Author: Maharsh Shah
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Do you believe life comes a full circle?
Zoravar by Maharsh Shah is the story of the namesake,
Zoravar Cheema, set in the early years after Independence, when the country as
well as the film industry was developing itself. All of sixteen years old,
Zoravar is in love with the magic of the screen, and dreams of becoming a movie
star. As the dust settles on the events post 1947, he has made a choice to
leave his family and go to Bombay, even if it means working with one of the
most feared gangs of the country. Beginning his journey without any idea of
what lies ahead, Zoravar struggles to find his break in the industry, until one
incident changes his life forever. This story is not just of Zoravar alone
though, set in the background of the Hindi Cinema, it tells a story of the
industry as it came up.
Zoravar has an engaging storyline, almost as if a movie is unfolding in front of the readers’ eyes. Maharsh has captured a very inherent dream of a common man to be popular, and to be loved by millions and molded it into Zoravar as he struggles to find his footing in the film industry. The plot is well developed, and the storyline moves without hiccups or drops in the pace. Maharsh has also focused on detailing the scenes so that the visual picture is complete, and it can be seen across the book when the events are described. Superimposing his fictional Zoravar with real-life personalities and events can almost make a person think that Zoravar is the story of a real actor, and I think that is the best thing about the story. The language is very relevant to the story and the character, and the author has taken care to insert colloquial words wherever important. The story has set a solid foundation for the books to come, and I am intrigued to see how Zoravar’s journey continues. The point where the book ends is really a cliffhanger.
Coming to the characters, Zoravar’s character
arc is quite interesting as it moves up and down as the story proceeds. We see
a boy who dreams of becoming an actor, who then falls into the pit of crime,
and then rises to again work toward his dream. Even when he gets his first
break, we see that the wave of his life continuously bobs up and down. He is
sketched in detail, with characteristic mannerisms, and facial expressions. I
loved the never-say-never attitude he has; despite the hurdles he faces.
Another character that impressed me was that of Pasha, and the importance he
places on friendship, and the lengths he goes to help his friend. The sneezing
cop is a character I am excited to see in the future books, and the role he
would play.
Overall, Zoravar is an excellent read
that will engage you to read it in a single sitting, and each page makes you
turn the next one. The story scores a 4.63/5 for me.
P.S. Do take note of the titles of the parts
in which the book is divided. It is something to take a note of.
Get a copy of the book here.
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