Deepti Kapoor's 'Age of Vice' Novel Critiqued as More TV Drama Than Social Study

Deepti Kapoor's novel 'Age of Vice' examines contemporary Indian society through a gangster narrative centered on three characters: a low-caste boy sold into slavery, the wealthy son of a regional gangster, and a middle-class journalist. The story explores themes of tradition, modernity, capitalism, caste, class, economic inequality, and social repression. Kapoor portrays both wealthy 'new' Indians disconnected from grassroots realities and a poor 'old' underclass. Despite tackling these complex issues, the book has been criticized for resembling a Netflix pitch more than a profound social study. Its dramatic elements—including exploitation, corruption, sex, drugs, murders, betrayals, and prison rape—draw comparisons to TV shows like 'Oz' (1997–2003) and 'Succession' (2018–23) and films like 'The Godfather' (1972), but it doesn't push genre boundaries. Published by Fleet, the hardcover is priced at £20. The novel's characters each aspire to change their realities but are thwarted by the interconnectedness of societal issues. Ultimately, it reflects the tensions between India's transformation and stagnation in the age of capitalism.