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Color Me Rich
A sensitive love story of a handsome and talented struggling painter Akash Saigal. What happens when he marries an extremely rich and beautiful artist and art investor Zenobia Taraporevala?
189 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2016
12 people want to read
About the author
Mohan Deep
13 books11 followersMohan Deep, is an Indian author, painter and Feng Shui Master. Mohan Deep is the author of ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ (1996), ‘It’s My Life’ (Novel) (1997), ‘Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari’ (1998), ‘Eurekha!’ – an unauthorized biography of Rekha. (1999), ‘Four Options’ (2000), ‘Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich and Famous’ (2001) and ‘Nehru and the Tantrik Woman’ (2002). After a sabbatical of a decade, during which he touched upon the lifves of people as a Feng Shui Master, he is back with The Five Foolish Virgins, a book of fiction, to be launched in April 2013. Mohan Deep is arguably the only Indian author to write what is often described as controversial, unauthorized star biographies in India. Columnist-journalist and former editor of 'Illustrated Weekly of India', Khushwant Singh called him 'a truly gifted gossip writer'. “The maverick writer”, like columnist-reviewer-poetess Tara Patel described him has also been called William Goldman of Bollywood’s stars (By Behram Contractor, the Editor of Afternoon Despatch & Courier) (Source) Kitty Kelly of India (By R K Bajaj, the Editor of ‘The Daily’). Interestingly, almost every book he has wrote/penned has invited controversies for its bold content.
Controversies
The first controversial biography - Madhubala (1996)
A quote by film star and television’s number one stand-up anchor Shekhar Suman "Controversy is Mohan Deep's middle name!". India’s premier society magazine 'Society' described him as “a man with a million controversies in his beard”. His first biography about 'Madhubala' was named ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ and published by Magna Books. It created a storm in the media world as well as in Bollywood. Never before had any Indian author written an unauthorized biography. ‘Madhubala’ was an icon. While her admirers lapped up the every detail of the book, the actress’ family was aghast! Every skeleton from the family cupboard had been dragged out. The family, especially Madhubala’s sister, went out of her way to challenge his version. But, true to the tradition of investigative journalism, Mohan Deep had double-checked everything he had written. 'Outlook', a leading weekly hailed/acclaimed/heaped praises on the book on 'Madhubala'[1]. The family, described as Dehlavis by Mohan Deep, disputed the surname and insisted that they were respectable Khans. The author shut their mouth/put an end to their accusations by pointing out in 'Madhubala's Publicity Hungry Sister' that the name on her grave, written in Urdu, was MUMTAZ JEHAN BEGUM DEHLAVI. He had started his work by first visiting her mazaar. In a fitting reply to Madhubala’s sister Madhur Brijbhushan nee Zahida Attaullah Dehlavi he wrote, “Madhubala was Dehlavi and not Khan. But how does that matter? With her kind of success she outgrew these petty things, becoming/transforming into her own identity. Everyone related to her, including her ancestors (and Madhur herself) earned their identity from Madhubala, and if they wanted to give/pay a fitting tribute to her, they should change their surname to Madhubalavi.” Interestingly, when ‘Madhubala’ was released, a feud was going on between its publishers Magna Publishing and Times Group. Times Group went out of their way to do/perform a Hatchet Job on the book, reported ‘Sunday’, an independent political weekly which had overtaken all other magazines in circulation. Taking advantage of this situation, Madhubala’s family, along with some journalists who doubled as PROs, blasted the book. But writing the unauthorized biography of Madhubala earned Mohan Deep a reputation for his fearless and bold approach.
Another scandalous life: Meena Kumari (1998)
The announcement of a biography by Mohan Deep created/made news. Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari was published by Image Books. Contoversies and allegations followed in its wake, but readers, critics and reviewers loved his book.
The mother of all life stories: Eurekha (1999)
As if ans
Controversies
The first controversial biography - Madhubala (1996)
A quote by film star and television’s number one stand-up anchor Shekhar Suman "Controversy is Mohan Deep's middle name!". India’s premier society magazine 'Society' described him as “a man with a million controversies in his beard”. His first biography about 'Madhubala' was named ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ and published by Magna Books. It created a storm in the media world as well as in Bollywood. Never before had any Indian author written an unauthorized biography. ‘Madhubala’ was an icon. While her admirers lapped up the every detail of the book, the actress’ family was aghast! Every skeleton from the family cupboard had been dragged out. The family, especially Madhubala’s sister, went out of her way to challenge his version. But, true to the tradition of investigative journalism, Mohan Deep had double-checked everything he had written. 'Outlook', a leading weekly hailed/acclaimed/heaped praises on the book on 'Madhubala'[1]. The family, described as Dehlavis by Mohan Deep, disputed the surname and insisted that they were respectable Khans. The author shut their mouth/put an end to their accusations by pointing out in 'Madhubala's Publicity Hungry Sister' that the name on her grave, written in Urdu, was MUMTAZ JEHAN BEGUM DEHLAVI. He had started his work by first visiting her mazaar. In a fitting reply to Madhubala’s sister Madhur Brijbhushan nee Zahida Attaullah Dehlavi he wrote, “Madhubala was Dehlavi and not Khan. But how does that matter? With her kind of success she outgrew these petty things, becoming/transforming into her own identity. Everyone related to her, including her ancestors (and Madhur herself) earned their identity from Madhubala, and if they wanted to give/pay a fitting tribute to her, they should change their surname to Madhubalavi.” Interestingly, when ‘Madhubala’ was released, a feud was going on between its publishers Magna Publishing and Times Group. Times Group went out of their way to do/perform a Hatchet Job on the book, reported ‘Sunday’, an independent political weekly which had overtaken all other magazines in circulation. Taking advantage of this situation, Madhubala’s family, along with some journalists who doubled as PROs, blasted the book. But writing the unauthorized biography of Madhubala earned Mohan Deep a reputation for his fearless and bold approach.
Another scandalous life: Meena Kumari (1998)
The announcement of a biography by Mohan Deep created/made news. Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari was published by Image Books. Contoversies and allegations followed in its wake, but readers, critics and reviewers loved his book.
