Director Jayam Raja unveiled ‘Once upon an IAS Exam’, authored by Dr. K. Vijay Karthikeyan IAS, Commissioner, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation at the Odyssey bookstore, Adyar in the presence of many Chennai celebrities. The author, having great experience as a writer with three Tamil books, was also a passionate cricketer. He shares, “Once upon an IAS Exam is a story about aspirations, peer pressure, love and disappointments involved in the life of protagonist Vishy who prepares for the Civil Service exams. The story shares the trials and tribulations involved in the process of clearing the UPSC civil services exam. The tender romance portrayed in the book adds to its charm. The protagonist’s focus and determination to achieve success in love and career despite rejection, failure and self-doubt makes this an emotional and inspiring read.”
The medico turned bureaucrat can be found wreaking havoc on the cricket ground with his explosive batting and deceptive spin on weekends. The book depicts Vishy’s worst nightmare - failing the UPSC exam- has come true. He is plagued by insecurity, fear and doubts. The mother of all competitive examinations has rejected him and he needs a reason to live. So, what does he do? He tells his best friend Rithika, “I love you… Will you marry me?” In ‘Once Upon an IAS Exam’, 25-year-old Vishy tries to overcome the uncertainty and confusion about his future and figures out ways of convincing Rithika to marry him. Things turn even more interesting, funny and emotional as Vishy reattempts to conquer ‘Mount IAS’. As he tries to take his academic and love life towards safety, he seeks refuge in the world of IAS coaching centres.
