Bombay Duck Is A Fish

by Kanika Dhillon

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Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, India

315 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2011

Reviews

[Khush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. I liked it because I have always been interested in knowing about the Indian film industry. The author beautifully captures what goes on behind the camera. It is all so believable. One sees the cruel reality of the film world.

As the story unfolds, several themes come to the fore: urban friendships, a young person's quest for meaning. Most middle-class youngsters would immediately recognize their own stories articulated in the book. In the last three decades, many young people moved towards metro cities to fulfill their dreams albeit not necessarily in the films.

There are two things that bothered me slightly. The author presents Shahrukh Khan and Farah Khan as angels, whereas almost every other character is flawed. I am not sure who is Kashish Kapoor but it seems that the author is unnecessarily mean to her. In such a competitive and deceptive world, the leading actors have to be selfish and practical, else they will not go very far. Usually one hears a lot about casting couch and young girls are exploited. In the book, it is the hero Ranvir Khanna who prostitutes himself to make his career.

There is much in the book that is clearly autobiographical. The small-town Amritsar girl is not that small in actual life. Not many girls go to Stephens and London School of Economics. For instance, one does not become privileged only by living in a big city. So the story of Neki, though excellent and skillfully rendered, seems to suppress her privilege. It does not really spell out how she manages such an easy access to the likes of Farah Khan.

Apart from this, I enjoyed the book. There is enough in the book that tells us that Neki's journey is her own and that she is real.

[Meera Senthil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing..I didn't know Bombay duck was a fish either! This is one good thing I learnt because I've heard and read many a celeb from Mumbai claiming it to be their favorite food and I'd been thinking all this while that it was really a duck. I didn't realize it until I actually came to the part where Neki realizes it..I just thought it was a funny title that's all!

The book is not bad at all. It could have been great if not for that bad ending or that was how it was for me. Supposedly being a book about a young girl living her dream, it's funny how she gets that dream eclipsed by something else. It has plenty of laughs and its racy enough to make you want to read it in one go. And a dose of philosophy here and there. I cannot stop thinking about how the climax spoiled it all. There are lots of interesting characters and you remember all of them for something..the best among them being PJ.

You don't have to even like Bollywood or movies, to read this book. And the picture of Kanika Dhillon is beautiful in the last page!:) She's written it really well except for you know what by now.

[Pooja T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totally and utterly horrid, badly written and the book is slow and cliched and so terrible I am out of words to fully explain it. A waste of paper and time and money!

[Shabana Mukhtar]

I would say it was my fascination with the Bollywood that made this book and this story so intriguing. I stayed awake long after the I finished the book. The end haunted me, even though I had predicted it around two thirds of the book. And, no, the fact that she begins narrating the story when she’s ready to jump off a building is not a clue.

For detailed review, please read my blog post.

[Tanuj Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab book. Pacy writing and very funny. Passed it on to my friends. Will tickle your funny bones and the satire works very well in the plot. Underbelly of bollywood tickled and explored but read it for the roller coaster ride. Not easy to put down. Wondering why the cover is the way it is though, and the end....debatable, surprising. Grab a copy, waiting for her next.

[Mukesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

it started quite well - but that's about it.
too many problems
- weak story structure
- too many characters, to remember
- flawed connection between chapters
- weak ending

more book reviews at http://mukeshrijhwani.wordpress.com

[VISHAL SHARMA · Rating 2 out of 5]

The terrible front cover just intrigued me to order it..
Its a simple story with very easy language, too many characters, begind the scene story of Bollywood & bad ending..
The author herself can be quoted to summarise the book,
“It's not the story that is unique, its the person reading the story that makes it so..”
My take if you want a simple, single read & easy on mind book, go for it..

[Aparna Bhuvanagiri · Rating 2 out of 5]

story was okay but too many characters n bad ending!!!

[Pritha Mundra · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very quick read. Book starts off on an interesting note but meanders with too many characters and complications, and not enough explanations. A very average chic flick.

[Gurnoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

my sister's first book and can't be more proud.

[Meera Srikant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time pass.

[Sonia Mukherjee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shabby writing.

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

When we first meet Neki Brar, the lead heroine in the drama that is Bombay Duck is a Fish but actually treated more as a stand-in and a sidekick, she is sitting on the parapet of her building terrace, with a bottle of wine and Nano, her diary, preparing to jump off.

Rebelling against her parents' middle class instincts, small-town girl Neki has fought for the right to travel to Mumbai and pursue her dream to be a film maker, rather than working for an MNC in Delhi. In Mumbai, she shares a flat that is the size of her room in her Amritsar home with three other girls, who have come from other parts of India to chase their own dreams in a city that has become a byword for magical aspirations.
In her quest to be a great Bollywood director, she takes up a job as a runner, the lowest in the hierarchy of assistant directors (AD), on the sets of choreographer turned director Fiza Kareem's latest film.
The other ADs are none too happy with her and her days on the set become a long agonising drama as she lives through numerous embarrassing situations in her attempts to gain Fiza's approval and the respect of her peers. While her life takes on the shape of a chaotic Bollywood melodrama as she suffers humiliation, betrayal and confusion in varying measures, her letters to her mother are clinically shorn of all these negatives and reflect her own optimistic view of reality.
So many things go wrong and Neki soon begins to wonder if she has done right in following an elusive dream in an industry in which nothing is real and loves, hates, feelings and emotions can be switched on and off, seemingly for the perfect shot. Lured by the magic she has seen on screen, she quickly becomes disillusioned and disenchanted as she comes face to face with the ugly side of this make-believe world. She learns that the magic of the movies is a sham. What Neki is left with is a sordidness that affects every aspect of her life, her love, her friends and her very existence.

Kanika Dhillon's writing brings us an inside view of the emptiness of life on the set and the futility of chasing after glamour and success. While the writing is racy most of the time, there are more than a few occasions when the prose rises above itself. She pays obeisance to Shahrukh Khan, at whose Red Chillies Entertainment she is a screenplay writer, by weaving him into the plot of Fiza's film script for a cameo role.

Kanika's own experience as an AD on the sets of Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om may have provided her the background material for this book. Farah, who is undoubtedly the inspiration behind Fiza, has endorsed the book.

Every learning of Neki's is measured against that espoused by her grandfather and in her father's favourite book, Siddartha by Herman Hesse.

The name of the novel is not only a reference to an embarrassment that Neki suffers in an upscale hotel, but also to the deceptive nature of relationships in Bollywood where nothing is as it seems.

I don't know if the name Neki is fairly common in Punjab. This was the first time that I saw the word used as a proper noun. It reminded me of the phrase, Neki kar aur dariya mein daal (Do good and throw it down the river), which incidentally most of us learned from Bollywood.

I would have preferred another ending. This one was a disappointment. This is not the way a girl who was feisty enough to want a career in Bollywood would have wanted. Especially when everyone who follows Bollywood with even the remotest interest knows that scandals are good and that the most salacious bit of gossip does not occupy public memory for long. All in all, I thought the book was good for some leisure time reading.

[Deepa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well this is one book I picked up years back because of its title & sad (weird) cover

Neki Brar has an MBA from Amritsar and has a good corporate job waiting for her in Delhi. But like many youngsters she wants to go to Mumbai and become a film maker. She convinces her mother, and her father gives her few months to move to Mumbai and prove that she can become a film person.

One of her room mates in Mumbai recommends Neki for the job of an Assistant Director (AD) with the famous film director Fiza Kareem (supposedly Farah Khan).Neki becomes the 5th or 6th AD of Fiza Kareem and thus begins her struggle to prove herself, face the resistance of the other AD’s as per the hierarchy, get along with the Junior Artists(JA) & production team and also experience and understand the cruel and fake reality that Bollywood offers! In the midst of all this she falls in love with the 2nd lead male actor of the film- the “Ranvir Khanna”. She is aware of the rumours surrounding Ranvir Khanna’s life especially his affair with a politicians wife who is apparently supporting his filmi career but she chooses to believe what Ranvir has told him about this.

The novel begins with Nekki sitting on the terrace of her building planning to jump and commit suicide. She has been in Mumbai for few months now and before jumping decides to revisit her life by reading her personal diary (“Dear Nano”) where snippets from her days in Mumbai and at the film sets is written. The story is narrated through these conversations she has with her Nano.

The book has all the ingredients a normal Bollywood movie would have like love, jealousy, ambition, anger but unfortunately, I did not like it! The book was very slow paced, had many characters (not sure why), lacked connection with me, required explanations for many points and the ending was I don’t know – Bad?

Apparently the author Kanika Dhillon works with Red Chillies Entertainment as a writer and that explains her gratitude to the great Sharukh Khan she shows in the Book and her reason to chose Farah Khan as the main director.

[Ek.Aur.Kitabi.Keeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name - Bombay Duck Is A Fish
Authour - Kanika Dhillon
Publication - 315
Type - Paperback
Rating - 4/5

Neki is struggling to inform her parents about her decision to join Bollywood. A MBA grad from Amritsar, she will soon be moving to Delhi for her corporate job which she detests.

After mustering enough courage, narrating quoates from “Siddhartha”, she is finally moving to the city of dreams Mumbai with a deadline of 6 months from her father.

Surrounded by 3 roommates at home & 5 AD’s at work, Neki starts her journey in Bollywood. The author describes bollywood the way it is - the struggles, politics, etc All myths about the glitz & glamour are shattered. Neki’s journey is described in the best possible way. Her struggles, relationships & other elements feel real.

The only thing I couldn’t relate to was the end.

The book is a great introduction to the bollywood industry showcasing the harsh reality behind all the glitz & glamour.

Will I recommend the book? Yes

[Yagnesh Goswami · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for Bombay Duck Is a Fish, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The narrative felt disjointed and aimless, making it a chore to get through. The characters lacked depth and relatability, leaving me feeling indifferent to their struggles and triumphs.

Despite its intriguing title, the book was overwhelmingly boring, with long-winded descriptions that did little to advance the plot or engage the reader. I found myself skimming pages, hoping for something to spark my interest, but it never came.

Overall, I was disappointed with this book. It missed the mark on both entertainment and storytelling, earning it a solid one star from me.

[Ancie Wilfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I'm not fond of endings that r not happy. I've been vocal enough about unhappy endings being unfair to the reader who plodded through a book just to get to an anticlimax!
Having said that, in this case anything other than what happened would have come across as unrealistic. Kanika has been true to her style n given us a very realistic, very probable ending.
Great job, Kanika. Hope u keep writing.

[Rajat Narula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A breezy story of a Bollywood-aspirant Nicki Brar, who wants to make a movie. The story is weak, it is essentially just the making of a movie. However, it is insightful and real and you know who the characters are, and that makes it a little interesting.

[Meheru The Indian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an underrated book. I read this book in my college years too good!

(・o・)

[Karnail Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Below average story. Below average narration. But insight into a totally untouched territory. At least there is one reason to finish once you have started.

[Smita Beohar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn’t the title quite fishy? It was the ugliness of the book cover which pulled me in & the blurb which had me hooked to it.

Bombay duck is a fish is the story of Neki Brar, a small town girl who chucks her cushy job in an MNC even before joining it. She has her eyes set on Bollywood & she moves to Mumbai to chase her dream of becoming a film maker.

The novel kicks off with her contemplating jumping to death from the terrace of her building but before that she decides to go through Nano. Nano is her personal diary and it is through Nano that the whole story is narrated.

Thanks to the recommendation of one of her room mates Neki gets the job of 6th A.D. under the famous director Fiza Kareem (aka Farah Khan) and thus begins a phase of Neki’s life after which nothing remains the same. An outsider in a cut throat industry she has to struggle every inch to prove herself. She faces resistance from the other AD’s, the line producer, the JA’s etc but it is the approval of the director which makes her strive for the best. Too add to the confusion Neki falls in love with the Ranvir Khanna, the 2nd lead actor complicating her life further. She gets into the relationship fully aware that he is involved with a politician’s wife who in turn is furthering his career.

Will Neki survive the ups & downs or will she jump off the parapet?

Read the book to know more.

<>bMy Verdict

A racy pot boiler the book is a must read for all people who are aspiring to do something in Bollywood. The author shows to us the real face of bollywood without the mask of glamour. Coming from the same background (she is a screenwriter working with Red Chilies Entertainments)it is quite applaud worthy that she shows the dark side of the profession.

The book is well written & is just like our desi pot boiler. There is love, betrayal, ambition, jealousy, tragedy et. al. and the book keeps you hooked on to it. It covers those aspects of film making which always remain behind the scene like the plight of Junior Artists, Stunt doubles or that of man Friday who has more experience than the youngest member of the crew but has to obey them just because it is his fate.

The book comes with its flaws, I couldn’t quite digest the ease with which Neki lands the job or may be I missed reading the portions struggle that she had to face to get the job. The other thing that I disliked was the ending; I wish the author had chosen some other path to end the book.
What I loved about the book outclasses the negatives. I liked the way Kanika has characterised each character, I also loved the subtle way in which she shows the struggle in the industry and still manages to keep the book bright. I loved the matter of fact way in which she tells us, “It is not all rosy in there.” As she says through these lines

“Like every struggling aspirant, Bollywood promised Shelly that dreams do come true – and tomorrow could be the day that your life changes. The beauty was, like Shelly, it failed most of them, but the belief remained. And eventually it becomes more than a belief, because they find their spirituality and their reason for living in it.”

The novel ultimately bores down one fact, Bollywood is full of Neki’s, if one goes by another will come, it is ultimately up to an individual to be strong enough to survive. I also loved the way the last few chapters have been woven. It will take some time to sink in but the end (I don’t agree with the story part of the end) leaves you impressed with the writing. I had to read it again to really understand it.

I recommend this book for the story, narration & to some extent the message. A racy read which am sure will keep you glued till you reach the end.

BTW if the title is intriguing, well the fact is Bombay Duck is actually a fish ;-)

[Ramesh]

An incredible story with a terrible ending.

BDIAF is a book that takes you into the journey of experiences of a girl from a small city into the Bombay Metropolitan where she aspires to become something big in film industry. Through many twists and turns of life, bitter sweet experiences, heart breaks and being on the brink of ending her life, she learns important life lessons. What I think is the most important take away from the book is that in order to survive, you have to be strong, and that depends on none else but you, and the protagonist fails to live up to this expectation.

After reading the entire book in a span of 3 days as i had to also attend to other important responsibilities I found the book as another Chetan Bhagat kind of novel where the protagonist is a loser, except in his books its a male character and in this book its a female character.

The story can be categorized as one we see in a TV serial like "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi" or "Ugly Betty".

The incidents which are reflected upon from entries in her diary by the girl who is all set to end her life sitting on top of a building would look like different episodes of a TV serial which are interesting and keep the reader glued to the book in anticipation of what is going to happen next. But the book becomes a drag after 250 pages, and you start to hope that it will end well... but as I said... the ending is very hopeless.

And also, in case you are wondering what is about this weird title of the book. This title comes from one of the incident in the book where the protagonist come to know first time what is called Bombay Duck is in fact a Fish. Rest of the book has nothing to do with this title. Title was chosen probably for the reason that it draws your attention. A catchy title. Isn't it?

Anyway! what can you expect from a first-timer. Not everyone has the ability to start a story well, keep the interest of the readers till end. That is something one learns with experience or one has to be born with.

[Shweta L · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Bombay Duck Is A Fish" by Kanika Dhillon offers an intriguing glimpse into the glamorous yet cutthroat world of Bollywood. The story follows Neki Brar, a young woman from Punjab, who dreams of making it big in Mumbai's film industry. While the novel starts off with promise, capturing the vibrant chaos of Mumbai and the complexities of the film industry, it falters in its execution. The characters often feel one-dimensional, and the plot becomes predictable, losing its initial spark. Despite some witty moments and keen observations about Bollywood's inner workings, the narrative's uneven pacing and lack of depth make it a middling read. Overall, it's an average book that may appeal to readers curious about Bollywood but falls short of leaving a lasting impression.

[Deepak Mondal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book can be quite a deterrent for the average wannabe film-maker, hence, read it cautiously! Otherwise, the language is simple, the pace is good and the story itself is moderately engrossing. If you manage to make yourself care about the central character, till the end, I guess the job of the writer is half done. I'm not sure how many of us would actually, really care. But the tid-bits about the industry are very spicy, and would definitely enthrall the avid gossip-seekers. Read it with an open mind!

[Bookmania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kanika Dhillon has beautifully written the book in a modern & accessible style and in a delightful & exciting way! As soon as you read the first page, the book is unputdownable!

Bombay Duck is a Fish is a multifaceted book and each reader will enjoy the book in his own way.

I have read the book twice and I felt like I was reading a whole new book the second time. This book has a soul of its own and its unbiased complexity will move you.

A must read!

[Pradeep Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kanika Dhillon’s debut novel “Bombay Duck is a fish” is partly an autobiographical book on career in film-making. Fast paced novel set in the tinsel town of India – Mumbai – is about dreams and ambition of the film city.

The protagonist of the story “Neki Brar” chucks a cushy corporate job to follow her dream to become a film-maker alike the author of the book.

Read the complete review here at my blog.

[Nishant Jha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book...not too much and it isn't bad either! perfect for a one-time read and a breezy one at that...the writing style is easy and the pace of the plot is pretty fast...I like such books! a real nice debut novel I say! yeah there are a lot of sub-characters but it never got confusing...it is a sneak peek into the life of a Bollywood Assistant Director or AD as we know now! hope the book isn't autobiographical in entirety! I would be very disappointed if it is!

[Sushma Ks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of my days as intern at advertising world. Though some expressions I could relate to some I could only guess is little hyped up. The author's narrative style is good. It was a light reading the one you want to read during days across your journey, nothing that would motivate you to shut yourselves in a room and cut yourself out from the world to complete reading...

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating:3.5

Was my first Indian author after Ruskin Bond and I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised. I actually really liked the book. I think it was well made though at times I wanted to slap the main protagonist - but I guess that's what 'showbiz' does to you?

Good job overall.

[Rajeshwari · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful books I have read. Especially the ending - so very beautiful.
The book starts with Neki who is supposed to decide whether to jump or not from the parapet and she reads her diary before jumping.. and the book is really superb...