Karnataka - Bangalore   

‘I do not want to sound like a cola ad’

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

UNUSUAL venue: Writer Chetan Bhagat (left) addressing the gathering during the launch of his book in Bangalore on Sunday. Director Atul Agnihotri is seen.

Bangalore: The Big Bazaar is an unusual choice as a venue for a literary event — and a bit of a gamble for the organisers.

The unsuspecting customers at the store could, of course, be turned into a captive audience but only if they can be lured away from their purposeful shopping, especially when they spot discounts.

The MC had to work overtime to rev up a crowd on Sunday at the launch of author Chetan Bhagat’s third book, The Three Mistakes of My Life, at the store. But her efforts paid off, and Mr. Bhagat had a modest but devoted audience in rapt attention as he answered questions about his latest novel, and his previous two bestsellers, Five Point Someone and One Night at the Call Centre.

Wedged between the screeching traffic of Old Madras Road and the squeaking of shopping trolleys Mr. Bhagat’s fans clicked pictures of him even as the rain clouds overhead threatened to burst. His latest offering is a story that deals with business, cricket and religion, and told through the life of Govind, a young boy from Ahmedabad who sets up a “cricket shop” with his friends.

“Our roots are essentially in small towns and cities, and not in big metros,” said Mr. Bhagat when asked why he chose to base his novel in Ahmedabad.

“It has the romance associated with Chetan Bhagat’s novels but it is not based in a coffee shop or a nightclub. It is about a boy who falls in love with the girl he takes tuitions for.”

On being upheld as the voice of the new generation and as a youth icon, Mr. Bhagat said he did not want to sound “like a Pepsi ad”. The country needs more role models, he added.

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