Who is (not) a Twihard?

Are you a Twihard? If so, why?

That was the question I wanted my online friends privy to my tweets, Facebook profile and blog to answer.

Identifying a Twihard is easy. But answering the second part is the tricky bit.
(For those not yet in the know, Twihards are fans of Stephenie Meyer’s 4-book saga, the Twilight series, now raking in millions as books and films).

You are a Twihard if:
1)    You know where Forks is
2)    You have Googled Quillete legends
3)    You know what Camp Edward and Camp Jacob means
4)    You support and sigh over one but still understand the other as he lays claim to Bella’s affections

Many who answered two of the four questions above correctly will claim that they are not Twihards. They do not like vegetarian blood-suckers and cannot digest a love story between a vampire and a human.

As Indrani Bose exclaimed: “I hate it! I simply can't digest the concept of vampire and romance in the same line.”

Not all readers are fans of the books which sold over 100 million copies or the movie that grossed $70 million, but there is no doubt that once they dug their human teeth into the first book, they could not let go till they had finished the 2410 pages of the entire series (paperback).

The fans are easy to identify. Especially when they talk so:

“Yes, I am an unashamed Twihard. The series is the ultimate fairytale. An entire horde of the undead who are vegetarian, peace-loving, and with an amazing amount of self-control to channelise their power, whether it is the Samaritan doctor or Edward, the eternal student. Compare that to the current scenario of power and its abuse. If there is a forever, there is no better way I can spend it,” gushed Arpita Dutt (35).

A fifteen-year-old Modern High School student nods in agreement. “The books are pretty awesome. The movies were a bit of a let down. A lot of my friends are obsessed with the two men, Edward who is next to perfect and Jacob who is ultra hot,” adds this member of Camp Edward, who is waiting with bated breath to catch Eclipse, the third movie in the series.

The opening of Eclipse that released in India on July 30 has been very impressive and the momentum is continuing, said a spokesperson of Fame. “Despite a lack of promotion in India, this movie has found takers. We expect the response to be this enthusiastic for the coming weeks too.”

Contrary to popular belief, it is not just teens and their mothers who are flocking to the cinema halls. “Parents, friends and basically the whole extended family is being lured into the halls,” he said.

So what is driving Twihards to dream and boosting sales of the series, whether book or movie?

The answer lies in the myriad themes woven into the content. Fantasy, love, violence, social acceptance and the constant reference to a world long gone through characters and legends, all this and more make up the nocturnal journey of Twilight. The timing, too, was perfect. Harry Potter had left behind a thirst for fairytale worlds and a love story that spoke about universal feelings, had limited violence and lacked sex could please children and parents alike.

But mostly the books are about hope. The desire to fit in despite being an outsider, the hope of a boyfriend as impossible as Edward, the ability to love someone forever and the heady feeling of shaping your destiny through your choice.

“In a world of instant coffee, quick tempers and one-night stands even in Indian books, here comes an old school guy who can control his demonic nature but not his love for a human. Why am I drooling over Edward in spite of the way Pattinson fumbles at acting? And why, though I appreciate the werewolf hotbod on screen, would I have been disappointed if Bella had chosen Jacob? Because of the maturity, the affection, the complete in-sync-ness of Bella and Edward, something Jacob can never keep up with. Something we all dream of, knowing it is an impossibility. Edward Cullen is dead. Long live Edward Cullen,” says financial editor Rashmi Basu.

I have another theory for the huge success of the series though. The e-books were available for download (paid) even before the books were released! Circulated largely online, much like the earlier Harry Potter books, the initial books whetted appetites enough to boost sales of paperback editions when they hit the Indian market rather late.

Though the structural faults of the last book in the series may well turn off many, Aradhana Jena says there is no need to take the books so seriously.

“We generally read or watch films for a cathartic effect. The movies entertain, they are not meant to serve as shrinks. The Twilight series is a sheer fantasy, a much-needed escape from reality. Is that not enough?” she asks.


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