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Bala takes the plunge by Melvin Durai
Julia Dutta / Blog / 3 yrs ago /
12
AA+A++
Warning:Ai you! If you are NOT crazy lover of Rajnikath, America, films and cricket, this review is not for you. If you are not Tamil and are still reading and laughing, then you must be C by 2
Yes, the book Bala takes a plunge is all about the Tamil obsessions – Rajnikant, films, America and marriage.
B Balasubramaniam dreams of directing a film where Rajnikant will be the hero, but alas! Without the cash rich pocket of his parents who are a very middle-class Tamilian family, he is forced to fulfil the second Tamilian obsession – go away to America. In fact that is what he does and becomes a Director of a different sort - Director of Design at FlexIt Inc, His parents dream of seeing their son in America is fulfilled and now they can brag around to everyone, how their son Bala is earning 3 lakh rupees a month!!
In the US, Bala settles down but gets lonely. He gets America to warm his heart but must also now bear with America sleeping with his pillow and engaging in the unspeakable act with his pillow, not to mention grabbing his legs to engage in the same act.
Bala is now close to 30 years of age. The great question on everybody’s mind is – and yes, you are right! When is he going to get married?
Bala is a true Tamil breed. Even though he has almost reached his thirtieth birthday, he has kept another unspoken Tamil rule, to remain a virgin, till marriage. Thus, you have a Bala in the US, who really does not know how to take the plunge, what condom means and how a date can lead to meat in the bedroom!
Scurrying through matrimonial sites on the internet, he has been looking for that one lady who would be his perfect mate – she would love cricket more than the kitchen. He almost gets there, but alas! One after another, all the women he meets in the US, mind you of Tamil background only, are not only ABCD now, but he can’t seem to fix it up for himself either. Looming large therefore is the prospect of his parents fixing his marriage with a Tamilian girl in India, who will then love cooking more than cricket L Perhaps, he should break the cast and marry a white? In fact, his heart is beating for Brooke, who is working at the Stores. He obsessively visits the store each day, sends flowers, only to know that her real name is not Brooke after all. And while she is willing to strike up a conversation, she is not particularly drawn to Bala.
It’s only a matter of time now as Bala finds himself in Chennai to make the last minute dash towards the great Tamilian marriage obsession. But here he meets other problems. By now Bala is IBCA (India born confused American). Luck has always been on his side from his school days though and just as the reader begins to think that Bala must now return unopened to US, the miracle descends on him. He is both engaged and hopes to fulfil his dream of becoming a Director of films. However, he can’t leave America behind can he? Read to find out what he is going to do with America –ha!ha!
Bala takes the plunge, is a bagful of laughter at every page. The book is a brilliant piece which packs in a lot of satire on the American society at large and gives the reader a view of what turns an American on. The text is dense at points and the rounds of too many associations with marriageable women, without the reader ever having a juicy sex breather, gets tiring at times, especially, when you realise that the only living brat who is really “screwing” around is America!
But then, you realise that Bala is a true Tamilian who won’t lose his virginity to the one he will not marry.
The book ends with some lovely surprises which does break the Tamilian prototype!
Publisher: Hachette India, 612/614 (6th Floor), Time Tower, MG Road, Sector 28, Gurgaon – 122001. India Website: www.hachetteindia.com
Author: Melvin Dorai
Pages: 192; Price: Rs 195
Available at all major Book Shops across India and on amazon.com
About the author: Melvin Durai was born in Tamil Nadu and grew up in Zambia. He went to America as a college student and landed a job at a daily newspaper in Pennsylvania. He has written hundreds of humour columns which have been published is various newspapers and magazines across different countries. He lives in Winnipeg, Canada with his wife and three children. You may also visit www. MelvinDurai.com for more of his humour.
Bala is now close to 30 years of age. The great question on everybody’s mind is – and yes, you are right! When is he going to get married?
Bala is a true Tamil breed. Even though he has almost reached his thirtieth birthday, he has kept another unspoken Tamil rule, to remain a virgin, till marriage. Thus, you have a Bala in the US, who really does not know how to take the plunge, what condom means and how a date can lead to meat in the bedroom!
