In his latest book, Krishnarjun Bhattacharya unravels the mystery behind death. He chats with Trisha Mukherjee
Everyone was dead and the Demon was hunched in front of the old man’s body, inside the circle. “I can see you, you know,” it spoke slowly. As you read this line in the prologue of Krishnarjun Bhattacharya’s debut book, Tantrics of Old, it is bound to send shivers down your spine.
Joining the league of popular fantasy fictions of Harry Potter and Narnia, Tantrics of Old is a roller coaster ride through old Kolkata, uncovering the mystery behind death. The plot is likely to remind you of Christopher Marlowe’s play Dr Faustus. Much like Mephistopheles in Marlowe’s play, death in Tantrics of Old, gives the young tantric, Adri Sen, a 24-hour notice before it comes to claim his soul.
Although the author fails to recall the genesis of his interest in all things dark and grotesque, he says, “It was perhaps the kind of literature that I read as a kid. HP lovecraft’s horror fiction has always been my favourite. I some great fascination for darkness and sharks.”
Krishnarjun was born in Kolkata but grew up in Ranchi. He had returned to his birthplace to shoot for his first feature film at National Institute of Design. Tantrics of Old is symbolic of this return, like the protagonist Adri, who too, keeps travelling between old and new Kolkata. “Kolkata is the land of tales and fantasy. It carries the weight of the colonies of British. Every street of the city reeks of history and hints at something unnatural,” says Krishnarjun.
“Adri has a fascination for old Kolkata. It is a dark and broken city, like a well,” he adds. Krishnarjun is as pragmatic as any other individual of the 21st century, but does not completely dismiss the existence of the supernatural forces.
“I believe in the higher power. If a new species of fish or an insect can be discovered, it is very much possible that someday something paranormal can come up too. Although I don’t want it come. I am myself too scared of all this,” he says.
The author feels that it is a compelling and intriguing enigma of the unknown that mystifies us, making us only more inquisitive, and that is the reason he thinks the book will have a good readership. “It is our responsibility to push our generation towards better literature. I have redefined tantrics in the book. It is a unique tale to which the readers will be able to connect,” he says.
Citing the example of Immortals of Meluha, he said that there has been an evident rise in stories where fantasy is often mixed with religion, and feels that the genre of fantasy fiction needs to be revived.
“Tantrics of Olddoes not hold itself in boundaries. The eastern and western cultures are in synergy, moving in constant flux. It is a wholesome work, without pushing hard on either side,” he said.
The inside of the book’s cover has an interesting map of both old and new Kolkata merged together. Proportional to the actual map of the city, it is interspersed with bizarre regions from old Kolkata, like Bishakto Jongol (Poisonous Jungle), Shadow lands, The Drowned among other places.
The second part of the duology, Horsemen of Old is already in the making and is expected to reach stands by August next year. The author is also writing another independent book, Darkling I Witness, which is a dark adaptation of the industrial revolution in Europe.