Serious Men

Serious Men is a 2010 drama fiction novel written by journalist Manu Joseph.[1] The story follows Ayyan Mani, a middle-aged Dalit working as an assistant to a Brahmin astronomer at the Institute of Theory and Research in Mumbai. He lives in slum with his wife and a son.[2] Furious at his situation in life, Ayyan develops an outrageous story that his 10-year-old son is a mathematical genius – a lie which later gets out of control.[3]

Serious Men
AuthorManu Joseph
CountryIndia
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
Humour
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication date
2010
Media typePrint (paperback, hardback)
Pages310
ISBN8172238525

It won the inaugural The Hindu Literary Prize and the 2011 PEN Open Book Award.[4][5] It was also shortlisted for Man Asian Literary Prize and Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize.[6][7]

Development

Joseph said that Indian English writers "usually take a very sympathetic and compassionate view of the poor, and I find that fake and condescending."[8] He felt that the poor in India are "increasingly very empowered, and the time has come when the novel can portray them in a more realistic way."[8]

Reception

Tobin Hershaw of The New York Times called the novel "smart and funny".[9] Peter Carty of The Independent felt that the novel "elegantly describes collisions with an unyielding status quo, ably counterpointing the frustrations of the powerless with the unfulfilling realities of power."[10] Bhavana Sharma of The Hindu wrote: "Manu Joseph's novel hammers in the hopelessness, boredom and desperate ambitions of suburban Dalit community in Bombay, and he weaves an interesting and funny satire on the academia of science, love and revenge."[11] Nick Rennison of The Times called it a "bitter, comic novel". Further saying that the novel "skewers a society where new ambitions and older class divisions co-exist."[12]

Adaption

Serious Men has been adapted into play by Nikhila Kesavan in Chennai.[13] In September 2017, it was announced that Sudhir Mishra will be adapting the novel into a feature film with Bhavesh Mandalia writing the screenplay.[14] In 2018, Netflix announced that it will be backing the screen adaptation by Mishra.[15] The eponymous film directed by Mishra and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, playing the role of Ayyan Mani opposite actress Indira Tiwari was produced by Bombay Fables and Cineraas Entertainment. It premiered on Netflix on 2 October, 2020.[16]

References
  1. Shivani, Anis (18 September 2010). "Manu Joseph, Author of "Serious Men" (Interview)". HuffPost. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  2. Krishnakumar Padmanabhan (27 July 2010). "'I don't see pure milk-and-honey goodness in the poor'". Rediff.com. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  3. Salam, Ziya Us (6 November 2010). "Seriously subversive". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  4. "Jacket Copy: PEN American Center's 2011 award winners". LA Times. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. "Manu Joseph bags The Hindu Best Fiction Award 2010". The Hindu. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. Maev Kennedy (12 April 2011). "Sam Leith and India Knight in running for Wodehouse book prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. "Manu Joseph Serious Men, 2010 Shortlist". The Man Asian Literary Prize. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  8. Page, Bennedicte (2 November 2010). "Manu Joseph's controversial tale of caste wins Indian literary prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  9. Hershaw, Tobin (3 September 2010). "Worlds in Collision". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  10. Carty, Peter (11 June 2010). "Serious Men, By Manu Joseph". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  11. Sharma, Bhavana (2 October 2010). "Satire to savour". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  12. Rennison, Nick (18 July 2010). "Serious Men by Manu Joseph". The Times. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  13. "Nikhila Kesavan". The Hindu. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  14. "Sudhir Mishra's next to be based on Manu Joseph's award-winning novel Serious Men". Firstpost. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  15. "Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star in Netflix film 'Serious Men'". Scroll.in. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  16. "Serious Men teaser: Nawazuddin Siddiqui takes charge of his son's destiny in 30-second video, watch". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
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