Nominated for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2009, the book explores the depths of love and friendship, and the inevitability of death.

A riveting read, the book explores the many facets of life, with love and friendship being the core. The story has been inspired by current affairs, the numerous headlines that we wake up to—murder, scandals, corruption, glamour, but as the author states, ‘it’s primarily a work of fiction’. However, as the narrative progresses, it feels more real than the headlines we have read.

The story revolves around Karan Seth, a young photographer, who comes to the glamour city Bombay to escape from his dysfunctional family in Shimla and a boring teacher’s job. Oozing talent and full of dreams, he ends up making friends with the unlikeliest of people from the glam circuit. Entranced by the city, he wants to document it through his lens. But along the way, life takes over and the dream is lost, until it revives again.

The book begins on a light note, a paparazzi at work and the glimmering surface, and then spirals into the deeper layers of life.

Working for a magazine, Karan heads out to shoot a child prodigy, a pianist, Samar Arora, who walked out of a concert in the US to give up his art forever. Back in India, Samar, in his twenties, is like a child let loose. There, Karan strikes a chord with Zaira, a famous young actress. Then, there’s Leo, the writer, who is also Samar’s partner.

The story isn’t about families weathering the storms of life, but about people with no blood connection loving each other unconditionally, despite their financial status. In fact, the material barely holds sway in the story.

Zaira’s murder, witnessed by a bar full of people, the subsequent trial and injustice, are all a reminder of the maze we live in. Weak morals, corrupt machinery, frail hearts, and the labyrinth of relationships, the book delves deep into the human psyche.

The world wasn’t meant to be a place of justice, just a game of snakes and ladders through which we navigate ourselves. The story is a reminder of broken lives, the torpedo of emotions and the actions that take us closer to death.

Karan’s losses and loneliness are poignant as he loses friend after friend to death. Lady love, Rhea Dalal chooses to remain anchored to her safe marriage. Confused between her love for Karan and husband Adi, she remains a complex ball of unhappiness, shrouded in her own torn past.

Karan eventually lands in London to find a semblance of love, yet comes back again to Bombay. He turns to his art again, but now Bombay has lost the sheen.

The characters are well fleshed out, the narrative is gripping and thought provoking. It touches upon the shallowness of the surface to the depths that we shockingly discover over the passage of time. Shanghvi’s unique styles, shockers and language make this a good read.

Shanghvi’s creative streak shows us the many shades of Bombay, the socio-political structure, the good and the ugly, the sleazy and the gentle. It also takes us to Delhi, San Francisco, Singapore. Like an artist he brings alive the cities with their many layers and hues. It’s a book that needs to be read over days, and not hours.

Book Details
Publisher: ‎Harper Collins India
Language: ‎English
Paperback: 480 pages
Price: INR 499