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துப்பறியும் சாம்பு: (Thuppariyum Saambu)
Thuppariyum Saambu is a detective short-story series in Tamil, written by Devan in the early 20th century. The novel's protagonist is Saambu, a not-very-intelligent bank clerk in middle age, who solves difficult crime puzzles out of serendipity but is quick to explain as well as take credit. Saambu's character is sometimes considered to be a comical version of Sherlock Holmes.
The stories are known for their distinctive humour set around contemporary society and eloquently portray the conditions of the modern city of Chennai during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s period. Some of the episodes carry subtle references to World War II as well.
'துப்பறியும் சாம்பு'வை தேவனின் மாஸ்டர் பீஸ் என்பார்கள். உண்மையில் தமிழில் எழுதப்பட்ட நகைச்சுவை இலக்கியங்கள்அனைத்துமே சாம்புவுக்குப் பின்னால்தான் அணிவகுக்கின்றன என்று சொல்ல வேண்டும்.
விளாம்பழம் பார்த்திருக்கிறீர்கள் அல்லவா? கொஞ்சம் பெரிய விளாம்பழத்தை நனைத்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்; அதுதான் சாம்புவின் தலை! கன்றுக் குட்டிகள் அழகாகக் காதுகளை முன்புறம் வளைத்துக் கொண்டு பார்க்கு மல்லவா? அந்த மாதரி சாம்புவின் காதுகள் துருத்திக்கொண்டு இருக்கும். கண்கள், ஒரு மாதிரியாக அரைத் தூக்கத்தைத் தேக்கிக்கொண்டிருக்கும்.
The stories are known for their distinctive humour set around contemporary society and eloquently portray the conditions of the modern city of Chennai during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s period. Some of the episodes carry subtle references to World War II as well.
'துப்பறியும் சாம்பு'வை தேவனின் மாஸ்டர் பீஸ் என்பார்கள். உண்மையில் தமிழில் எழுதப்பட்ட நகைச்சுவை இலக்கியங்கள்அனைத்துமே சாம்புவுக்குப் பின்னால்தான் அணிவகுக்கின்றன என்று சொல்ல வேண்டும்.
விளாம்பழம் பார்த்திருக்கிறீர்கள் அல்லவா? கொஞ்சம் பெரிய விளாம்பழத்தை நனைத்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்; அதுதான் சாம்புவின் தலை! கன்றுக் குட்டிகள் அழகாகக் காதுகளை முன்புறம் வளைத்துக் கொண்டு பார்க்கு மல்லவா? அந்த மாதரி சாம்புவின் காதுகள் துருத்திக்கொண்டு இருக்கும். கண்கள், ஒரு மாதிரியாக அரைத் தூக்கத்தைத் தேக்கிக்கொண்டிருக்கும்.
911 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
100 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Devan
50 books33 followersதேவன் அல்லது ஆர். மகாதேவன் பிரபல நகைச்சுவை எழுத்தாளர். பல நகைச்சுவைக் கதைகளையும் கட்டுரைகளையும் தேவன் என்ற புனைபெயரில் எழுதியவர். துப்பறியும் சாம்பு இவரது பிரபலமான படைப்பாகும்.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 23, 2020
I've heard this name Thuppariyum Sambu since my childhood days but only now got the chance to read it. In fact, the term "Thuppariyum Sambu" is attributed to someone trying to do some detective work. It is the fictional character of an accidental detective, where the situations and events have led to turning an ordinary bank clerk into highly acclaimed detective but in fact he doesn't have any such qualities or capabilities. In every case, which would be unique would get him to the limelight and make Sambu even more popular. All of his popularity can be attributed to serendipity or rather the natural course of events turning to his favour. Very hilariously written, though written during the early 1940s it is still lively and witty to this day! 😂
September 26, 2016
தேவனுடைய மாஸ்டர் பீஸ் என்று கூறுகிறார்கள். எனக்கு அப்படி ஒன்றும் தோன்றவில்லை.
ஒரு வெகுளியை சமய சந்தர்ப்பங்கள் ஜீனியஸ் ஆக தோன்றச் செய்கிறது. அது எப்படி நடக்கிறது என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.
புத்தகத்தின் ஒரு சில அத்தியாயங்கள் மிக நன்றாக உள்ளது. புத்தகம் படிக்க படிக்க சற்றே அலுப்பு தட்டுகிறது. அத்தியாயங்களின் ஒரே மாதிரியான முடிவுகள் அந்த எண்ணத்தை வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.
