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60 Minutes
As the chief marketing officer of one of the biggest FMCG companies Agastya is all set for the most important product launch of his career when things spin out of control.
60 minutes is all he has to save his job and his marriage.
Beautiful and intelligent, Maithili has never had much luck in love. When Agastya takes things too far and almost crushes her spirit, Maithili must avenge herself. 60 minutes is all she needs to turn his life upside down.
Saileshs academic temperament is unsuited to corporate rivalry and subterfuge but he is forced to retaliate when someone crosses the line. He has 60 minutes to destroy his foe.
High profile jobs, reputations, relationships and marriages are at stake. As the battle for supremacy continues, who will falter, who will persist and who will come out on top?
A one of a kind thriller where all the action unfolds in 60 Minutes
60 minutes is all he has to save his job and his marriage.
Beautiful and intelligent, Maithili has never had much luck in love. When Agastya takes things too far and almost crushes her spirit, Maithili must avenge herself. 60 minutes is all she needs to turn his life upside down.
Saileshs academic temperament is unsuited to corporate rivalry and subterfuge but he is forced to retaliate when someone crosses the line. He has 60 minutes to destroy his foe.
High profile jobs, reputations, relationships and marriages are at stake. As the battle for supremacy continues, who will falter, who will persist and who will come out on top?
A one of a kind thriller where all the action unfolds in 60 Minutes
- GenresThriller
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2014
5 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Upendra Namburi
3 books24 followersUpendra Namburi is a sales and marketing professional who has contributed to leading newspapers and online publications.
He is on the passionate voyage of writing the numbers triumvirate of novels titled 31, 60 and 8.
His debut novel 31, was a bestseller and also on the long list for the Tata First Book award.
His second book titled '60 minutes' is a unique story that spans a pulsating 60 minutes.
He has contributed to Indian and International publications on a wide array of subjects.
He is an evolving blogger, ardent dreamer and passionate writer.
He resides in Gurgaon, India
He is on the passionate voyage of writing the numbers triumvirate of novels titled 31, 60 and 8.
His debut novel 31, was a bestseller and also on the long list for the Tata First Book award.
His second book titled '60 minutes' is a unique story that spans a pulsating 60 minutes.
He has contributed to Indian and International publications on a wide array of subjects.
He is an evolving blogger, ardent dreamer and passionate writer.
He resides in Gurgaon, India
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 6, 2014
Spoiler alert! (Maybe, but who cares)
High-profile jobs, reputations, relationships and marriages are at stake. Stealth, blackmail and secret liaisons exposed. Emotions mired in doubt and ambitions entangled in hostility. As the battle for supremacy continues, who will falter, who will persist and who will come out on top?
60 minutes has three main protagonists who control the entire story. Agastya, the CMO of a big FMCG company 'BCL', is all set for the most important product launch of his career, that is scheduled in 60 minutes. Maithili, his mistress, who threatens to disclose their affair to his wife and the media if he does not come up with 15 crores in the next 60 minutes. Sailesh, Agastya's arch rival who is the CMO of BCL's competitor Stark. He is all set to do anything to stop Agastya from this product lunch and he has 60 minutes to destroy his enemy.
60 minutes starts of at 2.30 pm, exactly 60 minutes before the product launch. The story unfolds in the next sixty minutes. Agastya is desperately trying to get everything right so that the product launch goes smooth. Suddenly, Maithili storms into his cabin and claims 15 crores in the next one hour, else she goes to his wife and the press. Agastya's wife Nandita is the weakest character in this book. She is unaware of Agastya's first marriage and does not suspect his infidelity even for a second. She appears and disappears from the story now and again. Maithili was the most confused character in the book. She seems like a caricature of some psycho movie. She sleeps with Agastya at her will, fights with him, claws at him, abuses him and challenges him. And the icing on the cake, she is in a live in relationship with Ismail, an alcoholic divorcee who abuses her like there is no tomorrow. Sailesh hardly has any background story apart from his professional life. He is married to Tanya, who somewhere during the course of the book ends up sleeping with Agastya.
This book was marketed as a racy corporate drama where all the action would unfold in sixty racy minutes. Unfortunately, the author tries desperately to build the characters and their background stories within these sixty minutes. The story moves from the past to the recent past to the present and back to the past. This was extremely troublesome. By the time you realize what is going on, you are transported back to the past which makes no sense what so ever to the current story. The story toggles between corporate politics and the share market and most importantly sex. Unnecessary sex. And not in a good way. Who ever has sex in this book, has it the violent way with screaming, biting, pushing and beating. If that was not disturbing enough, every woman puts up with this shit willingly!
This book was trouble right from page one. After a few pages, it became a nightmare. If I did not have to review this book, I would have thrown it in the darkest corner of my bookshelf. This book doesn't have a weak story. It has no story whatsoever. After a few minutes it felt like I was watching a Madhur Bhandarkar movie in slow motion. A horrible one at that. The book is supposed to be real but nothing about this book is. The story is supposed to be concentrated on the rivalry between Sailesh and Agastya, but their stories are so bleak that at one point of time you are trying to understand what exactly are they fighting for. Their rivalry does not have a decent back story and their squabbles feel so childish that it feels like they are fighting for a toy. The story would have probably been better if they were fighting for a girl instead!
At 360 odd pages, this book was a drag. The book says "Racy" on its cover but the book is anything but that. But even some decent editing would not have helped this book. This story would have been a drag even if it was at 50 pages. The concept is decent enough, two corporate rivals fighting it out for the top spot. But over a detergent? Seriously? Unnecessary inclusion of the share market does not blend in at all and seems far fetched. I have no idea why they needed to include this. Maithili's history with an abusive uncle does not help her character at all. She is shown as suicidal and strong at the same time. I wonder how that works. Nothing works in this book. Not the non-existent story, nor the characters.
Verdict: Weak in every sense of the word. Read only if you want to waste more than 60 minutes of your life.
Rating: 1 out of 5.
High-profile jobs, reputations, relationships and marriages are at stake. Stealth, blackmail and secret liaisons exposed. Emotions mired in doubt and ambitions entangled in hostility. As the battle for supremacy continues, who will falter, who will persist and who will come out on top?
60 minutes has three main protagonists who control the entire story. Agastya, the CMO of a big FMCG company 'BCL', is all set for the most important product launch of his career, that is scheduled in 60 minutes. Maithili, his mistress, who threatens to disclose their affair to his wife and the media if he does not come up with 15 crores in the next 60 minutes. Sailesh, Agastya's arch rival who is the CMO of BCL's competitor Stark. He is all set to do anything to stop Agastya from this product lunch and he has 60 minutes to destroy his enemy.
