Bhawana Somaaya

Here is a carefully and cautiously written biography of the dancer/actress/politician, paying particular attention to highlight her positive attributes and hardly mentioning the negatives. This is how a biography should be written. Gossips, scandals, and moral judgments are already public records, so there is no need to elaborate on those, and the author has left them alone. While many biographers write mainly to tear their subject apart, an assiduous attempt is made here not only to not tarnish the person, but build her up in every which way possible. Empathy-inducing incidents, quotes, and anecdotes are included, looking for some understating from the reader-for example, the death of the actress' father.

The old Indian saying advises that we should take what benefits us and discard the useless and harmful. This author has done just that. She is clearly an admirer of her subject. She deserves tremendous merit in that she wrote a such decent book. Of course, this is why it is an `authorized' biography.… (altro)