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My Days in the Underworld: Rise of the Bangalore Mafia
Agni Sreedhar is an underworld don turned writer turned journalist turned filmmaker. He studied law in Bangalore and was intent on entering the Indian Civil Service when circumstances forced him to turn to crime. Starting from the early 1980s, Sreedhar found himself entrenched in the bitter gang wars that shaped the contours of modern Bangalore. This book is an intimate, first-person account of the two decades he spent in the world of crime. But My Days in the Underworld isn’t just a tale of murder and blood. It is a study of a system that runs parallel to the world ordinary people inhabit; a lateral universe, one with its own police force and laws, one where the criminal justice system has all but failed. This is a story of a city as seen through the personal histories of politicians who ruled Karnataka, men like Gundu Rao, Ramakrishna Hegde, Bangarappa and Deve Gowda, as well as those who were responsible for shaping Bangalore’s underworld: Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, Sharad Shetty, Kotwal Ramchandra, Jayaraj and Muthappa Rai.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
121 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
ಅಗ್ನಿ ಶ್ರೀಧರ್ | Agni Sreedhar
10 books21 followersಅಗ್ನಿ ಶ್ರೀಧರ್ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು, ಲೇಖಕರು, ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆಗಾರರು ಹಾಗೂ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು. ಅಗ್ನಿ ಎಂಬ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರು ಕರುನಾಡ ಸೇನೆಯ ಸ್ಥಾಪಕರೂ ಸಹ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಂತರ ಅವರು ಸಾಪ್ತಾಹಿಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ವೃತ್ತಪತ್ರಿಕೆ, ಅಗ್ನಿಯನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದರು ಮತ್ತು ವೃತ್ತಿಪರ ಬರಹಗಾರರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. "ದಾದಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು" ಎಂಬ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅಗ್ನಿ ಅಸ್ತ್ರ ಎಂಬ ಯು- ಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ಚಾನಲ್ನಲ್ಲೂ ತಮ್ಮ ವಿಮರ್ಷೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಅವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು- ಆಧುನಿಕ ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕರ ಜಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಕ್ವಾಂಟಂ ಜಗತ್ತು, ಟಿಬೇಟಿಯನ್ನರ ಸತ್ತವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ, ಕಾಡುವ ಸಾಧಕರು, ಸಂಗತಿಗಳು, ತೊಟ್ಟಿಕ್ಕುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದೆ ನೆತ್ತರು, ಎದೆಗಾರಿಕೆ, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ-1, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ 2, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ 3. ಈ ಮೂರೂ ಭಾಗಗಳನ್ನು ಕ್ರೋಡಿಕರಿಸಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ 'My Days in the Underworld - Rise of Bangalore Mafia' ಎಂಬ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಎದೆಗಾರಿಕೆ ಆ ದಿನಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಕಳ್ಳರ ಸಂತೆ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಥೆ, ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ .
ತಮಸ್ಸು ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಕಥೆ, ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಮಸ್ಸು ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಎರಡನೇ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಯನ್ನು 2010-11ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದೇ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಹ ಪಾತ್ರರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
'ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು' ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬಹುಮಾನ ಲಭಿಸಿದೆ.
ಅವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು- ಆಧುನಿಕ ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕರ ಜಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಕ್ವಾಂಟಂ ಜಗತ್ತು, ಟಿಬೇಟಿಯನ್ನರ ಸತ್ತವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ, ಕಾಡುವ ಸಾಧಕರು, ಸಂಗತಿಗಳು, ತೊಟ್ಟಿಕ್ಕುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದೆ ನೆತ್ತರು, ಎದೆಗಾರಿಕೆ, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ-1, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ 2, ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು ಭಾಗ 3. ಈ ಮೂರೂ ಭಾಗಗಳನ್ನು ಕ್ರೋಡಿಕರಿಸಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ 'My Days in the Underworld - Rise of Bangalore Mafia' ಎಂಬ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಎದೆಗಾರಿಕೆ ಆ ದಿನಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಕಳ್ಳರ ಸಂತೆ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಥೆ, ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ .
ತಮಸ್ಸು ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಕಥೆ, ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಮಸ್ಸು ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಎರಡನೇ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಯನ್ನು 2010-11ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದೇ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಹ ಪಾತ್ರರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
'ದಾದಾಗಿರಿಯ ದಿನಗಳು' ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬಹುಮಾನ ಲಭಿಸಿದೆ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 29, 2016
My days in the Underworld is a memoir by Agni Sreedhar, translated from his famous Kannada book 'Dadagiriya Dinagalu'. Sreedhar is unapologetic in his approach to the events that shaped his life. The book is an engaging read and a must for those who would like to understand the 80's, the decade that shaped current Karnataka politics. Those were the times when Bangalore was known as a pensioners paradise . Jayaraj, Kotwal , Koli fayaz were ruthless thugs who controlled different parts of Bangalore. They were names we discussed at street corners.
As you read the book, stories of gang wars, con jobs, murder plans and colorful characters with weird names come alive and you are left wondering how Agni Sreedhar survived the tumultuous ride. I really liked the part ' life in a prison' which gives you an insight into the life of under-trials.
I am yet to come to terms with the "killing Kotwal' section of the book. Sreedhar writes it in such a calm demeanor as though killing comes natural to him. It's not gory, but here is an individual who openly confesses to the crime and the law can just watch him get away. There's no justification for any kind of killing, it's an act of revenge and Sreedhar is no different from the men who have committed heinous crimes.
The book touches upon Political-Goonda establishment. Ex chief ministers of Karnataka have always nurtured henchmen to do their dirty work. These men have later made politics their natural extension and the effect is there to see today. There is also detailed insight into the Police department and their functioning. You get first hand knowledge of what 'working' means.
As I put the book, I feel sad for the people who are drawn into a world of crime. They have to watch their back until the end. Read this book if you want to understand the 80's Bangalore. It's a translation and the journalistic style might put you off sometimes.
As you read the book, stories of gang wars, con jobs, murder plans and colorful characters with weird names come alive and you are left wondering how Agni Sreedhar survived the tumultuous ride. I really liked the part ' life in a prison' which gives you an insight into the life of under-trials.
I am yet to come to terms with the "killing Kotwal' section of the book. Sreedhar writes it in such a calm demeanor as though killing comes natural to him. It's not gory, but here is an individual who openly confesses to the crime and the law can just watch him get away. There's no justification for any kind of killing, it's an act of revenge and Sreedhar is no different from the men who have committed heinous crimes.
The book touches upon Political-Goonda establishment. Ex chief ministers of Karnataka have always nurtured henchmen to do their dirty work. These men have later made politics their natural extension and the effect is there to see today. There is also detailed insight into the Police department and their functioning. You get first hand knowledge of what 'working' means.
As I put the book, I feel sad for the people who are drawn into a world of crime. They have to watch their back until the end. Read this book if you want to understand the 80's Bangalore. It's a translation and the journalistic style might put you off sometimes.
October 19, 2019
I chanced upon this book in one of Kindle’s many offers. There are many reasons why I picked it up for reading: one, it was about the underworld of the city, Bangalore, where I live; a search about the author showed that this book won him Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and he had written screen play for the film based on the book with noted playwright Girish Karnad; and three, I think most ordinary law-abiding citizens find the world of gangsters, crime and scams fascinating and I am no exception!
What makes ‘My days in the Underworld‘ exceptional is that it is a first hand account by someone who was in the thick of the underworld in Bangalore for fifteen years. Secondly, Sreedhar is an ‘intellectual rowdy’, seems like an oxymoron but true! He establishes his intellectual credentials pretty much in the first page itself. On reaching the hostel, he says he unpacked his books – ‘about fifty by prominent Kannada litterateurs; my three favorite writers, Camus, Kafka and Sartre; and, of course, The Godfather’, much to the awe of his roommates. His life of crime (law breaking) is initially inspired by Marxist philosophy and Che Guevara; one thing leads to another and he gets deeply embedded in the murky world of criminals and dons.