Scurrying through matrimonial sites on the internet, he has been looking for that one lady who would be his perfect mate – she would love cricket more than the kitchen. He almost gets there, but alas! One after another, all the women he meets in the US, mind you of Tamil background only, are not only ABCD now, but he can’t seem to fix it up for himself either. Looming large therefore is the prospect of his parents fixing his marriage with a Tamilian girl in India, who will then love cooking more than cricket L Perhaps, he should break the cast and marry a white? In fact, his heart is beating for Brooke, who is working at the Stores. He obsessively visits the store each day, sends flowers, only to know that her real name is not Brooke after all. And while she is willing to strike up a conversation, she is not particularly drawn to Bala.
It’s only a matter of time now as Bala finds himself in Chennai to make the last minute dash towards the great Tamilian marriage obsession. But here he meets other problems. By now Bala is IBCA (India born confused American). Luck has always been on his side from his school days though and just as the reader begins to think that Bala must now return unopened to US, the miracle descends on him. He is both engaged and hopes to fulfil his dream of becoming a Director of films. However, he can’t leave America behind can he? Read to find out what he is going to do with America –ha!ha!
Bala takes the plunge, is a bagful of laughter at every page. The book is a brilliant piece which packs in a lot of satire on the American society at large and gives the reader a view of what turns an American on. The text is dense at points and the rounds of too many associations with marriageable women, without the reader ever having a juicy sex breather, gets tiring at times, especially, when you realise that the only living brat who is really “screwing” around is America!
But then, you realise that Bala is a true Tamilian who won’t lose his virginity to the one he will not marry.
The book ends with some lovely surprises which does break the Tamilian prototype!
Publisher: Hachette India, 612/614 (6th Floor), Time Tower, MG Road, Sector 28, Gurgaon – 122001. India Website: www.hachetteindia.com
Author: Melvin Dorai
Pages: 192; Price: Rs 195
Available at all major Book Shops across India and on amazon.com
About the author: Melvin Durai was born in Tamil Nadu and grew up in Zambia. He went to America as a college student and landed a job at a daily newspaper in Pennsylvania. He has written hundreds of humour columns which have been published is various newspapers and magazines across different countries. He lives in Winnipeg, Canada with his wife and three children. You may also visit www. MelvinDurai.com for more of his humour.
CreativeTamil NaduMelvin DuraiBook Review
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All Comments
Julia Dutta
/
3 yrs ago
Dags!! Hahaha!
Comment
DagnySharma
/
3 yrs ago
Julia..
The 'unspeakable acts' had me rolling on the floor... he he....
Dagny
Comment
Julia Dutta
/
3 yrs ago
Ashish,
Wonder how you manage to keep "shadowing" my writings LOL!
Comment
Asheesh Dimmmrrii
/
3 yrs ago
Julia,
Ever since I came across 'Aunt Julia and Script writer' by the latest literary super star
( Mario Vergas Llosa), my inner core wants to address you by your first name.
Hope, you won't feel offended.
Interestingly, 'Bala takes the plunge' reminds me of 'Inscrutable Americans' by Anurag Mathur!
Regards,
yours,
ashish
Comment
Julia Dutta
/
3 yrs ago
Sridhara,
Yes! Do read it
Comment
sridharaa
/
3 yrs ago
Hi Julia,
A nice neat review of the book. Looks interesting.. May be i'd pick it up.
Cheers
Comment
Julia Dutta
/
3 yrs ago
Hi Jai,
Oh so you have? Well then you know!! Hahaha!
Comment
Julia Dutta
/
3 yrs ago
Usha,
Ahhh PGW is quite another matter. Wry English humour is not really like Indian Tamilian brand humour but really MD is worth it!
Enjoy!
Julia
Comment
jaijui
/
3 yrs ago
Hi julia ,
i have heard of this melvin durai and have enjoyed his humour
thanks for sharing
love
Jai
Comment
ushasuryamani
/
3 yrs ago
Julia
The review makes me want to grab this and read hough it's ages since I read any fiction..though I keep "Chewing the PGW cud".
Comment
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