Mumbai men in Manhattan
A journey of three ambitious Mumbaikars, as they zip through the ups and downs of life
By : shagufta kalim
Update: 2014-08-05 23:27 GMT
Madhuri Iyer takes her readers to Manhattan; and she makes sure they feel wonderfully at home. Manhattan Mango is the journey of three ambitious, high achieving, 20-something Mumbaikars, as they zip through the ups and downs of life in the fast lanes of the Big Apple. “I have lived there, and loved it. I chose to describe life in Manhattan rather than go into details about the city itself. The idea was to showcase the fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle seen through Indian eyes.
Any Mumbaikar would feel very much at home here because the buzz is so Mumbai. The crazy commute, the commerce-centric mindset, and the great singles scene are some parallels that both cities share,” she points out. That explains the Manhattan part, leaving us to wonder how to figure the mango connection in the tale. Madhuri, who is an advertising consultant, answers with a smile, “The story is about Indians in downtown New York, and mango being our national fruit adds a certain desi charm. Hence, it takes a place of pride in the title. The whole alliteration thing also helps the cause.”
The author felt completely at ease slipping into the shoes of not one, but three male protagonists. “It wasn’t hard at all. I’d say, by and large, guys are less complex to write about than women. Their thinking is more direct, more logical. Female characters have to be more nuanced. Often, hormonal influences like PMS and menopause drive emotion in women; so these very real considerations have to be factored in,” she feels.
While keen on retaining the high spirited charm of New York, the writer makes sure the immigrants’ story also offers a reality check. She says, “I admit it was a conscious effort. I wanted to convey the ground realities with light-hearted drama and humour. However, the important takeaway is that despite their struggles, the Ganpat Gang wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s what life is about, isn’t it?”
After a creative exploration of the “American dream”, the Mumbai-based author has turned her focus closer home. “I’m editing my next novel The Strongman’s Daug-hter. It’s a drama-thriller about a politician and his daughter.”
Having lived in the USA, Canada, Dubai and Mumbai all through her professional life, this globe trotter has imbibed the beauty and complexities of these places in her creative space. On the personal front, ask her to pick a favourite city and she looks spoilt for choice. She says, “I want the people of Mumbai, the buzz of Manhattan, the history of Istanbul and the beauty of San Francisco.”