Mr. Majestic: The Tout Of Bengaluru

by Zac O'Yeah

Zac O'Yeah's crime fiction is quirky, amusing and teeming with unforgettable characters. A deliciously waggish take on modern India with all its idiosyncrasies and complexities.' –Tarquin Hall, author of the Vish Puri series

'Among the many genre pleasures of Mr Majestic: The Tout of Bengaluru is a redolently pulpy Indian thriller that doubles as authentic Bangalore noir. Zac O'Yeah and Hari Majestic - local firang pulpmeister and international local detective – arrive on the scene of the crime to give us an amusing, zippy, suspenseful mystery that will have you properly sandalwooded and Bangalored, Majestic style.' – Pradeep Sebastian, author of The Groaning Shelf and Other Instances of Book Love

Another comic tour de force from crime writer Zac O'Yeah

Mr Majestic – given name Hari, aka Harry, Cyber Scammer Director Bongjee, No. 1 Tout of Bengaluru – is having the worst day of his life. Not just because he is trying to escape a muscled thug who is making enquiries about a scam luring gorgeous young hopefuls into the world of Indian cinema (and Hari wishes so much he wasn’t guilty as charged); not just because he has witnessed his childhood idol, superstar Jagatprasiddha, get seriously wounded in a smash-up involving a cow and a pink Porsche; nor just because a decrepit foreign tourist is inadvertently dead at his hands. It is the worst day of Hari's life because the missing girl he has been hired to dig out from the bowels of Bengaluru – for a reasonable sum – is the wrong woman to fall in love with.

Hot on the trail of the gorgeous Madhuri, Hari finds himself playing the toughest game of his life against Bengaluru's underworld – a vast sleaze-pit of manic drivers, sewage lakes, cheap rum, dicey non-veg, video pirates, sundry lowlifes, and men who kill for a living. Soon Hari is forced to doubt his odds of survival and ask himself the inevitable: will he be reborn as a cockroach?

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2012

About the author

Zac O’Yeah used to work at a theatre in Gothenburg, Sweden – the harbor town where his detective novel “Once Upon A Time In Scandinavistan” (Hachette India, 2010; originally published in Swedish as “Tandooriälgen” in 2006) is set – and toured with a pop group until he retired early at 25 and came to India.

Since then he has published eleven books in Swedish, many of them important bestsellers – including the Gandhi-biography “Mahatma!” which was short-listed for the August Prize 2008 for best nonfiction book of the year. His most recent book in Swedish is the conspiracy thriller “Summan av kardemumman” (2009; paperback in 2010). He is currently working on a new thriller and a film project.

He is also a literary critic (rather grumpy at that), cultural feature writer and columnist, currently writing on crime fiction in Mint Lounge, the weekend supplement of the Indian edition of Wall Street Journal, and reviewing books in Deccan Herald’s Sunday supplement, and contributing occasionally to the travel magazine Outlook Traveller, plus now and then in major Swedish magazines and newspapers.

Zac O’Yeah is also a translator specializing in introducing selections of Indian writing – such as Pankaj Mishra, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and others – to Swedish readers. He has had a long involvement with theatre in as a playwright, director, designer, producer, and occasional performer.

Furthermore, he has been a cultural consultant for several bilateral exchange projects involving Swedish and Indian writers, translators, theatre workers and many others who toil in the fields of art. These projects have included, for instance, developing theatre for children and young people. Previous jobs include International Secretary of the Swedish Writers’ Union (1998-2000), dance lighting designer (1988-1992) and dish washer in a seedy pizzeria in Kungsportsavenyn (1986-1987).

Reviews

[Vishnu Madhu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style is so indigenous and the tout's thoughts are so original, that it's difficult to believe that the author is a Swedish guy. He retired at the height of his peak as an artist, and settled in India during his late twenties. His commitment to research the topic has to be appreciated, but the story as a whole was a bit stretched for me. There is a mystery, but don't expect a gripping thriller, maybe a comedy explains it better. Anyway, the author is widely acclaimed, so just give it a go, and maybe you will have a better experience than me.

[Yahana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decided to try this author because he held a novel-writing workshop in one of the literary events (despite not being very impressed by the workshop). I ended up picking two of his books - this one and the Scandinavistan one.

While both the books disappointed, this one was rather ridiculous. I gave away the books.

[Nikhil Shastry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has meticulous details of Bengaluru as a city. Portrayal of a low life as hero has come out well. At some stages I felt the storyline went off track. Worth reading and suspense keeps building.

[Megha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall interesting to base it in Bangalore with high attention to Bangalore specific details. But a bit all over the place in terms of the story arc.

[Shreyas Karanth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read! The whole premise of a detective novel set in Bangalore was absurd when I first heard about it, but this was very well done. I also loved the references to real Bangalore places, with a little bit of Bangalore English thrown in there as well!

[Unni Krishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really terrific book set in Bangalore somewhere on C.D.Road (I have no idea if such a road is existing in Bangalore). Hari or Majestic is a small time crook living of his street-smartness on this road. One of his internet scams triggers an avalanche of bad, worse and worst days for him in the shape of an American desi girl named Madhuri. The underworld of Bangalore and the Sandalwood act as a backdrop for all the dramas. Unfortunately he only has his own wits and some occasional help from some friends to bail him out from each of the situations. However, in the end he gets that very coveted soulmate named Winnie for his (sorry, her) life (Don't worry, that is not a spoiler!).