60 minutes starts of at 2.30 pm, exactly 60 minutes before the product launch. The story unfolds in the next sixty minutes. Agastya is desperately trying to get everything right so that the product launch goes smooth. Suddenly, Maithili storms into his cabin and claims 15 crores in the next one hour, else she goes to his wife and the press. Agastya's wife Nandita is the weakest character in this book. She is unaware of Agastya's first marriage and does not suspect his infidelity even for a second. She appears and disappears from the story now and again. Maithili was the most confused character in the book. She seems like a caricature of some psycho movie. She sleeps with Agastya at her will, fights with him, claws at him, abuses him and challenges him. And the icing on the cake, she is in a live in relationship with Ismail, an alcoholic divorcee who abuses her like there is no tomorrow. Sailesh hardly has any background story apart from his professional life. He is married to Tanya, who somewhere during the course of the book ends up sleeping with Agastya.
This book was marketed as a racy corporate drama where all the action would unfold in sixty racy minutes. Unfortunately, the author tries desperately to build the characters and their background stories within these sixty minutes. The story moves from the past to the recent past to the present and back to the past. This was extremely troublesome. By the time you realize what is going on, you are transported back to the past which makes no sense what so ever to the current story. The story toggles between corporate politics and the share market and most importantly sex. Unnecessary sex. And not in a good way. Who ever has sex in this book, has it the violent way with screaming, biting, pushing and beating. If that was not disturbing enough, every woman puts up with this shit willingly!
This book was trouble right from page one. After a few pages, it became a nightmare. If I did not have to review this book, I would have thrown it in the darkest corner of my bookshelf. This book doesn't have a weak story. It has no story whatsoever. After a few minutes it felt like I was watching a Madhur Bhandarkar movie in slow motion. A horrible one at that. The book is supposed to be real but nothing about this book is. The story is supposed to be concentrated on the rivalry between Sailesh and Agastya, but their stories are so bleak that at one point of time you are trying to understand what exactly are they fighting for. Their rivalry does not have a decent back story and their squabbles feel so childish that it feels like they are fighting for a toy. The story would have probably been better if they were fighting for a girl instead!
At 360 odd pages, this book was a drag. The book says "Racy" on its cover but the book is anything but that. But even some decent editing would not have helped this book. This story would have been a drag even if it was at 50 pages. The concept is decent enough, two corporate rivals fighting it out for the top spot. But over a detergent? Seriously? Unnecessary inclusion of the share market does not blend in at all and seems far fetched. I have no idea why they needed to include this. Maithili's history with an abusive uncle does not help her character at all. She is shown as suicidal and strong at the same time. I wonder how that works. Nothing works in this book. Not the non-existent story, nor the characters.
Verdict: Weak in every sense of the word. Read only if you want to waste more than 60 minutes of your life.
Rating: 1 out of 5.
October 2, 2018
The concept was very interesting.. The story playing out over one hour while the past actions and their consequences kept getting in the way.
Agastya is not a likeable character.. In fact not too many in the story are.
The countdown to the all important launch, the competitors response, the personal crisis Agastya is dealing with simultaneously.. All serve to build up the tension.
However at times it is too much back and forth with different timelines adding to the confusion.
It is tough to keep track of how those events are affecting the present when they are told in this zigzag way.
A nice attempt overall
Agastya is not a likeable character.. In fact not too many in the story are.
The countdown to the all important launch, the competitors response, the personal crisis Agastya is dealing with simultaneously.. All serve to build up the tension.
However at times it is too much back and forth with different timelines adding to the confusion.
It is tough to keep track of how those events are affecting the present when they are told in this zigzag way.
A nice attempt overall
June 26, 2020
‘60 Minutes’ by Upendra Namburi is a corporate thriller/ business fiction. It’s an excellently conceptualized and well written book. If you are interested to know what happens at the top echelons of FMCG companies, this book is a must read. The solid story that the author has weaved around the corporate setting, and the pace with which the events unfold is very good. The cover page is attractive too.
I loved the characterization; there are no good/ bad people. Everyone, including the protagonist, is shown as they actually are in real life: greedy and scheming. Everyone goes through the process of survival of the fittest. One can almost feel the pulse of their office rooms. They end up playing a deadly game with huge rewards, but equally huge risks.
Rivalry and (personal) revenge, you know you get a lot of drama here. You should read this novel to understand what nonsensical levels people go to achieve their selfish motives. This is the side of corporate life that needs to be exposed to people and I appreciate the author for doing that. Altogether, an excellent book but the author should have presented a more believable climax.
Professional networks and game plays, stock markets and millions of money, relationships and stress, domestic violence and infidelity- the author highlights all aspects. Obsession and revenge carried from the past is all what drives the scenes in the sixty minutes. Some happenings do seem without purpose.
60 Minutes is high on emotions; disappointment, rejection, elation, fear, relief. It is a revealing window into corporate life in India, exposing the slime and deceit in corporate relationships, the backstabbing and the vested interests. It would make for an excellent Bollywood plot, with all the drama, subterfuge and intrigue. The writing style is simple and easy to grasp. However, I did spot some sloppy writing which some careful editing could have weeded out.
The only thing with 60 minutes is that you will not be able to finish the book in 60 minutes. If you are fond of reading corporate drama, this one is a good pick.
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
I loved the characterization; there are no good/ bad people. Everyone, including the protagonist, is shown as they actually are in real life: greedy and scheming. Everyone goes through the process of survival of the fittest. One can almost feel the pulse of their office rooms. They end up playing a deadly game with huge rewards, but equally huge risks.
Rivalry and (personal) revenge, you know you get a lot of drama here. You should read this novel to understand what nonsensical levels people go to achieve their selfish motives. This is the side of corporate life that needs to be exposed to people and I appreciate the author for doing that. Altogether, an excellent book but the author should have presented a more believable climax.
Professional networks and game plays, stock markets and millions of money, relationships and stress, domestic violence and infidelity- the author highlights all aspects. Obsession and revenge carried from the past is all what drives the scenes in the sixty minutes. Some happenings do seem without purpose.
60 Minutes is high on emotions; disappointment, rejection, elation, fear, relief. It is a revealing window into corporate life in India, exposing the slime and deceit in corporate relationships, the backstabbing and the vested interests. It would make for an excellent Bollywood plot, with all the drama, subterfuge and intrigue. The writing style is simple and easy to grasp. However, I did spot some sloppy writing which some careful editing could have weeded out.
The only thing with 60 minutes is that you will not be able to finish the book in 60 minutes. If you are fond of reading corporate drama, this one is a good pick.
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
July 22, 2017
A perfect movie material.. u get to know business strategy, rivalry, media, love ( oh sorry not the true one but only which starts with sex and ends on same)... both Agastya and shailes r impressive character so as stylish. Good one @upebdranamburi 60 minutes is a must read...
August 6, 2018
The dialogue is trying hard to stay a dialogue, but often turns into banter.
February 2, 2017
i was totally rushed to last page .... just amazing
December 28, 2015
‘60 Minutes’ by Upendra Namburi has been advertised as a racy thriller where all the action unfolds in 60 minutes. Time-bound thrillers always excite me and, therefore, I became very happy when I got a chance to read and review this book. So, what is my impression of this book? While the blurb of the book is beautifully done and creates an excitement in the minds of readers, I should be sorry to spoil the effect created by the blurb. But it’s true. Though one might detect a slight touch of ‘fine writing’ on too well-worn a theme, I certainly got disappointed. It was not an adrenaline rush, not for me. There was absolutely no thrill.
