Sivasri , Paulo Coelho and De’Javu!

I read a tamil short story named “sethalum” (even if you die) written by Sivasri, some time back, must be 8 or 9 months back . I was very much impressed by the story that I sent a mail to the author, praising her new – at least for me – story telling technique. In fact, the background she selected for her story itself is new. It is about a girl who tries for suicide. But fortunately she is saved. Thanks to the different medical techniques available to get rid of the poison she had taken in. The story starts as she takes in the poison. And revolves around the tortures she goes through, as the physicians try to get the poison out of her body. She at last regrets for the suicidal decision, which so far proved to give so much agony than her normal life would have given her, if she didn’t attempt suicide. Really any one, who reads this story, would never try for suicide, at least by drinking poison. I was so proud that a Tamil author could imagine this kind of new environment for a short story. And she had succeeded in story telling also. Ironically, this short story, rather than being grim for the theme, had so much wit in it. I felt so sad and so happy at the same time for the stupid girl. That is the success for the author and the story.

But then after a very long gap, I started reading “Veronika decides to die” written by Paulo Coelho. I respect this author. It is said that his most successful, thought provoking novel, “The Alchemist” is being produced as a movie by Laurence Fishburne. Fisburne is Paulo Coelho’s one huge fan. He is doing this for him just like our actor Prakash Raj did for Balachandar. Let me come to the point.

This veronica decides to die, starts very much like the short story I mentioned in the first paragraph. In fact the novel itself is about the girl who tries for suicide and got saved and about the agony she faced during her life saving process.

I got nothing to say. It happens sometimes. This is De’Javu, I suppose!