I have started this blog with a sole purpose of purpose reviewing Indian writing. Being an avid reader, I've read quite a few books, but have so far not read Indian authors extensively. I mean Indian writing in English, not translated work. I came upon this idea when I came across a site http://www.indiaplaza.in/Goldenquillaward/ These are rewards for Indian authors with an Indian jury, quite distinguished too, if I may say so. So i got thinking as to how I've not read a lot of Indian books, so I've decided to read most of the books on their list and write a review. I'm hoping to generate interest in Indian writing. So here goes the first one. Was not too happy with it. But hey!...It's a good first effort. It's not in the shortlist, but in the longlist.
Trust Me - By Rajashree.
Trust me, famous last words. This is the premise the book is based on. The protagonist, Paro is from a small town who works with an ad agency in Mumbai. It’s the big bad city. As happens to most wide –eyed, innocent women, she also falls for an attractive man and gets cheated out of her ‘virginity‘ and is also made to abort her baby. As it turns out, even her boss, whose shoulders she cries on, is after the same thing. She’s shocked, disgusted and quits her job. She gets a job through a friend in a B grade film sets.
The first lead of the movie is a well known hero who is past his prime but still commands the ‘buffalo belt’ market and can pull in crowds. He throws his weight around, sleeps around with the heroine and is generally a pain in all the wrong places. Since the film is dependent on him, he gets away with it all. There is also a second lead, Rahul, who is the love interest of our protagonist and at 20, very young, a couple of years younger to Paro. He falls in love with Paro and tries every clichéd trick in the bollywood book to woo her. Paro, just being dumped is still nursing a broken heart and has come to detest the words ’trust me’. Gradually over a period of time, they get to know one another and she moves in with him, living a strictly ‘limited access’ relationship. After a misunderstanding at the end of the book, she moves out and he comes back to resolve the issue and everything is hunky dory again. Happily ever after.
A indianised version of mills and boon, the story does not offer anything new in the terms of the story or characters. What works in the book, about just is the humor. The whole book is a light take on the whole mess, the protagonist and her friends always deal with most of their so called relationships with humor. It’s a funny book though it’s hard to sympathize with the protagonist at times.
It’s a good first effort by the first time writer, she seems to have a hold on the humor. She should stick to writing these sort of books before she can progress to more serious ones, as she seems to concentrate on the humor and forget the characters she’s writing about. All in all, a time pass if you have nothing else to do other than clean your nails.PS: Other reviews are most welcome.