Apart from a ring side view of the life of criminals – big and small, Sreedhar offers interesting and insightful observations of the underworld. He draws masterful pen pictures of his associates, police officers and others. Sreedhar describes a small time rowdy he hires for a job as someone who had ‘no specific allegiances and, for a small sum, would beat up anyone that needed a little intimidation.’ His observation about what ties the underworld, political class and police together is on the dot: ‘The politicians pamper the underworld because they are of use during elections. The police play up to politicians because they can be used during transfers. The underworld controls the police through politicians and the politicians control the underworld through the police!’ Towards the end of his time in the underworld, Sreedhar has a brush with Bombay dons and their boys. He makes an interesting comment on the difference between the Bangalore and Bombay criminals. He says ‘People (in Bombay) do not fight for personal revenge like they do in Bangalore. Killing is a business there (in Bombay).’ It is these kind of reflections on the characters and events that elevates the book from being a short-lived chronicle of events to something of enduring value.
Although written in a simple language and narration is engaging, reader might find keeping track of many characters and their inter-relationships a challenge. Sreedhar either has a phenomenal memory or he has kept a diary for he narrates many of the episodes verbatim with full complement of people who participated in the discussion or the clash. Also he relates the events in chronological order, which makes it a little tedious. One thing missing from the narration is zero details of his personal life. Towards the end of the book there is a mention of his mother, wife and daughter in passing, but there are no details of how he navigated that part of his life’s journey.
The criminals of the underworld no doubt inhabit a parallel universe with which ordinary folk like you and me do not come in contact in the normal course of our lives. Yet, to find that these gangsters hung out in hotels we would visit with our families and lived in a neighborhood that is a stone’s throw from where I live, was both amusing and unnerving.
Follow me on http://booksmoviestravel.wordpress.com/
What makes ‘My days in the Underworld‘ exceptional is that it is a first hand account by someone who was in the thick of the underworld in Bangalore for fifteen years. Secondly, Sreedhar is an ‘intellectual rowdy’, seems like an oxymoron but true! He establishes his intellectual credentials pretty much in the first page itself. On reaching the hostel, he says he unpacked his books – ‘about fifty by prominent Kannada litterateurs; my three favorite writers, Camus, Kafka and Sartre; and, of course, The Godfather’, much to the awe of his roommates. His life of crime (law breaking) is initially inspired by Marxist philosophy and Che Guevara; one thing leads to another and he gets deeply embedded in the murky world of criminals and dons.
Apart from a ring side view of the life of criminals – big and small, Sreedhar offers interesting and insightful observations of the underworld. He draws masterful pen pictures of his associates, police officers and others. Sreedhar describes a small time rowdy he hires for a job as someone who had ‘no specific allegiances and, for a small sum, would beat up anyone that needed a little intimidation.’ His observation about what ties the underworld, political class and police together is on the dot: ‘The politicians pamper the underworld because they are of use during elections. The police play up to politicians because they can be used during transfers. The underworld controls the police through politicians and the politicians control the underworld through the police!’ Towards the end of his time in the underworld, Sreedhar has a brush with Bombay dons and their boys. He makes an interesting comment on the difference between the Bangalore and Bombay criminals. He says ‘People (in Bombay) do not fight for personal revenge like they do in Bangalore. Killing is a business there (in Bombay).’ It is these kind of reflections on the characters and events that elevates the book from being a short-lived chronicle of events to something of enduring value.
Although written in a simple language and narration is engaging, reader might find keeping track of many characters and their inter-relationships a challenge. Sreedhar either has a phenomenal memory or he has kept a diary for he narrates many of the episodes verbatim with full complement of people who participated in the discussion or the clash. Also he relates the events in chronological order, which makes it a little tedious. One thing missing from the narration is zero details of his personal life. Towards the end of the book there is a mention of his mother, wife and daughter in passing, but there are no details of how he navigated that part of his life’s journey.
The criminals of the underworld no doubt inhabit a parallel universe with which ordinary folk like you and me do not come in contact in the normal course of our lives. Yet, to find that these gangsters hung out in hotels we would visit with our families and lived in a neighborhood that is a stone’s throw from where I live, was both amusing and unnerving.
