“Sleuth and the City” on Day 1 of the Bangalore Literature Festival 2025 brought crime fiction’s sharpest minds together for a conversation that moved far beyond murder, mystery, and deduction. Harini Nagendra, Rudraneil Sengupta, and Tanuj Solanki shared the stage with moderator Ponnu Elizabeth Matthew, who opened the session by introducing each author and grounding the discussion in their latest works.
Rudraneil spoke about The Beast Within. Harini shared insights from The Bangalore Detectives Club. Tanuj discussed Manjhi’s Mayhem.

The session quickly shifted into a thoughtful exploration of moral complexity in crime fiction. Tanuj offered an insightful framework to the audience: crime stories often revolve around four roles — the victim, the perpetrator, the witness, and the avenger. He explained how his narratives question each of these positions. Did the victim deserve what happened? Should the perpetrator be forgiven? Why do readers expect closure through justice or punishment? His main character, who functions as an anti-hero, unsettles the usual sense of right and wrong.

Harini expanded the idea by talking about how crime fiction often appears “cozy” from the outside but holds heavy moral weight within. She said writers must find a balance between addressing social issues and keeping the story engaging. She spoke about weaving commentary on the Kaveri’s dispute and colonial Bangalore into her books. For her, history is not an add-on. It is part of the world her characters inhabit. She emphasised that the skill lies in placing commentary with care, so that it feels like a natural extension of the narrative rather than a lecture.

The panel also spent time on how cities influence crime writing. Harini views Bangalore of the 1920s as a living, breathing presence. She said she grew up reading British fiction and always felt England was represented through scones. In her stories, she wanted Bangalore’s food, lanes, and culture to take their rightful place as elements that shape character behaviour and plot. Rudraneil agreed that cities create the perfect backdrop for crime. He shared that he often walks through the locations he writes about, taking notes about how they feel at different circumstances in the plotline. According to him, the terrain of the city reveals possibilities for crime, investigation, and suspense.

Tanuj provided a contrasting view. He does not see cities as characters because characters need a fixed point of view. Cities, in his opinion, shift depending on who is looking. He prefers to focus on the interiors of places, using conversations and psychological tension to drive the story. He said crime fiction’s strength lies in these grey zones, not in clean black-and-white moral lines.

One of the most striking parts of the conversation came from Rudraneil, who shared a real-life event that deeply shaped his understanding of crime and trauma. A six-year-old girl had gone missing for a day. When she returned, the police traced her disappearance to a man who had taken her home. He was arrested. But later it was revealed that he acted out of his own trauma. Rudraneil explained how this incident showed him how crime is often rooted in layered human experiences. His writing tries to stay honest to that complexity rather than choosing easy moral answers.

Elizabeth guided the conversation towards political and social commentary in fiction. She asked how authors decide how much is too much. Tanuj said that when commentary becomes excessive, it disturbs the reader’s trust. But when it flows naturally from the story’s emotional truth, it becomes necessary. Harini agreed and explained that she had to learn this balance over time, including through her work on environmental issues and urban history.

Plotting was another thread that drew laughter and recognition from the audience. Harini confessed that most writers do not have a detailed plan. Writing, she said, is an act of figuring things out one step at a time. She had to reimagine The Bangalore Detectives Club three times before finalising the structure.
Tanuj shared that he needs clarity on the first one-third of his book. Only then can he write the remaining two-thirds.
Rudraneil said he started with anxiety and uncertainty, but as his characters “began talking to him,” the story unfolded in unexpected ways. He emphasised that most plotting happens during the writing process rather than before it.

The session ended with an audience favourite: questions about upcoming books.
Tanuj said his next release is expected around 2026.
Harini said her new book will likely come out next year.
Rudraneil revealed that he is writing a sequel but has more work ahead.

“Sleuth and the City” was a reminder that crime fiction is not only about detectives and culprits. It is about the human condition, the power of place, and the courage to write into moral uncertainty. For Day 1 of the festival, it set a thoughtful, layered tone.

Dr Chhavi Gandhi

Dr. Chhavi Gandhi is a doctor turned author who documents books, culture and everyday stories. She writes about how literature shapes community life and personal identity. Her work blends clarity with warmth, grounded observation and a deep appreciation for storytelling.