{{short description|2010 novel by Manu Joseph}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{For|the film based on the novel|Serious Men (film)}}{{Infobox book | name = Serious Men | image = Serious Men.jpg | caption = | author = Manu Joseph | translator = | language = English | country = India | genre = Fiction<br>Humour | publisher = HarperCollins | release_date = 2010 | media_type = Print (paperback, hardback) | pages = 310 | isbn = 8172238525 }}
'''''Serious Men''''' is a 2010 drama fiction novel written by journalist Manu Joseph.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manu-joseph-india_b_674544|title=Manu Joseph, Author of "Serious Men" (Interview)|last=Shivani|first=Anis|work=HuffPost|date=18 September 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> The story follows Ayyan Mani, a middle-aged Dalit working as an assistant to a Brahmin astronomer at the Institute of Theory and Research in Mumbai. He lives in a slum with his wife and a son.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/an-interview-with-novelist-manu-joseph/20100727.htm|title='I don't see pure milk-and-honey goodness in the poor'|author=Krishnakumar Padmanabhan|website=Rediff.com|date=27 July 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Furious at his situation in life, Ayyan develops an outrageous story that his 10-year-old son is a mathematical genius – a lie which later gets out of control.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seriously subversive|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Seriously-subversive/article15678319.ece|last=Salam|first=Ziya Us|work=The Hindu|date=6 November 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>
It won the inaugural The Hindu Literary Prize and the 2011 PEN Open Book Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/pen-american-centers-2011-awards.html |title=Jacket Copy: PEN American Center's 2011 award winners|newspaper=LA Times|date=11 August 2011|access-date=9 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Manu-Joseph-bags-The-Hindu-Best-Fiction-Award-2010/article15673255.ece|title=Manu Joseph bags The Hindu Best Fiction Award 2010|work=The Hindu|date=1 November 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> It was also shortlisted for Man Asian Literary Prize and Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/apr/13/leith-knight-wodehouse-book-prize |title=Sam Leith and India Knight in running for Wodehouse book prize|work=The Guardian|author=Maev Kennedy|date=12 April 2011|access-date=9 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Manu Joseph Serious Men, 2010 Shortlist|url=http://www.manasianliteraryprize.org/manu-joseph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218042922/http://www.manasianliteraryprize.org/manu-joseph|url-status=usurped|archive-date=18 December 2010|work=The Man Asian Literary Prize|access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>
==Development== Joseph said that Indian English writers "usually take a very sympathetic and compassionate view of the poor, and I find that fake and condescending."<ref name=tg>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/nov/02/manu-joseph-india-serious-men|title=Manu Joseph's controversial tale of caste wins Indian literary prize|last=Page|first=Bennedicte|work=The Guardian|date=2 November 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> He felt that the poor in India are "increasingly very empowered, and the time has come when the novel can portray them in a more realistic way."<ref name=tg/>
==Reception== Tobin Hershaw of ''The New York Times'' called the novel "smart and funny".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/books/review/Harshaw-t.html|title=Worlds in Collision|last=Hershaw|first=Tobin|work=The New York Times|date=3 September 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Peter Carty of ''The Independent'' felt that the novel "elegantly describes collisions with an unyielding status quo, ably counterpointing the frustrations of the powerless with the unfulfilling realities of power."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/serious-men-by-manu-joseph-1996797.html|title=Serious Men, By Manu Joseph|work=The Independent|last=Carty|first=Peter|date=11 June 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Bhavana Sharma of ''The Hindu'' wrote: "Manu Joseph's novel hammers in the hopelessness, boredom and desperate ambitions of suburban Dalit community in Bombay, and he weaves an interesting and funny satire on the academia of science, love and revenge."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Satire-to-savour/article15766453.ece|title=Satire to savour|last=Sharma|first=Bhavana|work=The Hindu|date=2 October 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Nick Rennison of ''The Times'' called it a "bitter, comic novel". Further saying that the novel "skewers a society where new ambitions and older class divisions co-exist."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/serious-men-by-manu-joseph-fz0zkncf2ds|title=Serious Men by Manu Joseph|last=Rennison|first=Nick|work=The Times|date=18 July 2010|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>
==Adaptions== ''Serious Men'' has been adapted into a play by Nikhila Kesavan in Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/nikhila-kesavan/article5534147.ece|title=Nikhila Kesavan|work=The Hindu|date=3 January 2014|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>
In September 2017, it was announced that Sudhir Mishra will be adapting the novel into a feature film with Bhavesh Mandalia writing the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/sudhir-mishras-next-to-be-based-on-manu-josephs-award-winning-novel-serious-men-4046511.html|title=Sudhir Mishra's next to be based on Manu Joseph's award-winning novel Serious Men|website=Firstpost|date=15 September 2017|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> In 2018, Netflix announced that it will be backing the screen adaptation by Mishra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/925740/nawazuddin-siddiqui-to-star-in-netflix-film-serious-men|title=Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star in Netflix film 'Serious Men'|website=Scroll.in|date=3 June 2019|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> The eponymous film directed by Mishra and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, playing the role of Ayyan Mani opposite actress Indira Tiwari was produced by Bombay Fables and Cineraas Entertainment. It premiered on Netflix on 2 October, 2020 with same title.<ref name="release">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=Serious Men teaser: Nawazuddin Siddiqui takes charge of his son's destiny in 30-second video, watch|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/serious-men-teaser-nawazuddin-siddiqui-takes-charge-of-his-son-s-destiny-in-30-second-video-watch/story-WJXbzsbojOXV3g8uP70kBK_amp.html|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=8 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208003353/https://m.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/serious-men-teaser-nawazuddin-siddiqui-takes-charge-of-his-son-s-destiny-in-30-second-video-watch/story-WJXbzsbojOXV3g8uP70kBK_amp.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7628608-serious-men Serious Men] at Goodreads
Category:2010 debut novels Category:2010 Indian novels Category:2010s comedy novels Category:Indian satirical novels Category:Indian comedy novels Category:Indian English-language novels Category:Novels set in Mumbai Category:Novels about social class Category:Works about lying Category:Indian novels adapted into films Category:Comedy novels adapted into films Category:Indian novels adapted into plays Category:2010 English-language novels