Follow me on http://booksmoviestravel.wordpress.com/
August 11, 2020
Gripping account of 70/80s Bangalore and it's nascent underbelly
May 2, 2017
A stream of consciousness narration that I enjoyed more than I should
This is a riveting stream of consciousness account of all things related to the rowdy Bangalore underworld and it's detailed, three-decade history as told by 'Agni' Sreedhar. I use the term 'stream of consciousness' because there is no real plot or focused narrative in this book, replete with jarring phrases that come out of nowhere, out-of-sync incidents, and more characters than a Garcia Marquez novel in every paragraph. However, what I liked was the vivid imagery it brings up if early Bangalore and the insiders' bare account of its underworld. What 'Agni' Sreedhar misses in terms of coherency or direction, he makes up in a seemingly honest (even the lies are easy to pick out!), bare bones description of what it was like to be a gangster in Bangalore in 'those days'. As a Bangalorean interested in crimes, this was a read that I enjoyed a lot more than I should have!
This is a riveting stream of consciousness account of all things related to the rowdy Bangalore underworld and it's detailed, three-decade history as told by 'Agni' Sreedhar. I use the term 'stream of consciousness' because there is no real plot or focused narrative in this book, replete with jarring phrases that come out of nowhere, out-of-sync incidents, and more characters than a Garcia Marquez novel in every paragraph. However, what I liked was the vivid imagery it brings up if early Bangalore and the insiders' bare account of its underworld. What 'Agni' Sreedhar misses in terms of coherency or direction, he makes up in a seemingly honest (even the lies are easy to pick out!), bare bones description of what it was like to be a gangster in Bangalore in 'those days'. As a Bangalorean interested in crimes, this was a read that I enjoyed a lot more than I should have!
December 20, 2016
A first hand narrative of the days when the underworld thrived in Bangalore, by someone who landed in this field due to circumstances [The author's words] It gives you an insight into the working of the underworld, crime, media and political scenes during the 80s and 90s. Agnee Sreedhar also brings out the stark differences between the Bangalore and Bombay underworld. I could not put it down once I started reading.
January 11, 2022
A narrative of a man , who landed in a place, where people never expected him to be.
It's a narration of the raise of underworld and everything around it before the 2000.
The dictation is simple. But as there are humongous number of names involved in the book , it can be confusing and also can be a bit time confusing then our regular fiction works. But the book is worth it. It gives a first hand experience of how everything happened back then in this dark mafia. You sometimes feel your sitting along with the people involved or you are one of the spectators watching the things unfold , as written in the book.
This book is originally written in kannada "Dadagiriya dinagalu" . I felt reading the orginal version would be more enjoyable.
Today Bengaluru is one of the most calm and desirable cities to be lived in. But it's shocking that it had a gore face back then as narrated in the book.
It's a narration of the raise of underworld and everything around it before the 2000.
The dictation is simple. But as there are humongous number of names involved in the book , it can be confusing and also can be a bit time confusing then our regular fiction works. But the book is worth it. It gives a first hand experience of how everything happened back then in this dark mafia. You sometimes feel your sitting along with the people involved or you are one of the spectators watching the things unfold , as written in the book.
This book is originally written in kannada "Dadagiriya dinagalu" . I felt reading the orginal version would be more enjoyable.
Today Bengaluru is one of the most calm and desirable cities to be lived in. But it's shocking that it had a gore face back then as narrated in the book.
April 26, 2022
اجني سريدهار هو رجل عصابة في باطن مدينة بنغالور عاصمة ولاية كارناتاكا، ثالث أكبر مدينة في الهند. وبعدها تحول إلى صحفي وصانع أفلام بعد خروجه من عالم الجريمة.
سريدهار يحمل شهادة في القانون ولكنه دخل عالم الجريمة الهندي في بداية ثمانينيات القرن المنصرم، وأنخرط في الكثير من الأعمال الإجرامية وحروب العصابات التي أثرت بشكل كبير على مدينة بنغالور.
هذا الكتاب هو سرد من قبل سريدهار، لمشواره الذي يقدر بعشرين سنة تقريباً في باطن عالم الجريمة في مدينة بنغالور.
الكتاب ليس فقط سرد للقتل والصراعات، وإنما وصف للنظام الإجرامي الذي يجر الأشخاص الاعتياديين إلى عالم الجريمة من الجنسين مثل حامل شهادة في القانون مثل سريدهار.