As mentioned above, the story develops within the duration of sixty minutes. Basically, it is a high intensity corporate drama related to the launch of a detergent. There are three main characters (Agastya, Sailesh and Maithali) and the storyline revolves around the lives of these. Additionally, there are many flashbacks which author use to make sense of the high intensity drama happening in the span of sixty minutes. While the use of flashbacks may be useful in making the story interesting, too many flashbacks destroy the story. The flashbacks in this book turn away the attention of the readers from the main storyline and make this book unexciting. Moreover, a large number of scenes in the book don’t fit in the main storyline. These do not contribute anything and just seem to drag the story further. On top of that, these make reading irritating. One may ask, was there a real need to include such scenes or were these included to just increase the number of pages? Furthermore, the most disappointing part of the book was its ending. The whole story concentrated on the rivalry between Agastya and Sailesh and the last chapter shows them having a drink together and talking some nonsense stuff. Seriously? However, this may be just my point of view and the story may appeal to those who are in the sales and marketing profession.
The author is a sales and marketing professional by himself and it seems that he has moulded the raw-material of his life in the form of a book. His own experiences, his encounters with other corporate people, and the major events of corporate life he grew up with have all gone into this work. It must be noted however is that the self is taken over by and subsumed in the artistic endeavour and output. Detailed descriptions of corporate life make reading mind-numbing and could have been reduced. A racy thriller should keep readers interested and not to bore them with technical details.
One positive thing about this book is its cover page which certainly has an attention grabbing charm. However, this cover page can be taken as an example for the old saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. Upendra Namburi’ previous book ‘31’ has received rave reviews from the readers and has been touted as a best seller. However, I am now scared to read this ‘31’ after reading ’60 Minutes’.
This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
Read more on:
http://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2014/09...
As mentioned above, the story develops within the duration of sixty minutes. Basically, it is a high intensity corporate drama related to the launch of a detergent. There are three main characters (Agastya, Sailesh and Maithali) and the storyline revolves around the lives of these. Additionally, there are many flashbacks which author use to make sense of the high intensity drama happening in the span of sixty minutes. While the use of flashbacks may be useful in making the story interesting, too many flashbacks destroy the story. The flashbacks in this book turn away the attention of the readers from the main storyline and make this book unexciting. Moreover, a large number of scenes in the book don’t fit in the main storyline. These do not contribute anything and just seem to drag the story further. On top of that, these make reading irritating. One may ask, was there a real need to include such scenes or were these included to just increase the number of pages? Furthermore, the most disappointing part of the book was its ending. The whole story concentrated on the rivalry between Agastya and Sailesh and the last chapter shows them having a drink together and talking some nonsense stuff. Seriously? However, this may be just my point of view and the story may appeal to those who are in the sales and marketing profession.
The author is a sales and marketing professional by himself and it seems that he has moulded the raw-material of his life in the form of a book. His own experiences, his encounters with other corporate people, and the major events of corporate life he grew up with have all gone into this work. It must be noted however is that the self is taken over by and subsumed in the artistic endeavour and output. Detailed descriptions of corporate life make reading mind-numbing and could have been reduced. A racy thriller should keep readers interested and not to bore them with technical details.
One positive thing about this book is its cover page which certainly has an attention grabbing charm. However, this cover page can be taken as an example for the old saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. Upendra Namburi’ previous book ‘31’ has received rave reviews from the readers and has been touted as a best seller. However, I am now scared to read this ‘31’ after reading ’60 Minutes’.
This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
Read more on:
http://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2014/09...
September 8, 2014
This is a tale of twisted morals, a world of conniving people and cut-throat competition. Upendra, the author is a sales and marketing professional which will be clear by the first few pages into the novel as the language is mostly corporate jargon. He is an engineer and an MBA, seemingly the route to being anything in India these days. He is an evolving blogger and writes for newspapers too, lives in Gurgaon; and is on "his voyage to writing the triumvirate of novels" which have numbers in their names. His first novel 31 was a bestseller.
The book starts off with a neat table of contents like a textbook and displays the 26 chapters with their titles. Every chapter starts with powerful, slightly cheesy prose poetry and the plot races off from the word go. It is not a page turner for those who are uncomfortable with markety stuff and uses terms like 'selling short', 'going long' profusely. I think the book's target audience are the finance people and they will actually love the book as the author has not held back in terms of inner politics and the insider stuff.
The characters are layered and flawed- which is beautiful. The character of Maithili comes across as a rather strong one and seems to be the most thrilling character of the book. Agastya is the pivotal character and his adversary Sailesh keeps the thrill alive on the business front as Maithili takes care of the emotional aspect.
The plot is supposedly promised to take place in one hour and is based on the events that transpire in that slot but understandably, there are many flashbacks that help the author make sense of the ongoing turmoil. The flashback is a handy tool that Upendra uses to explain the quirky behaviours as and when they unfold. It also somewhat takes the thrill of guessing away as any answer is possible based on the unknown events of the past which are many. It seems to be too chaotic a world to be true at times.
The writing is crisp, the thrill is present, the characters bring lot of masala to the plate and there is a lot of bush to be beaten around due to the present of many side-characters. There are as many characters in the book as there are workers in an office and sometimes you wish the clutter was a bit less as the names keep on piling up but, this is no "War and Peace" and the read is easy enough.
The pages are crisp, recycled paper; the size of the book is perfect for outdoor reading, the cover art is minimalist and attractive, the city lights paint an apt picture. I finished the book in four days which was a bit longer than expected.
I'd give it 2.5 stars out of 5
The book starts off with a neat table of contents like a textbook and displays the 26 chapters with their titles. Every chapter starts with powerful, slightly cheesy prose poetry and the plot races off from the word go. It is not a page turner for those who are uncomfortable with markety stuff and uses terms like 'selling short', 'going long' profusely. I think the book's target audience are the finance people and they will actually love the book as the author has not held back in terms of inner politics and the insider stuff.
The characters are layered and flawed- which is beautiful. The character of Maithili comes across as a rather strong one and seems to be the most thrilling character of the book. Agastya is the pivotal character and his adversary Sailesh keeps the thrill alive on the business front as Maithili takes care of the emotional aspect.
The plot is supposedly promised to take place in one hour and is based on the events that transpire in that slot but understandably, there are many flashbacks that help the author make sense of the ongoing turmoil. The flashback is a handy tool that Upendra uses to explain the quirky behaviours as and when they unfold. It also somewhat takes the thrill of guessing away as any answer is possible based on the unknown events of the past which are many. It seems to be too chaotic a world to be true at times.
The writing is crisp, the thrill is present, the characters bring lot of masala to the plate and there is a lot of bush to be beaten around due to the present of many side-characters. There are as many characters in the book as there are workers in an office and sometimes you wish the clutter was a bit less as the names keep on piling up but, this is no "War and Peace" and the read is easy enough.
