Who Painted My Lust Red?

Money Trilogy #2

by Sree Iyer

Why is IPL being held in Dubai? What is the attraction? As many Indian politicians descend to watch IPL games, an upcoming politician suffers a procedure that is intended to send a message to the debauched. Why was Bollywood roped in to add glamour? This story of fiction describes it all. When an upstart Media Mogul decides to take on the established Indian Cricket Board (ICB) and the newly formed 20-20 league is a huge success, the ICB decides to fight back. It assigns an aggressive industrialist the job of creating a rival Twenty-20 league system that is far, far superior to the 20-20 of the Media Mogul. To ensure that it would be a success, ICB ropes in the glamour of Bollywood and the glitz of politicians and movie stars to attend the games. Crowds go wild with frenzy, watching their favourite icons in the flesh, waving to them, and rising and falling with the fortunes of the team they were rooting for. The after-game parties were over-the-top affairs with plenty of sex and sleaze as no one was spared in the tsunami that followed the games. A group of three smart, young actresses looking to burst out into stardom are raped after being drugged in an after-party game in Dubai. Moreover, a few politicians were linked to Dilawar, the mafia don of Mumbai, laying in exile in Dubai who controlled all the hawala agents in India to launder the money of the politicians. Some of the senior ministers get notified of what would happen to them if they do not mend their ways. A gory picture of a severed body part is sent as a reminder. They in turn, decide to use their ministerial clout to depute ace trouble-shooters Priya Menon and Karan Dixit to get to the bottom of the affair; to determine who is behind all this. Will they succeed? Will the three wronged actresses exact revenge?

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Arunothia Marappan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The outline of the plot could have gotten a better rating if not for the unnecessarily dragging and poor narration and glaring typos. Like, wasn't this book edited? Also, why can't the author directly use the names of people whose cases have been proved.. for instance, why can't Dawood Ibrahim be named? I have read fictional works earlier that brings in Henry Kissinger and the likes with their actual names and crimes. Overall, it is like a poorly written Bollywood script, given the kind of content the author seems to have, one would expect a much better presentation.

PS: Changing from 2 to 1 star as I am having a very poor after feeling, like the kind you have after having read a badly written Masala narration.

[Keshav Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking Revelation

A jaw-dropping and shocking insight into the nexus between Indian cricket, Bollywood, and Politicians. One might comprehend the underlying corruption, bribery, and greed of amassing wealth that transpires when a country of cricket frenzied buffs, sported by their favorite celebrities work for hand in gloves with politician-underworld nexus. While this book, like its prequel, is mentioned as a work of fiction, anyone who is abreast of current affairs and who's who in the Indian arena can well associate the characters in the book to real-life personalities, albeit there is an element of fiction to add flavor to the episode, or maybe not, as there could many truths that are outside the purview of the real world that the common man is oblivious. Like its prequel, the author has introduced all the characters of the book at the beginning and the references at the end, enabling curious readers to dig up and read through, if interested. While this book could only be a concise glimpse of the gargantuan reality that showcases the nefarious nexus, one can imagine how developed India could have been, both economically and socially, had these brains and wealth worked in unison towards the common goal of progressive India. Thank you, Sree Iyer, for this wonderful and eye-opening sequel. Eagerly waiting for the final part of your trilogy.

[Navaneeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sree Iyer needs to employ an editor for his writings. Although the subject matter is intriguing, the poorly structured narration and the many (avoidable) mistakes make the book come across as an amateurish first cut draft. Same as with the first instalment in the series. Rounding it up to 3 as I cannot give a 2.5 rating. There seems to be a Chetan Bhagat-esque inclination for cheesy melodrama tailor made for a hopeful Bollywood adaptation, much more than part one. Seemed promising at the beginning but drastically veered off course in what I can only assume was an attempt to pack in as much masala as possible.

[Sapthagiri · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's too confusing to decipher the plot!

Sree Iyer has tried to fit in the most sought out topics- Cricket, Politics & and movies.
The matter dealt about these is a fusion of yesteryear happenings narrated in a style that is less appealing.
The story revolves around the ruling party politicians traveling to Dubai for business, watching Indian Cricket Premier League matches, and entertaining themselves. In this process, one politician gets castrated and eventually, an email with an a pic of castration is sent to a few prominent politicians.
The matter is taken up the Intelligence Bureau to unearth the mystery.
Read this novel to know the details.

Review by SRD

[Pooja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book

Thank you Sree Iyer for such a wonderful piece of work. The ill activities and unholy nexus of bollywood, cricket, politicians and underworld are serious and big threats to our nation.

[Mithilesh Gada · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has terrifying and shocking revelations of Cricket, Bollywood and Political mafia. The story which was built and all wrong doings right from bribery to date-rape drugs and the links between all is mind boggling.
Looking forward for the 3rd book of this series by Mr. Iyer.

[Manish Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book could have been much better had it not been written like a running commentary. Lesser fiction and more of a narrative on Indian politics in contemporary times.