سريدهار يحمل شهادة في القانون ولكنه دخل عالم الجريمة الهندي في بداية ثمانينيات القرن المنصرم، وأنخرط في الكثير من الأعمال الإجرامية وحروب العصابات التي أثرت بشكل كبير على مدينة بنغالور.
هذا الكتاب هو سرد من قبل سريدهار، لمشواره الذي يقدر بعشرين سنة تقريباً في باطن عالم الجريمة في مدينة بنغالور.
الكتاب ليس فقط سرد للقتل والصراعات، وإنما وصف للنظام الإجرامي الذي يجر الأشخاص الاعتياديين إلى عالم الجريمة من الجنسين مثل حامل شهادة في القانون مثل سريدهار.
August 4, 2020
Story of a South Bangalore Rowdy
The Story revolves around 4 main characters. 1 writer himself and 3 others namely Kotwal, Jayaraj and Muthappa Rai. Sreedhar had tried to save himself at most of the occasions and played safe. He says that he warned everyone before they were taken down as if he could predict what was about to happen. Nice to say when you are seeing things in hindsight now.
Since book mentions about many places of South Bangalore so a good way to learn for someone who has never been to be Bangalore.
The Story revolves around 4 main characters. 1 writer himself and 3 others namely Kotwal, Jayaraj and Muthappa Rai. Sreedhar had tried to save himself at most of the occasions and played safe. He says that he warned everyone before they were taken down as if he could predict what was about to happen. Nice to say when you are seeing things in hindsight now.
Since book mentions about many places of South Bangalore so a good way to learn for someone who has never been to be Bangalore.
May 27, 2021
1. Gives a good understanding, to a layman, on how the underworld operates (of course the Bangalore's underworld is/was much simpler compared to Mumbai's)
2. Gives deep insights into how the relationships between dons, rowdies, politicians, police and journalists function.
3. It's great to read a first hand account of the functioning of the underworld from a real insider
4. It's so interesting to see that the places you have been visiting frequently over the past few years, which have always seemed overtly calm, have such chaos going on in the layers below the surface.
2. Gives deep insights into how the relationships between dons, rowdies, politicians, police and journalists function.
3. It's great to read a first hand account of the functioning of the underworld from a real insider
4. It's so interesting to see that the places you have been visiting frequently over the past few years, which have always seemed overtly calm, have such chaos going on in the layers below the surface.
June 9, 2020
'Goose Bumps' Narrative
Goodness Gracious Me, just spellbound by this book by Mr. Agni Sreedhar. It's a real account of his days in underworld. One can get insights of top notch Dons' like Mr. Kotwal, Mr. Jayaraj, Mr. Muthappa Rai and Mr. Agni Sreedhar. Narration is very simple, yet evoking emotions in every page of the book.
One of the best books on Underworld.
Goodness Gracious Me, just spellbound by this book by Mr. Agni Sreedhar. It's a real account of his days in underworld. One can get insights of top notch Dons' like Mr. Kotwal, Mr. Jayaraj, Mr. Muthappa Rai and Mr. Agni Sreedhar. Narration is very simple, yet evoking emotions in every page of the book.
One of the best books on Underworld.
September 8, 2020
It is similar to Hussain Zaidi's Dongri to Dubai, but not as well written.
It reads like a first person narrative of all the crimes that happened in Bangalore in the 70s and 80s.
What could have made the book better was if the author had given a big picture view and built a narrative around how the Bangalore mafia developed, similar to how it was done in Dongri to Dubai.
It reads like a first person narrative of all the crimes that happened in Bangalore in the 70s and 80s.
What could have made the book better was if the author had given a big picture view and built a narrative around how the Bangalore mafia developed, similar to how it was done in Dongri to Dubai.
June 1, 2023
Interesting read! Real experiences of a real don. Very grounded.
However, the narrative could have been better. It felt like going through exciting juicy bits interspersed by loong and dull chronological dumps.
Read it for a real view into gangster life, but you'll need commitment to push through many bits!
However, the narrative could have been better. It felt like going through exciting juicy bits interspersed by loong and dull chronological dumps.
Read it for a real view into gangster life, but you'll need commitment to push through many bits!