The pages are crisp, recycled paper; the size of the book is perfect for outdoor reading, the cover art is minimalist and attractive, the city lights paint an apt picture. I finished the book in four days which was a bit longer than expected.
I'd give it 2.5 stars out of 5
September 4, 2014
“Revenge is a natural instinct…But there’s more often than not too much collateral damage and in most instances we miss the point in the process, and hurt ourselves”
That’s something from the book which aptly sums up its concept. 60 minutes is the second of the triumvirate novels of Upendra Namburi, a contemporary Indian life thriller. The story is set in the background of current urban life of those who reign at the top of corporate set ups. The high intensity drama happens in a span of sixty minutes. On one end there is a kind of fanatical rivalry between two chief marketing officers, jealousy and competition drives their actions in a battle of their product launches, and on the other there are gross personal failures.
Professional networks and game plays, stock market and millions of money, relationships and stress, domestic violence and infidelity-the author highlights all aspects of their lives. The characterization is from an insider’s perspective and that adds to the realism the plot tries to convey. There is no right or wrong, no good or bad in this game which is more than a cold war. Everyone goes through the process of survival of the fittest. One can almost feel the pulse of their office rooms.
The pace of the book is another impressive point; the events unfold as the reader turns the pages. I finished the book in about two reading sessions. The flashbacks in between kind of adds to the movie like feeling and the reader can understand the motive behind the character’s actions and decisions. An another opinion about it could be that they are a bit off from the title of the book, in the sense if the happenings of the previous weeks, months and years were not highlighted there is not much of drama, without the background it is just another incident.
Obsession and revenge carried from the past is all what drives the scenes in the sixty minutes. Some happenings do seem without purpose, some of the flings and fights in particular. What happens in the concluding chapter is beyond a reader’s expectation, the two rivals portrayed in the story meet during a holiday at the beach watching the sea and the setting sun, having a conversation like estranged lovers, a weird but an interesting ending. A one time weekend read and a good addition to the genre of Indian corporate thrillers, this one.
That’s something from the book which aptly sums up its concept. 60 minutes is the second of the triumvirate novels of Upendra Namburi, a contemporary Indian life thriller. The story is set in the background of current urban life of those who reign at the top of corporate set ups. The high intensity drama happens in a span of sixty minutes. On one end there is a kind of fanatical rivalry between two chief marketing officers, jealousy and competition drives their actions in a battle of their product launches, and on the other there are gross personal failures.
Professional networks and game plays, stock market and millions of money, relationships and stress, domestic violence and infidelity-the author highlights all aspects of their lives. The characterization is from an insider’s perspective and that adds to the realism the plot tries to convey. There is no right or wrong, no good or bad in this game which is more than a cold war. Everyone goes through the process of survival of the fittest. One can almost feel the pulse of their office rooms.
The pace of the book is another impressive point; the events unfold as the reader turns the pages. I finished the book in about two reading sessions. The flashbacks in between kind of adds to the movie like feeling and the reader can understand the motive behind the character’s actions and decisions. An another opinion about it could be that they are a bit off from the title of the book, in the sense if the happenings of the previous weeks, months and years were not highlighted there is not much of drama, without the background it is just another incident.
Obsession and revenge carried from the past is all what drives the scenes in the sixty minutes. Some happenings do seem without purpose, some of the flings and fights in particular. What happens in the concluding chapter is beyond a reader’s expectation, the two rivals portrayed in the story meet during a holiday at the beach watching the sea and the setting sun, having a conversation like estranged lovers, a weird but an interesting ending. A one time weekend read and a good addition to the genre of Indian corporate thrillers, this one.
March 17, 2019
About two years back, on my way Home for Diwali, I picked up a book, on sheer impulse, at the airport. I just could not resist the out-of-the-box name of the book and the interesting blurb behind the book. The book is 31 by Upendra Namburi.
The latest book by the author, 60 minutes is in the same corporate Thriller/Drama genre and the setting this time over is FMCG, so I had to pick it up.
The story primarily revolves around two seasoned corporate rivals – Agastya and Saliesh. How they take their professional rivalries to every realm of their lives – personal, romantic, financial, to settle scores, forms the crux of the story.
The book touches upon multiple relevant subjects – competitive corporate dynamics, ruthless ambitions, day trading games, domestic violence and love.
The entire episode occurs from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM on what seems like a normal working day. The screenplay, interspersed with flashbacks, forms a compelling read.
The blackberry messenger chats, game of chess and the constant flashing ticker of the stock market, makes one feel that the protagonist is unnecessarily complicating stuff. At the end it just ends up in confusion, making one wonder the real reason of the actions!
Also, the detailing at many places felt like it could have been avoided. Also, the characters spend too much time in their own thoughts, motives and intentions, taking away from the main plot. The book has too many details, making the plot complex and boring at times.
One interesting technique used by the author is the haiku at the beginning of each chapter. It pretty well tells you the core of what is in store. Example this,
a battle turns to war
we wash our dirty linen
with sweat and blood
The narrative is pretty fast paced and it sometimes feels too unreal for so much action to be happening in so little time.
Overall, a good read, more so for lack of options in this genre in Indian writing scene.
Of course, this stands nowhere close to the first book by the author.
The review was first published at http://bharatjhurani.com/2014/11/60-m...
The latest book by the author, 60 minutes is in the same corporate Thriller/Drama genre and the setting this time over is FMCG, so I had to pick it up.
The story primarily revolves around two seasoned corporate rivals – Agastya and Saliesh. How they take their professional rivalries to every realm of their lives – personal, romantic, financial, to settle scores, forms the crux of the story.
The book touches upon multiple relevant subjects – competitive corporate dynamics, ruthless ambitions, day trading games, domestic violence and love.
The entire episode occurs from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM on what seems like a normal working day. The screenplay, interspersed with flashbacks, forms a compelling read.
The blackberry messenger chats, game of chess and the constant flashing ticker of the stock market, makes one feel that the protagonist is unnecessarily complicating stuff. At the end it just ends up in confusion, making one wonder the real reason of the actions!
Also, the detailing at many places felt like it could have been avoided. Also, the characters spend too much time in their own thoughts, motives and intentions, taking away from the main plot. The book has too many details, making the plot complex and boring at times.
One interesting technique used by the author is the haiku at the beginning of each chapter. It pretty well tells you the core of what is in store. Example this,
a battle turns to war
we wash our dirty linen
with sweat and blood
The narrative is pretty fast paced and it sometimes feels too unreal for so much action to be happening in so little time.
Overall, a good read, more so for lack of options in this genre in Indian writing scene.
Of course, this stands nowhere close to the first book by the author.
The review was first published at http://bharatjhurani.com/2014/11/60-m...
