When you pick up Rain, Sriram Subramanian’s published debut novel, from a bookshelf, the single-word title may make you imagine that the story probably revolves around a survivor in any one of several disasters that rain can wreck on a country such as India; floods, landslides, killer diseases et al, but one is struck dumb by the ingenuity of the author in the way he makes monsoon an instrument of Jai Dubey’s ruin. But, by the time you have reached that point in the story, you are already enthralled by the intriguing premise on which the story is based. So you will just tell yourself, ‘Oh! This is so like Sriram.’
The struggle between unknown forces (ranging from astrological predictions to the supernatural) and scientific rational logic is as ancient as it is universal. No doubt phenomana change with times but Man has always been struggling to answer questions that keep bubbling up in his mind. Sriram begins his story with incidents that are quite commonplace and have happened to most people. So every reader will instantly identify with the premise. Then with the aplomb of a skillful magician he weaves it around the destinies of not just Dubey but the people who mill around him and leaves you spellbound. I believe it needs special authorial skill to turn familiar themes into gripping plots and Sriram, in this respect, proves a masterful plotter.
Characters in Rain don’t remain within the pages. They jump out and come crowding into your mind; into your room. They are real people whether they are the chief players or make guest appearances such the lady with the migraine or the great scientist. I love the way Sriram lovingly sketches each of his characters as though they are models posing before him. Each detail is drawn with as much diligence as an artist does on canvas.
Jai Dubey’s transformation across the novel reminds me of the film, Guide because at the end each touches your innermost core. Sriram’s sensitive handling of Dubey’s path to redemption would incite many, among the readers of Rain, to travel along. Last but not the least, the author’s exemplary play of words, language and style are worth mentioning and deserve many accolades.
Rain should definitely be part of your reading list this year. It is a coming-of-age fiction and I whole-heartedly recommend it.
All rights reserved. Copyright @Sutapa Basu 2016
