sixes are Forty Three, 1980) in his mother tongue, Marathi. His bitter and burlesque description of the young Bombayite Kunshank – achieved by means of a fragmented form and rendered in innovative language – is considered to be a milestone in Marathi literature. In his first play Bedtime Story (1978), Nagarkar takes on the subject of modern responsibility by broaching the topic of political crises of the day (for instance the Cuban Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the State of Emergency called for by Indira Gandhi). Due to problems with state censorship as well as religiously motivated restrictions that prevailed over the cultural scene, the play was not staged until 1995. His second book Ravan and Eddie (1994) also met with a hostile response. The story of the childhood of two young boys, one Hindu, the other Christian, from families who live next door to each other yet live in completely different worlds, was criticized both as anti-Hindu and anti-Christian. The fact that Nagarakar chose to write this book and other subsequent writings in English, the language of his education, also encountered objections from his fellow countrymen.
In his subsequent novels, Nagarkar contrasts bigotry and extremism with a tolerance that feeds on doubt and is open to diversity. In Cuckold (1997), this mentality is embodied in a character who looms in Indian historiography. This is the unknown spouse of the famous princess Meera from the 16th century, whose love songs to the God Krishna have passed into popular Indian culture. In God’s Little Soldier (2006), the protagonist, who switches faiths without ever abandoning extremism, stands opposed to his questioning brother. Consistent with the underlying idea of this book as a parable without a message Nagarkar affirms in an interview that we can never stop questioning ourselves, we must bring our convictions out into the light and prove them. Nothing is more dangerous than being too much oneself, being completely sure of oneself, since such a belief will soon develop into an intolerance of others.
Nagarkar was distinguished with the H.N. Apte Award for the best first novel, the renowned Sahitya Award and the Dalmia Award for the furtherance of communicative harmony through literature. He received a Rockefeller grant and was awarded a scholarship by the city of Munich. He lives in Bombay.
Aaaaahhh the satisfaction of devouring a delicious book. Extras by Kiran Nagarkar is fun, witty and Indian. Kiran is a sharp and fluid writer who can create fun and quirky tales, moreover his capturing of MUMBAI of 1970s is so real and so Bollywood that you can’t help but fall in love with the city again.....
This is a huge book(488 pages, tiny font) by most standards, but is a quick read. Especially if you like reading stories set in old Bombay. Ravan and Eddie. the two protagonists in this book have previously been introduced in the brilliant book "Ravan & Eddie" by Nagarkar himself and while that book was about their childhood years, this one is about their adulthood and deals with the various pangs we adults know all too well - career, love and all that. There are many side plots and the writing is usually on the lighter and wittier side. The exaggerations in the writing style might get too much sometimes but one can overlook these for they are infrequent. Overall, Nagarkar employs a style that is breezy and good to read.
The name of the book derives from what Ravan and Eddie both end up doing as a means to satisfy their creativity, i.e. be extras for films. The author has not made the profession a mainstay of the story but has gone sufficiently in depth into the film industry and its workings, from slimy directors to VD ridden starlets. The author also takes a break in between some chapters to explain in detail about a subject through essays/write ups, which I felt was a good touch though others might find it tedious.
I’ll be very honest here. I had forgotten all about the first part of the book except the first chapter (which is the first chapter here too). I was going to check, as I read the book, if I needed to go back to the first book. And I didn’t need to thankfully, since this book worked so well as a stand-alone book! And I sure was surprised that I loved the book and its writing! I don’t know if I’ll ever read the third part of the book (or even go read the first part again), but I am glad I read this one.
It’s the story of two young men who have been ‘enemies’ from childhood and circumstances bring them together and make them friends. And it’s quite well done!
This is a great read and in Nagarkar's usual style of epic storytelling and ironic insight.
It is included in my study of humour for my thesis on his work. ( First time I picked it up-I have been waiting patiently for this book. I can't believe that I have a signed copy, picked up for me at the Mumbai launch and brought back to UK in person- even before it hit the shops.
I have already read three chapters and so far I am not disappointed!).
The extras is much humorous and darker than Ravan and Eddie. The twists and turns are amazing, and there is an authentic Mumbai flavour to all of it. The blanketed aspects of the city - taxi drivers, auntie drinking joints and extras, have all been beautifully captured and told about. The complexity of human personality and relationships plays out well through Ravan and Eddie's lives. In many ways, the two are complementary to each other. Ravan is grounded while Eddie is almost always up in the air. Ravan is stable while Eddie is always fluctuating. It was a delight to see their building friendship. There are various plots running parallely and are bound together well towards the end. I can't wait to read Rest in Peace.
