Madyaratriche padgham (मध्यरात्रीचे पडघम)" by Ratnakar Matkari.

Mandar's book review (4th June 2017)

"Madyaratriche padgham (मध्यरात्रीचे पडघम)", a Marathi book by Ratnakar Matkari. This book is published by Mehta Publishing house. This edition was published in 2013 and has 142 pages. I read this book through 'Grantha tumchya daari (ग्रंथ तुमच्या दारी)' scheme. This book is a collection of eleven short stories.

'Awachinha (अवचिन्ह)' is story of a man who kills his wife out of hatred and confesses in front of crowd at the murder scene. At police station he claims to love his wife and refuses to confess. What is the mystery?

In 'Zopala (झोपाळा)' a girl visits a house of man she was once betrothed to, in dreams. A house she has never visited in reality. Years later she visits it in reality and finds everyone surprised. Why?

In 'Kamgiri (कामगिरी)' Raosaheb decides to donate a skeleton to local college in memory of his recently deceased daughter who worked at the college. Muranjan, lab in charge, and friend of daughter is tasked to collect it. What then?

'Aniket (अनिकेत)' is the story of a man who has a kind of bond with his house. This story is a bit obtuse.

In 'Bal, andhar padla (बाळ,अंधार पडला)', a stranger is accompanying little Nitin home. A number of little children are murdered by strangulation recently. What will Nitin do?

'Kalya manjrache swapna (काळ्या मांजराचं स्वप्नं)' is the story of a black cat who thinks itself superior to humans and tries to solve the problems in his dreams. But it misses one vital thing. What's it?

'Phirun tyach jagi (फिरुन त्याच जागी)' is the story of a man who thinks his new bungalow is turning into an old dilapidated house and he is turning into an old ugly man. Is he?

In 'Maskari (मस्करी)' Shankar and Bhaskar make extreme fun of at someone's expense. They decide to make fun of a poor fisher using a Panchakshari who is considered to know black magic. What will the results be?

In 'Vikhar (विखार)' a man moves into a house that was used by a crime writer for conceiving his plots. There are bad vibes in it. Sushma assess him tho leave the place. Will he?

In 'Manda Patankarchi goshta (मंदा पाटणकरची गोष्ट)' Manda, a young and beautiful girl, is travelling in a first class compartment of a train. She is the only passenger. A man boards. A lady was murdered in a train only few days ago. What will happen?

'Madyaratriche padgham (मध्यरात्रीचे पडघम)' is the story of a boy who thinks that his father is involved in some kind of black magic. Father thinks that he is going mad. Who's right?

All these stories were published individually in various Diwali magazines between 1971 and 1978.

Although the stories in this book are good, I found these not upto the usual mark of the author. One of the most important factor in successful Mysterious story is the unexpected. That shock factor plays on reader's mind. In some of the stories, this unexpected could be easily guessed. When it becomes predictable and story doesn't hit you.

Some of the stories are in the form of a monologue and some in dialogue. A number of stories have a place, room or house as a character. It's alive. 

I should mention the book cover. It has the spooky picture of inhuman beings surrounding innocent and terrified boy from the last story. 

Ratnakar Matkari is the lighthouse in Marathi Mysterious stories (गूढ कथा). He sets the standard and benchmark for the genre. He is also the plumber in Marathi.

Why did I read this book? Ratnakar Matkari and his special genre. 

What I didn't like? Aniket. 

What did I like? Zoopla & Vikhar. 

Read if you have time. 

For complete review, please visit:

Mandar's Book reviews

http://mandarbookreviews.blogspot.com/