POPULAR FICTION: A customer browses through <110>The Da Vinci Code<111> at Landmark, Chennai. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI: For a book that was released two-and-a-half years ago, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is still sensational enough to keep a mini industry going. Books on related subjects, VCDs, DVDs and an audio CD of the novel are available at local bookstores and a Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks will soon be shown on your neighbourhood screen.

In Chennai, the Landmark Book Store's product head, Madhu M, has reason to be thankful to Brown's genius for suspense. They have sold about 25,000 copies of the book since its release, 5,000 copies of related books and 600 of the VCDs, DVDs and audio versions.

"A phenomenon"

"This is a phenomenon, it's never happened before with a book. Harry Potter books themselves sell but people don't buy books on related topics. I guess it's because of The Da Vinci Code's sensational nature. People want to read a lot more to find out if it's all true," Mr. Madhu says.

The Nungambakkam Landmark store has an entire display devoted to related topics such as the Templars and Leonardo Da Vinci to cater to the curiosity of Da Vinci Code buffs.

The Code follows Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon's search for the truth behind the Holy Grail. As an example of the extent of the obsession, Mr. Madhu explains that even though Brown's sequel to the book The Solomon Key has not hit the stands, there's already a Da Vinci analyst in America: Greg Taylor has written Unlocking the Secrets of Dan Brown's The Solomon Key.

Avid reader Samanth Subramanian, who moderated a discussion on the controversial book, agrees it is the uncertainty about the subjects in the book that makes people want to find out more. He says, "It's an entertaining book but there are some elements of deception involved in it." The Priory of Sion, for instance. Samanth says the secret society dealt with extensively in the book never really existed. "A French restaurateur made up the Priory of Sion to increase sales."

Continuing interest

Theories such as these and obscure facts that keep surfacing keep the interest alive and the cash registers ringing. But Rekha Hira from India Book House says there will be a limit to this interest. She feels that people will eventually grow weary of the topics, as they always do.

Gautam Padmanabhan from East West Book distributors, however, says that the market for The Code itself has not been exhausted. "New readers want to know more about the various interesting facts." There are a lot of facts about art in Brown's book, and there lies the key to its believability. The mix of fact and fiction make it difficult for readers to tell them apart. But Gautam says that the market will separate the good books from gimmicks. "The good ones continue selling."

Some of the favourites examined in the guides to The Code are "Does the Priory of Sion really exist?" or "Was Jesus ever married?" They deny or support these statements.

Other authors concern themselves with working The Da Vinci Code into their books. Take for instance, Stephen Lanzalotta's The Diet Code: Revolutionary Weight-Loss Secrets From Da Vinci and The Golden Ratio. It's 20 per cent protein, 52 per cent carbohydrates and 28 per cent fat, in case you were wondering.

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