June 10, 2017
Good insider vote on Bangalore underworld
Surprisingly well written book from an ex Don. Has insider view about Bangalore underworld from his point. With a read for those who have little curiosity about Bangalore underworld.
Surprisingly well written book from an ex Don. Has insider view about Bangalore underworld from his point. With a read for those who have little curiosity about Bangalore underworld.
April 26, 2020
Very good book. I really liked personality of Agni sreedhar. I really enjoyed reading the book. Being a bangalorean, it is good to know about the underworld. And this book was amazing to know about it. And i really like it , that it was first hand experience written in this book. Very good.
May 20, 2020
Detailed history of how Bangalore underworld unfolded
Well written by Shridhar . It gives a detailed account of how police, politicians and underworld had work together between 1979 to 2000 and how the rowdies met their fate
Well written by Shridhar . It gives a detailed account of how police, politicians and underworld had work together between 1979 to 2000 and how the rowdies met their fate
August 19, 2017
Breathtaking, straight to heart
Sreedhar, you have written a great book. I am sure even Mario Puzo would be proud of you. Keep up your raw, authentic journalism.
Sreedhar, you have written a great book. I am sure even Mario Puzo would be proud of you. Keep up your raw, authentic journalism.
November 16, 2020
In kannada
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2022
Gives insight into the underworld of Bengaluru. It is interesting to read because it is written by the member of the underworld.
January 10, 2018
The subject matter is really interesting and worth more; at least a 4.5 star.
I enjoyed the detailed description of events, especially the way he manages to bring alive a crime scene (and the occasional police torture) without being brutal or gory. Since I'm familiar with most of the places mentioned (KR Park, where he extorts gay men, happen to be my favorite place in Bangalore) it was like discovering a secret history of your country.
He doesn't indulge in deep discussion of his morality or try to justify his behavior (except that one sentence - there is no hero or villain, only circumstances), but I really enjoyed trying to understand his morality and philosophy from the subtle hints strewn around. It's very interesting that he thinks criminals, aka thieves and robbers, are different from the Underworld Folks, or that he is okay with murdering for revenge but is apparently horrified about murdering for money.
The book got a little whiny and self righteous at the end. But overall, the subject matter is excellent.
The writing however is a different issue. I assume the Kannada version must have better language (the title itself sounds so much better), but the English is best described as dreary. Plus who describes a man as having 'paused' anyhow?
I also have an issue with the amount of foreshadowing. The author must have been really concerned you'll miss the subtle hints of crisis to come.
I would have liked the book much better if it didn't read like a narration of the defendant's crime presented in a court of law. Sreedhar is almost obsessed with keeping every event cut and dried. For example, he understood some events only years after they happened. But he compulsively explains everything while describing the event. That kills suspense and makes it read less like a memoir and more like a police report.
I disliked the writing enough to think this is slightly on the higher side of 2.5. Just barely. But still it's definitely worth a read for Bangaloreans.
I enjoyed the detailed description of events, especially the way he manages to bring alive a crime scene (and the occasional police torture) without being brutal or gory. Since I'm familiar with most of the places mentioned (KR Park, where he extorts gay men, happen to be my favorite place in Bangalore) it was like discovering a secret history of your country.
He doesn't indulge in deep discussion of his morality or try to justify his behavior (except that one sentence - there is no hero or villain, only circumstances), but I really enjoyed trying to understand his morality and philosophy from the subtle hints strewn around. It's very interesting that he thinks criminals, aka thieves and robbers, are different from the Underworld Folks, or that he is okay with murdering for revenge but is apparently horrified about murdering for money.
The book got a little whiny and self righteous at the end. But overall, the subject matter is excellent.
The writing however is a different issue. I assume the Kannada version must have better language (the title itself sounds so much better), but the English is best described as dreary. Plus who describes a man as having 'paused' anyhow?
I also have an issue with the amount of foreshadowing. The author must have been really concerned you'll miss the subtle hints of crisis to come.
I would have liked the book much better if it didn't read like a narration of the defendant's crime presented in a court of law. Sreedhar is almost obsessed with keeping every event cut and dried. For example, he understood some events only years after they happened. But he compulsively explains everything while describing the event. That kills suspense and makes it read less like a memoir and more like a police report.
