The Modern Romance Authors
By Romance writing in India has undoubtedly touched new dimensions in recent years; this is an undeniable fact that can indeed be disputed with arguments but cannot be denied! However, we will have to put our heads in the thinking process and find what these new authors have been doing with the romance genre and to what extent they take it forward. For most critical readers, Bharati and Sriram’s story was also a romance woven around the freedom struggle of Indian freedom fighters. How was that? What kind of romance was Waiting for the Mahatma? And what kind of romance is being produced by modern Indian authors today? We will indeed have to do an analysis.
Recently, we came across a book by Ajay K Pandey titled You Are the Best Wife. Now, this title is also written under the romance guise, and we have something that most modern readers would love to read—semi-nude text! Like this, many other books are on the market, and they are nothing but explicit textual writings.
Titles like Two States and I, too, had a somewhat moderate love story. Still, these authors considered mass writers, also transgressed the limits and found themselves in a different league altogether. So, once the authors who were supposed to be gentle started writing semi-porno novels, the writers who began writing looking up to them had no choice but to compete with them with steps more than two in advance.
We are not saying that romance should not be written or that modern romance is not good. We are just saying this is not the romance it used to be. We have moved ahead, and we have moved ahead heavily!
Romance in India: From Sublime to Sublime-ly Vulgar?
The landscape of romance writing in India has transformed from the subtle, poetic expressions of love to what some might call a ‘brave new world’ of literary erotica. But let’s dive deeper into this phenomenon, shall we?
The Golden Era of Romance: Once upon a time, romance in Indian literature was synonymous with “Waiting for the Mahatma” by R.K. Narayan, where love was interwoven with the tapestry of nationalistic fervour. Here, romance was not just about two hearts beating as one but about the heartbeat of a nation striving for freedom. The love stories of Bharati and Sriram were not just about personal affection but reflected the broader themes of sacrifice, duty, and societal change. This was a romance with a capital ‘R’, where the individual was political.
The Modern Twist: Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a marketplace where romance novels have taken a turn for the… let’s call it ‘adventurous’. Titles like “You Are the Best Wife” by Ajay K Pandey might sound like a heartwarming tale of marital bliss, but upon closer inspection, they reveal a trend towards what could be generously described as ‘semi-nude text’. This isn’t just a shift; it’s a leap into a genre that’s more about the physical than the emotional or intellectual.
From Love to Lust: Authors once celebrated for their gentle, heartwarming narratives have ventured into territories that might make even the most open-minded reader blush. The likes of Chetan Bhagat, with “Two States”, started with a relatively tame love story, but the genre has since spiralled into what some might call semi-porno novels. It’s as if the authors, seeing the market’s appetite for spicier content, decided to outdo each other in a race to the bottom, or rather, to the bedroom.
The New Romance Authors: These new romance authors seem to have taken the ‘show, don’t tell’ advice too literally. They’re not just showing love; they’re showcasing every intimate detail, turning what was once a genre about the heart into one about… well, other body parts. It’s like they’ve taken a leaf out of E.L. James’ book but without the global intrigue or the literary finesse, resulting in narratives that might be more at home on adult websites than in the romance section of a bookstore.
A Critique of Modern Romance: We’re not here to say that romance shouldn’t evolve or that modern romance is inherently flawed. However, there’s a difference between evolution and devolution. Romance used to be about the dance of emotions, the play of words, the slow burn of affection. Now, it seems, it’s about how quickly one can get to the ‘good parts’. This shift might be appealing to a specific demographic, but it leaves one wondering about the literary merit of these works. Are we celebrating romance or just celebrating sex?
The Future of Romance Writing: Perhaps it’s time for a renaissance in Indian romance writing—a return to stories where the romance is in the conversation, the glances, the unspoken words, and the shared dreams—where love is not just physical but a journey of two souls. Or maybe, just maybe, we need a new genre entirely—one that celebrates love in all its forms without resorting to the lowest common denominator.
In conclusion, while romance in Indian literature has touched new dimensions, it’s crucial to ask if these dimensions add depth or merely explore the superficial. The market might be thriving, but at what cost to the art of storytelling? Here’s hoping that future romance authors find a balance between the heart and the heat, giving us titillating and thoughtful stories.
By Sankalp for Desi Readers