I really loved some of the character's in this book, especially, Winnie and Mamool uncle. Majestic, by default, is designed as a hero to be liked. So no surprises in liking him. Tord, a Swedish tantric yogi is another likable loser. The language is super. As in any quality humor stories, the language takes occasional melancholy tones. The plot is very predictable, but that is expected about any thriller these days. It is the hilarious touch that makes the difference.

[Tikuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won the book in a contest by Siyahi and oxford book stores, Delhi. Wasn't sure how one can mix humour and crime fiction. For someone who hasn't been to B'lore it did not evoke any feelings towards the city so strongly depicted. The characters are interesting and at places the narrative is hilarious but it did not satisfy my thrill for crime fiction. Though I would say I enjoyed Hari's character and the how the author explores the psyche of Hari, a working class sleuth in the cyber-city of B'lore, and his friends. Overall a nice read. The good thing about the book is the initiative of author in broadening the genre by mixing detective and humour. Some people , like me, may take time to digest this combination but it is a move in a good direction and worth exploring. Beating the norm is always appreciated.

[Dayanand Prabhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book overflows with puns and references to all things Bangalore, especially the good old Bangalore of yester years . It has lost is old prominence and is now slowly the rot is visible, but its charm is still pretty intact. The book captures the essence of that charm and wraps it around a very fast paced, funny crime plot. Our Protagonist Mr.Majestic is a crook, a scammer but he is not a person of bad character, but merely a product of his environment. He has his dreams and desires and most of the time does what best he can to make ends meet. That is when he is assigned with a task to find a missing girl so beings a journey through the by lanes of Bangalore with shady characters and comical brilliance.

[Prasad GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

If not for anything else, the rootedness of the plot in Bengaluru alone deserves my 3 stars. However, this hilarious novel offers more than just that. Though I found the humorous turns of phrase that this book is peppered with, laboured initially, with time I got used to them and even began relishing some of them. While the plot could have been tighter, the character of Mr. Majestic is well etched. His grey shades make him all the more appealing. I loved the way he picks up the English language. But the rest of the characters pay regular visits to multiple pages of the novel without leaving much of an impression. All said, I'm still in two minds about going for the 2nd adventure though! And that speaks volumes about the overall quality of this book.

[The Book Outline · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading the book, I was of the impression that it should have been more justified to call it a humor novel, but that was until the crime and the detective popped up. Although Mr Majestic – the Tout of Bengaluru is termed as a detective novel by Zac O'Yeah. the book is essentially a hilarious account of Hari, a tout’s adventure in the lanes of the Bengaluru’s underworld, of which Hari himself was also a part of.

Read the complete review of Mr Majestic - The Tout of Bengaluru at http://www.thebookoutline.com/2013/03...

[Vinayak Varma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick-paced, gripping and colourful noir send-up/celebration of Bangalore's street culture. Those looking for authenticity will be disappointed, but such readers will be better served picking up a Lonely Planet or some fat, hardbound local history, mainly to repeatedly smack their silly obstinate little heads with. This book is for people looking for a breakneck, boozy, bloody evening with some delightfully overbaked characters, through the grimy back alleys of a Bangalore out of one of Terry Gilliam's best nightmare visions.

[Nandini Vishwanath · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, it was trip down my childhood. not that my childhood was filled with touts and pimps, but I grew up in the Bangalore of Mr. Majestic's time and those areas that he refers to were close home. Always wondered about the stories that area is abound with. This book is a gem from that perspective. I want to now go on a walking tour and experience my childhood all over again.

The Fish land hotel, the Majestic bus stop, Ulsoor lake, the Illegalities on KG Road, the epicentre of Sandalwood cinema - was total <3

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed this book from somebody who had recently returned to the US from India with this book in tow. He said it reminded him so much of the ridiculous stuff that transpired as part of his time there.

For me, sho has not (yet) been to India, this is one of those books that became much more enjoyable when I thought of it less as a book and more like the novelization of a movie. There were a lot of elements that seem to lend themselves much more to a visual medium than a written word one.

[Kiranchavala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice depiction of Bangalore , kudos to the author , enjoyable read

[Santhosh Guru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up as the story was set in Bangalore. A crime thriller written in a quirky Indian way by a Swedish guy. Funny is many places and I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this one, a delightful read which leaves you laughing so hard at the old Bangalore musings :)

I'll give it a 3.5

[Qube · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very ordinary. Not sure what some people saw in this one.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable noirish thriller that's a paean to Bangalore's dubious delights.

[Kabaddi Mom · Rating 1 out of 5]

It felt too artificial from the beginning. The only thing that compensated for my disapproval isthat at least someone tried and wrote a "mystery" book based out of India.

[Anuradha Goyal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Detailed review here - https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/mr-maje...

[Viju · Rating 2 out of 5]

Between two and three stars.

A mostly time-pass read with situations that seem a little too contrived. But a good journey for the Bangalorean in me.