Transmission is a tale about 3 people and 3 continents.
Its about Arjun Mehta and his dreams. His dreams about making it big in USA. His dreams about movies. His dreams about being somebody someday.
Its about Leela Zahir and her struggles. Her struggle within the two personalities she is. Her struggle to reach out for love. Her struggle to be herself.
Its about Guy Swift and his failures. His failures as a marketing executive. His failure as a British entrepreneur. His failure in relationships.
Transmission is a tale about how the lives of these seemingly different people are changed completely by series of events.
::Arjun Mehta is an Indian programmer who comes to silicon valley pursuing an American Dream but finds himself stuck in the wheels of reality. After one year of struggle when finally he seams to be getting somewhere in an e-security firm, the bubble bursts and he is made the victim of downsizing. Desperate to save his job and keep his dreams alive, he develops a virus so that he can then ’rescues’ his company from it and eventually save his job.
But undesirable effects of the virus are already seen the moment its becomes global. Arjun starts falling into the trap of his own misdoings.
::Leela Zahir is leading a twin life many film personalities are forced to lead. Leela Zahir the film actress, the beautiful one, who can blend as much into Scottish countryside and in film sets of Bollywood Mumbai. And there is Leela Zahir the love starved girl who is sick of all the this and wants to get away from it.
She finds herself pulled into a controversy where one desperate Indian programmer writes a virus named after her.
::Guy Swift is a British entrepreneur who owns a company called Tomorrow . Despite the initial excitement and promise in the market, his company is not doing well. His girl friend is not happy with him and is on the verge of leaving him. His whole future depends on this one presentation full of the usual crap he gives to his clients. But fate has different plans for him. He finds his computer and the whole company network infected by this stupid virus. He also manages to be kidnapped, robbed and deported from a country.
That is the main gist of Transmission. Its a light and easy going story. I liked the way Hari Kunzru has managed to keep the story simple. But the end leaves you wanting for more.
A lot many strings are left unfinished in the end and reader is left to wonder the actual conclusion. Otherwise a good read.