The mother of all life stories: Eurekha (1999)
As if ans
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 30, 2016
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The author sent me a review copy with an attached letter. The first thing I noticed was the cover. A girl with a dreamy expression dominated what was otherwise a simplistic cover. The book was small, and had less number of pages. The summary, short and lacking details, was an indication of how the story was going to be.
This was the first book of the author I am reading. The book had a bigger than usual font and that when combined with more than a quarter of the paragraphs indented within the few pages, promised a short read.
REVIEW:
Color Me Rich - A title that combines the 'color' in the art of Akash Saigal's life and the 'rich' of Zenobia's life and how these combine to make either one or both lives better. The outset is simple. A struggling but talented artist paints a picture that impresses a rich maiden, who appreciates art for art's sake and not just to decorate the dry wall at one of the big rooms of her house. Admiration of talent quickly turns to attraction and affection. A starving painter comes in contact with money and that has its effects on his life. The conflict between the painter and the artist soon turns to turmoil, and Akash's life takes a twist. He is charged with the murder of his rich wife.
The casual reader might observe that the summary yields more than it conceals and jump to conclusions about how the story would pan out. And also assume the outcome based on the stereotypes of the poor turned rich painter and the born rich wife he seemingly uses as a latchkey to get him into the world of the rich and famous and once that initial magic is over he becomes free of her. While the scene is plausible, the book differs. There is the actual love, not mere attraction but then there are conflicts - not strong enough to be motives but still worthy of notice. The casual reader would then, realise that the apparently multilayered plot actually hinges on that single focal point devoid of any twists.
The story is narrated in alternating view points. 'Yesterdays' and 'Today' meaning a time from the indeterminate past and the current. While this narrative works if the book is set over a long period of time, the slightly vague 'yesterdays' do not actually give an accurate sense of timing, a crucial element in murder mysteries, and whodunits that need to be accurate about when exactly the scale tipped in favour of, or against the victim. The book begins with Akash being acquitted and that, in my opinion, sets the stage for the climax more than the narrative or the guessing. The book begins and ends in the today, with an epilogue that is short, and reveals that life goes on, no matter what happens to predict otherwise.
The book works mainly because of its length. The short book makes sure the readers attention is intact because they might want to see through to the end. It is short, crisp and brings only a few main characters and makes the rest just parts of the story as it progresses. Where the book falters is the plotline - predictable twists sometimes ruin the story, and the beginning did not hold much interest for me, until I had gone about twenty pages into the story. Thankfully, I read the note before I read the book, realising that this was not the debut book of the author. While I was not sure if this was a story based on real events (nothing came to mind) this did remind me vaguely of an old Tamil movie I had seen. Maybe stories do converge beyond borders and across platforms.
WHAT I LIKED:
The book's length kept me going. I finished it in one sitting.
The title works accurately for the book's content.
The cover image, though unrelated, provided a nice touch
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
The language - inclusion of many Hindi colloquial phrases with no explanation whatsoever.
The plot could have been a bit more tighter and had some twists
There were a few crucial missing details that would have given more credibility to the story if added
VERDICT:
Color Me Rich - short, quick read.
RATING: 3/5
The author sent me a review copy with an attached letter. The first thing I noticed was the cover. A girl with a dreamy expression dominated what was otherwise a simplistic cover. The book was small, and had less number of pages. The summary, short and lacking details, was an indication of how the story was going to be.
This was the first book of the author I am reading. The book had a bigger than usual font and that when combined with more than a quarter of the paragraphs indented within the few pages, promised a short read.
REVIEW:
Color Me Rich - A title that combines the 'color' in the art of Akash Saigal's life and the 'rich' of Zenobia's life and how these combine to make either one or both lives better. The outset is simple. A struggling but talented artist paints a picture that impresses a rich maiden, who appreciates art for art's sake and not just to decorate the dry wall at one of the big rooms of her house. Admiration of talent quickly turns to attraction and affection. A starving painter comes in contact with money and that has its effects on his life. The conflict between the painter and the artist soon turns to turmoil, and Akash's life takes a twist. He is charged with the murder of his rich wife.
The casual reader might observe that the summary yields more than it conceals and jump to conclusions about how the story would pan out. And also assume the outcome based on the stereotypes of the poor turned rich painter and the born rich wife he seemingly uses as a latchkey to get him into the world of the rich and famous and once that initial magic is over he becomes free of her. While the scene is plausible, the book differs. There is the actual love, not mere attraction but then there are conflicts - not strong enough to be motives but still worthy of notice. The casual reader would then, realise that the apparently multilayered plot actually hinges on that single focal point devoid of any twists.
The story is narrated in alternating view points. 'Yesterdays' and 'Today' meaning a time from the indeterminate past and the current. While this narrative works if the book is set over a long period of time, the slightly vague 'yesterdays' do not actually give an accurate sense of timing, a crucial element in murder mysteries, and whodunits that need to be accurate about when exactly the scale tipped in favour of, or against the victim. The book begins with Akash being acquitted and that, in my opinion, sets the stage for the climax more than the narrative or the guessing. The book begins and ends in the today, with an epilogue that is short, and reveals that life goes on, no matter what happens to predict otherwise.
The book works mainly because of its length. The short book makes sure the readers attention is intact because they might want to see through to the end. It is short, crisp and brings only a few main characters and makes the rest just parts of the story as it progresses. Where the book falters is the plotline - predictable twists sometimes ruin the story, and the beginning did not hold much interest for me, until I had gone about twenty pages into the story. Thankfully, I read the note before I read the book, realising that this was not the debut book of the author. While I was not sure if this was a story based on real events (nothing came to mind) this did remind me vaguely of an old Tamil movie I had seen. Maybe stories do converge beyond borders and across platforms.
WHAT I LIKED:
The book's length kept me going. I finished it in one sitting.
The title works accurately for the book's content.
The cover image, though unrelated, provided a nice touch
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
The language - inclusion of many Hindi colloquial phrases with no explanation whatsoever.
The plot could have been a bit more tighter and had some twists
There were a few crucial missing details that would have given more credibility to the story if added
VERDICT:
Color Me Rich - short, quick read.
RATING: 3/5
April 1, 2016
Despite opposition from his parents, Akash Saigal comes to Mumbai to follow his passion and that’s painting. But it’s not an easy road and is the one that’s filled with struggles and challenges. As he tries to paint and barely manages to make ends meet, he finds friends in Pran, a struggling actor, Suma, an aspiring singer and Rani Aunty who runs Bollywood Aunty’s Dhaaba.
Sharing a flame as they light their cigarettes in an art gallery while discussing his painting, Akash fell in love with out-of-the-world beauty, wealthy artist and art collector, Zenobia Taraporevala. And before long, they tie the knot.
Akash’s life changes dramatically. While his career skyrockets he finds that his personal life is falling apart. And soon he is accused of killing his wife.
Color Me Rich is a rags to riches story of a struggling talented artist Akash Saigal who takes the path to success by marrying the rich, Zenobia Taraporevala.
The book delves into the lives of the creative and the super rich people and raises a few questions like… Can marriage between unequals work? Can an artist create on an empty stomach? Do the creative juices flow more easily when one is not trapped in the worries of the next meal or next pay cheque?
A chapter from the past, labelled as Yesterdays is immediately followed by a present day chapter labelled as Today. So, the story flits effortlessly between the past and the present in Color Me Rich. The author has done some comprehensive research to give an interesting peek into the life of the super rich and the protagonist’s life as a struggler has an authentic and realistic feel. All the characters whether Suma or Pran or Rani Aunty including Akash and Zenobia are etched out beautifully. Their characterization is wonderfully thought out and well written and reading this book is almost like peering into their minds.
What I liked about Color Me Rich is that it expertly grabbed my attention from the word go and the fact that it is a short story made me finish reading it in one sitting. Also it has all the ingredients of love and betrayal, struggles and triumphs, murder and mystery that delighted and enthralled me as a reader. And most importantly, a climax that truly shocked me.
Overall, Color Me Rich is an engaging and entertaining read. Go for it!
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/03/color-...
Sharing a flame as they light their cigarettes in an art gallery while discussing his painting, Akash fell in love with out-of-the-world beauty, wealthy artist and art collector, Zenobia Taraporevala. And before long, they tie the knot.
Akash’s life changes dramatically. While his career skyrockets he finds that his personal life is falling apart. And soon he is accused of killing his wife.
Color Me Rich is a rags to riches story of a struggling talented artist Akash Saigal who takes the path to success by marrying the rich, Zenobia Taraporevala.
The book delves into the lives of the creative and the super rich people and raises a few questions like… Can marriage between unequals work? Can an artist create on an empty stomach? Do the creative juices flow more easily when one is not trapped in the worries of the next meal or next pay cheque?
A chapter from the past, labelled as Yesterdays is immediately followed by a present day chapter labelled as Today. So, the story flits effortlessly between the past and the present in Color Me Rich. The author has done some comprehensive research to give an interesting peek into the life of the super rich and the protagonist’s life as a struggler has an authentic and realistic feel. All the characters whether Suma or Pran or Rani Aunty including Akash and Zenobia are etched out beautifully. Their characterization is wonderfully thought out and well written and reading this book is almost like peering into their minds.
What I liked about Color Me Rich is that it expertly grabbed my attention from the word go and the fact that it is a short story made me finish reading it in one sitting. Also it has all the ingredients of love and betrayal, struggles and triumphs, murder and mystery that delighted and enthralled me as a reader. And most importantly, a climax that truly shocked me.
Overall, Color Me Rich is an engaging and entertaining read. Go for it!
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/03/color-...
March 31, 2016
Note : This review has been published in my blog. To read more such reviews please do visit Book and Ink
Color Me Rich by Mohan Deep is story a typical story of a struggling artist. The protagonist, Akash, is a talented yet struggling artist.
The art market in India is strictly for the elitists. If you have the money, you might as well sell your paintings and make more money. Talent of course, is a primitive requirement only. This sad state of affairs does offer a huge scope to be fictionalized isn’t it? This writer has capitalized well on the struggles of an artist’s life. Our protagonist, Akash, is a struggling artist who marries the rich and beautiful Zenobia. She gives him the much needed financial boost to sell his paintings. Things are all rosy between the pair until Zenobia starts suspecting Akash of having an extra marital affair. Things turn bitter and she jumps off her plush apartment. Did she really jump? Or does Akash have blood in his hands? Read on!
The narration alternated between past and present. This was initially uncomfortable but improved as the story progressed. The language however was highly disturbing as there were a lot Hindi/Marathi words infused. This simply ended up breaking my flow of reading. Though I am proficient in Hindi, alternating between two languages is a pain especially if one language is transliterated. The story as such was predictable until the climax. The climax however reminded me of another book with a similar protagonist – ‘Seppuku’ By Vinod Bhardwaj. Of course, that book had an entirely different story line, just that the ending was eerily similar. One other qualm that I have is of Suma’s character. She was a vital character of the plot, yet her character seemed a bit shallow and bleak when compared to Zenobia’s and that of Akash’s. Barring the above mentioned things, I found the book to be a pleasurable and interesting read which was paced perfectly.
The cover and the title of the book deserve a special mention. The cover in paper is catchy and totally attractive. The title was quite apt for the story and left me wondering if my interpretation of what it meant was right.
MY SAY: An interesting read.
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 3/5
NARRATION: 2.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
Color Me Rich by Mohan Deep is story a typical story of a struggling artist. The protagonist, Akash, is a talented yet struggling artist.
The art market in India is strictly for the elitists. If you have the money, you might as well sell your paintings and make more money. Talent of course, is a primitive requirement only. This sad state of affairs does offer a huge scope to be fictionalized isn’t it? This writer has capitalized well on the struggles of an artist’s life. Our protagonist, Akash, is a struggling artist who marries the rich and beautiful Zenobia. She gives him the much needed financial boost to sell his paintings. Things are all rosy between the pair until Zenobia starts suspecting Akash of having an extra marital affair. Things turn bitter and she jumps off her plush apartment. Did she really jump? Or does Akash have blood in his hands? Read on!
The narration alternated between past and present. This was initially uncomfortable but improved as the story progressed. The language however was highly disturbing as there were a lot Hindi/Marathi words infused. This simply ended up breaking my flow of reading. Though I am proficient in Hindi, alternating between two languages is a pain especially if one language is transliterated. The story as such was predictable until the climax. The climax however reminded me of another book with a similar protagonist – ‘Seppuku’ By Vinod Bhardwaj. Of course, that book had an entirely different story line, just that the ending was eerily similar. One other qualm that I have is of Suma’s character. She was a vital character of the plot, yet her character seemed a bit shallow and bleak when compared to Zenobia’s and that of Akash’s. Barring the above mentioned things, I found the book to be a pleasurable and interesting read which was paced perfectly.
The cover and the title of the book deserve a special mention. The cover in paper is catchy and totally attractive. The title was quite apt for the story and left me wondering if my interpretation of what it meant was right.
MY SAY: An interesting read.
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 3/5
NARRATION: 2.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
April 2, 2016
This is a story of Akash Saigal , a talented & prolific painter.It is also the tale of a rich art investor ,Zenobia. Zenobia & Akash meet & fall in love.It is love at first sight. Akash loves the luxurious lifestyle bequeathed to him courtesy marriage.Akash is in the spotlight always : sometimes for his work & at other times because he is being projected like the best painter of the decade. The honeymoon has begun.
Akash has a good friend in Suma.Zenobia gets increasingly possessive about Akash & the fights begin.Akash feels fed up of the daily parties & social gatherings which leave him no time for his love of painting. Zenobia feels proud in exhibiting to the world at large,that Akash is her hubby.
Zenobia gets injured .One day, she is found dead. Akash is the prime suspect.Investigations begin.Akash is getting frustrated as he is just unable to paint. What is holding him back ? Is it guilt ? Has he killed Zenobia ? ? Is he innocent as he claims to be ? Then , why are his canvases being folded back blank ? The story ends in an emotive climax which stuns ! The story is narrated interestingly as it keeps going back & forth between yesterday & today.
Chapters are short & egg the reader to go on. A good read about the lives of painters ,their hardships & their struggles in todays' world.
April 10, 2016
Akash Saigal, the protagonist of the story had it all. The struggles, that mark the beginning of a great artist; and the rise to the glory that often finishes the most brilliant artist. What made him different is his way of looking at life. In his poverty, he revelled and in his richness, he embraced all that he had ever dreamed of achieving. Like a man who willed God to send him a rich heiress and when God granted him his wish, he could have basked under his new found rich lifestyle but instead he wanted to paint more and more. And soon the art which had brought them closer became the bone of contention between the couple.
They'd started sleeping apart. On the bedroom wall hung the painting that started it all..
We often think that the rich and the famous have it all.
So when we hear the news of a Jia or Pratyusha giving up their lives at such a young age, we are shocked and start measuring our lives with a kinder eye. I suppose the recent incident of Pratyusha's suicide made me relate to this novel more. It happens in the real world. And that is the scariest part of this novel.
One can never know whether these young lives gone were a result of suicide or murder. One can never know if their own loved one is responsible for the noose or the trigger. Akash depicts a Suraj or Rahul who might even today, behind the closed door of their house, remember that deadly night. Live with the guilt of not ever knowing where they went wrong or if they could have done something different. Mohan Deep's Color Me Rich could not have portrayed the psyche behind the minds of the people who face such situations better. Disturbing yet so tempting to keep on reading.
Mr. Deep's simplistic style of writing is almost like a coffee table conversation one would have at a party. A scandalous tone is present throughout the novel, like two intimate friends chatting about the death of a person they knew about. There is a death and every character of the story is related to her yet the story is not about death. It is about life. The lives of people surrounding the person. Isn't that the irony of death always? It is always about the ones who are left behind. I suppose the psychology of suicide is also that. To punish the living. In their fight for social alienation and the feeling of being a burden, they lash out mostly against the person they love most.
Mr. Deep has literally opened a window for the viewers to have a peek in the corruption infested art world. Where fakes are sold to the highest bidder while the originals lie like litter in a poor artist's studio. It’s truly a reflection our social thinking. We always revere the dead. A Picasso and Reuben is a social status while the lanes of Paris scream of those portrait makers who would do anything just to make a sketch of you for their dinner. What an irony life is!
Though the story is about Akash, Zen is a very complex character. I must congratulate the author is creating her. What would look like a simple good old fashioned jealousy to you is something only creative minds will understand I suppose. I recently read somewhere; creative minds have a very jealous spouse/partner. Mr. Deep's deep understanding of this theory came out very well.
Zenobia had the same insecurity that uncreative people felt when they marry creative people. That and a little jealousy...
This sentence caught me off guard. And it is here the twist started. Zen was an artist too. So the word "uncreative" should have been one big clue?
Reason for Rating
http://www.tbcblogtours.com/tbc-blog/...
They'd started sleeping apart. On the bedroom wall hung the painting that started it all..
We often think that the rich and the famous have it all.
So when we hear the news of a Jia or Pratyusha giving up their lives at such a young age, we are shocked and start measuring our lives with a kinder eye. I suppose the recent incident of Pratyusha's suicide made me relate to this novel more. It happens in the real world. And that is the scariest part of this novel.
One can never know whether these young lives gone were a result of suicide or murder. One can never know if their own loved one is responsible for the noose or the trigger. Akash depicts a Suraj or Rahul who might even today, behind the closed door of their house, remember that deadly night. Live with the guilt of not ever knowing where they went wrong or if they could have done something different. Mohan Deep's Color Me Rich could not have portrayed the psyche behind the minds of the people who face such situations better. Disturbing yet so tempting to keep on reading.
Mr. Deep's simplistic style of writing is almost like a coffee table conversation one would have at a party. A scandalous tone is present throughout the novel, like two intimate friends chatting about the death of a person they knew about. There is a death and every character of the story is related to her yet the story is not about death. It is about life. The lives of people surrounding the person. Isn't that the irony of death always? It is always about the ones who are left behind. I suppose the psychology of suicide is also that. To punish the living. In their fight for social alienation and the feeling of being a burden, they lash out mostly against the person they love most.
Mr. Deep has literally opened a window for the viewers to have a peek in the corruption infested art world. Where fakes are sold to the highest bidder while the originals lie like litter in a poor artist's studio. It’s truly a reflection our social thinking. We always revere the dead. A Picasso and Reuben is a social status while the lanes of Paris scream of those portrait makers who would do anything just to make a sketch of you for their dinner. What an irony life is!
Though the story is about Akash, Zen is a very complex character. I must congratulate the author is creating her. What would look like a simple good old fashioned jealousy to you is something only creative minds will understand I suppose. I recently read somewhere; creative minds have a very jealous spouse/partner. Mr. Deep's deep understanding of this theory came out very well.
Zenobia had the same insecurity that uncreative people felt when they marry creative people. That and a little jealousy...
This sentence caught me off guard. And it is here the twist started. Zen was an artist too. So the word "uncreative" should have been one big clue?
Reason for Rating
http://www.tbcblogtours.com/tbc-blog/...
April 9, 2016
Well researched,great intellect and a concrete plot.Color Me Rich very authentically portrays the aggravation of an artist who is unable to come up with good quality art. It also showcased the cons of getting into a hasty matrimonial alliance .Deep provides us with some authentic episodes of marital discord with tinges of sensual romance.
However the psychological array of Akash provides a good read.His presence simply envelops everything. Deep deals with various issues like the theme of isolation, the class clash and of course the notion of creative block.
The storyline travels from Mumbai’s western suburbs to the posh Cafe Parade and finally to Harbor’s Panvel Farmhouse. Now Deep very genuinely deals with the life of Akash Saigal,his struggling days and of course troubled marriage life.Zenobia seemed to be an eye candy and yes a hot beauty no doubt. The concept of muse has been finely dealt through the hellenic bond between Suma and Akash.Deep enlightened me with the in-depth knowledge about the history of portraits in India,his knowledge in the field of painting surely deserves an ovation. The struggle which most of the wannabe artists have to go through gets a factual representation in the narrative.
https://debrajdpaideia.wordpress.com/...
But what makes this book immensely likeable is the narrative technique and off course a gripping plot. Mohan shuttles between the present and the past like a seasoned filmmaker juggling with the flashback and contemporary scenes.His usage of “Yesterday’s” and “Today’s” are laudable.
It will be interesting to watch a Bollywood adaptation of this sensational narrative.Now the plot resembles the tragic story of the artist Hema Upadhay…there has been a recent suicide in the B-Town…which can also be a part of another shocking plot.Let us wait and watch.
Now let me provide with the Positive Sides.
1.Engaging Plot
2.Psychological aspect has been finely dealt with.
3.Excellent research on Paintings,J J School of Arts.
4.Good study of Parsi Community.
5.Special mention about the knowledge(of Mohan Deep) regarding Portraits .
6.A good juxtaposition of the Prolepsis and Flashback.
7.Excellent Climax build up.
Cons
3.Small end notes would have been great,since there has been usage of Marathi,Parsi and Hindi Words (exclusively for the Occidental Readers)
Verdict- 7.5/10
Now grab a copy of Mohan Deep’s Color Me Rich.
However the psychological array of Akash provides a good read.His presence simply envelops everything. Deep deals with various issues like the theme of isolation, the class clash and of course the notion of creative block.
The storyline travels from Mumbai’s western suburbs to the posh Cafe Parade and finally to Harbor’s Panvel Farmhouse. Now Deep very genuinely deals with the life of Akash Saigal,his struggling days and of course troubled marriage life.Zenobia seemed to be an eye candy and yes a hot beauty no doubt. The concept of muse has been finely dealt through the hellenic bond between Suma and Akash.Deep enlightened me with the in-depth knowledge about the history of portraits in India,his knowledge in the field of painting surely deserves an ovation. The struggle which most of the wannabe artists have to go through gets a factual representation in the narrative.
https://debrajdpaideia.wordpress.com/...
But what makes this book immensely likeable is the narrative technique and off course a gripping plot. Mohan shuttles between the present and the past like a seasoned filmmaker juggling with the flashback and contemporary scenes.His usage of “Yesterday’s” and “Today’s” are laudable.
It will be interesting to watch a Bollywood adaptation of this sensational narrative.Now the plot resembles the tragic story of the artist Hema Upadhay…there has been a recent suicide in the B-Town…which can also be a part of another shocking plot.Let us wait and watch.
Now let me provide with the Positive Sides.
1.Engaging Plot
2.Psychological aspect has been finely dealt with.
3.Excellent research on Paintings,J J School of Arts.
4.Good study of Parsi Community.
5.Special mention about the knowledge(of Mohan Deep) regarding Portraits .
6.A good juxtaposition of the Prolepsis and Flashback.
7.Excellent Climax build up.
Cons
3.Small end notes would have been great,since there has been usage of Marathi,Parsi and Hindi Words (exclusively for the Occidental Readers)
Verdict- 7.5/10
Now grab a copy of Mohan Deep’s Color Me Rich.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2016
Akash and Zanobia, two beautiful people from opposite side of the spectrum fall in love and get married. He is a wannabe painter; she is a spoilt rich brat. Is it really love or just money talking? With a name like color me rich, one would think it is all about the money but it is money and a lot more. There is the Suma, the friend, muse and ghazal singer. You have characters like Pran who is Akash friend and man Friday. Bollywood aunty, the kind-hearted lady who supports the artists all add up to make a book with many colors with the shades of life, love, and all emotions in between.
Akash is a handsome, talented painter but still looking for that elusive big hit when his work will be appreciated. Zenobia, on the other hand, is a rich, beautiful woman; she knows what she wants and how to get it. Love surprised both of them.
They fall for each other and the twist in the tale comes after their marriage. The book is written in a series of ‘today’ and ‘yesterday’ as chapter headings. They very clearly define what is happening right now, what are the protagonists feeling and what happened in the past. The two are balanced and linked very well. The story is fast paced and has no unnecessary fluff. It is a short read, perfect for reading when time is a constraint.
The author has penned the artists struggle, their hunger and needs to paint very well. He expressed the thoughts through Akash and Suma; their temperament and emotions of the creative artists, their feelings and how they feel and face the world. The book covers so many aspects of creativity – passion, insecurities, the corruption, deceit all are touched upon in this book.
I also loved the beautiful cover; it conveys so much and is so well shot. Expressive with the girl and the money, along with the title of Color Me Rich it hints at the story yet reveals nothing!
The ending of the book was its surprise package! Not quite what I expected but it definitely tied up all the loose ends and brought closure. It is a different read but well written, simple language and a reflection of the Mumbai and its life. Color Me Rich gives a peek into the world of creativity and passion with all the ugliness also shown! A riveting and revealing read.
(© I received a copy of the book from the author / The BookClub and the review is my honest opinion.)
Akash is a handsome, talented painter but still looking for that elusive big hit when his work will be appreciated. Zenobia, on the other hand, is a rich, beautiful woman; she knows what she wants and how to get it. Love surprised both of them.
They fall for each other and the twist in the tale comes after their marriage. The book is written in a series of ‘today’ and ‘yesterday’ as chapter headings. They very clearly define what is happening right now, what are the protagonists feeling and what happened in the past. The two are balanced and linked very well. The story is fast paced and has no unnecessary fluff. It is a short read, perfect for reading when time is a constraint.
The author has penned the artists struggle, their hunger and needs to paint very well. He expressed the thoughts through Akash and Suma; their temperament and emotions of the creative artists, their feelings and how they feel and face the world. The book covers so many aspects of creativity – passion, insecurities, the corruption, deceit all are touched upon in this book.
I also loved the beautiful cover; it conveys so much and is so well shot. Expressive with the girl and the money, along with the title of Color Me Rich it hints at the story yet reveals nothing!
The ending of the book was its surprise package! Not quite what I expected but it definitely tied up all the loose ends and brought closure. It is a different read but well written, simple language and a reflection of the Mumbai and its life. Color Me Rich gives a peek into the world of creativity and passion with all the ugliness also shown! A riveting and revealing read.
(© I received a copy of the book from the author / The BookClub and the review is my honest opinion.)
March 22, 2016
Review:
Plot:
The story is about an artist, a painter- Akash Saigal who dreams of making it big. He has pursued a course in art from JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He has got company with a struggling actor, Pran and together they try to make both ends meet. Suma lives in the same area as Akash and is in love with him though he hasn’t got a clue. She is an aspiring Ghazal singer. Akash meets Zenobia Taraporevala, another artist and socialite and within no time they find themselves in love. Suma is heartbroken, but she is now a known singer launching her music albums.
It doesn’t take much time for him to taste success and by selling his paintings earning lakhs, he is comfortable in the lap of luxury. However, few years down the lane, Akash is irritable and frustrated with Zenobia’s insecurities. She opens a whole new can of worms by confronting him about his extra-marital affair with Suma.
Zenobia falls down from the 60th floor of their apartment and Akash is arrested. Though he has been given a clean chit after months, the investigating officer is still suspicious? Was Suma murdered by Akash? But then what about the suicide note? Is Akash innocent? Does Suma has got anything to do with this bloodshed?
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Whoa!
An interesting read with a good flow of events. The story is well etched with no character out of place or sync. The descriptions were perfectly written giving wholeness to the story. Well edited and beautifully crafted.
A thumbs up for the cover page.
Ouch!
A bit too much of Hindi/Marati usage makes it a let down for those who doesn’t appreciate the language.
Suma could have evolved into a much stronger character.
Do I Recommend?
Yes. If you love thrillers, this is an interesting read.
Rating:
3.5 on 5
https://taleoftwotomatoes.wordpress.c...
Plot:
The story is about an artist, a painter- Akash Saigal who dreams of making it big. He has pursued a course in art from JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He has got company with a struggling actor, Pran and together they try to make both ends meet. Suma lives in the same area as Akash and is in love with him though he hasn’t got a clue. She is an aspiring Ghazal singer. Akash meets Zenobia Taraporevala, another artist and socialite and within no time they find themselves in love. Suma is heartbroken, but she is now a known singer launching her music albums.
It doesn’t take much time for him to taste success and by selling his paintings earning lakhs, he is comfortable in the lap of luxury. However, few years down the lane, Akash is irritable and frustrated with Zenobia’s insecurities. She opens a whole new can of worms by confronting him about his extra-marital affair with Suma.
Zenobia falls down from the 60th floor of their apartment and Akash is arrested. Though he has been given a clean chit after months, the investigating officer is still suspicious? Was Suma murdered by Akash? But then what about the suicide note? Is Akash innocent? Does Suma has got anything to do with this bloodshed?
< div style=”text-align: justify;”>
Whoa!
An interesting read with a good flow of events. The story is well etched with no character out of place or sync. The descriptions were perfectly written giving wholeness to the story. Well edited and beautifully crafted.
A thumbs up for the cover page.
Ouch!
A bit too much of Hindi/Marati usage makes it a let down for those who doesn’t appreciate the language.
Suma could have evolved into a much stronger character.
Do I Recommend?
Yes. If you love thrillers, this is an interesting read.
Rating:
3.5 on 5
https://taleoftwotomatoes.wordpress.c...
April 7, 2016
I received a free copy from the author via The Book Club for an honest review.
This is the first time I am reading this author's work and so I didn't know what to expect from the book. When I signed up for the blog tour, the first thing which caught my attention was the blurb which was short and sweet. And I was looking forward to a nice love story. What I didn't know was that I was going to read a romance mystery novella.
The starting of the book was sort of slow but it did lay the right outline for the story to unfold. After a while it was easier to follow the story and read faster. The only parts which were difficult to handle were the hindi dialogues in between. Other than that the flow of the tale was good and the alternating points of view of Today's and Yesterday's events were perfectly aligned to shed light on the circumstances and the characters.
The cast of characters were varied and added their own life to the love story from Pran to Rani Auntie. The protagonists, Akash and Zen were shown in different stages of their lives with Akash going from a starving to a celebrated artist and Zen going from a rich pampered socialite to an injured jealous wife. Their love story was kind of in the trend of Bollywood movies. Every character had their own role in the story and no one was superfluous. Suma was the only one who wasn't properly focused on inspite being the third main character in the book. She was in the background from the beginning to the end.
The ending of the book was kind of a twist. I wasn't able to digest it after finishing the book. The story is one which stayed with me along with the memorable characters. And this was a good example of the author. I am looking forward to check out his other fiction in the future.
My rating : 4/5
This is the first time I am reading this author's work and so I didn't know what to expect from the book. When I signed up for the blog tour, the first thing which caught my attention was the blurb which was short and sweet. And I was looking forward to a nice love story. What I didn't know was that I was going to read a romance mystery novella.
The starting of the book was sort of slow but it did lay the right outline for the story to unfold. After a while it was easier to follow the story and read faster. The only parts which were difficult to handle were the hindi dialogues in between. Other than that the flow of the tale was good and the alternating points of view of Today's and Yesterday's events were perfectly aligned to shed light on the circumstances and the characters.
The cast of characters were varied and added their own life to the love story from Pran to Rani Auntie. The protagonists, Akash and Zen were shown in different stages of their lives with Akash going from a starving to a celebrated artist and Zen going from a rich pampered socialite to an injured jealous wife. Their love story was kind of in the trend of Bollywood movies. Every character had their own role in the story and no one was superfluous. Suma was the only one who wasn't properly focused on inspite being the third main character in the book. She was in the background from the beginning to the end.
The ending of the book was kind of a twist. I wasn't able to digest it after finishing the book. The story is one which stayed with me along with the memorable characters. And this was a good example of the author. I am looking forward to check out his other fiction in the future.
My rating : 4/5
April 4, 2016
‘Color Me Rich’ is a story about the perils of mis-placed love, undeserving ambitions, jealousy and self-preservation. Its a fast paced novella with narration which switches between past and present.
Akash Saigal is a painter trying to get a foot-hold in the extremely competitive world of creative field. He lives in Mumbai, amongst affectionate neighbors and creative friends; Pran who is an aspiring actor and Suma who is an upcoming ghazal singer.
He comes across beautiful Zenobia who is also a budding painter and an art collector. Daughter of a rich industrialist, she has everything one needs in life. They are attracted to each other and marry. As it happens between two people who have different expectations in life, trouble starts brewing between them and takes a tragic twist.
The narration is simple and fluent. Author has done complete justice to switching between the timelines. I loved Akash and Pran’s characterization. Apart from these two, none of the other characters are fully explored. I wished Suma, who is a pivotal part should have been given more attention.
The story starts perfectly with the right sub-plots which invokes intrigue and anticipation, but somewhere in between those threads are abandoned, leaving me unsatisfied as a reader. There is one things which is an absolute no, no for me in fiction; giving names to characters who do not have any role in the story. There are a few editing issues too.
All in all, a short, interesting read.
Akash Saigal is a painter trying to get a foot-hold in the extremely competitive world of creative field. He lives in Mumbai, amongst affectionate neighbors and creative friends; Pran who is an aspiring actor and Suma who is an upcoming ghazal singer.
He comes across beautiful Zenobia who is also a budding painter and an art collector. Daughter of a rich industrialist, she has everything one needs in life. They are attracted to each other and marry. As it happens between two people who have different expectations in life, trouble starts brewing between them and takes a tragic twist.
The narration is simple and fluent. Author has done complete justice to switching between the timelines. I loved Akash and Pran’s characterization. Apart from these two, none of the other characters are fully explored. I wished Suma, who is a pivotal part should have been given more attention.
The story starts perfectly with the right sub-plots which invokes intrigue and anticipation, but somewhere in between those threads are abandoned, leaving me unsatisfied as a reader. There is one things which is an absolute no, no for me in fiction; giving names to characters who do not have any role in the story. There are a few editing issues too.
All in all, a short, interesting read.
June 5, 2016
Akash Saigal is the typical bollywood hero – his story has all the elements and it is a proper rags to riches story. All the milestones in his life are clearly laid out before the reader – initial days of struggle as an artist waiting to be discovered, his sudden rise to fame and his entry to the elite club by way of his marriage to Zen. Akash chased his passion tirelessly to get everything in life, but it was also the very reason he lost everything. The common man envies the life of celebrities and think that they have it all. Some incidents around us in the recent times wake us to a different reality, how everyone no matter how famous they are go through the struggles they have to. For Akash also, even when he was at the pinnacle of success, life was no better than how it was in his days of struggle.
In subtle ways the book hints at the state of our society today – how cheap duplicates are valued more than unique originals and how much corruption and such malpractices are prevalent around us.
Zen is a typical woman who is both jealous and proud of her husband and his success.
Akash has been portrayed well, while Suma could have been explored a bit more in detail.
With a little less than 200 pages, the book is an unputdownable quick read that grips the reader with its crisp narration and smooth flowing storyline which can be devoured in a single sitting. I am definitely looking forward to reading the other 9 works of Mohan Deep
In subtle ways the book hints at the state of our society today – how cheap duplicates are valued more than unique originals and how much corruption and such malpractices are prevalent around us.
Zen is a typical woman who is both jealous and proud of her husband and his success.
Akash has been portrayed well, while Suma could have been explored a bit more in detail.
With a little less than 200 pages, the book is an unputdownable quick read that grips the reader with its crisp narration and smooth flowing storyline which can be devoured in a single sitting. I am definitely looking forward to reading the other 9 works of Mohan Deep
March 8, 2017
Color Me Rich by Mohan Deep is mixture of suspense and romance, art and music.
It's a story of a small time artist Akash who like every other budding artist is struggling in Mumbai to make his two ends meet. He catches eye of rich, art collector Zenobia, who is attracted towards him for his charisma and his talent. Akash’s neighbor in locality Suma, who sings and writes ghazals have a crush on Akash but has never let him know about her true feelings.
Color Me Rich is basically their story of their love triangle laced with suspense of Zenobia’s death/suicide. The story at first resembles like story of a well-known Bollywood actress who had fallen to death 2 decades back from her high rise flat. But other than that there is no similarity.
The book depicts life of struggling artist Akash, how he handles the ups and downs of his success and also the truth of art world.
Language is simple, and nicely written. Climax is different and not what a reader expects while reading. In first read, one usually gets mixed up with which is present and which is flash back, which is only one drawback of the book I felt.
Color Me Rich is a short and interesting read. This is my first book of the author, but I can say liked the way he has written, blending well the lifestyles of middle class people in Adarsh nagar and also well-to-do Taraporevala’s penthouse in Apollo Towers.
It's a story of a small time artist Akash who like every other budding artist is struggling in Mumbai to make his two ends meet. He catches eye of rich, art collector Zenobia, who is attracted towards him for his charisma and his talent. Akash’s neighbor in locality Suma, who sings and writes ghazals have a crush on Akash but has never let him know about her true feelings.
Color Me Rich is basically their story of their love triangle laced with suspense of Zenobia’s death/suicide. The story at first resembles like story of a well-known Bollywood actress who had fallen to death 2 decades back from her high rise flat. But other than that there is no similarity.
The book depicts life of struggling artist Akash, how he handles the ups and downs of his success and also the truth of art world.
Language is simple, and nicely written. Climax is different and not what a reader expects while reading. In first read, one usually gets mixed up with which is present and which is flash back, which is only one drawback of the book I felt.
Color Me Rich is a short and interesting read. This is my first book of the author, but I can say liked the way he has written, blending well the lifestyles of middle class people in Adarsh nagar and also well-to-do Taraporevala’s penthouse in Apollo Towers.
April 4, 2016
Color me Rich had enough places that needed double reading to know the real sense behind it. Though it was a quick read but still it had troughs and crests. The story was a perfect blend of emotions, desires and psychological advancements. The writing of Mohan sir was simple and to the point which enhances the beauty of the book. His hard work in making a spicy story can be seen throughout. All in all, a worthy read.
You can read the complete review here -
thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.in/2016/04...
You can read the complete review here -
thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.in/2016/04...
April 4, 2016
The novel is a racy montage and would appeal to those looking for a quick thrill. A few pauses and ponderings, though, would have connected the reader effectively to the passion that fuels the action of all the characters. Color Me Rich is the seed of a full blown contemporary tragedy.
It must be said, however, that its current avatar totally matches the pace of the city of Mumbai, which is actually the hero of this book.
Find the complete review here -
http://of-prose-and-poetry.com/#/read...
It must be said, however, that its current avatar totally matches the pace of the city of Mumbai, which is actually the hero of this book.
Find the complete review here -
http://of-prose-and-poetry.com/#/read...
Read
April 11, 2016I read his work (at length and full) for the first time, though I have read and heard about his earlier & only book – Eurekha. I am a big fan of Hindi films (who is not, I am sure everyone is). Through Colour Me Rich, we enter the world of artist Akash Saigal and the narration being racy- pacy, makes it an interesting read over a hot cup of tea or coffee.
April 12, 2016
Color Me Rich by Mohandeep is a captivating saga of a struggling painter, Akash Saigal and the turmoils he face during the course of the journey. A perfect blend of romace, thrill, mystery with variety of themes can be noticed. For detailed review read :
https://captivatingmode.wordpress.com...
https://captivatingmode.wordpress.com...
July 14, 2016
Book Review: Color me Rich by Mohan Deep
Here is a late review of the book. Sorry to keep you waiting.Was it suicide or murder by Akash ? Its more than what the story gist tells you.
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March 6, 2016A light and quick interesting sneak peak into the world of glamour (3.5/5)
Full review- http://wp.me/p2vbKI-lK
Full review- http://wp.me/p2vbKI-lK
November 24, 2018
If sources are to be taken at face value then Mohan Deep's 10th Novel could well be the first official bestseller of 2016 in less than a month after it's official launch in Mumbai at the hands of Mahesh Bhatt & Kunika while simultaneously the kindle edition was flagged of by Shirish Kunder.
Mohan Deep has always had a flair with words and his command over the expression is smooth and flows effortlrssly keeping the readers on the edge of excitement.
When this book reviewer had predicted on @AmazonIndia that if Shobha De was crowned india's Answer to Jackie Collins then after His 10th book 'Color Me Rich' nobody can deny that Mohan Deep is a befitting answer to Harold Robbins as his effortless writing makes his latest book simply unputdownable once You start reading it..As each page got imprinted on the canvas of My Mind the recurring thought that sprung up was how would this book shape into a movie if Mahesh Bhatt or Madhur Bhandarkar or even Pooja or Vikram Bhatt for that matter chose to adapt it for the Big Screen.
Even though Mohan Deep insists that any resemblance to people living and dead is not intentional but purely coincidence yet if You happen to keep tabs on Page 3 Celebs and present day painters who dabble with ambitious Socialites then You cannot but help to see any controversial name pop up that are to obvious to ignore..That in itself is what makes 'Color Me Rich a gripping and enthralling read all 187 pages of it from cover to cover!!!
Mohan Deep has always had a flair with words and his command over the expression is smooth and flows effortlrssly keeping the readers on the edge of excitement.
When this book reviewer had predicted on @AmazonIndia that if Shobha De was crowned india's Answer to Jackie Collins then after His 10th book 'Color Me Rich' nobody can deny that Mohan Deep is a befitting answer to Harold Robbins as his effortless writing makes his latest book simply unputdownable once You start reading it..As each page got imprinted on the canvas of My Mind the recurring thought that sprung up was how would this book shape into a movie if Mahesh Bhatt or Madhur Bhandarkar or even Pooja or Vikram Bhatt for that matter chose to adapt it for the Big Screen.
Even though Mohan Deep insists that any resemblance to people living and dead is not intentional but purely coincidence yet if You happen to keep tabs on Page 3 Celebs and present day painters who dabble with ambitious Socialites then You cannot but help to see any controversial name pop up that are to obvious to ignore..That in itself is what makes 'Color Me Rich a gripping and enthralling read all 187 pages of it from cover to cover!!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews