Thread by @mknid

Guardian article on JLF says Indians don't read.

I am from Kerala. We have abt 15 major book publishers, besides hundreds of self-publishers. The biggest two, DC & Mathrubhumi, publish more than 1000 books every year. "Serious reading public still emerging in India", ah? Thread

6 novels& 2 autobios were the biggest bestsellers in 2019 for Mathrubhumi& DC. Combined, they sold more than one lakh copies, acc to insiders. Some came just weeks ago. Cover prices were close to avg. Rs 300. Four were first-time writers.

Now, the range& variety of these books

'Samudrashila', on familial hardships of a woman& her fantastical rel with a novelist (played by the novelist himself), by award-winning writer Subash Chandran. Second in a trilogy of novels about writing novels: more than 20000 copies in 6 months.

Susannayude Granthappura, a novel where a bunch of readers meets, along with their beloved writers, altogether some 70-80 characters ranging from Borges to Kafka to Kottayam Pushpanath (Go google). By debut novelist Ajay P Mangad: more than 15000 copies in 6 months

Kalyaniyennum Dakshayaniyennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha, easily the literary sensation in 2019. College prof Rajyashree's first novel started as one FB post every day, which went viral. Mathrubhumi signed her up before she finished the last chapter. It is a story of

two free-spirited women from 50 years ago which is as much fun as it is sort of an ethnographic study of north Kerala. More than 10000 copies in three months now.

Mathrubhumi also published a young Lajo Jose, whose Hydrangea, a crime thriller, sold 8000 copies in three months.

Meesha by the fantastic S Hareesh. Easily the most controversial novel of recent times in the south. Got banned in the midst of publication, made all the way to the SC before freed again. And how readers reacted? 20000 copies sold so far.

Prathi Poovan Kozhi by one hell of a writer, Unni R. Small novel about a no non-sense woman taking revenge on a creep, also became a movie with superstar Manju Warrier in the lead. Sold just about 10000 copies

Two other books, just published, are flying off the shelves in tens of thousands: a tell-all autobiography of Sir Lucy Kalappura, the nun who protested against rape-accused Bishop, and the autobio of TJ Joseph, the professor who gave his hand to extremists
livemint.com/Leisure/4yef4a…

These are besides evergreen popular titles that are still sold in hundreds: Like KR Meera's Aarachar (more than one lakh copies since 2012), Bennyamin's Aadujeevitham (more than two lakh since 2008) or even Perumbadavam Sreedharan's Oru Sankeerthanampole (102nd editions since 93)

I haven't talked about classics of veteran writers such as MT Vasudevan or OV Vijayan, which are ubiquitous in nearly every home in Kerala. Each of these books fetched lakhs as royalty (usually 15%) for the writers. It is possible to be a millionaire just by writing in India

On lit fests: Kerala hosted annual book fests since 1997, but saying that will be overlooking the countless discussions around books and authors in nearly every mofussil town-halls each week. When Marquez fell ill, there was even a quick prayer meeting held in Clt district

There are at least six annual lit fests now. Kerala Lit Festival, marquee event from DC, had around 500 speakers, roughly twice the number of speakers at JLF. Over a lakh attended. Noam Chomsky to Yuval Noah Harari came via video bcoz people didn't read their books?

As we speak, Mathrubhumi is gearing up for its marquee event, Ka lit fest in Trivandrum. Another one lakh expected. These are diff from JLF. Like poet S Kalesh said once: They were collecting ideas (at KLF), as a farmer would collect his seeds
livemint.com/Leisure/TFmuE9…

And we are just 3.3 crore out of the billion Indians. I rest my case.

Do tweet about your own state's lit scene.

*Sister Lucy Kalappura

I mistook the novel for another story, on which the movie was based. The novel is about a rooster crowing in the middle of a so-called nationalistic event, which then leads to a police case. A polticial allegory to the rise of a new politics (haven't read)