துப்பறியும் சாம்பு

by Devan

Thuppariyum Sambu is a detective short-story series in Tamil, written by Devan in the early 20th century. The novel's protagonist is Sambu, a not-very-intelligent bank clerk in middle age, who solves difficult crime puzzles out of serendipity but is quick to explain as well as take credit. Sambu's character is sometimes considered to be a comical version of Sherlock Holmes.

Sambu is described by Devan as having a bald fringe, a prominent nose and a weak chin. Along with a generally bewildered stare his appearance invariably invites people to term him asadu (stupid), an assessment not far from the mark. This becomes an asset for Sambu as criminals often underestimate him. Even though Sambu displays a certain reasoning and cunning, it is Lady Luck who leads him to literally stumble on the truth. A typical Sambu story has him clutch a newly built window railing as he trips over some obstacle, and some stolen diamonds hidden in the cement by a mason come to light. The drama is maintained by Sambu triumphing over people who have previously laughed or ridiculed him, with Sambu often being the last to understand that he has actually solved the crime.

Sambu's stalwart companion in the police force is Inspector Gopalan, who usually brings a case to the detective's attention. Sambu and Gopalan usually have great regard for each other save for occasional irritants in their relations caused by Sambu's thin skin. Sambu eventually gets married to Vembu, who is clearly smarter than her husband and spares no criticism of her husband's vacuousness. The two eventually have a son called Sundhu who also helps in his father's work in solving crimes.

Sambu's detective career is launched when the Director of the bank where he works fires him for letting a corrupt bank manager escape. Sambu gets sweet revenge when the same Director eventually summons him to recover a lost pearl necklace. In another story Sambu traps the same corrupt manager who used to take great pleasure in referring to him at work as "that idiot". Sambu's best moments are when he walks into his old office on the case of the pearl necklace and haughtily ignores his former colleagues who once showed him scant respect.

Genres: Fiction, Detective, Humor

600 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

தேவன் அல்லது ஆர். மகாதேவன் பிரபல நகைச்சுவை எழுத்தாளர். பல நகைச்சுவைக் கதைகளையும் கட்டுரைகளையும் தேவன் என்ற புனைபெயரில் எழுதியவர். துப்பறியும் சாம்பு இவரது பிரபலமான படைப்பாகும்.

Reviews

[Prabhu R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've heard this name Thuppariyum Sambu since my childhood days but only now got the chance to read it. In fact, the term "Thuppariyum Sambu" is attributed to someone trying to do some detective work. It is the fictional character of an accidental detective, where the situations and events have led to turning an ordinary bank clerk into highly acclaimed detective but in fact he doesn't have any such qualities or capabilities. In every case, which would be unique would get him to the limelight and make Sambu even more popular. All of his popularity can be attributed to serendipity or rather the natural course of events turning to his favour. Very hilariously written, though written during the early 1940s it is still lively and witty to this day! 😂

[Balaji Srinivasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

தேவனுடைய மாஸ்டர் பீஸ் என்று கூறுகிறார்கள். எனக்கு அப்படி ஒன்றும் தோன்றவில்லை.

ஒரு வெகுளியை சமய சந்தர்ப்பங்கள் ஜீனியஸ் ஆக தோன்றச் செய்கிறது. அது எப்படி நடக்கிறது என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.

புத்தகத்தின் ஒரு சில அத்தியாயங்கள் மிக நன்றாக உள்ளது. புத்தகம் படிக்க படிக்க சற்றே அலுப்பு தட்டுகிறது. அத்தியாயங்களின் ஒரே மாதிரியான முடிவுகள் அந்த எண்ணத்தை வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.

சற்றே நிதானமாக நாள் ஒன்றுக்கு இரண்டு அத்தியாயங்கள் என்று படித்தால் அலுப்பு தட்டாது என்று நினைக்கிறேன். :-)

[Pramod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkably splendid comedy novel from 1920's. The main character is supposed to be stupid but his "Pink Panther" like actions and experiences make him a fun likeable and much interesting character. His abundant positivity, benefits from lady luck and his happy go lucky nature is fun to watch and evolve through the entire novel. I listened in audible and I loved it. A beautiful novel.

[Ravi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humour

Good humourous book but cannot be read continuously as the end is almost predictable in these days. Good for old timers - nostalgic

[A.soorianarayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious detective stories. Written with humour and hard to put down the book till you complete it and still yearning for more.

[Jey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this collection of short stories featuring Sambu, the detective. Sambu intends to solve mysteries and even without him doing anything, the mysteries get solved through Sambu's luck and sheer coincidence. But even if Sambu knows he has nothing to do with the solving of the mysteries, everyone around him including Inspector Gopal hail him as a spectacular detective. This book was a joy to listen. It was filled with wit and humor. This is the kind of book that makes you feel nostalgic for a simpler time.

[P Ananda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent one!

