Source: http://img6a.flixcart.com/image/book/1/9/5/rip-original-imadkegyf27nhp4n.jpeg
Since his Lashkar series, Mukul Deva has been regarded as one of the best in the military fiction genre in India. And now he comes up with RIP – Resurgent Indian Patriots, another thriller about the endless scandals and corruption which has plagued our nation for years on end. Does it work? Let’s check it out.
The blurb goes like this –
R.I.P. The Resurgent Indian Patriots. Self- appointed guardians of a nation seething with anger at the endless scams and scandals rocking its very foundation. Vigilantes who vow to stop corrupt politicians and colluding civil servants. Even if it means killing them.
Colonel Krishna Athawale and his team of Special Forces officers rally to protect the country from the enemy within. They call themselves the K-Team. And no one is safe from their deadly intent.
Hellbent on stopping them is Raghav Bhagat, rogue para commando, gun for hire and Krishna’s bete noir.
Caught in the crossfire is Vinod Bedi, Special Director CBI. Reena Bhagat, a glamorous news anchor, embittered by her husbands betrayal. And two young boys, Sachin and Azaan, torn apart by the loss of a parent.
It doesn’t get bigger.
The book has an interesting cover depicting a soldier silhouette holding his gun close to his heart and looking towards the sun. The syringe along with the bullet quite perfectly capture a few titbits of what to expect in the story.
A group of vigilantes who want to root out corruption from the land by means which may not exactly be considered lawful in most countries. An individual who has taken it upon himself to stop them. And a few others who are caught in the crossfire.
Mukul brings out the frustration among the masses through this book. People are tired of corruption in every walk of life as was seen from the movement against corruption lead by Anna Hazare. And this one just shows what some people can do if their frustration boils over. Reminds you of Rang De Basanti or Hindustani, doesn’t it? The characterization is done pretty well and each of the characters are quite relatable.
The book is fast paced as is the case with Mukul’s other books. But at many points, I felt that Mukul was writing a script filled with cliches for a Bollywood flick rather than a novel. The romantic angle is quite a dampener for me considering the overall theme of the book.
After the high of the Lashkar series, this one was a slight disappointment as far as I am concerned. The book isn’t bad per say. But it surely isn’t up there with Mukul’s other works.
Rating – 3/5
Linking to NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month – May – My post no 5 for this month.
Saru (@BaawriBasanti)
I guess the bollywood influenced writing is seen in most novels these days. Haven’t read any of his books. Will buy once I am done reading my current stock.
aseemrastogi2
Yeah too much of Bollywood gets irritating. But that’s what the public reads these days I guess.