Harry Potter mania grips Hyderabad

Harry Potter and JK Rowling fans all know that the book form “rehearsal edition” of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II’ play will be released on July 31. Bookstores and fans are preparing for the exciting release in a number of ways across the world and Hyderabad is not far behind in being bitten by Potter-mania.

With only two days left for the release, bookstores in the city have undergone a “magical” transformation already – there are life-size installations of the new edition on display, a variety of Potter accessories available and of course the seven books from the series all taking centrestage. In addition, there are decorations resembling iconic locations from the Potter world including the gateway to the magical land – the ‘Platform Nine and Three Quarters’ – it’s time to board the ‘Hogwarts Express’!

The new book, adapted from a stage play by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany brings back to life some of the most revered characters, and is officially the eight installment in the beloved Harry Potter series. The book will be available at leading bookstores in the city from 11.30 am from Sunday.
Queue up to get it first!

Speaking to The Hans India, Store Manager at Landmark says, “We urge our customers to bring their children and engage in exciting activities lined up to venerate the launch of the book. We invite ‘Potter heads’ the chance to participate in Harry Potter quizzes and take home gift vouchers from Landmark.
“Customers can also register themselves to get a copy of the book on the first day of its launch,” said the manager.

Elaborating on the competition, he informs, “There are seven quizzes on Harry Potter and there will be 10 questions in each. The trick is to be really fast; every question gives you only five seconds to answer. You have to be a true Potter fan to crack it.

The quiz will appear thrice every week on our website till the release of the book for Potter Registrations. This is to enable customers to register themselves for a day one pickup on Sunday. Customers will get an exclusive sling bag if they have the special invite for July 31.”

The bookstore offers its customers the chance to relive their childhood, introduce this magical world to their children and rekindle their love for fiction, as they part take in the world-wide release of this much awaited installment in the series. For the launch, Landmark has received pre-orders for more than 2,500 copies.

“We are expecting more than 3,500 copies of the new book at our stores. Purely because it is coming after a gap of eight years and readers have grown with the Harry Potter series. The book is priced at Rs 899. With the launch of new edition we have seen a 15 per cent of jump in the earlier Harry Potter books in June and July,” informs a salesman at the store.

Echoing the craze is Crossword Bookstore where sales intended at the profitable market have reached a feverish pitch. Sharath, a salesperson at Crossword expresses, “We received almost 500 books are pre-orders online and the rest of them will directly buy from here on Sunday. We are also offering our customers a 20 per cent discount and 30 per cent cash back option on the book.”

Revealing the enthusiasm from people of Hyderabad, he says, “Book lovers are now coming and purchasing the previous books so that they can read up before the new edition comes out. As the release date is coming near, almost 300 people came in only the past two days to buy the sixth and seventh Potter book. We are all eagerly waiting for the eighth one.”

Harry Potter has often been declared as one of the most read and most loved sagas by children and adults alike; each book explores the amazing world of witches and wizards and leaves us with relevant lessons that have kept us glued to these books for years.

Hyderabadis are die-hard Potterheads
Store manager at Himalaya Book World, Puran Prasad, shares, “The premise of the eighth story is that Harry has grown up. July 31 this year is his 35th birthday. It’s 19 years later and involves his three children. That’s all we know so far.”

“This time we are not giving many offers to customers because we decided to give vouchers for final edition, which will come out next year. Having said that, we are offering a 10 per cent off on the “rehearsal edition”,” adds Prasad.

“Hyderabad sure has die-hard fans of Harry Potter weather it is Potter movies or books they will surely want to grab what’s coming. Customers are very excited to have the new book with and relive the suspense and thrill of the magical world.

I am a Potterhead myself. When I first read ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, I found it very creative and interesting. It’s not just the children, even adults will be 100 per cent taken by its magic if they read it,” he says.