Cracking the Case: Decoding India’s growing obsession with Crime Fiction
From pulse-pounding adventures of intrepid detectives to the labyrinthine minds of cunning criminals, crime fiction novels are taking over the market. In recent years, its captivating wave has swept across the literary landscape of India, enticing and engaging readers now more than ever before. In this article, we embark on an analytical journey, unravelling the reasons behind its popularity in India. At SUBURB, we connected with some reputed authors of this genre to explore the socio-cultural factors contributing to this literary phenomenon.
The most obvious reason has been the growing literacy and rate of education amongst the population. According to a report published by the National Survey of India, the literacy rate in 2022 was 77.7 per cent, a massive jump from 69 per cent in 2011. Thus, many have developed their reading and critical thinking skills in the last decade. This has inadvertently created a larger audience of those who wish to pique their intellectual interests through crime fiction. The emergence of locally contextualised thrillers with more representative characters has managed to capture the attention of readers uniquely and profoundly. As a result, its appeal amongst Indian audiences has intensified.
Another critical factor which has enabled crime fiction to draw such great appeal is its role as a seasoned participant in the attention economy. Human attention is limited, and it has become even more difficult in an era dominated by the internet and social media. Crime fiction, with its fast-paced narratives and plot twists, serves as the perfect adrenaline-packed sequence for the impatient readers of the digital age. In the battle for focus, it has emerged as a resilient contender. Author Joygopal Podder aptly summarises this phenomenon, “Simply put, thriller thrills. That’s why it’s unputdownable.”
The success of crime fiction adaptations on OTT platforms has also played a pivotal role in intensifying interest in the genre. “The emergence of new voices and the diversification of perspectives through the visual medium actively encourages readers to explore the rich world of crime fiction novels. Web series such as Delhi Crime and Patal Lok are perfect examples.” Says author & screenwriter K. Hari Kumar. As viewers become engrossed in thrilling on-screen adaptations, a desire for more drives them to explore other source material, i.e., crime fiction novels.
Finally, it must be understood that crime fiction, like society, is ever-evolving. This characteristic has contributed heavily to an increase in its sales. Just as crime adjusts to its environment, authors adapt to create fictional universes that model contemporary issues. According to writer Kanchana Banerjee,” Crime fiction will continue to reflect the shifting landscape of criminal activities, capturing the attention of readers by exploring cutting-edge topics.” This is precisely why the curious case of the ‘Whodunit’ never seems out of style. Considering its dynamic nature as the genre explores new frontiers, our authors believe that upcoming trends will feature themes such as online racketeering and cybercrime.
Thus, as India’s literary landscape evolves, crime fiction remains a steadfast companion, providing refuge for those seeking excitement, intellectual stimulation, and a chance to unravel the complexities of the human psyche. The genre’s ability to adapt to the attention economy, mirror societal changes, and shift towards more local and relevant narratives, promises to make it a longstanding champion of the literary world.
Are You Lit? an initiative known to promote literature talks gets ready to curate yet another event inviting Gurgaon crime and spy verse writers to Courtyard by Marriott on June 30 to trail the importance this genre of writing. Nine authors get the limelight as their books get shortlisted to be on the prestigious Aye You Lit Wall at the hotel lobby.
The writer of the article, Rianna Basu, is an avid reader, thinker and student of economics.
