Corridor: A Graphic Novel - Softcover

Banerjee Sarnath (author)

3.39

652 ratings by Goodreads

9780143031383: Corridor: A Graphic Novel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143031384 ISBN 13: 9780143031383

Publisher: Penguin Books India, 2004

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Corridor: A Graphic Novel is Sarnath Banerjee s debut graphic novel that talks about the collision of the Indian culture with the rising influences of the Western culture. The story of Corridor revolves around an enlightened dispenser of tea, Jehangir Rangoonwalla, who has a shop in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, Connaught Place. He also sells second hand books and dispenses wisdom to his customers. All of the main characters of the novel have this shop as their common local haunt and Mr. Rangoonwalla interacts with these residents of Delhi when they visit his shop and at times gives them his words of wisdom. They come to him for tea, books, conversation, and advice. The story is about a plethora of characters, each from a different strata of society and different background. These customers are Brighu, passionate for obscure collectibles and a real love life, Shintu, the newly-married on a quest of the ultimate aphrodisiac, and Digital Dutta, a person mostly torn between an H-1B visa and Karl Marx. Dutta is portrayed as a man who lives in his head. Each of these characters has a story of his own and the author ties them together in a brilliant manner for his book. While narrating their stories, Banerjee subtly touches the greyer shades of their lives and presents them vividly to the reader. The entire novel has been captured in the corridors of contemporary Connaught Place in Delhi and Calcutta. Various pictures and objects have been shown in the background frame and the author ensures to refer them, thereby touching upon the different cultural references. Sarnath Banerjee presents a different flavor to the art of storytelling by mixing various other art forms such as sketches, illustrations, and photographs. These heighten the impact on the reader in a beautiful way. The author uses an imaginative alchemy of words and images, of a script and artwork, to present the alienation and fragmented reality of the Indian urban life. Thus, the novel presents a delightful tale with interesting twists and turns.

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Review:

Quite a good story. Often said to be the first graphic novel in India. The illustration is something like that of Persepolis - raw. --jayanta borah Jun 24, 2014

I don't buy the arguments of the people who find graphic novel as a marketing gimmick to sell comics to adults. Neither do I agree to the people who think it is stooping to a lower level I don't buy the arguments of the people who find graphic novel as a marketing gimmick to sell comics to adults. Neither do I agree to the people who think it is stooping to a lower level of reading to read one. Reading through corridor builds a unique mindscape in the readers imagination that can only be created by artists like Sarnath Banerjee. Corridor tells stories about the characters of the novel who are connected to a Connaught Place bookwala. Usually the stories touch upon the shadier part of the character's life, and most of them are good. Corridor touches upon various subtleties without stating it blatantly, by referring to pictures/objects shown in the frame's background. The use of color and plain sketches along with use of photograph is a form of art in itself. When I finished the book I wanted to read it again. So many stories told in such a short time is what makes you do it. Though the book doesn't last for very long and sometimes makes you think of value for money, still I feel it is worth reading. Having read all of his novels till now, I think Corridor is one of the better works of the author. --Suhit Pal May 17, 2012

Very smart and funny, really enjoyed reading it. One of my friends had recommended the book to me, I was expecting it to be good but it turned out to be great. It has funny and interesting take on many of the things which happen around us. Some may find the book to be a bit short at just over 100 pages, but almost all the pages will bring out a few smiles at least. --Ranvijay Apr 14, 2012

About the Author:

Sarnath Banerjee is a graphic novelist, filmmaker, artist, and co-founder of Phantomville, a publishing house. He is famously known as India s first real graphic novelist. Besides Corridor, Banerjee has authored The Harappa Files and The Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers. Sarnath loves to write his works with an amalgamation of photographs and other art forms. His works are often autobiographical and anecdotal in style. He mostly talks about the day-to-day experiences on Indian life. Also, the loss of history and architecture during the modernization of the country is another common theme that is strongly portrayed in his works. Born in 1972 in Calcutta, Sarnath Banerjee is today known as the writer of the first Indian graphic novel Corridor. He studied image and communication at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His first novel was an instant hit. He has written other novels and has also created illustrations for other works for instance the cover page of Weight Loss by Upamanyu Chatterjee. Along with his friend Anindya Roy, he has started a graphic novel company called Phantomville in order to provide a platform for upcoming Indian artists to create mature graphic novels.

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