September 17, 2014
Going by the cover of the book and the praise showered on it, a reader would definitely want “60 Minutes” to stay true to its name and praise. But it is anything but that. The book is about the rivalry that exists between two ‘hot shots’ of corporate world; a romance that goes sour and turns into jealousy; pressures of a contemporary urban lifestyle and how it can take a toll on you, your mind and your life; It is also a book that delves into the world of stock market and how it is a make and break situation for many; It is also a book that shows how ambition can turn ruthless at times; It is a book of too many things woven into one. All the drama enfolds in plain 60 minutes.
The book travels between the present, past and then back to present. By the time, you fathom what happens in the book, you are clueless. While trying to be ‘racy’, the book becomes a confused mess with situations whose descriptions go on and on and on. Basically, you just want to say “Enough, that’s it!” The author, Upendra Namburi, tries to touch upon several subjects of relevance and debate but in the end, it all becomes a messy affair.
Set in Mumbai, the book has three main characters- Agastya, the chief marketing officer of an FMCG company- BCL, who is all set for the most important product launch of his career, which is scheduled in 60 minutes; Maithili is Agastya’s love interest or mistress to say the least, who threatens to disclose their affair to his wife and the media if he does not come up with 15 crores in the very 60 minutes during which he has his product launch; the third most important character is Sailesh- Agastya's arch rival who is the chief marketing officer of Stark, BCL’s arch rival and biggest competitor. While Agastya is waiting for the biggest product launch of his career, Sailesh is all set to do anything to stop Agastya from this product launch and he too precisely has 60 minutes to destroy his rival.
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January 20, 2015
The Indian writers market is exploding. There are so many books coming out and it is honestly hard to keep up. It is great time to be a reader/book lover.60 Minutes is the second book from Upendra Namburi and it is set in corporate India with a huge emphasis on relationships and egos.
Agastya, the CMO of some big corporate has a major product launch scheduled in 60 minutes and the story starts when Maithili – his mistress walks in with a threat and demands money. Agastya has to keep Maithili a secret from Nandita, his wife, unthaw his rival’s plans and survive the launch. Sailesh is Agastya’s rival and he has plans rolling to jeopardise the launch.
As the title suggests, the whole story unfolds in 60 minutes. A story racing against time is a great concept when written well (think Dan Brown). It should include intrigue, mystery and the final climax should set hearts racing.
Unfortunately the only thing that kept racing as I read this book was my irritation. When writing a book with a set time frame, the backstory has to be told crisply and precisely. This is one of the big issues of the book. The transition between the past and the present were erratic and abrupt. Also in an attempt to be interesting unnecessary twists where thrown and the characters seemed a little lost in the personality department.
I got out to real world with a sense of imbalance. A book with potential ended up as just another Indian author trying too hard to churn out a thriller. I for one will be interested in reading Namburi’s next book (and his debut which I have not yet read) and give him yet another chance.
I received a free copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own
- See more at: http://www.ourowncorner.com/poohsden/...
Agastya, the CMO of some big corporate has a major product launch scheduled in 60 minutes and the story starts when Maithili – his mistress walks in with a threat and demands money. Agastya has to keep Maithili a secret from Nandita, his wife, unthaw his rival’s plans and survive the launch. Sailesh is Agastya’s rival and he has plans rolling to jeopardise the launch.
As the title suggests, the whole story unfolds in 60 minutes. A story racing against time is a great concept when written well (think Dan Brown). It should include intrigue, mystery and the final climax should set hearts racing.
Unfortunately the only thing that kept racing as I read this book was my irritation. When writing a book with a set time frame, the backstory has to be told crisply and precisely. This is one of the big issues of the book. The transition between the past and the present were erratic and abrupt. Also in an attempt to be interesting unnecessary twists where thrown and the characters seemed a little lost in the personality department.
I got out to real world with a sense of imbalance. A book with potential ended up as just another Indian author trying too hard to churn out a thriller. I for one will be interested in reading Namburi’s next book (and his debut which I have not yet read) and give him yet another chance.
I received a free copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own
- See more at: http://www.ourowncorner.com/poohsden/...
November 18, 2014
60 minutes starts off at 2.30 pm, exactly 60 minutes before the product launch and the story unfolds in the next sixty minutes. There are three main characters (Agastya, Sailesh and Maithali) and the story-line revolves around the lives of the three. Agastya is arrogant and ambitious, while his adversary Sailesh is calculative. There is animosity between the two. Maithili is Agastya’s ex and is adamant on seeking revenge from him for breaking her trust. There are way too many unwanted characters which could have been easily avoided.
There are many flashbacks to make sense of the high intensity drama happening in the span of sixty minutes. Though the book was marketed as a racy corporate drama, the narrative is perhaps a little too racy shuffling from the past to the current events. The book deals with lots of technical stuff, especially sales and the marketing aspects. If you are not keen on stocks, then I must say, you are gone. And that was a major let down for me. But having been working in the Corporate field, I could easily relate to the cut throat competition, work place politics, performance pressure and infidelity.
Namburi’s writing is clear, direct and crisp. And his thought behind carefully putting up the events is much appreciated, except the little too many of the flashback scenes which was disappointing. Though another Bollywood plot with drama and emotions, the book can be read over a lazy weekend.
P.S: Note that, you will not be able to finish the book in 60 minutes. :) At 372 pages, it is quite a drag and a little too painful at that.
Having the numeral '60' highlighted with images, the cover page is attractive and well designed.
I give 3 on 5.
There are many flashbacks to make sense of the high intensity drama happening in the span of sixty minutes. Though the book was marketed as a racy corporate drama, the narrative is perhaps a little too racy shuffling from the past to the current events. The book deals with lots of technical stuff, especially sales and the marketing aspects. If you are not keen on stocks, then I must say, you are gone. And that was a major let down for me. But having been working in the Corporate field, I could easily relate to the cut throat competition, work place politics, performance pressure and infidelity.
Namburi’s writing is clear, direct and crisp. And his thought behind carefully putting up the events is much appreciated, except the little too many of the flashback scenes which was disappointing. Though another Bollywood plot with drama and emotions, the book can be read over a lazy weekend.
P.S: Note that, you will not be able to finish the book in 60 minutes. :) At 372 pages, it is quite a drag and a little too painful at that.
Having the numeral '60' highlighted with images, the cover page is attractive and well designed.
I give 3 on 5.
October 1, 2014
60 minutes by Upendra Namburi is a race with the time! Strange as it may sound, the lead characters are racing fast to catch hold of their changing times!! Is this happening for good or something else waits around the dial? Check out as clock struck time.
The three contenders - Agastya, Mythili and Shailendra are hunting for their catch and all they have is a mighty lot of just 60 minutes! Agastya, is about to launch his brainchild when he lands up into an emergency, he needs to join the dots and save his career within the next 60 minutes. Then, there is Mythili who has her reasons to knock Agastya down and she has these opportune 60 minutes! And then, there is Shailendra, who also is motivated to challenge Agastya and overpower him within the same magical and eventful 60 minutes! But the real catch is about whom these three are and how are they connected with each other and what brings them on table today and at this hour?