[Edison Prathip Kumar APK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and comedy-clinging detective stories ✌️😀😂

[Pratip Vijayakumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are certain books which age well. Those books are classified as “Classics” at least I define it this way. Again, terming a book as a classic and not is completely subjective. I consider “Ponniyin Selvan” as a Classic but I also consider that to be one of the most overrated books. Just because I consider it overrated doesn’t mean I don’t like the book. I do like it and I am planning to reread it, but people out of Nostalgia overrate certain books out of proportion and Ponniyin Selvan is one such book. This book is also considered to be one of the Classics and also considered to be the best by Late Author Devan. Did this book really meet the expectation? Do I consider this book a Classic? Is this book overrated? Let’s see, please read ahead.

Title: Thuppariyum Saambu (Detective Saambu)
Author: Devan
Language: Tamil
No. of Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fiction-Humor.

I randomly spotted this book in a Bookfair two years ago. I was aware of only this book by the Author. I have heard people praising this book and for the humorous content, this book offers. After 2 years, I randomly picked this book, since I was in a “Reader’s block” I wanted to start with something light.

The book is about “Saambu” who looks like a dim-witted fellow and works in the bank for 2 decades. Saambu, thinks that he can be a good detective due to his detecting powers. He accidentally lands up in detecting a small case from his office. From, then on how he manages to be the best detective in the town forms the crux of this whole book. Each chapter in this book is an adventure of “Saambu” and how he manages to catch the criminals.

Frankly, the book was interesting for the first couple of chapters but as the chapters passed the adventures became monotonous and predictable. I assume it must have published in any of the Tamil weekly’s back then, thus the various adventures. Instead of making Saambu the same dim-witted fellow from the start to end, they could have made some character development and still maintained the humour in it. I was fairly underwhelmed by this book.

I have purchased Part-2 of this book and I’m unsure if I will read this book in the near future. I wouldn’t recommend this book, but if you are looking for a light-hearted, no-brainer humour, you can read this book. Again, this is my opinion and if you feel different please do share your thoughts in the comment section. Let’s have some meaningful discussion. 🙂

Happy Reading 🙂
Originally Posted in: https://realitiesaroundus.wordpress.c...

[Arvind Srinivasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the midst of all serious books, this was a very good mind refresher. Thinking about the novel it is a very imaginative one, it is very difficult to write 50 chapeters where in the hero does things in a very ordinary manner that turns out to be brilliant moves from every one else eyes.

Also how a person who is worshipped by the world be treated in home is something that you can understand from this book. The comical part is not that great but interest level is always on how things turn out in positive way and how the mysteries come out themselves revolving around sambu. The difference in each chapter keeps you guessing, a different kind of guessing.

A very light, imaginative read. I could not say the genre as it is very unique (at least according to me). A very good read. Go for it ur mind will refresh from any stress that you have.

[S. Suresh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thuppariyum Sambu is a short story collection narrating the serendipitous events in Sambu’s life as a detective. Considered Devan’s masterpiece, the humor in understated, the kind that may bring a chuckle to yourself on occasion. Devan employs chaste brahmin Tamil language to describe Sambu bungling his way around every single case, while the characters around him solve the crime he is supposedly investigating. While this is a short story collection, it is best read in order as it traces the life of Sambu from being a bachelor to his marriage to Vembu, having a son and subsequently, a daughter. Inspector Gopalan is a mainstay in the stories and as is his wife, Vembu after their marriage. This is not a book that you can read cover to cover. But you certainly can read few stories at a time and enjoy the misadventures of the man with his prominent crooked nose, Sambu.

[Srinivasan Ganesan · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best books ever in tamil literature. The character sambhu is created in a way that he fits perfectly as a fool for the people who seems him and nightmare for thieves and burglars . The only thing in which the readers will get disappointed will be the length of the stories which are short yet sweet.I may not be a expert but i will strongly recommend this book as the book to be translated into english as a fine example of tamil writings.In short Detective sambhu is the benchmark of tamil comedy literature and everything else will follow it as example.

[Gunasekar guruswamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it when I was 9 from my local library during our house construction,gave me one of the most wonderful times , just not hilarious it makes u assimilate timidness and innocence of sambhu and his side kicks in a way ul love to read it again

[Dinesh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed :)

[Jayakumar Baradwaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the wonderful books written in tamil. Subtle humor throughout

[Balaji Santhanam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the stories are boring

[Saroja Ramamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting to read. A new variety of detective stories.

[Viktamadhithyan]

start

[Gouri Shankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

சுருக்கமாக சொல்ல வேண்டும் என்றால், சாம்பு அந்த காலத்து கைப்புள்ளை.......

[Gouri Shankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

சுருக்கமாக சொல்ல வேண்டும் என்றால், சாம்பு அந்த காலத்து கைப்புள்ளை.......

[Arcane · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's just okay...... I didn't think it's a best..... :(

[Nagarajan.sivaraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favourite book

[Malleswaran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not interesting.

[Stoicism · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evergreen work

Classic parody of sherlock Holmes.. extremely funny. Great dialogues. Short stories unn different backdrops add flavor top three book. Must read

[Vinothkanna M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is not my cup of tea...