Book Review of Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan

Set against the backdrop of the 80s and 90s, Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan is a rom-com and familial drama, the roots of which are easily traceable to the deep-rooted cultural heritage of our Indian traditions. A story perhaps common and yet like no other, this one revolves around the life and trials and tribulations of Justice Laxmi Narayan, his wife Mamta, and his five daughters, There is much more to this tale than meets the eye, as Anuja Chauhan herself has fondly recalled, this one, which is an interplay between free journalism as well as a government platform voice too, captures the moments of an Indian lifestyle from that era.

So, bringing you today a P. G. Woodhouse kind of read, complete with tongue-in-cheek humour, dramatic intensity, sweet and sour emotions, quirky “Hinglish pick-up liners,” and most importantly, a flavour and flair of life, “Those pricey Thakur girls” by Anuja Chauhan is a book that is perhaps one of the best assimilations of family dramas, love tales, ups and downs of life, and a delve into the mirror of a layman’s perception of the same.

You know there are some kinds of fiction, especially the cross-genre ones, that happen to scatter so much, hiding life in its multiple hues between their pages, layered, waiting to be peeled, step by step.

Ah, I’m wondering what has gotten into me to get so candid today to discuss these intricacies of life at length. Um, well, life, you know, happens sometimes, and I must tell you that it is kind of few and far between for me as I always feel that drama and romance, albeit in a familial setting, have always been a cross-genre I have immensely enjoyed. The closer-to-real-life vibe that this one exudes makes me feel and resonate with the candidness of the entire setup depicted through such a narrative.

Plot And Characters

In a Lutyens Delhi of the 80s, posh and exuberantly portrayed, the Thakur family not only maintains and prioritizes their loyalties to socio-cultural ideas but there is also a lot more to their side of the story than meets the eye.

The daughters, Anjini, Binodini, Chandrakanta, Debjani, and Eshwari, are each special in their own way, their character traits more than making up for an interesting insight into the highly quirky as well as interesting lineup the Thakurs prove to be.

Anjini is married and yet, sadly, surely an incorrigible flirt. Binodini, the second one, well, all she has to worry about is her children’s “hiss” in the property (uff, this one is relatable, yeah!) There is Chandrakanta, who happens to have eloped with a foreigner on the eve of her wedding; Eshwari, who is a big wheel, too popular for comfort at the Modern School; Barakhamba; and the judge’s absolute favourite child (although they shouldn’t be having favourites amongst kids), Debjani, newsreader as well as a champion of all stray animals at the Hailey Road.

The tale, which examines the interweaving scenarios, the politics, and the unspoken facets of the family’s trysts, is sarcastic and humorous, as are the fiery, sparkling romantic sparks between Debjani, or Dabbu for short, and Dylan Singh Shekhawat, who happens to be the judge’s best friend’s son as well as a journalist himself.

Well, not only is the tale restricted to the romance between the two, but it also happens to examine the trials and tribulations of all the Thakur girls, chance by chance.

There is the elder one’s tale, Anjini, and her failing marriage woes; Binodini, aka Binny’s hubby’s failing business woes; and not to forget Eshwari, aka Eshu’s high school love life. So much for family drama, huh? Wait, did I forget to mention that there is also Chachiji, aka Bhudevi Thakur, who, for some reason, is convinced that her husband, A N Thakur, seems to be having an affair with their domestic help, the “Hot Dulari”.

My Thoughts

Such crazy, quirky characters and their shenanigans—now that is something I would say is much more intense and layered than even a chick-lit drama, shining in a many-dimensioned paradigm. Anuja has successfully managed to build a world that comes across as one where you simply get the feeling of “been there, done that.” Not only do the characters resonate with the reader, but one tends to actually empathize with them, occasionally even successfully managing to see right amidst their wrongs.

There is so much finesse and detail that has been meticulously put into the story by Anuja that I was absolutely immersed in the brilliant manner in which she disperses the wanderings of the Thakur family’s wanderings and life trysts, basking in their joys, cowering under their problems, and poring over solutions alongside them. Written in what I fondly like to refer to as the “easy-peasy” style of writing, Anuja’s tone is breezy yet deep enough to strike a chord with the readers.

True, there is masala, but the one that is zingy enough to bring forth the different takes life gives us, bathing the readers in a tide of a host of emotions and drenching us with what I call the essence of an era.

Final Thoughts

So, with a sequel to follow, this one is your perfect indulgent read, especially if you want to grab a slice of life, delve into the finer lines of it, pore over it, and peruse it at arm’s length. What sets it apart from other regular narratives of this sort is Anuja’s ability to chisel this one in a tint that does not make this one come across as a rosy picture, but rather a true-to-life version of living in such a familial setup. A tale worthy of being dived into by all those who like to dabble with life, Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan makes for a fine and exquisite read.

So, I hope you guys liked my thoughts on this one. Stay tuned with us right here at Booxoul for the best in the fields of entertainment, lifestyle, food, fun, finance, fashion, tech, and gadgets, as well as all things bookish.

Adios Amigos!