சற்றே நிதானமாக நாள் ஒன்றுக்கு இரண்டு அத்தியாயங்கள் என்று படித்தால் அலுப்பு தட்டாது என்று நினைக்கிறேன். :-)
ஒரு வெகுளியை சமய சந்தர்ப்பங்கள் ஜீனியஸ் ஆக தோன்றச் செய்கிறது. அது எப்படி நடக்கிறது என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.
புத்தகத்தின் ஒரு சில அத்தியாயங்கள் மிக நன்றாக உள்ளது. புத்தகம் படிக்க படிக்க சற்றே அலுப்பு தட்டுகிறது. அத்தியாயங்களின் ஒரே மாதிரியான முடிவுகள் அந்த எண்ணத்தை வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.
சற்றே நிதானமாக நாள் ஒன்றுக்கு இரண்டு அத்தியாயங்கள் என்று படித்தால் அலுப்பு தட்டாது என்று நினைக்கிறேன். :-)
May 21, 2024
A remarkably splendid comedy novel from 1920's. The main character is supposed to be stupid but his "Pink Panther" like actions and experiences make him a fun likeable and much interesting character. His abundant positivity, benefits from lady luck and his happy go lucky nature is fun to watch and evolve through the entire novel. I listened in audible and I loved it. A beautiful novel.
May 1, 2019
Humour
Good humourous book but cannot be read continuously as the end is almost predictable in these days. Good for old timers - nostalgic
Good humourous book but cannot be read continuously as the end is almost predictable in these days. Good for old timers - nostalgic
January 22, 2020
Hilarious detective stories. Written with humour and hard to put down the book till you complete it and still yearning for more.
May 31, 2021
I enjoyed listening to this collection of short stories featuring Sambu, the detective. Sambu intends to solve mysteries and even without him doing anything, the mysteries get solved through Sambu's luck and sheer coincidence. But even if Sambu knows he has nothing to do with the solving of the mysteries, everyone around him including Inspector Gopal hail him as a spectacular detective. This book was a joy to listen. It was filled with wit and humor. This is the kind of book that makes you feel nostalgic for a simpler time.
December 29, 2022
Excellent one!
July 12, 2021
Captivating and comedy-clinging detective stories ✌️😀😂
September 13, 2019
There are certain books which age well. Those books are classified as “Classics” at least I define it this way. Again, terming a book as a classic and not is completely subjective. I consider “Ponniyin Selvan” as a Classic but I also consider that to be one of the most overrated books. Just because I consider it overrated doesn’t mean I don’t like the book. I do like it and I am planning to reread it, but people out of Nostalgia overrate certain books out of proportion and Ponniyin Selvan is one such book. This book is also considered to be one of the Classics and also considered to be the best by Late Author Devan. Did this book really meet the expectation? Do I consider this book a Classic? Is this book overrated? Let’s see, please read ahead.
Title: Thuppariyum Saambu (Detective Saambu)
Author: Devan
Language: Tamil
No. of Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fiction-Humor.
I randomly spotted this book in a Bookfair two years ago. I was aware of only this book by the Author. I have heard people praising this book and for the humorous content, this book offers. After 2 years, I randomly picked this book, since I was in a “Reader’s block” I wanted to start with something light.
The book is about “Saambu” who looks like a dim-witted fellow and works in the bank for 2 decades. Saambu, thinks that he can be a good detective due to his detecting powers. He accidentally lands up in detecting a small case from his office. From, then on how he manages to be the best detective in the town forms the crux of this whole book. Each chapter in this book is an adventure of “Saambu” and how he manages to catch the criminals.
Frankly, the book was interesting for the first couple of chapters but as the chapters passed the adventures became monotonous and predictable. I assume it must have published in any of the Tamil weekly’s back then, thus the various adventures. Instead of making Saambu the same dim-witted fellow from the start to end, they could have made some character development and still maintained the humour in it. I was fairly underwhelmed by this book.
I have purchased Part-2 of this book and I’m unsure if I will read this book in the near future. I wouldn’t recommend this book, but if you are looking for a light-hearted, no-brainer humour, you can read this book. Again, this is my opinion and if you feel different please do share your thoughts in the comment section. Let’s have some meaningful discussion. 🙂
Happy Reading 🙂
Originally Posted in: https://realitiesaroundus.wordpress.c...
Title: Thuppariyum Saambu (Detective Saambu)
Author: Devan
Language: Tamil
No. of Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fiction-Humor.
I randomly spotted this book in a Bookfair two years ago. I was aware of only this book by the Author. I have heard people praising this book and for the humorous content, this book offers. After 2 years, I randomly picked this book, since I was in a “Reader’s block” I wanted to start with something light.