Die beiden Jugendlichen Ravan und Eddie (aus dem gleichnamigen Buch Ravan & Eddie - Kiran Nagarkar) wohnen noch immer im selben Haus (einer Art Plattenbau, auf indische Art) und sind sich noch kein Stück näher gekommen, obwohl sie nur eine Etage trennt. Neben religiösen Abgründen liegt dies auch in der Tatsache begründet, dass Eddie's Familie Ravan für den Tod von Eddie's Vater verantwortlich macht. Eines haben die beiden aber auf alle Fälle gemeinsam: Ihre Mütter sind der Meinung, dass sie nun alt genug sind, um für sich selbst zu sorgen. Während Eddie deshalb hinter dem Rücken seiner Mutter anfängt in einer illegalen Schnaps-Kneipe zu kellnern, versucht Ravan sein Glück als Taxifahrer. Doch beide haben ihren Glauben an ihren großen Traum noch nicht aufgegeben: ein (Film)Star zu werden. Als ersten Schritt engagieren sie daher in kleinen Bands, die am finanziellen Abgrund stehen. Entsprechend gehen die ersten Versuche natürlich schief und Ravan und Eddie müssen nach und nach erkennen, dass die Welt in der Realität nicht so läuft wie sie es gern hätten. Auch mit der Liebe machen sie die ersten Erfahrungen, vor allem ihre Verlockungen, ihre Unbeständigkeit und Vergänglichkeit. Und nach vielen Jahren erkennen sie schließlich als sich ihr Schicksal kreuzt, dass sie so verschieden doch gar nicht sind...
Alles in allem hat mir das Buch wieder gut gefallen. Am Anfang ist das Buch abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Ravan bzw. Eddie geschrieben, aber mit zunehmender Zeit vermischt sich beides immer mehr. Insbesondere Ravan ist mir schnell ans Herz gewachsen. Wie auch schon bei "Ravan & Eddie" sind die Personen zwar glaubhaft, aber alle ein wenig überzeichnet. Zusammen mit der recht lockeren Erzählweise machte das aber für mich aber gerade den Reiz des Buches aus.
Bemerkenswert finde ich immernoch wieviele Kulturen und Religionen in Bombay in einem einzigen Haus Platz finden - und teilweise nicht mal eine gemeinsame Sprache sprechen, sich dementsprechend auch kaum kennen, obwohl sie doch alle ähnliche Sorgen plagen. Folglich hält sich jeder für etwas besseres. (Sehr hilfreich fand ich beim Lesen übrigens das Glossar, das die verwendeten indischen Wörter erklärt.)
Neben diesen gesellschaftlichen Aspekt hat Kiran Nagarkar diesmal wieder einige bizarre Einfälle eingebaut, die mir teilweise schon fast etwas zu weit gingen, weil das Buch dadurch auf mich irgendwie überladen gewirkt hat. Nichtsdestotrotz hat mich das Buch gut unterhalten und lässt den Leser mit einem positiven Ausblick zurück.
Es ist nicht notwendig, den Vorgänger "Ravan & Eddie" zu kennen, aber kann sicherlich nicht schaden, um die zwei besser nachvollziehen zu können. Der Grund der besonders starken Entzweiung der beiden Familien (nämlich der Tod von Eddie's Vater) wird am Anfang nochmal beschrieben.
Started the book with great expectations after reading the Cuckold by the same author. This book is very different from Cuckold and it is good not to carry forth any expectation if one has read Cuckold.
The book is about a person called Ravan (Ravan Pawar had been named Ram, but in a moment of indignation his mother renames him Ravan) and a person called Eddie (or Edward Coutinho). Both live one of the several chawls that sprawl Bombay. By quirk of fate Ravan as a child had jumped from the fourth floor and Edwards father who had been drooling at Ravan's mother catches him safely. In the process Edward's father passes away and the long history of a cold war between the two families begins.
Both grow up in the same locality but shun each other's company. Ravan is love with Edward's sister but is unable to bring himself up to speak to her given her convent education compared to his 10th fail status.
Both are them are laid back and are pushed by their mothers to start working. While Ravan starts off as a taxi driver, Eddie starts off as a waiter in one of the several joints that serve country liquor. Both the mothers are dreaming big for their sons.
One common streak that runs through both of them is that both have musical talent and both wish to become actors in the Bollywood. Fate pushes both of them to join the Extras Union of the Bollywood and both end up as extras in many films. They still continue to ignore one another before fate deems otherwise.
Read the book for more of the story. A decent book. Gives a good insight into the life of the extras in the Bollywood cinema.
Kiran Nagarkar-Discovered the writer so late,but I'm glad I did! Wonderful story-teller! Kiran takes time to weave each character and does a good job of it-they seem real and I could completely relate to them even though I did not read the prequel to the book. He describes life in Bombay,living in chawls and adds homour and wit to the entire story-line which makes it very interesting to read. Looking forward to reading more of his books!
The much awaited to the popular book Ravan and Eddie lives upto its expectations..honestly, in bits and parts. I am a huge fan of Mr. Nagarkar's writing style and hence an honest review of this book is not possible. All I can say is that may be my expectations were very high. Felt the book drag a bit in the middle but overall it was a fun read.
Kiran Nagarkar is a stalwart of Indian fiction writing - his stories are evocative and relatable and I love how he slips into his essays time and again. I was a great fan of Ravan and Eddie and this was a great way to relive the memory of that book. A great read for anyone who is a fan of the inimitably Indian and bizarrely surreal.
A complete shift from Cuckold, the earlier book I read by the same author. What is common though is the author's ability to keep you riveted with hard-hitting narrative, and noteworthy attention to detail. Another admirable point is Kiran's ability to raise hearty laughs, even as he completely immerses us in the grim and miserable world that the characters strive to escape