Are You Game?: The Internet Sensation Reality Game Show

by Saravanakumar Murugan

The reality game show ‘Are you Game?’ is all set to be aired in the first week of August. The show is already an internet sensation due to the norms, and the selection process. It’s the first-of-its-kind-show to be broadcast live on YouTube. The game show has three rigorous challenges. Participants are to select one and live with the challenge for 30 days. Whoever makes it to the thirtieth day would be awarded One Crore Indian Rupees. No upper cap on winners.
The gorgeous Niharika and handsome Nirav are all set to host the show. Ms. Eye would play the invisible Boss. Simi, a reporter from lastpost.com, also Nirav’s ex-girlfriend, will cover the show offline. The three beautiful ladies, Sikha, Ragini and Sanju, opt for the sexiest challenge. The four machos, Akshay, Vinay, Vivek, and Raghav, along with Julie, opt for the simplest challenge. While Veer, a transgender, opts for the pill challenge.
Can they do it for 30 days?
Simi calls Nirav a sex-animal while covering the show on day two. Can they mend things and fall in love again? Sikha and Akshay fall in love, too, but can they sustain the challenge?
Who will make it to the winning line to deliver the winning speech at the award ceremony?

83 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2019

About the author

Saravanakumar Murugan goes with the pen name Someone is Special a.k.a Mr. Twister a.k.a Sarav. He is the author of the bestselling romantic novel Coffee Date: The Real Taste of Love, the heart-warming book on father’s love, Letters to My Son, and a couple of books on social causes, Are You Game, Raneet The Gift & Orange Orchard. He has also written an exotic collection of short stories Sixteen and Half, a tiny collection of poems on lost love and painful tears Love and Honey, the self-help book The Writer’s Dream: From Draft to Bestseller. He is also the editor of Shades of Life series and a contributing author of several anthologies including “Uff Ye Emotions 2”, “Timeless Love”, among others. He writes under a pen name “Someone is Special” at “Few Miles– shortlisted as one of the Top 12 Creative Blogs of India in 2014”, and the winner of more than 25 creative writing contests.

Sarav lives in Chennai, where he does Business Development (Senior Manager) for an MNC. In 15+ years of IT life, he worked at a customer site in London, UK for a year and at a customer site in Hamburg, Germany for three years. Currently, he does the role of Global Offering Lead for NextGen Solutions.

Follow him on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS @IAMSARAVOFFICIAL Write to him at SARAV@IAMSARAVOFFICIAL.COM

Reviews

[Pretty Little Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Are You Game?
Author: Saravana Kumar Murugan
Genre: Contmporary ficiton
Format: Kindle ebook
Language: English

My review:
Are you Game? Was a brilliant concept of a novel. In a lot of ways, this book teaches us the perils with the various bad habits we humans cultivate, without thinking of our actions. ‘Smoking is injurious to health’ is a slogan seen everywhere. We scoff at it and says, “What’s one cigarette going to do? Kill me?” What we do not think about is that one by one this intake increases and by the time we’re in or mid 40s or 50s, the harm is already done. There are so many cases of lung cancer today, apart from a slew of other diseases that arise from this bad habit and yet, we are least bothered by it.
Through other characters too, the author tries to portray the thinking of a few people of the society – how the size of a girl’s clothing is directly indicative of her ‘character’. The smaller the pieces of fabric covering her body, the looser her morals will be. It is a degrading view on women as well as a mirror of the people’s thinking as well. The characters portray all these dilemmas very well.
The one thing I have issues with is the relationship between Nirav and Simi. I think their narrative, although intertwining with that of the participants’ in the show, could have been a bit more clearer. The suffocation bit at the end is one where I faltered especially.
Nonetheless, this was a good book and I hope it will help people understand the folly of their thinking, regarding themselves as well as others.

Verdict:
I rate this book 4/5 stars.

[Simran Sardana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saravana's books have always been a delight to read and I'm one of the readers who love reading his books.

One major advantage is that he writes short yet beautiful stories and "ARE YOU GAME?" is one of them.

This book is about several people participating in a reality show which is to be telecasted live on Youtube.

There are three different challenges, each person has to take up one challenge and live with it for the duration of a month.

This one's an interesting read because I've read about such a concept for the first time.

This book is about self- realization, friendship, love for the people around us and self- love.