I disliked the writing enough to think this is slightly on the higher side of 2.5. Just barely. But still it's definitely worth a read for Bangaloreans.
September 27, 2014
Interesting book. Not my usual thing, but a coworker recommended it and it seemed interesting enough.
It was really different from what I was expecting though. Sreedhar is a BAMF, going through Bangalore kicking ass and taking names (by extorting gay men, running an oil business, and other such things), but is scared of guns. From my perspective, there's a vaguely innocent quality to all of this, watching people in the book freak out over guns and alcohol, even after they hacked to pieces a huge rival don.
The one major disappointment I get from this book is Sreedhar's reluctance to share much of his interior life. We get to read about all of his exploits, many of his crimes, and most of the turning points that led him to where he is now, but in all of it, it's mostly told in a detached, descriptive manner, and I didn't get to learn much about who he was at these points in his life, or how he decided to make these choices.
Overall it's a pretty interesting look at the underworld in Bangalore, though it's not the most accessible book for Western audiences. So if, like me, you're not from Bangalore and don't know much about it or its political and cultural makeup, and, unlike me, don't work with someone who is, you probably won't get as much out of it.
It was really different from what I was expecting though. Sreedhar is a BAMF, going through Bangalore kicking ass and taking names (by extorting gay men, running an oil business, and other such things), but is scared of guns. From my perspective, there's a vaguely innocent quality to all of this, watching people in the book freak out over guns and alcohol, even after they hacked to pieces a huge rival don.
The one major disappointment I get from this book is Sreedhar's reluctance to share much of his interior life. We get to read about all of his exploits, many of his crimes, and most of the turning points that led him to where he is now, but in all of it, it's mostly told in a detached, descriptive manner, and I didn't get to learn much about who he was at these points in his life, or how he decided to make these choices.
Overall it's a pretty interesting look at the underworld in Bangalore, though it's not the most accessible book for Western audiences. So if, like me, you're not from Bangalore and don't know much about it or its political and cultural makeup, and, unlike me, don't work with someone who is, you probably won't get as much out of it.
January 13, 2017
It took me time to finish this book. There were too many characters in the plot and time to understand the situation takes time. But it is worth a read to know about the activities of the Bangalore Underworld.
Godfather by Mario Puzo has inflicted images of gangsters in our mind which this book changes completely. In this book, the gangsters are not killing for business. It is personal revenge that matters more than business.
Now the rating time
Plot-3.5/5
Character depth-4.5/5
Writing-4/5
Though the original version is in Kannada the essence has been captured and is probably well translated.
Godfather by Mario Puzo has inflicted images of gangsters in our mind which this book changes completely. In this book, the gangsters are not killing for business. It is personal revenge that matters more than business.
Now the rating time
Plot-3.5/5
Character depth-4.5/5
Writing-4/5
Though the original version is in Kannada the essence has been captured and is probably well translated.
January 26, 2014
The good: detailed description of how the author became a leading underworld figure. The bad: never goes beyond a journalistic level. We never understand why the author was so ready to resort to violence in many incidents where other people would have filed a police complaint. Winner of a Karnataka Sahitya Parishad Award.
December 15, 2014
A very very engrossing read. The fact that a lot of the locations in the narration are places that are within a two kilometer radius of where I live or are places that I frequent, this despite being something about the underworld was very relatable. I loved the narration style and the way the book was demarcated into sections.
October 20, 2015
As an account of the author's adventures in Bangalore's underworld - this has all the colorful characters one could expect, complete with colorful names. The narration is completely arbitrary and most parts are kind of pointless. Strictly for Bangaloreans.
November 1, 2016
Too strong to take some of it... Yet very touching!!
This book explains the brutality of Underworld at the same time it explains the love and affection people have.. Trusting people in underworld doesn't seem to be an easy thing... But it proved the unexpected...
This book explains the brutality of Underworld at the same time it explains the love and affection people have.. Trusting people in underworld doesn't seem to be an easy thing... But it proved the unexpected...
September 4, 2015
An essential guide to anyone who would want to know and understand the runnings and players of the Bangalore underworld in the 70s and 80s. Well written and the insider angle is definitely helps
Currently reading
July 23, 2016a
November 21, 2016
Good one to understand the perspective of a committed criminal.
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