An interesting plot, a gripping story, captivating characters and loads of drama unfolding every single minute - what else could you long for from a time-bound corporate thriller?
The chapters are distributed along the time frame of sixty minutes within which the author takes you through the flash backs to the related events. The continuity of the streams is simply unquestionable.
A recommended read for readers who love corporate drama, thriller and last but not the least; the 24 series telecasted on Indian television in recent past. :)
Source: http://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/2...
The three contenders - Agastya, Mythili and Shailendra are hunting for their catch and all they have is a mighty lot of just 60 minutes! Agastya, is about to launch his brainchild when he lands up into an emergency, he needs to join the dots and save his career within the next 60 minutes. Then, there is Mythili who has her reasons to knock Agastya down and she has these opportune 60 minutes! And then, there is Shailendra, who also is motivated to challenge Agastya and overpower him within the same magical and eventful 60 minutes! But the real catch is about whom these three are and how are they connected with each other and what brings them on table today and at this hour?
An interesting plot, a gripping story, captivating characters and loads of drama unfolding every single minute - what else could you long for from a time-bound corporate thriller?
The chapters are distributed along the time frame of sixty minutes within which the author takes you through the flash backs to the related events. The continuity of the streams is simply unquestionable.
A recommended read for readers who love corporate drama, thriller and last but not the least; the 24 series telecasted on Indian television in recent past. :)
Source: http://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/2...
November 8, 2014
Ever heard of so much happening in 60 minutes? Upendra’s experience in the field of sales and marketing comes to the fore when he talks about everything from corporate rivalry to boardroom discussions to corporate politics. Whether its people backbiting against each other or lust and love coming into the fore to get things done, Upendra has captured the drama that goes on in the floors of big corporate houses pretty well.
While half of the story happens in 60 minutes, for the other half, there are a lot of background stories which Upendra delves into one by one. The narrative starts off at a good pace but the need to tell each character’s story within the 60 minutes by moving back and forth between the present and the past acts as an obstacle.
If you are someone who isn’t interested in corporate boardroom politics, stocks, sales and the likes, you may not really like the book too much. Moreover, at certain points, I feel that Upendra goes into the Madhur Bhandarkar school of story telling where things start to get too dark.
Since the story moves from the present to the past many a time throughout the book, the reader may tend to get quite confused. Better editing could have done the job.
The story is based on the corporate rivalry between Sailesh and Agastya who is the CMO of an FMCG company called BCL. While the sequences between them and their characters are captured well, the other characters particularly the woman don’t really have too much to do. And that’s quite sad to be honest as there was a lot of potential.
All in all, this one is not as racy as it sounds. If you are a corporate junkie and in for some boardroom drama, then go for it!
While half of the story happens in 60 minutes, for the other half, there are a lot of background stories which Upendra delves into one by one. The narrative starts off at a good pace but the need to tell each character’s story within the 60 minutes by moving back and forth between the present and the past acts as an obstacle.
If you are someone who isn’t interested in corporate boardroom politics, stocks, sales and the likes, you may not really like the book too much. Moreover, at certain points, I feel that Upendra goes into the Madhur Bhandarkar school of story telling where things start to get too dark.
Since the story moves from the present to the past many a time throughout the book, the reader may tend to get quite confused. Better editing could have done the job.
The story is based on the corporate rivalry between Sailesh and Agastya who is the CMO of an FMCG company called BCL. While the sequences between them and their characters are captured well, the other characters particularly the woman don’t really have too much to do. And that’s quite sad to be honest as there was a lot of potential.
All in all, this one is not as racy as it sounds. If you are a corporate junkie and in for some boardroom drama, then go for it!
September 20, 2014
While surfing through the net, I came to know that 2 big blogger sites are promoting or providing the books to the readers, I thought it would be a good reading material, but I am disappointed. The book is full of confusion, also the product selection for marketing in the book i.e. detergent powder is not appealing.
60 Minutes is the story of Agastya, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of FMCG Company BCL, he is about to launch the most important product of his career, which is going to scheduled in 60 minutes. Maithilli is the love affair or rather mistress of Agastya, threatens him to disclose his affair to his wife and media if he doesn’t give 15 crores within 60 minutes. And the third one is Sailesh, the arch rival and CMO of Stark is all set to destroy Agastya’s career within 60 minutes of his product launch.
The book is very confusing from the beginning; also the plot is very complicated. This story is about corporate politics, sales, share market, jealousy, competition and infidelity; it is described in 60 minutes time frame. The book is about two top rival FMCG companies. I didn’t find the story build up of Sailesh. I was bit confused between past and present, when you thing that story is griping, suddenly it moves somewhere into past or present. And the most disappointing part of the book is it’s ending, how could you thing that rivals are sitting together and having a drink.
If you are from marketing profession then you will like the book otherwise please don’t waste your time (I have wasted it). Frankly, I didn’t like the book at all.
60 Minutes is the story of Agastya, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of FMCG Company BCL, he is about to launch the most important product of his career, which is going to scheduled in 60 minutes. Maithilli is the love affair or rather mistress of Agastya, threatens him to disclose his affair to his wife and media if he doesn’t give 15 crores within 60 minutes. And the third one is Sailesh, the arch rival and CMO of Stark is all set to destroy Agastya’s career within 60 minutes of his product launch.
The book is very confusing from the beginning; also the plot is very complicated. This story is about corporate politics, sales, share market, jealousy, competition and infidelity; it is described in 60 minutes time frame. The book is about two top rival FMCG companies. I didn’t find the story build up of Sailesh. I was bit confused between past and present, when you thing that story is griping, suddenly it moves somewhere into past or present. And the most disappointing part of the book is it’s ending, how could you thing that rivals are sitting together and having a drink.
If you are from marketing profession then you will like the book otherwise please don’t waste your time (I have wasted it). Frankly, I didn’t like the book at all.
October 31, 2014
Corporate life is a high stakes game, and that is presented in the “60 minutes” a fast read by Upendra Namburi.
Sometimes makes you sit and smell the coffee if its ok to be doing whatever you want and achieve the goal. Obviously this is the generation which feels end is the focus no matter what the means.
The story revolves around two corporate professionals in question, Agastya and Sailesh and how they continue to take personal rivalries to their professional life and sometimes even at the cost of the companies to end up spending crores.
The narrative is very fast as the author sets the time of 60 minutes to go into a press conference for a launch of a product and the every minute makes up for so much of action sometimes its streched but overall he has a hold on the things for the reader and the narrative being interspersed with flash backs make it worthwhile sometimes actually trying to justify the now!
The series of actions and the game of chess, the BlackBerry messenger chats to looking at the tab for the market info all are placed in a way to keep you hooked and add to the flavour of the moment, possibly you will be wondering will there be a message or will the bourses take a hit for Agastya.
A fast paced and easy read this is bound to be a best seller. You could do it easily at a single stretch if you want and may be two sitting is all you will need. Since its got only three characters you need to work with its pretty easy to follow the story and I think author has got it pretty right and tight with those characters.