I really think everyone should give it a read because honestly, I loved this one and finished reading it in one go.

[Hema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was simple and easy to understand. As always his writing is soo fast and easy to grasp. Everything and so much happened in such less pages. That's the beauty of the author. He can convey everything through his words and way of writing.
This story is very similar to the concept of big boss but the challenges are very difficult. The contestants have to choose from the 3 difficult options and survive with it for 30 days. The person who completes it goes home with one crore rupee. The end sums it up as to why such difficult challenges are given to the contestants.
3.5 ⭐

[indiauthor.in · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a few writers are blessed with capacity to hold the readers attention till the very end. Master Storyteller Sarav proved yet again on why he is such a versatile writer and of course a successful one.

The story is based on a reality game show that helps you instance understand the day reality of life. Habits like Smoking is a killer, which is clearly conveyed in the book... And the most important message and of course I liked the fact that it was conveyed via housemates... Seriously it's high time that the society changes it's view on visible inner garment.

The best part of the story was Akshya sharing his experience on wearing women inner garment is a true reflection on how difficult it's to wear that. Sarav nailed it.

Overall, I recommend the book to all.

indiauthor.in | review as a part of blind reviews

[Vidhya Saravanakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are You Game is a sensational book on reality show. The book addresses some of the real issues that women face in today's world and men struggles to overcome. Body shaming/sexual abuse and smoking that are real pain in the ass thing for the current generation, and this can be addressed only via education.

I really loved Simi and Nirav's love story. It was cute despite Nirav's arrogance. Overall, I loved the story. Kudos to you for penning this wonderful masterpiece.

Love,
Vidhya

[Saravanakumar Murugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The process of transforming the outline to complete story is difficult unless well planned. I took a break of one year before completing the second half. Hence it's difficult to pick a reason for recommending this book to read... all I have to say is pick this book if you prefer to break the stereotype culture.

Do share your thoughts about the book. Thank you for reading in advance!

Sarav :)

[Sweetlin Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome.

First I thought it is about the usual game show. But the twist is that 3 challenges. Dear Author, you conveyed a true and valuable message in this short story. I recommend everyone to read this. ❤❤❤

[Rohini · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about a game which is similar to biggboss but not the same. A different game that could bring a change in everyone. At first, when I started reading it, I thought out of three challenges, two are looking very easy. But then I thought, is it okay to continue it for that many days like that.

Even though it looks like an easy task when many people left the show, I realized that every task that seems to be easy is also difficult. The end was quite awesome. Nirav telling everyone why they had come up with those kinds of challenges. Whether they attained success in their expectations? is the remaining story.

A kind of different game story with a good motive. Although his motive is quite good and appreciatable, it can't be possible until we(the society) see everything positively and don't mind what others do or wear.

[Animesh Ganguly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very simple to read and hence very quick to finish. It is about a 30-day reality show telecasted live for the audience wherein the contestants have to choose a challenge of their choice and repeatedly do it for 30 days at a stretch.

The idea behind the book stems from a simple desire to propagate the goodness in society. However it feels like more emphasis has been placed in driving the message than in tightening the story.

The challenges appear to be half-cooked, story seems rushed and the messaging in the end doesn’t quite tie in well.

Appreciate the effort but don’t see a point why a transgender character has been placed in the book without serving any real purpose. Was expecting more.

Overall, a quick read and has the right intent.

[Vinay Leo - vinayleoreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting change of genre from Saravana who usually favours romance. While the book does have a romance angle, it isn't a particular genre as such. There's a sense of thrill because of the game show and the challenges involved, there's a sense of romance going on in two threads and even a different angle with the backstory to the challenge itself.

As always, Sarav keeps the language simple. The book is short, and that helps keep it mostly engaging too. But that shortness is also a flipside as a thirty day challenge kind of zooms through. There's not much day to day drama in the narration which might have made it more interesting and a longer book too. The story idea had that promise. I wouldn't say it's Sarav's best but it's a good book to keep you occupied for a short journey.

[Anusha Sridharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't see the point of the game show, "Are you game?" In the beginning.
I wondered why would someone agree to be a part of the show which made them risk themselves. Was it all for that 1 crore rupees as the winning price?
Towards the end I understood the whole point. This story too had a social message like Sarav's other books!
Wish him well and keep writing with more interesting and put your thoughtful messages across.