THE 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE
Price: Rs 95
Publication: Rupa & Co.

The neat cover illustration may lead one into believing that Chetan Bhagat’s latest ‘The 3 mistakes of my life’ is a book out and out on cricket. Don’t be mislead, it has none of the fanatic stuff.

Bhagat for the third time has redone what he is best at ~ put believable characters in an Indian setting, give them realistic situations to deal with and make them humans that commit mistakes, regret their past and plan for a bright future. His followers, now many, will not be disappointed by this lucid tome even though it lacks the story power of ‘Five Point Someone’ and the narration skills displayed in ‘One night @ the call centre’. However, cover to cover is still the way to go.

Life in IIT was tough for three friends (Five Point Someone) and it is no cake walk for three friends, now in the small semi-urban Indian setup of Ahemdabad. Govind a young, enthusiastic mathematically charmed brain is always looking for business ideas that will combine his knowledge and abilities with his friends’ passion. The book is about Govind’s three mistakes in life that lead him in to committing suicide.

Govind’s father walked out on him and his mother and now he is driven by the desire to become a big businessman someday. Ishaan or 'Ish' is passionate about cricket. He flunked studies to become a cricketer but in vain. Omi, son of a priest, is a friend who lacks chunks of grey matter, but mobilises things to get a shop on cheap rent for their cumulative business. Hence, the combination of business, cricket and religion in this read.

Chetan has the knack of engrossing readers by relating a tale as if it is downright true. He tells with so much passion that makes his creations unputdownable. He has his portions measured where he gives readers the apt dose of friends, passions, business, sports, love, sex, riots et al. The characters are all relatable and readers will see them experience emotions and face situations that they too must have in some point of their life. Alongside he gives some handy advice to youngsters with his inimitable one-liners.

‘One night @ the call centre’ is being made into a film ‘Hello’ starring Bollywood biggies that sees Chetan being roped in as the screenplay writer. This year long stint probably made it inseparable from his pen as his latest in many places reads like a film script. The story too, to some extent seems apt to be made into a masala Bollywood film.

The language is funny, satirical, impressive and easy to understand. The goodness intact, the book comes with some glitches too. The filmy dose takes a fullswing with the Australian chapter. The role of the little wonder, Ali is also taken beyond need, making the track predictable. It has the ‘thanks-to-math’ love story between Govind and Vidya (Ish’s younger sister) as well as the religious, read Godhra, angle, detailed descriptions of a few cricket matches here and there, and the dynamics of running a business.

The title of the book is impressive and attractive but the three mistakes listed aren’t really mistakes but choices.

Here is an excerpt from the book, ‘The 3 mistakes of my life’:
“Why does God do this Govind?” Ish said.
“Do what?”
“Give so much talent to some people. And people like me have none.”
“You are talented.”
“Not enough. Not as much as Ali. I love this game, but have no gifts. I pushed myself ~ woke up at 4 a.m. everyday, training for hours, practice and more practice. I gave up studies, and now that I think of it, even my future. And then comes this marble player who has this freakish gift. I could never see the ball and whack it like Ali. Why Govind?”
Continuing my job as the parent of my friends, I had to try and answer every silly question of his….