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Delhi Noir
Brand new stories by: Irwin Allan Sealy, Omair Ahmad, Radhika Jha, Ruchir Joshi, Nalinaksha Bhattacharya, Meera Nair, Siddharth Chowdhury, Mohan Sikka, Palash K. Mehrotra, Hartosh Singh Bal, Hirsh Sawhney, Tabish Khair, Uday Prakash, and Manjula Padmanabhan.
The eyes of the world are gazing at India—the world’s largest democracy. But the books you read about this Asian giant only show part of the picture.
Delhi Noir’s fourteen original stories are written by the best Indian writers alive today—the ones you haven’t yet heard of but should have. They are veteran authors who have appeared on the Booker Prize short list and budding geniuses who your grandchildren will read about in English class. Delhi Noir is a world of sex in parks, male prostitution, and vigilante rickshaw drivers. It is one plagued by religious riots, soulless corporate dons, and murderous servants. This is India uncut, the one you’re missing out on because mainstream publishing houses and glossy magazines can’t stomach it. offers bone-chilling, mesmerizing takes on the country’s chaotic capital, a city where opulence and poverty are constantly clashing, where old-world values and the information age wage a constant battle.
Editor Hirsh Sawhney has written for the Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian, Time Out New York, Outlook, and the Indian Express. He splits his time between Delhi and Brooklyn.
The eyes of the world are gazing at India—the world’s largest democracy. But the books you read about this Asian giant only show part of the picture.
Delhi Noir’s fourteen original stories are written by the best Indian writers alive today—the ones you haven’t yet heard of but should have. They are veteran authors who have appeared on the Booker Prize short list and budding geniuses who your grandchildren will read about in English class. Delhi Noir is a world of sex in parks, male prostitution, and vigilante rickshaw drivers. It is one plagued by religious riots, soulless corporate dons, and murderous servants. This is India uncut, the one you’re missing out on because mainstream publishing houses and glossy magazines can’t stomach it. offers bone-chilling, mesmerizing takes on the country’s chaotic capital, a city where opulence and poverty are constantly clashing, where old-world values and the information age wage a constant battle.
Editor Hirsh Sawhney has written for the Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian, Time Out New York, Outlook, and the Indian Express. He splits his time between Delhi and Brooklyn.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2009
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458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 8, 2016
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
Once again, I have sought out another book from the Akashic series of short stories that takes place in a variety of cities around the world. I am still in the mood for dark, short stories, so Delhi Noir was the perfect choice.
I have never been to India, and based on this collection of stories, I'm not sure if I want to go. It is chaotic, crowded, loud, corrupt, poor and dirty. There is also amazing architecture, natural beauty and good food, even the cheap stuff you get at the roadside stalls. I'm very glad for my literary journey to Delhi. The stories were vivid enough to give me a glimpse into a culture very different from my own, even if they show humanity at its worst.
I'm a little disappointed that out of the 14 contributors, only 3 of them are women. Nevertheless, their stories are outstanding.
Manjula Padmanabhan's Cull is the very last story and one of my favorites in this collection. More speculative fiction than noir, it is very dark and would make an excellent novel. It shows the callous disregard people in power have for the poor residents of the Acres and it shows how strong and resourceful the poor can be.
Radhika Jha's very humorous How I Lost My Clothes effectively highlights the contrasts between the rich and the poor of Delhi and shows how a new set of clothes can change one druggie's perspective on life.
Meera Nair's Small Fry shows a glimpse of the harsh life of a 15-year-old street boy as he looks for a fast way to make some money. Crime, corruption and greed make this one a top-notch story.
And now the men:
Omair Ahmad's Yesterday's Man was not one of my favorites in this collection, but I did enjoy the detectives working together to solve a case involving the 1984 mass murder of Sikhs, an event I have little knowledge of, but plan to explore further.
Irwin Allan Sealy's Last In, First Out, told from the perspective of a rickshaw driver, very vividly describes the city of Delhi and some of its beautiful and more secluded spots, where young lovers like to retreat. Unfortunately, sexual assaults are rampant here and the rickshaw driver decides to take matters into his own hands.
Ruchir Joshi's Parking is probably my least favorite in this collection. The corrupt, perverted cops annoyed me and I couldn't care about a single character.
Nalinaksha Bhattacharya's Hissing Cobras features another corrupt police officer who wants to charge a woman with a crime he has no proof she committed, so he blackmails her. He picked the wrong woman to mess with. I loved this gritty and satisfying story.
Mohan Sikka's The Railway Aunty is not about someone's aunt. This term is used to refer to older female family friends or neighbors. A heady mix of greed and lust. Terrific story.
Siddharth Chowdhury's Hostel was utterly creepy and voyeuristic. I don't mean that in a good way.
Palash Krishna Mehrotra's Fit of Rage shows the effects of unrestrained male anger. Very disturbing, but well-written and compelling.
Hartosh Singh Bal's Just Another Death is an interesting story about a reporter trying to survive in a changing industry. Death is secondary.
Tabish Khair's The Scam. A shoe-shine boy and woman engage the curiosity of two journalists.
Hirsh Sawhney's Gautam Under a Tree is a sad and moving story about a former journalist who accepts an assignment to write about the murder of his friend who was a political activist. This is a dangerous undertaking, as he well knows.
Uday Prakash's The Walls of Delhi is another favorite of mine. Ramnivas the sweeper comes across stacks of money hidden in a wall where he's cleaning. He uses this money to provide a better life for his family and entertain his mistress. Of course, there are consequences to making it big the easy way.
A worthy collection. Up next, Paris!
Once again, I have sought out another book from the Akashic series of short stories that takes place in a variety of cities around the world. I am still in the mood for dark, short stories, so Delhi Noir was the perfect choice.
I have never been to India, and based on this collection of stories, I'm not sure if I want to go. It is chaotic, crowded, loud, corrupt, poor and dirty. There is also amazing architecture, natural beauty and good food, even the cheap stuff you get at the roadside stalls. I'm very glad for my literary journey to Delhi. The stories were vivid enough to give me a glimpse into a culture very different from my own, even if they show humanity at its worst.
