Erotic stories for Punjabi widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal - book review

As almost always, the book courtesy goes to mister Bragz. When I got the book, I wasn’t quite sure whether I would manage to finish it. The title, needless to say, projected it as an “interesting” genre. Suddenly the Indian writing space seems to be abound with stories about Punjabi clan. Probably I’ve woken up to it so late or coincidentally the Indian authors those I read, had set their premise on similar setup. Whatever the case maybe, I found that, more often than not, stories involving Punjabi characters were Dolby stereotyped with surround sound setup thrown in. There would be definite mentions of alcohol, pubs, unnecessary detailing of the locality, especially if its America/Europe, probably trying to show off that they know what they are describing maybe. The Punjabi characters would be projected as brash, with every alternate line of dialogue splashed with liberal dose of local language, most of them alcoholic with the lady characters engaging in drinking binges and above all, when you read such stories, it would either form a mental picture of Karan Johar-ish Bollywood movies or you would never be able to relate to any of those characters. Stories would be around NRI romances and their trauma/tough times in adapting to “phoren” culture.

If I’ve to say anything about this book, in one word, it had disproved almost all of the above prejudices of mine. Yes. The lady lead smokes without abandon and majority of the characters suffer from cross culture confusion. Yet the way in which the story takes shape around those characters, with the central plot as mind boggling as “Fight club” movie, its aces all the way. The fight club reference ran on my mind right from the first erotic story written/transcribed on the “coaching class” and thought there were quite some similarities, especially on the rules of the class. Just like the first rule of the fight club “you do not talk about the class” and the second rule being a repeat of the first rule. Needless to say, the charm/ingenuity/release/attraction/fame of the class, results in both the rules getting broken and what happens next is told in a clichéd fashion. I didn’t like ending as it felt too rushed and as if the author couldn’t figure out an ending worthy of the storyline.

The title has a clever twist as its not Erotic stories “of” Punjabi widows but “for”. It would be revealing too much to explain more on it, but there lies the soul of the book. It’s not your run of the mill feminist monologues or trove of titillating tales. More than anything, it’s funny and at times heartwarming and throws a whole new light on the life and times of elderly widows, their inhibitions and yearnings and if given a choice what they can cook up in their imagination. Throw in a mix of honor killing and moral policing alongside a peppy heroine, you’ve got your Bollywood movie script ready-made. I first thought of Kangana Ranaut for the role and later felt she might be too brooding or Kareena Kapoor, but she is too flaky and possibly older for the role. Anushka sharma of “Band Baja Baarat” would have fitted Nikki’s character perfect. A new face, if she can pull it off, would be a wonderful choice as well. To counter balance the rebellious Nikki, her elder sister Mandi, is all desi out and out, including her doubts and confusions. Their parents face the tribulations of those that are typical of Indian parents with kids opting for non-Indian lifestyles. Every single one of the widow character is a gem on their own regard. The premise of erotic stories not just serves as click bait, but a pretty good ploy to bring out the treatment meted out to them and our mindset in general of them. But, as I said, the ending felt all cinematic and rushed. Maybe, the author already had decided for Bollywood, on mind, while finishing it.

I loved reading the book and I am pretty sure would be seeing the onscreen version of it sooner than later. Hope the celluloid version lives up to the book.