Sometimes makes you sit and smell the coffee if its ok to be doing whatever you want and achieve the goal. Obviously this is the generation which feels end is the focus no matter what the means.
The story revolves around two corporate professionals in question, Agastya and Sailesh and how they continue to take personal rivalries to their professional life and sometimes even at the cost of the companies to end up spending crores.
The narrative is very fast as the author sets the time of 60 minutes to go into a press conference for a launch of a product and the every minute makes up for so much of action sometimes its streched but overall he has a hold on the things for the reader and the narrative being interspersed with flash backs make it worthwhile sometimes actually trying to justify the now!
The series of actions and the game of chess, the BlackBerry messenger chats to looking at the tab for the market info all are placed in a way to keep you hooked and add to the flavour of the moment, possibly you will be wondering will there be a message or will the bourses take a hit for Agastya.
A fast paced and easy read this is bound to be a best seller. You could do it easily at a single stretch if you want and may be two sitting is all you will need. Since its got only three characters you need to work with its pretty easy to follow the story and I think author has got it pretty right and tight with those characters.
October 26, 2014
Read the Detailed Review Here
First of all, I would like to say that 60 Minutes is kind of a book I would never had finished if I had not got this book in the review program by BlogAdda. The book is touted as a pacy thriller where all the action unfolds in 60 minutes. But they did not tell you that irrespective of those 60 minutes, there is long and boring stories from the past. So, half of the book takes place in 60 minutes and half of it takes place in a few months.
I did not have a good feeling about 60 Minutes right from the beginning. The story was going nowhere and for some reason, it was not gripping. There were long passages explaining nothing and so few of actual dialogues. As described, it is a corporate drama thriller where you will hardly notice any thrills as you will probably be having a nap after reading a few pages.
This is so far one of the weakest book I have ever read. Right from the beginning itself, the book failed to grip me as a reader and soon it transformed into a clutter that left no impact even after the climax. At 372 pages, it is quite a drag and painful at that. I would not suggest it to anybody.
First of all, I would like to say that 60 Minutes is kind of a book I would never had finished if I had not got this book in the review program by BlogAdda. The book is touted as a pacy thriller where all the action unfolds in 60 minutes. But they did not tell you that irrespective of those 60 minutes, there is long and boring stories from the past. So, half of the book takes place in 60 minutes and half of it takes place in a few months.
I did not have a good feeling about 60 Minutes right from the beginning. The story was going nowhere and for some reason, it was not gripping. There were long passages explaining nothing and so few of actual dialogues. As described, it is a corporate drama thriller where you will hardly notice any thrills as you will probably be having a nap after reading a few pages.
This is so far one of the weakest book I have ever read. Right from the beginning itself, the book failed to grip me as a reader and soon it transformed into a clutter that left no impact even after the climax. At 372 pages, it is quite a drag and painful at that. I would not suggest it to anybody.
September 14, 2014
One hour, sixty minutes, three thousand and six hundred seconds. Seems like a sufficiently long span of time, but an hour in the life of Agastya, a successful and ambitious CEO and the protagonist in Upendra Namburis novel 60 Minutes shows just how precious time is in reality.
DEALING with a rivalry with a CEO from company, a woman scorned, a marriage in jeopardy, an addiction to the bourses and the impending launch of a product that can make or break his career, Agastya is racing against time and sixty minutes is all he has to save himself, his job and everything he holds dear.
Sixty Minutes is an interesting, fast paced corporate drama which keeps you gripped till the end. The unexpected twists and turns, surprising revelations, secret past liaisons will keep you at the edge of your sofa and biting your finger nails. The author like a true marketing professional , doles out a little gyan here and there, to aid the reader with little or no knowledge of the bourse and marketing.
Liked the excerpt ? Want to know more? Read it on my blog : http://ad1274895.blogspot.in/search/l...
DEALING with a rivalry with a CEO from company, a woman scorned, a marriage in jeopardy, an addiction to the bourses and the impending launch of a product that can make or break his career, Agastya is racing against time and sixty minutes is all he has to save himself, his job and everything he holds dear.
Sixty Minutes is an interesting, fast paced corporate drama which keeps you gripped till the end. The unexpected twists and turns, surprising revelations, secret past liaisons will keep you at the edge of your sofa and biting your finger nails. The author like a true marketing professional , doles out a little gyan here and there, to aid the reader with little or no knowledge of the bourse and marketing.
Liked the excerpt ? Want to know more? Read it on my blog : http://ad1274895.blogspot.in/search/l...
November 16, 2014
This book is a roller coaster ride. From the pressures of product launch and crisis management at crucial moment to an illicit affair and a breaking marriage, it offers quite a gamut of emotions and rush. All the launch and the mayhem around it was a little too detailed though.
Everything is fair in love and war and these days it’s not always ethics or morals that matter. Now coming to the title 60 Minutes I thought the entire story line would be within a span of 60 minutes, but it’s not quite that. It goes into flash back often without any order that too. Maithili is the woman with the enigma. I quite liked how she meets Agastya at Geoffrey’s and how they go in for a crazy drive in their cars. I somehow quite liked Maithili!!!
Now if you are quite aware of the FMCG situation in India then you would know this is a typical case of HUL & P&G fighting it out in the middle with below the belt punches. It’s nice how you weave a story around it. Well, some places I thought it got dragged but otherwise it a nice breezy read.
Everything is fair in love and war and these days it’s not always ethics or morals that matter. Now coming to the title 60 Minutes I thought the entire story line would be within a span of 60 minutes, but it’s not quite that. It goes into flash back often without any order that too. Maithili is the woman with the enigma. I quite liked how she meets Agastya at Geoffrey’s and how they go in for a crazy drive in their cars. I somehow quite liked Maithili!!!
Now if you are quite aware of the FMCG situation in India then you would know this is a typical case of HUL & P&G fighting it out in the middle with below the belt punches. It’s nice how you weave a story around it. Well, some places I thought it got dragged but otherwise it a nice breezy read.
October 7, 2014
a battle turns to war
we wash our dirty linen
with sweat and blood
This Haiku preceding chapter four best represents what ’60 Minutes’ is all about. Bloodbath is quite in the corporate world, especially in India, where senior executives and CXOs hunt for prey in rival territories and sometimes in their own.
he book captures 60 minutes in the lives of Agastya, Maithili, Sailesh and a plethora of other characters. Protagonists turn into antagonists and vice versa. Agastya is the Chief Marketing Head of BCL, a leading FMCG company and Sailesh is his counterpart in Stark. While the plot is roughly about their rivalry and how they connive against each other to win a campaign, Maithili adds spice and twist to the story.
