Hi, fellow readers! I’m on cloud nine these days, thanks to my dream of a brand new personal study and a super bookshelf finally getting achieved. I didn’t spare a minute to fetch all my books from their temporary dwellings (cartons, cupboards, shelves, etc) and tidily set them up in their cosy new abode. It breaks my heart to see it partially empty since my books from back home haven’t arrived yet (God forbid, I don’t leave space for them!). The Misters Kuru by Trisha Das, my recent find for #BookChatter, is enjoying a place of envy in it though. Of course, there’ll be more joining in! 🙂

About the book

Mahabharata has always interested people in epic proportions (pun unintended). Whether it is the (dis)honour in the five-brothers-with-one-wife angle, the conniving Shakuni whose damaging teachings poison Duryodhan’s mind irreparably, Karna’s magnanimity that cost him his life or Krishna’s Geeta Saar that’s still relevant more than ever, intrigue is an inadequate word to describe it. Can one imagine these iconic personalities returning to modern-day India to lead a mortal life again? How would it go?

Draupadi and Kunti are back in the mortal world and refuse to go back to heaven, now home to the Pandavas. Intent on bringing them back, the five brothers appear at their New Delhi home with an increasingly grumpy Narada. Shocked, impressed, somewhat lost but welcoming the novel experiences this new life has to offer, the Pandavas, or The Misters Kuru, come into their own. Will they succeed in their enterprise or chalk their own path and destiny?

My thoughts

I was part curious and part wary about The Misters Kuru since Mahabharata’s interpretations often take undue creative liberty. It was hence refreshing to read this modern-day adventure of the Kuru family which retains their basic character traits while exposing them to unheard-of concepts and crude human behaviour. Arriving on earth after a few thousand years cannot possibly prepare you for what’s in store, can it?

Awkward doesn’t begin to explain the situation the Pandavas find themselves in, with an unrelenting Draupadi, Kunti, and their own insecurities pulling them apart at every step. Yet, Trisha seamlessly manages to create a world where each one of them has a chance to live, work and excel. She addresses questions that have harped on our minds for long but never been suitably answered. Draupadi’s interaction and relation with the Pandavas against the backdrop of their previous life are particularly fascinating.

However, in an attempt to draw parallels with Mahabharata, The Misters Kuru falters in certain parts. Some instances seem too convenient while few seem strained and unnecessary. The crisp pace of the narrative and Trisha’s engaging writing fade them out though. Honestly, I was left wondering whether any of the super-achievers we see today are in fact their reincarnations. Wouldn’t that be incredibly awesome?

If you’re a Mahabharata fan, you cannot miss this book. It surprises you, makes you laugh, and even tugs at your heart. Also, the guest appearance freezes, well everything. Read the book to know more!

My rating : **** 4/5 stars

About the Author

Trisha Das has written the internationally acclaimed How To Write A Documentary Script and several other books like Kama’s Last Sutra, The Mahabharata Re-imagined, and The Art of the Television Interview. She has contributed columns and short stories for publications like Cosmopolitan, Grazia India, Hindustan Times, and others. She has directed over forty documentaries and has also won the Indian National Film Award. UGA has celebrated her as International Artist of the year in 2003.

Book Details

Language : English

Genre : Fiction

Available in : Paperback and Kindle Edition

You can order your copy of this book from Amazon.

This review has been written as part of the Book Review Program by Blogchatter

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon

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