ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Manav’s debut novel ‘Confused Bastards’ revolved around the world of start-ups and has received starred reviews from book reviewers & readers alike.
He has been a Fellow at the “Mumbai Mantra CineRise Screenwriting” program and the Event writer for the 45th International Film Festival of India, Goa.
Sherlock & Devdas is his second novel.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Q. What first made you fall in love with writing and books in general?
I believe that for any medium to truly become an art form, the sheer act of creation should not be dependent on too many resources.
Book is such a medium where you, the author can create a world on your own. As the great writer, Paulo Coelho once said “The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader.”
Q. What inspired the idea for your book?
One fine day I woke up with Sherlock & Devdas, that is in my mind 🙂
But if I try to find the genesis of the idea, then I can almost route it to a TED Talk that I watched of Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik, where he spoke about the clash of different belief systems that are happening in a globalized world.
He primarily compared the mythologies of the western world and the eastern world and presented a worldview that was inspiring.
Q. What characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know?
I could culturally relate more with Devdas. I had heard about his story while growing up, and of course, watched the several adaptations.
It took me some time and lots of research to understand the Sherlockian world and ways of looking at things.
Q. How did you celebrate when you finished your book?
A two-character story with single malt 🙂
Q. If your book was made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
That’s a dream question but suppose this was true and suppose there was the option of making any choice, then I would love this to be a Ranveer-Ranbir film, with Ranveer Singh as Sherlock & Ranbir Kapoor as Devdas.
Q. If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Michael Crichton – for the sheer magic he created with science fiction. Jurassic Park is still one of my favorites.
But, I understand that this is not possible in this life. Same with Stan Lee. But I equally admire George R. R. Martin.
The kind of world that he created with “A Song of Ice and Fire” which later became “Game of Thrones” is just unbelievable!
Q. How do you use social media as an author?
Important to reach out to readers nowadays. Some authors do stay connected with their readers all the time.
But I am one of those who become active when they get their work out. Other than that I like to live in my cocoon of creation.
Q. What has been your biggest achievement?
To get Sherlock & Devdas together in one world. It was difficult to think about a plot where both could fit in without losing their personalities.
I presume that I have been able to achieve that or so I have been told.
Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
That I regret being born in 1979. Just because of a few months, now I get counted amongst those who belong to the 70s.
I wish my parents could have waited for a few months 🙂
Q. What has the pandemic taught you?
Write more. Stop wasting time – on brooding, on planning, on regrets, on everything.
Get to action. You never know when yours might be up.
Q. Future of SALISMANIA.com through your eyes?
A definitive platform for creators of all sorts to display and get recognition for their work.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The time is now. The occasion was never.
But some coincidences change your life forever!
Sherlock & Devdas were never meant to be together. They belonged to different worlds and nested different conflicts.
Early in his crime-solving career, Sherlock is learning his way with deductions and is on the uphill path to his first big case.
Devdas, on the other hand, is drunk and torn after Paro’s marriage, and is on his downhill path to self-destruction.
But one unexpected event shook their worlds and brought them together.
A heist.
While Sherlock would have loved to prove himself as a detective alone, there are things known only to Devdas about the stolen artifacts.
A modern twist on the legendary characters – Sherlock & Devdas pairs two opposite yet eccentric personalities in an epic adventurous journey.
BOOK REVIEW
Sherlock & Devdas: two classic characters with different backgrounds combined in an attempt to create a masterpiece.
Sherlock & Devdas by Manav Vigg aimed to take the readers of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali romance novel Devdas on a different expedition to show them something that no one ever imagined before.
This collaboration has the potential to touch billion hearts and create its fandom. Both classic characters in the book Sherlock & Devdas by Manav Vigg got justice.
They are relevant to the original fictional characters: Sherlock Holmes & Devdas. If you watch the British drama series Sherlock (featuring Benedict Cumberbatch) and Shah Rukh Khan's Devdas; you will be able to appreciate the authors work in blending the characters and creating something worth acclaim.
With some unexpected twists and turns, this book will leave you satisfied in the end. The idea of combining both stories and inventing something new did wonders in the authors favor.
I will be looking forward to reading the second part of the book Sherlock & Devdas by Manav Vigg and expect it to be even better than the initial book.
A stronger villain, an unforgettable story, and more deaths will take Sherlock & Devdas by Manav Vigg among the stars. Overall, a Must-Read for Sherlock Holmes & Devdas fans.
RATING: 4/5
PUBLISHER: Authors Up Front
PAPERBACK: 324 pages
GENRE: Thrillers & Suspense
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Salis Afaque is the CEO and Founder of SALISMANIA.com, a modern-day Social Media Management and Book Promotion website servicing Best-selling Authors and Entrepreneurs in India.
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