Rasika Bhatia has been a wedding planner for twenty two good and successful years. She is a trained graphics designer too. “The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner ” is her first book. You can safely assume that she has put her degree in English literature to good use in writing this book.
About ‘The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner’
The oxford dictionary lists the meaning of the word Tamasha – a grand show, performance, or celebration, especially one involving dance: a typical Indian term.
To tell the truth , anyone who has been to any Indian wedding specially a north Indian or a Punjabi one, will agree that it is a big Tamasha with showmanship, tears , song and dance and of course feasting. A marriage is an unforgettable , once in a lifetime event in Indian context and hence the hullabaloo , leaving no stone unturned to create an impact. Indians consider it a matter of social prestige too. Here is where the Wedding planner comes into the picture. Not only does a wedding planner plans the perfect wedding of your dreams but also has to double up as a therapist and a trouble shooter. Actually the Wedding planner walks on eggshells till the solemnization of the marriage vows.
The book has been conveniently divided into 22 chapters , each dealing with a different wedding story. The comic illustrations add to the hilarity of the situations. Interestingly according to the author, all the stories are true accounts!
What I loved about ‘The Great Indian Tamasha …’
The title is just perfect , it exactly portrays Indian wedding as they are – a big fat Tamasha.
The bright cover page is aptly designed .It showcases the garish dresses and the loud song and dance routine that is an indispensable routine in North Indian weddings.
Rasika Bhatia keeps us completely smitten with her narration of different clients ranging from a Punjabi Don to an astute Astrologically inclined Jain Sahab. The dreamy brides sometimes asking for the impossible ( walking down from the moon ) , the controlling parents, the greedy in -laws, the philandering groom, the pre-wedding jitters , the show downs , you have the whole package and it is all delivered with cutting black humor. Rasika’s narration also made me realize how much hard work goes into planning and executing someone’s else dream project with last minute whims making it even more challenging.
All the stories are fast paced but not at all compromising on the plot or quality.
What did not work about ‘The Great Indian Tamasha …’
The length – its too short. Just when you start enjoying the ride, its time up ! That left me hungering for more and I am shouting it out loud – we want more , Rasika !
FINAL VERDICT on ‘The GREAT INDIAN TAMASHA …’
I must confess I was completely blown away off my feet on reading this book. It is a witty and fast paced accounts of different Indian weddings and what goes behind the scenes. How greedy the affluent can be , how controlling Indian parents can be etc. etc. There is no dull moment. The anecdotes just don’t stop.
I rate it a 5/5.
Go get your copy today !!
But before that , please share your views in the comments section below.
30 responses to “The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of A Wedding Planner by Rasika Bhatia”
wow…. 5/5 rating. This itself shows how much you enjoyed the book. I loved the cover page. Indian wedding is an Event and the frequently changing trends make the event planner’s job even more stressful. I will check out this book. Is the ebook also available?
I must say I am impressed that the word ‘tamasha’ is listed in Oxford Dictionary. And yes, Indian weddings are truly a tamasha, but a fun one. I am sure that’s why you found the book too short. It sounds like a pacy read from your review. Will check it out.
I love wedding planners. I used to watch a lot of that show, “Say Yes to the dress” which made me fantasise being a wedding planner when I was young. Knowing more about Indian weddings based on Priyanka and Nick Jonas’ wedding, I can only imagine how big and incredible your weddings could be! No wonder you’ve given 5/5! This book must be amazing!
This is definitely going on my TBR Preeti… thanks for the review. it sounds like a great read and I love good humour and anecdotes. I somehow feel i will be visualizing vividly while I’m at it.
I love the cover of the book too!
Your review is just enough to pick this book for me. What I understood from your review is that its going to be an ultimate humourous read for me. People forget to smile and enjoy life and such books are the one which can revamp our mood and make us get back in normal happy mood. Indian wedding are indeed no less than festival and so reading 22 stories of Indian wedding will definitely going to be a great read for me. Thanks for this crisp review
I had read the positive reviews of this book before too on other blogs and now, after reading your post, felt that book is amazing and author did an amazing job to convey the theme of book perfectly. will try to read this book for sure.
Wow! seems like you had bouts of laughter reading this book. The title of the book itself speaks about the hullabaloo around weddings. It’s been long time I have not read humor, but now I found one!
I caught the video of the book launch and found it quite amusing. Was on the fence about picking it up. After reading your review, I am definitely adding it to my TBR. Light books, the more the merrier.
Dividing the book into 22 chapters, each showcasing a different wedding story, seems like a brilliant way to capture the diversity and complexity of these experiences. And the fact that the author claims all the stories are true accounts adds an extra layer of intrigue and authenticity to the read.
I can’t help but imagine how the comic illustrations must enhance the hilarity of the situations described in the book. It sounds like the perfect blend of comedy, cultural exploration, and storytelling. I’m excited to dive into these pages and immerse myself in the vibrant world of Indian weddings. Gonna buy this soon. Thank you for sharing this captivating review!
This book sounds good to me. Your review makes me want to grab a copy right away. I like such lighthearted reads.Thanks for the review 🙂 I am going to get my hands on it.
A 5/5 rating grabbed my attention and your positivity and exuberance in conveying all the reasons to grab this book is a winner for me. This definitely be my next read. Loved your review. Brilliant!
Weddings as a subject and particularly Indian weddings are fascinating. In that sense, I’m sure this book had a lot to offer. Your review was crisp and to the point, no extra fluff. Good one.
I loved the vibrant cover! Indian weddings are indeed a tamasha and it’s getting weirder now with photographers interfering in rituals for the perfect shots and the couple indulging in unnecessary PDA for photo-ops. This must be a fun read. A wedding planner’s job now is more difficult than ever. Finding humour in it isn’t easy and Rasika seems to have conquered it.
The stories about weddings are always fun and memorable looking at the colourful book cover I think it is an interesting and crip read. Thanks for the review.
“The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner” by Rasika Bhatia sounds like a delightful and humorous book. The author’s background as a wedding planner adds authenticity to the stories and experiences shared in the book. The division of the book into 22 chapters, each dealing with a different wedding story, adds variety and keeps the readers engaged. The inclusion of comic illustrations enhances the humor and captures the essence of Indian weddings. The book seems to provide insight into the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by wedding planners and the entertaining anecdotes that arise from dealing with different clients and their demands. I must say, the review rates “The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner” highly, praising its wit, fast-paced storytelling, and humorous anecdotes.
wow…. 5/5 rating. This itself shows how much you enjoyed the book. I loved the cover page. Indian wedding is an Event and the frequently changing trends make the event planner’s job even more stressful. I will check out this book. Is the ebook also available?
Maybe I’ll read it – for the fun of it.
Yes, fun is definitely promised.
The way you have mentioned about the book it seems way too hilarious. Moreover the fact about the different types of wedding. I like fast read books.
I must say I am impressed that the word ‘tamasha’ is listed in Oxford Dictionary. And yes, Indian weddings are truly a tamasha, but a fun one. I am sure that’s why you found the book too short. It sounds like a pacy read from your review. Will check it out.
I love wedding planners. I used to watch a lot of that show, “Say Yes to the dress” which made me fantasise being a wedding planner when I was young. Knowing more about Indian weddings based on Priyanka and Nick Jonas’ wedding, I can only imagine how big and incredible your weddings could be! No wonder you’ve given 5/5! This book must be amazing!
Thanks Jeanine !Now I need to watch “Say yes to the dress”.
This is definitely going on my TBR Preeti… thanks for the review. it sounds like a great read and I love good humour and anecdotes. I somehow feel i will be visualizing vividly while I’m at it.
I love the cover of the book too!
Your review is just enough to pick this book for me. What I understood from your review is that its going to be an ultimate humourous read for me. People forget to smile and enjoy life and such books are the one which can revamp our mood and make us get back in normal happy mood. Indian wedding are indeed no less than festival and so reading 22 stories of Indian wedding will definitely going to be a great read for me. Thanks for this crisp review
This sounds like a fun book. Indian weddings do have a lot of tamasha. I enjoyed reading your to the point review.
I had read the positive reviews of this book before too on other blogs and now, after reading your post, felt that book is amazing and author did an amazing job to convey the theme of book perfectly. will try to read this book for sure.
Wow! seems like you had bouts of laughter reading this book. The title of the book itself speaks about the hullabaloo around weddings. It’s been long time I have not read humor, but now I found one!
I caught the video of the book launch and found it quite amusing. Was on the fence about picking it up. After reading your review, I am definitely adding it to my TBR. Light books, the more the merrier.
Oh yes, thee book launch had all the shenanigans associated with our weddings.
Adding this book to my TBR rightaway
Dividing the book into 22 chapters, each showcasing a different wedding story, seems like a brilliant way to capture the diversity and complexity of these experiences. And the fact that the author claims all the stories are true accounts adds an extra layer of intrigue and authenticity to the read.
I can’t help but imagine how the comic illustrations must enhance the hilarity of the situations described in the book. It sounds like the perfect blend of comedy, cultural exploration, and storytelling. I’m excited to dive into these pages and immerse myself in the vibrant world of Indian weddings. Gonna buy this soon. Thank you for sharing this captivating review!
This book sounds good to me. Your review makes me want to grab a copy right away. I like such lighthearted reads.Thanks for the review 🙂 I am going to get my hands on it.
A 5/5 rating grabbed my attention and your positivity and exuberance in conveying all the reasons to grab this book is a winner for me. This definitely be my next read. Loved your review. Brilliant!
Sounds like a fun read. I have been an event planner & iam sure i will relate to some of these situations. Will soon grab a kindle version.
SOunds like a must-read book from your review, being a North Indian myself I am sure I will be relating to a lot of stuff here.
Weddings as a subject and particularly Indian weddings are fascinating. In that sense, I’m sure this book had a lot to offer. Your review was crisp and to the point, no extra fluff. Good one.
I loved the vibrant cover! Indian weddings are indeed a tamasha and it’s getting weirder now with photographers interfering in rituals for the perfect shots and the couple indulging in unnecessary PDA for photo-ops. This must be a fun read. A wedding planner’s job now is more difficult than ever. Finding humour in it isn’t easy and Rasika seems to have conquered it.
The stories about weddings are always fun and memorable looking at the colourful book cover I think it is an interesting and crip read. Thanks for the review.
“The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner” by Rasika Bhatia sounds like a delightful and humorous book. The author’s background as a wedding planner adds authenticity to the stories and experiences shared in the book. The division of the book into 22 chapters, each dealing with a different wedding story, adds variety and keeps the readers engaged. The inclusion of comic illustrations enhances the humor and captures the essence of Indian weddings. The book seems to provide insight into the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by wedding planners and the entertaining anecdotes that arise from dealing with different clients and their demands. I must say, the review rates “The Great Indian Tamasha – Adventures of a Wedding Planner” highly, praising its wit, fast-paced storytelling, and humorous anecdotes.
Indian weddings are nothing but Tamasha… totally agree! The cover looks so attractive! Loved reading the review…let me arrange this one for myself 😆
Two things that got my eyes are the book title and then it’s cover. Both are so apt and your review made me curious to get my copy today and read it.
Wow! A 5 on 5? That’s splendid! Loved your to-the-point review and I think I am going to pick this up soon 🙂
The book won over me with its witty title. It should be in my collection 😉
Thanks for the lovely review.
Seems like a fun read and I can certainly do with a light interesting book at the moment. 5/5 is a huge recommendation. Will check it out certainly.
Sounds a bit like a funnier version of Made in Heaven on Prime Video!