I'm a little disappointed that out of the 14 contributors, only 3 of them are women. Nevertheless, their stories are outstanding.
Manjula Padmanabhan's Cull is the very last story and one of my favorites in this collection. More speculative fiction than noir, it is very dark and would make an excellent novel. It shows the callous disregard people in power have for the poor residents of the Acres and it shows how strong and resourceful the poor can be.
"From the bottom of the pit, all roads lead up. So in one sense, this is an extremely positive place to be. Rich people throw away things at such a rate that for us, living in the dump, we only have to wait long enough before whatever we want comes sailing out of the sky - for free! Cars, food, books, furniture, machinery, medicine, bottles toys - you wouldn't believe how much gets thrown away. And very often in its original packing. So we're not complaining. We take what we need, repackage the rest, and send it back out."
Radhika Jha's very humorous How I Lost My Clothes effectively highlights the contrasts between the rich and the poor of Delhi and shows how a new set of clothes can change one druggie's perspective on life.
Meera Nair's Small Fry shows a glimpse of the harsh life of a 15-year-old street boy as he looks for a fast way to make some money. Crime, corruption and greed make this one a top-notch story.
And now the men:
Omair Ahmad's Yesterday's Man was not one of my favorites in this collection, but I did enjoy the detectives working together to solve a case involving the 1984 mass murder of Sikhs, an event I have little knowledge of, but plan to explore further.
Irwin Allan Sealy's Last In, First Out, told from the perspective of a rickshaw driver, very vividly describes the city of Delhi and some of its beautiful and more secluded spots, where young lovers like to retreat. Unfortunately, sexual assaults are rampant here and the rickshaw driver decides to take matters into his own hands.
Ruchir Joshi's Parking is probably my least favorite in this collection. The corrupt, perverted cops annoyed me and I couldn't care about a single character.
Nalinaksha Bhattacharya's Hissing Cobras features another corrupt police officer who wants to charge a woman with a crime he has no proof she committed, so he blackmails her. He picked the wrong woman to mess with. I loved this gritty and satisfying story.
Mohan Sikka's The Railway Aunty is not about someone's aunt. This term is used to refer to older female family friends or neighbors. A heady mix of greed and lust. Terrific story.
Siddharth Chowdhury's Hostel was utterly creepy and voyeuristic. I don't mean that in a good way.
Palash Krishna Mehrotra's Fit of Rage shows the effects of unrestrained male anger. Very disturbing, but well-written and compelling.
Hartosh Singh Bal's Just Another Death is an interesting story about a reporter trying to survive in a changing industry. Death is secondary.
Tabish Khair's The Scam. A shoe-shine boy and woman engage the curiosity of two journalists.
Hirsh Sawhney's Gautam Under a Tree is a sad and moving story about a former journalist who accepts an assignment to write about the murder of his friend who was a political activist. This is a dangerous undertaking, as he well knows.
Uday Prakash's The Walls of Delhi is another favorite of mine. Ramnivas the sweeper comes across stacks of money hidden in a wall where he's cleaning. He uses this money to provide a better life for his family and entertain his mistress. Of course, there are consequences to making it big the easy way.
A worthy collection. Up next, Paris!
Want to read
May 6, 2016Free through May 9th
here at Akashic Books
here at Akashic Books
February 7, 2018
As a fan of Indian literature, a collection of short stories centered on the city of Delhi seemed a good way to get a taste of several different authors and enjoy reading about a city I’ve never been to. Akashic books has brought out a whole series of these ‘Noir’ titles focusing on major cities around the world, particularly throughout the United States.
It hardly needs saying that in a short story collection such as this, especially one composed of a myriad of authors, that some are more successful than others. Unfortunately out of the fourteen stories, only three are written by women and of these only one is narrated by a woman who is herself controlled by a powerful man (Gautam under a Tree.) Women in these stories are often seen entirely as sexual objects or old crones, put upon wives or desperate mistresses. Only two female characters have any power in this book; one is portrayed as a cunning but beautiful Madam (The Railway Aunty), the other has to go through hell before she can assert herself (Hissing Cobras).
Now as Hirsh Sawhney says in the introduction, this anthology was brought about to fill in the gaps left by authors of literature who ‘usually choose to ignore the capital’s stains’ and these authors know far more than I ever will about Delhi’s seedier side and how women are viewed and treated. The lack of female voices still bothered me however and I will be interested to see if this is something common to the series as a whole.
Many, if not all of the stories contain instances of corruption whether it be by powerful business people or the police. They all succinctly show the changing face of Delhi as international corporations move in, neighborhoods are gentrified and the gap between the richer and the poor increases. There is even one story, Cull, that looks at a future Delhi where all the old buildings have been pulled down for clean straight lines, you are told when and who you can marry and the only outlier is a vast rubbish dump of ten thousand acres whose residents refuse to be extinguished.
My favorite stories were Last In, First out about a heroic rickshaw driver by Irwin Allan Sealy, Parking by Ruchir Joshi and Small Fry by Meera Nair and I realize writing these down that my favorites were often those where a weaker individual stood up to or won against a stronger. Fit of Rage, The Scam and Just Another Death are three more I liked where the endings are typical of short stories, open ended and melancholy with very little resolved. This is something I am actually a fan of and I think that if I want to know more, then the author probably wrote a memorable story.
The idea of being one among many and insignificant unless you are rich or connected comes across in several poignant ending lines like the one at the end of Just another Death, ‘..at that moment, the facts didn’t seem to matter. No one in this city gave a damn, and having made it so far, I was just beginning to realize neither did I.’ This is echoed in Guatam Under a Tree where the last line is, ‘Delhi’s intelligentsia lamented his tragic death over kebabs and moji-tos for a few months. Then they forgot he’d even existed.’
