Sudershan Chimpanzee  (English, Paperback, Devraj Rajesh)

Sudershan Chimpanzee, as the name suggests, chronicles the ups and downs of a chimpanzee named Sudarshan who tries to climb the ladder of fame in the city of Mumbai.

Summary Of The Book

Sudershan Chimpanzee is an adventure regaling the efforts for fame. Sudershan is an aspiring actor in search of fame. He ends up in Mumbai in search of his dreams. A dark comedy, Sudershan Chimpanzee is set in the 1960s and provides an insight into the world of fame, which is transitory but addictive. Sudershan Chimpanzee regales Sudershan’s efforts in realising his dream. He starts off as a circus act, then turns to pickpocketing to survive, even resorting to selling weed part time in Colaba. He gets a chance at being an extra and soon luck turns his way, and he ends up as a sidekick. He achieves his dreams as a brief stint as a hero in the Chimpoo series, which gives him international fame. Fame is a fickle mistress, and Sudershan soon learns his lessons in the harsh realities of the fame game.

Many characters color his life, from Moti the dog, to Rajesh the horse who is an avid Shakespeare fan, and Raja the elephant. Shah, his director turned nemesis, and Padma, the human actress who is the object of his love, become the most important figures in his life. The illustration is in black and white and has been done by Meren Imchen. The dialogue is quintessentially Indian, with a bit of Mumbai Hindi mixed with English devoid of articles. Will Sudershan pay the price for fame? Will he find a foothold in the cut throat movie industry? Can he distinguish which lines should not be crossed?

About the Authors

Rajesh Devraj is an Indian screenwriter, Indian movie buff and researcher. He has authored The Art of Bollywood. His screenplays include Positive, The Fakir Of Venice, Quick Gun Murugan, and Arjun: The Warrior Prince. He lives in Mumbai.

Meren Imchen works as an illustrator and animator in Mumbai. His works are popular, with his film, Nokpoliba, winning the Best Animation and Direction award at the 54th National Film Award in 2007.