Author: Ashwin Sanghi
History based thrillers in the
recent past have always been about bringing out the unseen angle to disputable
events in the pages of history through interesting characters. Dan Brown, who
patronizes the formula with his now famous cinematic approach to writing,
stands as a reference for both the readers and the writers of this genre. Half
way through Krishna Key, where Ravi Mohan Saini the protagonist of the ‘anthropological
thriller’, examines a crime scene oblivious to the fact that he is being
framed for that crime & is awaiting imprisonment, the Robert Langdon reference
which until then acted as a homage, turns full on scale into an adaptation of
the latter. Like Robert Langdon, Ravi Saini too shares an interest in ancient
history; which in turn their respective authors use to weave a cat & dog
tale between the convoluted purists and pragmatic realists. Not just that, both
professors have a sickening fetish for explaining controversial historical
events, to the point where we the readers tend to feel like a spectator of a
paparazzi show. Beyond the boundaries of these clichés, while Dan Brown is appreciated for hammering us with ingenious plot twists, his replicator Ashwin Sanghi confines himself with his inspire's limitations, ergo couldn't enthral the us with captivating events.
In
the plot summary of the novel, besides dealing with the tryst of Ravi Saini,
the book promises to talk about a serial killer who presumes the role of Lord
Kalki. As eerily intriguing as it could be, Ashwin Sanghi lays a bigger labyrinth
for the mystical character in the beginning of the novel, only to lose all steam
as the plot thickens with more characters. It would have been tolerable to undermine
a key character if it were to be compensated by far better ones, but unfortunately
the trade-off only gives us obnoxious know-it-all caricatures whose only agenda
is to move the stale plot forward.
The
above mentioned glaringly dull characterizations apart, Krishna Key has a
promising premise by it side; and with its in-depth hypothesis on hindu way of
life and Indian history in a broader sense, the book does keeps its target
audience hooked till almost the end. But a book doesn't become a good read just
because of its allegiance to the history of its native readers. The compelling
narration & the poetic flow of language used for it should always be the
main reason for cherishing it. But for the Indian readers who are immersed in
the romantic age of Bollywood novels, these things don't matter.
I was introduced to Ashwin Sanghi’s scheming
world through Chanakya’s Chant, a modern day adaptation of Chanakya’s political
shrewdness. While it had its moments of sheer brilliance, it wasn't able to
warrant my complete attention. Nevertheless, in a space filled by romantic
urban novels, it sure came as a breath of fresh air to many a readers like me.
Channeling my thoughts that way, Ashwin’s latest
offering ‘Krishna Key’ with its straightforward narrative, turned out to be a page turner in the true sense. No wonder, for
someone who completed Chanakya’s Chant in a week, it took only one sitting in a
single day to complete Krishna key for me; and that matters the most here.
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