None of these stories spare any punches when it comes to picturing modern Delhi with myriad details about the buildings, the food, the language and smells and the significant class and cultural prejudice. It doesn’t sound as though there is an honest cop or government official in Delhi and the poverty is grinding and extensive, the streets are filled with beggars and thieves and sexual violence and harassment is prevalent. Yet, this is why we read this kind of book, to open a window onto a place we are ignorant or naïve about, even if the stories aren’t always to our taste they open our minds and hopefully our hearts to the world around us.
It hardly needs saying that in a short story collection such as this, especially one composed of a myriad of authors, that some are more successful than others. Unfortunately out of the fourteen stories, only three are written by women and of these only one is narrated by a woman who is herself controlled by a powerful man (Gautam under a Tree.) Women in these stories are often seen entirely as sexual objects or old crones, put upon wives or desperate mistresses. Only two female characters have any power in this book; one is portrayed as a cunning but beautiful Madam (The Railway Aunty), the other has to go through hell before she can assert herself (Hissing Cobras).
Now as Hirsh Sawhney says in the introduction, this anthology was brought about to fill in the gaps left by authors of literature who ‘usually choose to ignore the capital’s stains’ and these authors know far more than I ever will about Delhi’s seedier side and how women are viewed and treated. The lack of female voices still bothered me however and I will be interested to see if this is something common to the series as a whole.
Many, if not all of the stories contain instances of corruption whether it be by powerful business people or the police. They all succinctly show the changing face of Delhi as international corporations move in, neighborhoods are gentrified and the gap between the richer and the poor increases. There is even one story, Cull, that looks at a future Delhi where all the old buildings have been pulled down for clean straight lines, you are told when and who you can marry and the only outlier is a vast rubbish dump of ten thousand acres whose residents refuse to be extinguished.
My favorite stories were Last In, First out about a heroic rickshaw driver by Irwin Allan Sealy, Parking by Ruchir Joshi and Small Fry by Meera Nair and I realize writing these down that my favorites were often those where a weaker individual stood up to or won against a stronger. Fit of Rage, The Scam and Just Another Death are three more I liked where the endings are typical of short stories, open ended and melancholy with very little resolved. This is something I am actually a fan of and I think that if I want to know more, then the author probably wrote a memorable story.
The idea of being one among many and insignificant unless you are rich or connected comes across in several poignant ending lines like the one at the end of Just another Death, ‘..at that moment, the facts didn’t seem to matter. No one in this city gave a damn, and having made it so far, I was just beginning to realize neither did I.’ This is echoed in Guatam Under a Tree where the last line is, ‘Delhi’s intelligentsia lamented his tragic death over kebabs and moji-tos for a few months. Then they forgot he’d even existed.’
None of these stories spare any punches when it comes to picturing modern Delhi with myriad details about the buildings, the food, the language and smells and the significant class and cultural prejudice. It doesn’t sound as though there is an honest cop or government official in Delhi and the poverty is grinding and extensive, the streets are filled with beggars and thieves and sexual violence and harassment is prevalent. Yet, this is why we read this kind of book, to open a window onto a place we are ignorant or naïve about, even if the stories aren’t always to our taste they open our minds and hopefully our hearts to the world around us.
December 13, 2013
A collection of noir stories based on the city of Delhi. Some stories were good and some were okay but over all i liked the collection. Although sometimes all the cynicism in the stories is depressing and i think it's because we have come across such stories in our life.
The collection had the following stories :
Yesterday Man by Omair Ahmad(Ashram) 3.5/5
How i lost my clothes by Radhika Jha(lodhi gardens) 2.5/5
Last In first out by Irwin allan seally( Delhi ridge)3.5/5
Parking by Ruchir Joshi(Nizammudin west) 2.5/5
Hissing Cobras by Nalinaksha Bhattacharya (R K Puram) 3/5
The Railway aunty by Mohan Sikka (paharganj)3.5/5
Hostel by Sidharta Chowdhary ( Delhi University, North Campus) 2.5/5
(most depressing but it didn't feel realistic enough.)
Small Fry by Meera Nair (ISBT) 3.5/5
Fit of Rage by Plash Krishna Mehrotra(defence colony) 2.5/5
Just another death by Hartosh singh bal (gyan kunj)3/5
Gautam Under a tree by Hirsh Swahney 3/5
The scam 3/5
The walls of delhi 4/5
Cull by Manjula Padmanabhan 2.5/5
The collection had the following stories :
Yesterday Man by Omair Ahmad(Ashram) 3.5/5
How i lost my clothes by Radhika Jha(lodhi gardens) 2.5/5
Last In first out by Irwin allan seally( Delhi ridge)3.5/5
Parking by Ruchir Joshi(Nizammudin west) 2.5/5
Hissing Cobras by Nalinaksha Bhattacharya (R K Puram) 3/5
The Railway aunty by Mohan Sikka (paharganj)3.5/5
Hostel by Sidharta Chowdhary ( Delhi University, North Campus) 2.5/5
(most depressing but it didn't feel realistic enough.)
Small Fry by Meera Nair (ISBT) 3.5/5
Fit of Rage by Plash Krishna Mehrotra(defence colony) 2.5/5
Just another death by Hartosh singh bal (gyan kunj)3/5
Gautam Under a tree by Hirsh Swahney 3/5
The scam 3/5
The walls of delhi 4/5
Cull by Manjula Padmanabhan 2.5/5
December 15, 2009
I'm not sure if the 2 stars is an accurate representation of my thoughts on this book. More than NOT liking it, I felt it was mostly mediocre at all times. I liked the concept of the book more than the book itself. It's nice to read about the reality of Delhi that the average everyday man in the city experiences everyday, a reality that I, as a middle-class Indian, could never experience (though I was aware of its existence).