The book is about “Saambu” who looks like a dim-witted fellow and works in the bank for 2 decades. Saambu, thinks that he can be a good detective due to his detecting powers. He accidentally lands up in detecting a small case from his office. From, then on how he manages to be the best detective in the town forms the crux of this whole book. Each chapter in this book is an adventure of “Saambu” and how he manages to catch the criminals.
Frankly, the book was interesting for the first couple of chapters but as the chapters passed the adventures became monotonous and predictable. I assume it must have published in any of the Tamil weekly’s back then, thus the various adventures. Instead of making Saambu the same dim-witted fellow from the start to end, they could have made some character development and still maintained the humour in it. I was fairly underwhelmed by this book.
I have purchased Part-2 of this book and I’m unsure if I will read this book in the near future. I wouldn’t recommend this book, but if you are looking for a light-hearted, no-brainer humour, you can read this book. Again, this is my opinion and if you feel different please do share your thoughts in the comment section. Let’s have some meaningful discussion. 🙂
Happy Reading 🙂
Originally Posted in: https://realitiesaroundus.wordpress.c...
December 5, 2017
In the midst of all serious books, this was a very good mind refresher. Thinking about the novel it is a very imaginative one, it is very difficult to write 50 chapeters where in the hero does things in a very ordinary manner that turns out to be brilliant moves from every one else eyes.
Also how a person who is worshipped by the world be treated in home is something that you can understand from this book. The comical part is not that great but interest level is always on how things turn out in positive way and how the mysteries come out themselves revolving around sambu. The difference in each chapter keeps you guessing, a different kind of guessing.
A very light, imaginative read. I could not say the genre as it is very unique (at least according to me). A very good read. Go for it ur mind will refresh from any stress that you have.
Also how a person who is worshipped by the world be treated in home is something that you can understand from this book. The comical part is not that great but interest level is always on how things turn out in positive way and how the mysteries come out themselves revolving around sambu. The difference in each chapter keeps you guessing, a different kind of guessing.
A very light, imaginative read. I could not say the genre as it is very unique (at least according to me). A very good read. Go for it ur mind will refresh from any stress that you have.
October 11, 2020
Thuppariyum Sambu is a short story collection narrating the serendipitous events in Sambu’s life as a detective. Considered Devan’s masterpiece, the humor in understated, the kind that may bring a chuckle to yourself on occasion. Devan employs chaste brahmin Tamil language to describe Sambu bungling his way around every single case, while the characters around him solve the crime he is supposedly investigating. While this is a short story collection, it is best read in order as it traces the life of Sambu from being a bachelor to his marriage to Vembu, having a son and subsequently, a daughter. Inspector Gopalan is a mainstay in the stories and as is his wife, Vembu after their marriage. This is not a book that you can read cover to cover. But you certainly can read few stories at a time and enjoy the misadventures of the man with his prominent crooked nose, Sambu.
April 29, 2015
one of the best books ever in tamil literature. The character sambhu is created in a way that he fits perfectly as a fool for the people who seems him and nightmare for thieves and burglars . The only thing in which the readers will get disappointed will be the length of the stories which are short yet sweet.I may not be a expert but i will strongly recommend this book as the book to be translated into english as a fine example of tamil writings.In short Detective sambhu is the benchmark of tamil comedy literature and everything else will follow it as example.
July 28, 2014
I read it when I was 9 from my local library during our house construction,gave me one of the most wonderful times , just not hilarious it makes u assimilate timidness and innocence of sambhu and his side kicks in a way ul love to read it again
July 24, 2013
Enjoyed :)
February 26, 2013
One of the wonderful books written in tamil. Subtle humor throughout
June 5, 2014
Most of the stories are boring
August 7, 2013
Very interesting to read. A new variety of detective stories.
Read
August 8, 2014start
September 18, 2014
சுருக்கமாக சொல்ல வேண்டும் என்றால், சாம்பு அந்த காலத்து கைப்புள்ளை.......
September 18, 2014
சுருக்கமாக சொல்ல வேண்டும் என்றால், சாம்பு அந்த காலத்து கைப்புள்ளை.......
January 9, 2015
It's just okay...... I didn't think it's a best..... :(
January 20, 2015
My all time favourite book
January 22, 2018
Not interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2020
Evergreen work
Classic parody of sherlock Holmes.. extremely funny. Great dialogues. Short stories unn different backdrops add flavor top three book. Must read
Classic parody of sherlock Holmes.. extremely funny. Great dialogues. Short stories unn different backdrops add flavor top three book. Must read
August 12, 2021
This one is not my cup of tea...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews