3 Review(s)

The book is an exposition of life behind the glamour. It speaks on the pains the artist undergoes to create his image and more to retain the intellection. The stories are based on personal interactions that could never become public. Even if some plots trickled out it failed to arouse concern and empathy. These anecdotes underline various phases of Hindi cinema and despite all its technical superiority, it could not shrug off the system that demeans artists once they are not patronized or engaged. It has references to individuals, film families and some unsaid instances that built the concept of the book. A major portion of the book is devoted to the second rung of artists or character artists, whose contributions howsoever prodigious and impressionable have often been ignored. Cinema pandered more to the star system than its realities. A character artist remains in focus till he is there. Many names that enthused the box office charts are long erased. Rightly everything that glitters is not glamour. The book quotes instances of sham camaraderie in the film world that in reality is ruthless and operates without remorse. Yet, it continues to attract and absorb new talent and that is the peculiarity of show business.