Aravind Adiga’s second novel, Last Man in Tower, was published in 2011 by HarperCollins India, Atlantic Books in the UK, and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States. The 432-page novel followed Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning debut, The White Tiger, which won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
The book was longlisted for the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. It was Adiga’s third published book and second published novel.
Adiga was born in Madras, now Chennai, on October 23, 1974. He studied at Columbia University and Magdalen College, Oxford. He worked as a former India correspondent for Time magazine. His articles have appeared in the Financial Times, the Independent, and the Sunday Times.
The novel is set in Vishram Cooperative Housing Society, a middle-class apartment building in Vakola, Mumbai. The building sits near the domestic airport, in the flight path of 747s, and is bordered by slums.
The story begins when real estate developer Dharmen Shah offers to buy out the entire building. Shah plans to build a luxury apartment complex called the Shanghai. His offer is generous, but there is a condition: all residents must agree to sell.
Most residents accept the offer. One man refuses. Yogesh A. Murthy, a retired schoolteacher known as Masterji, will not leave the flat that holds the memories of his deceased wife.
The novel follows the conflict that arises from Masterji’s resistance. Once civil neighbours turn against each other. Friends become enemies. Acquaintances become co-conspirators.
The Guardian described the novel as a painful tragicomedy that demolishes the idea of cooperative living more quickly than Shah throws up his luxury redevelopments. The review noted that Masterji’s refusal to sell comes to seem like a weakness, indicating an inability to empathise with his fellow residents.
The Guardian also raised the question of whether the convictions of one man cancel out the desires of the rest of the civic body. The review observed that Adiga skilfully poses these problems and equally skilfully frustrates attempts to answer them.
News18 described the novel as a dark tale of stereotypes with no hero and no winner. The review noted that Masterji is boycotted by his students, his neighbours, and then his son. It said the book throws up many questions and exposes human failings.
The novel contains a line that captures the moral dilemma at its centre: ‘I wish we had never been picked by that builder. We are not good enough to say no to his money, and not bad enough to say yes to what he wants us to do for it.’
Another line from the book reads: ‘Man is like a goat tied to a tree…..some freedom, but not too much.’
Masterji’s central conviction is stated in the novel as: ‘It’s the principle. A man must stand up for his rights in this world.’
- Daayra, Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Set for September 18, 2026 Release
- Don’t Be Shy Cast Led by Four Newcomers in Alia Bhatt’s Prime Video Rom-Com
- Dial 1975 Cast: Kay Kay Menon and Kirti Kulhari Lead Emergency-Era Thriller
- Awarapan 2 Crosses Rs 220 Crore Worldwide as Emraan Hashmi Scores His First Solo Double Century
- Haiwaan Opens Poorly as Hanuman Ansh Continues Record Box Office Run
At the end of the book, Mrs. Rego recalls Yogesh Murthy and gives him tribute: ‘He did what he believed to be right. He had a conscience. No matter what people said to him or did to him he never changed his mind, and never betrayed his conscience.’
Last Man in Tower was longlisted for the 2013 IMPAC Award. It was named a Best Book of the Year by The Boston Globe, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Daily Beast.
The novel was adapted into a Hindi-language film directed by Ben Rekhi and produced by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. The film was released in Indian theatres on September 11, 2026.
The adaptation stars Manoj Bajpayee as Masterji, Divya Dutta as Sangeeta Puri, and Boman Irani as Dharmen Shah. The screenplay was written by Sooni Taraporevala, with Hindi dialogue by Juhi Chaturvedi. The film runs 97 minutes.
Manoj Bajpayee told PTI that the film serves as a warning for the future. He said: ‘No matter how old or new the building, or its size, at the end of the day, what you should be looking for in future is the relationships you build.’
Bajpayee also said: ‘You invest so much into all of those relationships and you just let it go because of commercial and materialistic reasons. And in the process, you lose yourself… So this is about the possible calamity of human disconnect when we put a lot of focus on materialism.’
Director Ben Rekhi said the film explores the anxiety of living through rapid and unfamiliar change. He stated: ‘It’s not about losing just your home or making a choice between material things. It’s that the world is changing so fast. And with technology and with politics, climate change, AI coming, it can make us all feel dizzy and wonder, What is our place in the future? Everything we know is being transformed. And that’s a very scary place to be.’
Rekhi also said: ‘Last Man in Tower is an urgent story about holding onto community and family through turbulent times… a story that has only become more relevant with time.’
Rana Daggubati said: ‘Last Man in Tower is a deeply human story. What drew us to it was how naturally it finds something universal in the lives of a very specific group of people.’
The film marks Spirit Media’s first Hindi feature production. The film’s music is by Govind Vasantha, with Rangarajan Ramabadran as cinematographer.
Last Man in Tower continues to be studied for its portrayal of urbanisation, greed, and the moral compromises of Mumbai’s middle class. The novel remains in print through Vintage International.