NEW DELHI: There’s a breathless rush for ‘mommy porn’ in the city book stores and at the ongoing Delhi Book Fair. And it has prompted publishers to come out with a slew of similar quickies, even reprint passionate erotic tales from the 19th century.

At the centre of this craze is E L James’ globally bestselling erotic novel, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, in which a college girl agrees to have kinky sex with a young entrepreneur. This was followed by two similar sequels: ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’. Coming soon are Sylvia Day’s ‘Bared To You’ and ‘Jane Eyre Laid Bare’, where writer Eve Sinclair literally sexes up the 19th century classic. One publisher is also coming out with a series of good old Victorian-era porn called, ‘Forbidden Classics’.

Ajay Mago of Om Bookstore says, “Sales of the Fifty Shades trilogy are huge. Across eight stores, we have been selling 50 copies a day consistently.” At the Delhi book fair too it is selling briskly at his stall.

The term “mommy porn” was coined by New York Times to describe the hard-to-place genre of ‘Fifty Shades’. Many critics and even the author herself have resisted and criticized the tag as “insulting” and “derogatory”.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ makes porn socially acceptable

The erotic ‘Fifty Shades’ trilogy has been the “top-seller” at his store for two months now, with even the three-book set flying off the shelves at the rate of nearly 15 every day, says Mirza Afsar Baig of Mid Land. “Most buyers are young to middle-aged, employed women ,” he adds.

The social acceptability of porn is a new phenomenon. X-rated books were always available at the corner bookshop though they were generally placed on a hard-to-reach bookshelf. The difference today is that today it finds prime space on the display window. Baig, a veteran in the book-selling business, talks about the 1980s, when Shirley Conran’s ‘Lace’ had just come out. The book, with graphic sex scenes was banned in India, and was therefore hard to procure. “I still managed to sell more than 4,000 copies. People would come and ask for it in hushed tones. It’s not like the market for these books is new. It’s only out in the open now,” he says. Bondage, it seems, is good for book business today.

The success of these books has come as a surprise for publishers. They are now certainly more confident, making moves as bold as the content of these books. “A year ago the trade (in India) was resistant to erotic fiction. Our distributors and retail partners were reluctant to stock the backlist of titles we were promoting from St. Martin’s press, one of our imprints. Clearly, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ has changed all that. Previously there was a presumption that reading erotic books was smutty and not suitable for women. ‘Fifty Shades’ has suddenly made it acceptable. There’s promise for the genre in India,” says Daniel Watts, regional director of Pan Macmillan India, that is soon to launch five books in the genre. However, he adds that one must be cautious of “a potential bubble in the genre”.

Another upcoming title is ‘Destined to Play’ by Indigo Bloome. The book is about a lecturer who is offered 48 hours of passion by an ex-lover. The blurb reads, “No sight. No questions. 48 hours.” A spoof titled ‘50 Sheds of Grey’ by Colin Trevor Grey is also to see release soon. The blurb for ‘Seduction’ by a writer under the name of “Velvet” makes a direct reference to the E L James hit, saying Velvet has been “writing erotica long before the release of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, she knows how to make your heart race…”

The gravy train for books is steadily chugging along but those outside the publishing industry are also looking to hop on to it. Hollywood is hot on its heels chasing the film rights for the book. EMI is planning to release an album of classical music — a compilation of Christian Grey’s western classical favourites. You can even buy ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ merchandise like sweatshirts off the internet. Wear your love or lust for the series on your sleeve. Literally.

