Shantanu
Summary
Shantanu, a skilled hitman recognized for his precise actions, finds himself caught in a web of moral conflict when underworld kingpin Kshitij Bhosale entrusts him with a special target who will irrevocably alter his fate. As Shantanu maneuvers through the dark underbelly of the mafia, he is accompanied by an unforgettable cast of characters, including Vasu, the mysterious strategist; Aabhay, the determined enforcer; and Puneet, the power-driven gangster—each contributing to this high-stakes game. Shantanu, the compelling debut installment in the Rakhta Charitra series, brings together intense action and succinct storytelling for a most-thrilling reading experience yet!
The Plot
‘Shantanu’ is an Indian crime thriller that plunges readers into the underworld of Bombay. The story revolves around Shantanu, the main character, who works for his boss, Kshitij Bhosale, in a world where trust is a rare commodity. Shantanu, known for his exceptional shooting skills, shares a certain camaraderie with Kshitij, the underworld Don, in the crime-ridden city. Things are fine until Bhosale assigns a task to Shantanu – keeping an eye on his love interest Mahek.
Suddenly, Shantanu, the cold-blooded, hard-hearted, assassin, finds himself torn in a battle between duty toward his boss and unexpected emotions for the target. It’s the debut installment of the Rakhta Charitra series, combining fierce action and masterful storytelling to tell the tale of one man’s fight to reclaim his goodness. With a fast-paced plot brimming with action and a complex ruthless character at the heart of it, the book sells itself!
The Writing
Written in the third person, the plot focuses majorly on Shantanu, Kshitij, and Mahek’s stories. It dissects the different worlds they thrive in, the outcomes of their decisions, and how it impacts each other. The crime world is often laden with distrust, insecurity, unpredictability, danger and what not! While the book explores these themes with subtlety, the core theme of revenge and betrayals largely decide the plot and pace of the book. The length of the book remains impressive for its matter and it is commendable how a story this intense has been so succinctly captured. The character and scene descriptions however, apply unnecessary brakes on the smooth reading experience making it appear tad dull and dragged in places and often. The heavily-detailed approach gives it a more screenplay-ish feel than a novel. It makes one wonder if the author dreamt of the novel being adapted for the big screen perhaps!
Characters
Shantanu remains easy-paced even with the high-notched crime drama that bedazzles the plot and the credit goes to the titular protagonist who is tough and stable-minded; someone who plans his next move cautiously. He may be brutal but he has not lost his conscience. Even the most brutal of criminals have a soft spot and love truly can change all and this doesn’t go missed with Shantanu. As the reader gets soaked into the criminal world of Bombay, the harrowing past and complexities of Shantanu’s character come to the fore, offering the reader a glimpse into the psyche of the man and the reasons behind his actions and decisions. This makes for a very engaging read; as is the case with most character-driven novels.
Final Verdict
Readers won’t fail to notice that a lot about this book reminds you of the titular character in the movie Satya, the popular Bollywood crime thriller. Faced with grief, loss, betrayal, and revenge, Shantanu is a look-alike of Satya in ways more than one. The crime world and the people ruling it truly have no heart for mercy nor a place for other’s misery, but just their own interests, and that’s well-depicted in the book. Overall, the brutal world of mafia and it characters have been introduced cleverly by Devansh Kamdar that makes this book a captivating read for those who enjoy the gritty realism of crime fiction set in the heart of Bombay. Set in Bombay, this may perhaps, be an accurate lens at the underworld history of one of world’s most popular cities.
About the Author
Devansh is a writer and novelist from Mumbai, India. He has always been passionate about literature and connecting with people through words. Some of his articles can be found on Medium and popular tech blogs. He has also recently published his debut novel, ‘Shantanu.’
P.S.: I received a review copy from the author, but the review remains unbiased.
Have you read ‘Shantanu’? What did you think?