60 Minutes is a roller coaster ride, which perhaps is the best corporate thriller released this year.
Read the full review here:
http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/09/b...
we wash our dirty linen
with sweat and blood
This Haiku preceding chapter four best represents what ’60 Minutes’ is all about. Bloodbath is quite in the corporate world, especially in India, where senior executives and CXOs hunt for prey in rival territories and sometimes in their own.
he book captures 60 minutes in the lives of Agastya, Maithili, Sailesh and a plethora of other characters. Protagonists turn into antagonists and vice versa. Agastya is the Chief Marketing Head of BCL, a leading FMCG company and Sailesh is his counterpart in Stark. While the plot is roughly about their rivalry and how they connive against each other to win a campaign, Maithili adds spice and twist to the story.
60 Minutes is a roller coaster ride, which perhaps is the best corporate thriller released this year.
Read the full review here:
http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/09/b...
October 16, 2014
60 Minutes by Upendra Namburi is a corporate drama where all the action unfolds within 60 racy, and sometimes chilling, minutes. Primarily a tale chronicling the intense rivalry between Agastya and Sailesh, two Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) at leading FMCGs, it touches upon the other trappings of corporate life with finesse; the thrill of addictive trading in the stock market, the fast cars, spurned women out to avenge hurt, humongous egos, deception and the lust for money, power and hegemony.
It is high on emotions; disappointment, rejection, elation, fear, relief. It is a revealing window into corporate life in India, exposing the slime and deceit in corporate relationships, the oft-shady transactions, the back-stabbing and the vested interests. It would make for an interesting Bollywood plot, with all the drama, subterfuge and intrigue.
It is high on emotions; disappointment, rejection, elation, fear, relief. It is a revealing window into corporate life in India, exposing the slime and deceit in corporate relationships, the oft-shady transactions, the back-stabbing and the vested interests. It would make for an interesting Bollywood plot, with all the drama, subterfuge and intrigue.
December 3, 2014
The book captures 60 minutes in the lives of Agastya, Maithili, Sailesh and a plethora of other characters. Protagonists turn into antagonists and vice versa. Agastya is the Chief Marketing Head of BCL, a leading FMCG company and Sailesh is his counterpart in Stark. While the plot is roughly about their rivalry and how they connive against each other to win a campaign, Maithili adds spice and twist to the story.
We’d recommend this book to each reader, irrespective of any corporate background, for you can learn a lot to implement in your lives. That apart, feel the adrenaline rush in a span of 60 minutes!
Read the full review: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/09/b...
We’d recommend this book to each reader, irrespective of any corporate background, for you can learn a lot to implement in your lives. That apart, feel the adrenaline rush in a span of 60 minutes!
Read the full review: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/09/b...
December 1, 2014
I received this book in Goodreads Give-away in return for a genuine unbiased review. So, here is my review of the book.
This one is a definite page turner! Almost every character seems to have a grey shade. No one's good.Neither are they completely bad. The book gives the reader a peak into the corporate life and what big MNCs do to maintain their hold on the market. The reader gets to understand a thing or two about the share markets too. The jargon,at times, might cause light headedness to the reader,though!:D But, the author has tried to explain wherever possible.
A nice racy thriller and a refreshing read from an Indian author.
This one is a definite page turner! Almost every character seems to have a grey shade. No one's good.Neither are they completely bad. The book gives the reader a peak into the corporate life and what big MNCs do to maintain their hold on the market. The reader gets to understand a thing or two about the share markets too. The jargon,at times, might cause light headedness to the reader,though!:D But, the author has tried to explain wherever possible.
A nice racy thriller and a refreshing read from an Indian author.
October 15, 2014
Detailed review here: http://solitaryreading.blogspot.in/20...
Marketed as a 'racy corporate thriller', 60 Minutes reads more like a corporate rant. It's neither racy, not it thrills. It's a heartless thing to say, but 30 pages down, the idea of reaching page 360 started to look daunting - for it was all sounding like a rant, a calculated one at that, without any heart to it. Two things that kept me going was my aversion for abandoning books midway and the curiosity to know what happens in the end and how the story wraps up. Too bad 60 Minutes has no story at all.
Marketed as a 'racy corporate thriller', 60 Minutes reads more like a corporate rant. It's neither racy, not it thrills. It's a heartless thing to say, but 30 pages down, the idea of reaching page 360 started to look daunting - for it was all sounding like a rant, a calculated one at that, without any heart to it. Two things that kept me going was my aversion for abandoning books midway and the curiosity to know what happens in the end and how the story wraps up. Too bad 60 Minutes has no story at all.
November 6, 2014
60 minutes is a nice corporate thriller by Upendra- this fiction outlays how 60 minutes before a major product launch a series of events depicting corporate rivalry, personal egoism and a lust to outsmart each other plays havoc.
Plot of 60 minutes is well crafted and keeps the readers hooked. Gives very useful insights into functioning of FMCG majors. Couldn't think of any flaws in the story.
I got a feeling that there's a sequel in the plans, playing in China
If you like corporate fictions, 60 minutes will not disappoint you.
After reading this I also bought 31 minutes from same author.
Plot of 60 minutes is well crafted and keeps the readers hooked. Gives very useful insights into functioning of FMCG majors. Couldn't think of any flaws in the story.
I got a feeling that there's a sequel in the plans, playing in China
If you like corporate fictions, 60 minutes will not disappoint you.
After reading this I also bought 31 minutes from same author.
October 15, 2014
This is a good corporate thriller. Not sure why others don't like it as much, but this is both educational and entertaining. Educational in the sense, it shows what happens at higher levels in corporate companies. Maybe it's exaggerated but such things do happen and people should know it.
Story-wise, I liked this book. It was fast-paced and good enough for me to enjoy. I finished it relatively quickly, and that's a good sign. Two minor issues were: the book was longer than needed, and the characters were not relatable.
Story-wise, I liked this book. It was fast-paced and good enough for me to enjoy. I finished it relatively quickly, and that's a good sign. Two minor issues were: the book was longer than needed, and the characters were not relatable.
September 25, 2014
I felt that the author tried to squeeze in too many facets into the plot and ended up making it confusing at places.. Even though the main plot unravels in a period of 60 minutes, every alternate chapter was a flashback. Several scenes seemed unnecessary and unimportant to the main plot. I found the main plot somewhat far-stretched too. Read full review at Natasha'z Words
October 6, 2014
Set in a corporate enviornment, this books deals with the life of Agastya the chief marketing officer of a reputed FMCG. The issues that pop up in his personal as well as professional life and he has got just 60 minutes to solve.
The plot is unique which makes the book an interesting read but the book has lot of twists which sometimes lead to confusions.
A good read for those from marketing background who want to read the politics masala of the corporates.
The plot is unique which makes the book an interesting read but the book has lot of twists which sometimes lead to confusions.
A good read for those from marketing background who want to read the politics masala of the corporates.
October 21, 2014
60 Minutes is a novel so compelling and well-built to be able to compete with the giants of literature, thanks to a compelling story, a solid plot, peppered with twists, consistent characters and impeccable style. The merit of the novel by Namburi is in the rhythm, so tight in the final hundred pages that you have to grind pages upon pages without taking the time to look out of the door of the critical part of the self consciousness of the reviewer.
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