Some of the stories stood out, especially the one by Omair Ahmad (about the female private detective), and the one by Uday Prakash. The latter is particularly interesting as it was originally written in Hindi (which much more of the stories chosen should have been). Other than those, none of the stories were really that memorable, though entertaining enough to read. A forgettable read that will really only be interesting to those who know Delhi well enough to recognize the settings of the stories, or those interested in the Noir series.
Some of the stories stood out, especially the one by Omair Ahmad (about the female private detective), and the one by Uday Prakash. The latter is particularly interesting as it was originally written in Hindi (which much more of the stories chosen should have been). Other than those, none of the stories were really that memorable, though entertaining enough to read. A forgettable read that will really only be interesting to those who know Delhi well enough to recognize the settings of the stories, or those interested in the Noir series.
October 2, 2017
This is a disappointing read - the authors lack imagination and writing is trite and cliched. Some authors use cheap and disgusting expressions, some were ridiculous (name of the narrator is Baba Ganoush...really?), some implausible (a character walks from Noida to Lodi road at night in an hour or so). All authors used same sad and trite expressions you grow sick hearing.
I don't understand why knowledge of the city is important. If the writing is not good, who cares if you know streets of Timbaktu or not.
It is edited collection...really?
"As we sat close, my eyes downcast, I felt her asses me from head to foot…"
"...has taken admission in Hindu College reading Economics..."
this is edited? oops!
I don't understand why knowledge of the city is important. If the writing is not good, who cares if you know streets of Timbaktu or not.
It is edited collection...really?
"As we sat close, my eyes downcast, I felt her asses me from head to foot…"
"...has taken admission in Hindu College reading Economics..."
this is edited? oops!
December 29, 2025
I'll be visiting Delhi soon and thought this would be a fun way to learn more about the city. Most of the stories gave a good bit of insight into the history and character of the different neighborhoods they represented.
December 1, 2024
3,5
Certaines histoires m'ont plu, plus que d'autres c'est le jeu. Mais j'ai aimé le voyage en Inde à Delhi
Certaines histoires m'ont plu, plus que d'autres c'est le jeu. Mais j'ai aimé le voyage en Inde à Delhi
June 17, 2015
Delhi Noir is a world of sex in parks, dirty cops, and vigilante rickshaw drivers. It is one plagued by soulless corporate dons, jaded journalists and murderous servants. These are 14 tales of darkness and despair, each one set in the distinct part of the city, a metropolis where opulence and poverty are constantly clashing, where old-world values and the information age wage a constant battle. It uses the device of crime fiction and film noir to provide riveting, incisive perspectives on this ever changing city.
Delhi Noir is definitely the best book i have read this year. It provides a murky, detestable side of the city and is extremely engrossing and enjoyable. There is so much happening in each of the story that you have to pause before moving on to the next one because the excitement in your stomach hasn't subsided from the last one. The book is divided into three parts - each having a common theme which deals with police, youth and middle class.
Part 1 - With you, For you, Always
"Yesterday Man" written by Omair Ahmad take us into the lives of detectives and solving of a peculiar case whose motive lies in the cover up of an important file dealing with 1984 massacre of innocent Sikhs in the wake of Prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. Based in and around Ashram, it is dark and humorous in equal proportions and there is an uneasy mix of rawness with brutality in the narrative. A great start to the book !!
"How I lost my clothes" written by Radhika Jha is arguably the weakest story in the book. It has an interesting premise and provides a stark naked opinion about the divide of rich and poor in the city. Based around Lodhi Gardens, the story falls apart in its last act because it's trying to be too cool, philosophical and mystical, all at the same time ultimately making a mess of a decent story. But there are some real chilling moments to be explored here and it makes a specious argument about the effects of inequality among the people.
"Last in, First Out" penned by Irwin Allan Sealy is my personal favourite in the book. Situated in the youth centric, yet dangerous terrains of Delhi Ridge; it brings home a valid issue about the numerous, yet unreported cases of sexual assault on couples visiting this area in late evening for some clandestine romantic moments. Told from an auto-rickshaw driver point of view, it punches you in the gut when he try to prevent a couple from the hands of a bunch of rapists. You can't help feeling the irony of the situation...because believe it or not, it could be you as well.
"Parking" by Ruchir Joshi is based in Nizamuddin West Area. It is a powerful revenge story by the brutal and corrupt policemen lurking near the parking areas in the hope of a quick bribe. The narrative is brisk and one tone but at the same time it also highlights how the misuse of power ultimately backfires and then, unfortunately for the power holders there is no looking back but a dark and dangerous situation to deal with. This story has some of the best one-liners in the whole book.
"Hissing Cobras" by Nalinaksha Bhattacharya is a female retribution story located in posh R.K. Puram area of south Delhi. Mukta, the central protagonist is sexually exploited by the police officer who is working on the case involving the death of her own mother in law. Even though predictable in parts, it still has a raw energy floating in the narrative because the writer never shy away in showing the 'cheaper' and 'slutty' ways of Mukta's grey personality to get her work done. And yes, there is a great pun intended on the regressive saas-bahu serials.
Part 2 - Youngistan
"The Railway Aunty" by Mohan Sikka exposes a gigolo rung run by a seemingly simple house-wife living in the obnoxious by-lanes of Paharganj. It exposes the fragility of the youth which can go to any distance for earning some quick buck. There is a hefty mix of desire and danger mushrooming among all the characters. So even if you cringe in embarrassment by their sexual innuendos, you can't move an inch while the story unfolds in front of your eyes.
"Hostel" by Siddharth Chowdhary is set in the North campus of Delhi university, where a group of students are voyeuristically engrossed in the sexual escapades of their landlord, who incidentally is a notorious gangster. It is sensual, gory and gritty at several points in the narrative, never letting go of the stark realism it has set itself. This short story also forms the first chapter of the novel, Day Scholar written by the same author.
"Small Fry" by Meera Nair takes you along the ISBT of Kashmiri Gate, where an innocent kid working for a bus driver gets involved in adult crime to earn some quick buck, only to realise the fatal consequences later on. Watch out how he gets sucked into the whole drama, even when he is half-willingly to immerse himself into it. In a city where the haves are constantly clashing with have-nots; this is a dark, almost disturbing story to read.
"Fit of rage" by Palash Krishan Mehrotra pans out in Defence Colony. It covers an important issue regarding safety of senior citizens/old people in the city. I personally believe the development of any city is dependent on how these people feel while living here. Unfortunately, Delhi falls behind big time in ensuring their well being. The story is an exhilarating account of how the servants working for years in a home turns evil to kill their old employers to earn some easy money.
"Just another death" by Hartosh Singh Bal opens up the other side of the Yamuna and set his story in Gyan Kunj. It recounts the story of a young reporter surviving in a newspaper industry on the brink of a massive change. There is a distant disaffection with all the characters here, not because everyone is so mean but all provides a stark realism of the kind of manipulative world we live in these days.
Part 3 - Walled City, World City
"Gautam under a tree" written by Hirsh Sawhney himself traces the lanes of Green Park, a location where people from various strata of society meets, interacts and forget about each other in a matter of moments. It traces life of an ex-journalist looking for affection and coming into terms with his own past in one way or another. It does get too preachy at times, but don't judge by its appearance because it has lot of heart and some genuine lump-in-the-throat moments.
"The Scam" by Tabish Khair is set around Jantar Mantar and focuses on the numerous migrants from different parts of India who have shifted here in the hope of a better living but ultimately leading a hand-to-mouth existence by cooking, cleaning and shining shoes. The tale is a nice mixture of following your instinct or giving up cynicism while coping up with all the struggles to live every day in this cosmopolitan city.
"The walls of Delhi" by Uday Prakash has been translated from Hindi and is located in Rohini. The protagonist Ramniwas has stumbled upon a lot of 'black money', surreptitiously shoved in a wall in the house of his employer. This begins an enthralling journey where he starts spending the money to improve life style of his own family and the related complications thereafter. The psychological and sociological aspects of the whole journey provides a chilling adrenalin pumping experience of reading which is truly memorable.
"Cull" by Manjula Padmanabhan, set in Bhalswa is a fitting end to the book. It is in a sci-fiction mode and delivers a futuristic tale of caste divide in this "walled city" of Delhi. It has inherent sincerity attached to it and remains true to the spirit of the city, not for a moment compromising on the violent and almost cynical side of Delhi.
I am going with 4/5 for Delhi Noir, an anthology edited by Hirsh Sawhney. Almost all the stories are riveting tales of sexual voraciousness, corruption, hatred, greed, vengeance and above all, dark underbelly life of this urban city. All the character are flesh and blood, and even though you may hate a lot of them, you can't ignore reading their fascinating trials and tribulations. Don't miss out on this one, Strongly recommended!!
Delhi Noir is definitely the best book i have read this year. It provides a murky, detestable side of the city and is extremely engrossing and enjoyable. There is so much happening in each of the story that you have to pause before moving on to the next one because the excitement in your stomach hasn't subsided from the last one. The book is divided into three parts - each having a common theme which deals with police, youth and middle class.
Part 1 - With you, For you, Always
"Yesterday Man" written by Omair Ahmad take us into the lives of detectives and solving of a peculiar case whose motive lies in the cover up of an important file dealing with 1984 massacre of innocent Sikhs in the wake of Prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. Based in and around Ashram, it is dark and humorous in equal proportions and there is an uneasy mix of rawness with brutality in the narrative. A great start to the book !!
"How I lost my clothes" written by Radhika Jha is arguably the weakest story in the book. It has an interesting premise and provides a stark naked opinion about the divide of rich and poor in the city. Based around Lodhi Gardens, the story falls apart in its last act because it's trying to be too cool, philosophical and mystical, all at the same time ultimately making a mess of a decent story. But there are some real chilling moments to be explored here and it makes a specious argument about the effects of inequality among the people.
"Last in, First Out" penned by Irwin Allan Sealy is my personal favourite in the book. Situated in the youth centric, yet dangerous terrains of Delhi Ridge; it brings home a valid issue about the numerous, yet unreported cases of sexual assault on couples visiting this area in late evening for some clandestine romantic moments. Told from an auto-rickshaw driver point of view, it punches you in the gut when he try to prevent a couple from the hands of a bunch of rapists. You can't help feeling the irony of the situation...because believe it or not, it could be you as well.
"Parking" by Ruchir Joshi is based in Nizamuddin West Area. It is a powerful revenge story by the brutal and corrupt policemen lurking near the parking areas in the hope of a quick bribe. The narrative is brisk and one tone but at the same time it also highlights how the misuse of power ultimately backfires and then, unfortunately for the power holders there is no looking back but a dark and dangerous situation to deal with. This story has some of the best one-liners in the whole book.
"Hissing Cobras" by Nalinaksha Bhattacharya is a female retribution story located in posh R.K. Puram area of south Delhi. Mukta, the central protagonist is sexually exploited by the police officer who is working on the case involving the death of her own mother in law. Even though predictable in parts, it still has a raw energy floating in the narrative because the writer never shy away in showing the 'cheaper' and 'slutty' ways of Mukta's grey personality to get her work done. And yes, there is a great pun intended on the regressive saas-bahu serials.
Part 2 - Youngistan
"The Railway Aunty" by Mohan Sikka exposes a gigolo rung run by a seemingly simple house-wife living in the obnoxious by-lanes of Paharganj. It exposes the fragility of the youth which can go to any distance for earning some quick buck. There is a hefty mix of desire and danger mushrooming among all the characters. So even if you cringe in embarrassment by their sexual innuendos, you can't move an inch while the story unfolds in front of your eyes.
"Hostel" by Siddharth Chowdhary is set in the North campus of Delhi university, where a group of students are voyeuristically engrossed in the sexual escapades of their landlord, who incidentally is a notorious gangster. It is sensual, gory and gritty at several points in the narrative, never letting go of the stark realism it has set itself. This short story also forms the first chapter of the novel, Day Scholar written by the same author.
"Small Fry" by Meera Nair takes you along the ISBT of Kashmiri Gate, where an innocent kid working for a bus driver gets involved in adult crime to earn some quick buck, only to realise the fatal consequences later on. Watch out how he gets sucked into the whole drama, even when he is half-willingly to immerse himself into it. In a city where the haves are constantly clashing with have-nots; this is a dark, almost disturbing story to read.
"Fit of rage" by Palash Krishan Mehrotra pans out in Defence Colony. It covers an important issue regarding safety of senior citizens/old people in the city. I personally believe the development of any city is dependent on how these people feel while living here. Unfortunately, Delhi falls behind big time in ensuring their well being. The story is an exhilarating account of how the servants working for years in a home turns evil to kill their old employers to earn some easy money.
"Just another death" by Hartosh Singh Bal opens up the other side of the Yamuna and set his story in Gyan Kunj. It recounts the story of a young reporter surviving in a newspaper industry on the brink of a massive change. There is a distant disaffection with all the characters here, not because everyone is so mean but all provides a stark realism of the kind of manipulative world we live in these days.
Part 3 - Walled City, World City
"Gautam under a tree" written by Hirsh Sawhney himself traces the lanes of Green Park, a location where people from various strata of society meets, interacts and forget about each other in a matter of moments. It traces life of an ex-journalist looking for affection and coming into terms with his own past in one way or another. It does get too preachy at times, but don't judge by its appearance because it has lot of heart and some genuine lump-in-the-throat moments.
"The Scam" by Tabish Khair is set around Jantar Mantar and focuses on the numerous migrants from different parts of India who have shifted here in the hope of a better living but ultimately leading a hand-to-mouth existence by cooking, cleaning and shining shoes. The tale is a nice mixture of following your instinct or giving up cynicism while coping up with all the struggles to live every day in this cosmopolitan city.
"The walls of Delhi" by Uday Prakash has been translated from Hindi and is located in Rohini. The protagonist Ramniwas has stumbled upon a lot of 'black money', surreptitiously shoved in a wall in the house of his employer. This begins an enthralling journey where he starts spending the money to improve life style of his own family and the related complications thereafter. The psychological and sociological aspects of the whole journey provides a chilling adrenalin pumping experience of reading which is truly memorable.
"Cull" by Manjula Padmanabhan, set in Bhalswa is a fitting end to the book. It is in a sci-fiction mode and delivers a futuristic tale of caste divide in this "walled city" of Delhi. It has inherent sincerity attached to it and remains true to the spirit of the city, not for a moment compromising on the violent and almost cynical side of Delhi.
I am going with 4/5 for Delhi Noir, an anthology edited by Hirsh Sawhney. Almost all the stories are riveting tales of sexual voraciousness, corruption, hatred, greed, vengeance and above all, dark underbelly life of this urban city. All the character are flesh and blood, and even though you may hate a lot of them, you can't ignore reading their fascinating trials and tribulations. Don't miss out on this one, Strongly recommended!!
October 4, 2010
This is a collection of well-written short stories by different authors—apparently in an "x Noir" series, where, in this case, x = Delhi, India. Like A Not So Perfect Crime (Barcelona) and books by authors such as Henning Mankell, this gives us a window into life in another place as seen though the lens of crime.
These are quite dark (appropriate for a Noirish series) stories; they are not, however, truly mysteries. They are more crime stories, or, more frequently, police corruption stories.
And I fear that they might do their job too well of giving us a window into Indian culture. Why fear? Because the collection portrays—perhaps unintentionally—a society more chaotic and diseased (by Western middle-class standards) than any one of the stories does individually. I expected heat, trash, and noise. And insane traffic. And corruption. But I didn't imagine that in story after story, no one has anywhere to turn to right the wrongs, and that basically no wrongs get righted, ever. People are rotten to each other. Police are on the take. The social contract is in tatters. I have not yet had any Indian friends tell me how they feel about the picture, but one measure of the writing is how convincing the narrators are: very.
Having made that depressing observation, you do get a visceral take on India as written by Indians. And it's not all about how terrible things are; we get an insider's look at the buildings, the people, the neighborhoods. Temples, flats, modern motorways, and warrens of tiny, ancient streets. And the food, in wide variety. One of my favorite things in the book was the glossary appended by the editors so we can learn some of the vocabulary that you can't get from context. I kept a bookmark there so I could refer to it often. Example: barsaati: a single-room top-floor flat of a post-Partition north Indian home. I will not be using this a lot in conversation, but it was cool to get to know the word over the course of the book.
These are quite dark (appropriate for a Noirish series) stories; they are not, however, truly mysteries. They are more crime stories, or, more frequently, police corruption stories.
And I fear that they might do their job too well of giving us a window into Indian culture. Why fear? Because the collection portrays—perhaps unintentionally—a society more chaotic and diseased (by Western middle-class standards) than any one of the stories does individually. I expected heat, trash, and noise. And insane traffic. And corruption. But I didn't imagine that in story after story, no one has anywhere to turn to right the wrongs, and that basically no wrongs get righted, ever. People are rotten to each other. Police are on the take. The social contract is in tatters. I have not yet had any Indian friends tell me how they feel about the picture, but one measure of the writing is how convincing the narrators are: very.
Having made that depressing observation, you do get a visceral take on India as written by Indians. And it's not all about how terrible things are; we get an insider's look at the buildings, the people, the neighborhoods. Temples, flats, modern motorways, and warrens of tiny, ancient streets. And the food, in wide variety. One of my favorite things in the book was the glossary appended by the editors so we can learn some of the vocabulary that you can't get from context. I kept a bookmark there so I could refer to it often. Example: barsaati: a single-room top-floor flat of a post-Partition north Indian home. I will not be using this a lot in conversation, but it was cool to get to know the word over the course of the book.
September 1, 2009
I was in the mood for something dark and this fit the bill quite nicely. I have been on a recent short story kick, because it is an efficient way to consume a complete narrative when your attention span is not at it's strongest. As with many collections from various writers, some of these are going to stick with me, others were not so remarkable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to get insight into contemporary culture in another part of the world. Contrary to my own association with "noir" as being the genre of such old films as "On the Waterfront" (from the 1940's?) these stories have a much more modern edge. Ie; they contain subject material that alluding to topics that I may have previously inaccurately assumed was taboo within that cultural context.
April 15, 2024
As an avid reader with a penchant for mystery and intrigue, I eagerly delved into "Delhi Noir" expecting a captivating journey through the shadows of India's bustling capital. However, to my dismay, the experience fell flat, leaving me more bored than enthralled.
The collection of stories lacked the depth and intensity I typically associate with the noir genre. Instead of drawing me into a web of suspense and mystery, the narratives felt disjointed and uninspired. Characters failed to resonate, their motivations obscured by lackluster writing and predictable plot twists.
Perhaps my disappointment stems from a mismatch in expectations. I anticipated a gritty exploration of Delhi's underbelly, rife with intrigue and moral ambiguity. Instead, what I found was a series of forgettable tales that failed to leave a lasting impression.
Overall, "Delhi Noir" left me yearning for more substance and depth. While it may appeal to readers seeking a lighter introduction to the noir genre, those craving a more immersive experience may find themselves sorely disappointed.
The collection of stories lacked the depth and intensity I typically associate with the noir genre. Instead of drawing me into a web of suspense and mystery, the narratives felt disjointed and uninspired. Characters failed to resonate, their motivations obscured by lackluster writing and predictable plot twists.
Perhaps my disappointment stems from a mismatch in expectations. I anticipated a gritty exploration of Delhi's underbelly, rife with intrigue and moral ambiguity. Instead, what I found was a series of forgettable tales that failed to leave a lasting impression.
Overall, "Delhi Noir" left me yearning for more substance and depth. While it may appeal to readers seeking a lighter introduction to the noir genre, those craving a more immersive experience may find themselves sorely disappointed.
May 18, 2018
By no means the stories can be classified as "Noir". an insolence in the name of Noir fiction. Most of the stories were full of vulgar desciptions likecheap Books You can buy at any Indian Railway Station , cheap tricks and unspeakable physical discourses.
If you ever read those dirt cheap Hindi Newsprint Paperbacks this book will remind you of them. Same kind of Dirty stories with a dash of cheap thrills.
If you ever read those dirt cheap Hindi Newsprint Paperbacks this book will remind you of them. Same kind of Dirty stories with a dash of cheap thrills.
March 28, 2022
As with the other books in this series that I've read, the quality of the stories varies greatly. As with the other books, the mysteries are secondary to the insights they provide into the cultures of the cities in which they are sited. One hazard of that is reinforcing stereotypes of each city and their cultures. The "exotica" of India and its grittier aspects are on full display in the collection.
January 3, 2024
A poorly written book riddled with misogyny. Lengthy, uninteresting stories, that fail to do anything other than expose the biases of the writers. Hardly any story that stands out. Even for a Noir novel, this is bottom of the barrel writing, language and sentiment.
January 1, 2025
Collection of crime stories set in Delhi. Like any short story collection, there are diamonds and duds. The absurdity of some of these stories veered into dud territory a few times, but many of them offered rich snippets of Delhi life that made me feel transported there in very good ways.
September 18, 2017
not so much good book.
July 31, 2018
Interesting, but the selection of stories wasn't varied enough.
September 24, 2022
As with any collection of stories, it is a little uneven. Some, I liked. Others, not so much. I still enjoyed getting to know a culture that I'm not familiar with.
July 18, 2012
What could a book of crime stories set in Delhi possibly contain that we already not know? Indian viewers are constantly fed a heavy diet of crime stories either as news or in a serialised format. Both versions come with background soundtracks so that our minds surface from the boredom just to know who exactly to hate. The media feeds on our frenzy of unknown people and unknown places committing heinous crimes. Crimes of passion, bigotry and greed neatly packaged making us flies on the wall (or "ants on the floor" for those low-angle shots) reminding us that Evil, after all, lurks in us all. Newspaper headlines screaming about drunk drivers, news readers screeching about murderous fathers and show anchors moralizing loudly about safety precautions. Noise everywhere but no snooze button in sight. Why can i not wake up to a more pleasant day?
Clearly, crime is not my genre of preference.
"Delhi Noir" was one of those typical random choices that arose of out curiosity. Plus short stories make for lazy reading. I was not disappointed at all. Editor Hirsh Sawhney picks 14 fine stories and divides into three categories (a) Cops (b) Youth and (c) the walled city of Delhi. Without delving into too much detail about plots and authors, this book gives vent to the Delhi we all knew but were hesitant to talk about. If you lived in Delhi and your teenage daughter threw a tantrum about not getting to catch a late-night movie, just give her this book. It would drive enough sense into her if it wouldn't drive her crazy with fear.
Here are a sample of images that just refuse to be erased from my mind after reading this book. A burly sardar landlord who exhults "Jai Mata Di" before ejaculating himself inside his girlfriend's ass. The Doon school alumni and corporate slave who turns into a skull-blasted junkie and is running back home with no clothes on. The greasy cop who is going to bust the 'jugadu' reporter because his nubile girlfriend couldn't park the car properly.
As i stated at the beginning, the crime genre may seem trivialised and frivolous on the TV. For the real deal, I'm thankful for books like this.
Clearly, crime is not my genre of preference.
"Delhi Noir" was one of those typical random choices that arose of out curiosity. Plus short stories make for lazy reading. I was not disappointed at all. Editor Hirsh Sawhney picks 14 fine stories and divides into three categories (a) Cops (b) Youth and (c) the walled city of Delhi. Without delving into too much detail about plots and authors, this book gives vent to the Delhi we all knew but were hesitant to talk about. If you lived in Delhi and your teenage daughter threw a tantrum about not getting to catch a late-night movie, just give her this book. It would drive enough sense into her if it wouldn't drive her crazy with fear.
Here are a sample of images that just refuse to be erased from my mind after reading this book. A burly sardar landlord who exhults "Jai Mata Di" before ejaculating himself inside his girlfriend's ass. The Doon school alumni and corporate slave who turns into a skull-blasted junkie and is running back home with no clothes on. The greasy cop who is going to bust the 'jugadu' reporter because his nubile girlfriend couldn't park the car properly.
As i stated at the beginning, the crime genre may seem trivialised and frivolous on the TV. For the real deal, I'm thankful for books like this.
September 6, 2010
I picked up this book because it detailed things and situations in the city as experienced or imagined to have experienced by various writers. Some of them, I had heard about and some I did not know from adam. The book is just passe. I mean, nothing to talk about greatly. In fact, at times, it seems like stuff written to titilate the reader. There are couple of good stories there that I liked. These stories touched upon human emotions and attempted to articulate them in words. These two stories were insightful. There is a story titled 'I am without my clothes." It talked about human inhibitions and also touched on how one can look at oneself in a different light. I drew parallels to the fact that if we live a life without undue inhibitions, life would be much more enjoyable. The other story that I felt provided insights (forgot the title) was about life of a supressed boy. It brought out every day struggles of people and while I read the book in totality, when I finished it, I did nto feel that I just read something that was pleasurable.
Read "Delhi Noir" at your own risk.
Read "Delhi Noir" at your own risk.
March 16, 2014
It has been a while since I indulged in a mystery/thriller book, and in comparison to most this isn't a particularly strong book. However it was well worth the read! Some of the short stories were gripping, my favorite was "How I Lost My Clothes". The authors do a great job of bringing Delhi to life, and they do an even better job of tackling some big issues including corruption, poverty, and the rape culture in India. However, the dark themes got too dark at times, with a lack of balance (but it could be pardoned since they're all short stories.) The language was often ill-crafted, or simply crude, many times, for no grand reason. Nevertheless, it was insightful, on a superficial level, with regards to the perspective of an average "Dilli-wallah".
February 15, 2010
I don't know how much I would have enjoyed this book without having spent time in Delhi, and gotten used to the general feeling of India. To paraphrase the Naked City, "There are 17 million stories in Delhi, these are just a few of them." Delhi is a city of rampant corruption, and crime with a cultural tinge of which westerners don't necessarily have a lot of experience. If you've traveled the byways of old Delhi, or the Defense Colony, or Nizzamudin these stories will bring them back. If not, well, they're not that descriptive and they leave much to knowing the locales, so if you've never been - good luck.
November 6, 2010
First of all: it is sort of strange to be reading noir-style stories set in a city where police brutality and bribery and all the rest is a very real occurrence. Part of the reason I love noir (books and films) is because the characters and plots have a degree of implausibility. . . I escape into this grimy other world. But the noir-world is the real world in Delhi (to some extent) which makes it kind of. . . depressing.
As for the pieces themselves, they're either hit or miss. The best one (and the most 'noir') is the first one. The worst is the last one (although I didn't even finish it; I don't want sci-fi in my noir).
As for the pieces themselves, they're either hit or miss. The best one (and the most 'noir') is the first one. The worst is the last one (although I didn't even finish it; I don't want sci-fi in my noir).
May 17, 2012
Shudder-worthy. This book really scared the shit out of me, because the stories really reflect the dark underbelly of everyday life in Delhi. Violence emerges as a strong and inescapable force, and the marginalised status of women is really horrifying to observe through all the stories; women lose or are victims in all the stories but one. Hissing Cobras - the exception worked really well as a noir story, the rest seemed too realistic to be fiction!
The other really good one was Hostel by Siddharth Choudhary which was really a slice of life in North Campus, and The Walls of Delhi by Uday Prakash, the only translated work in the book
The other really good one was Hostel by Siddharth Choudhary which was really a slice of life in North Campus, and The Walls of Delhi by Uday Prakash, the only translated work in the book
December 13, 2009
I was not expecting to like this as much as I am liking it... I started out a little miffed that they included only one story translated from Hindi, which seems very wrong for Delhi. But there is some awesome stuff in it. My favorites are the story from Hindi, by Uday Prakash, and the Nalinaksha Bhattacharya and Siddharth Chowdhury stories. Pretty darn gritty, but for god's sake Indian English writing needs some grit. Not every story is five-star but there's enough great ones to make it a five-star collection for sure.
May 27, 2010
This collection is a mixed bag, but some of the stories are outstanding. Corrupt politicians, abusive policemen, exploited villagers trying to make it in the city, horny aunties, even some sci-fi dystopia -- it's all there. I especially enjoyed Irwin Allen Sealy's, Ruchir Joshi's, and Manjula Padmanabhan's narratives. There was only one story translated from Hindi, the other thirteen were originally written in English.
August 21, 2013
I expected very edgy stories. Although I cannot complain about the style of the writers chosen, most of the stories left me wondering what had happened. I felt like I had seen a few scenes from a film and left to make my own conclusions. Perhaps that is as intended. perhaps that is what short stories do on a certain level. But I like my stories to have middles and a sort of end. Not all ends securely tied but at least something.
November 27, 2011
Short stories are by their nature somewhat unsatisfying -- just when the character and plot and setting grab your interest, the story wraps up. But Delhi Noir is a worthy item in the Akashic Noir sequence: these stories have great local colour, filled with throwaway details like street names and slang and references to Delhi-specific social issues.
December 29, 2011
I enjoyed much of this book, but I'm not sure how engaging of a read it would be to someone who didn't know Delhi well. It wasn't my favourite collection in the Noir series--many of the stories contrivedly macabre, some seemed written to shock rather than to engage. A few were insufferable, some were mildly interesting, and a couple were quite funny. Allan Sealey's piece was excellent.
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