PLOT: 2.5/5 CHARACTERS: 3/5 WRITING: 3/5 CLIMAX: 2/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 3/5
“Meri Zindagi sali! London bridge ke mafiq hei, it’s falling down… it’s falling down… London Bridge is falling down.”
– Anuj Tikku, Divas of Pegasus Bar
It’s been a while since I last read a book by the author Anuj Tikku. Over the years, I have read many books by the author, covering a wide variety of genres – horror, crime fiction, travel writing, fantasy, nonfiction, and more. But this is the first time that I have observed a marked change, a visible improvement in the quality of his writing, and the credit goes to editing. Unlike other times there are no grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors in the book, and I must say that this makes me very happy.
What is the book all about?
Divas of Pegasus Bar is a story of a famous dance bar in Juhu called the Pegasus Bar. But it’s not just that, it is also the story of the bar’s inception and origin, its owner, staff, and dancers, and the many people who come together to make it a success. The book is a contemporary drama that speaks of the taboo world of dance bars, drugs, and other related stuff.
Who can read?
Since the book is written in an easy-to-understand language and is a short read, it can be picked up by beginner-level readers.
What to expect?
Expect a short read of approximately a hundred pages. Expect a book that combines drama and crime and speaks of the world of dance bars.
Not recommended to
Keeping in mind its adult themes and content, Divas of Pegasus Bar is not recommended to underage readers.
The story as it goes
Suleman Raja is a visionary who wants to change the face of dance bars in India, inspired by his visits to the gentlemen’s bar in Manilla, he conceives the idea of Pegasus Bar, a bar that will deliver what other Indian bars have not yet delivered. Pegasus is a bar that is supposed to cater to a rich and elite clientele, it will be much western in its décor and dance styles.
To give wings to his dream of such a bar, he carefully curates the experience by bringing together a highly qualified team of the best dancers (Sizzling Shabnam, Jyoti Jalwa), sturdy bouncers (Bulldozer and team), and also wins over the upright cop Suraj Wankhede who will support him in keeping the dirty business of drugs away from his establishment.
But after spending great amounts of money and an equally considerable amount of time, trouble brews for Suleman Raja and his dream project in the form of Iqbal Safedi and Kareem CoCa. These two are hell-bent on infiltrating the establishment and using it for their dirty and illegal business of drugs.
Will Iqbal Safedi and Kareem CoCa be successful?
Will Pegasus Bar turn into just another drug joint?
Will the super cop Suraj Wankhede come to rescue the Pegasus Bar?
Let’s talk about the characters
The characters – there are plenty of them – Sizzling Shabnam, Jyoti Jalwa, Suleman Raja, Iqbal Safedi, and many more. All of the characters have been crafted with meticulous detailing, with great care and attention given to describing their looks and appearance, personalities, distinct mannerisms, quirks, and traits.
Also, a lot of effort has gone into conjuring the backstories of these characters which explain where they come from, what has been their life story, how has life shaped them as individuals, and as a result what are the motivations that drive them to action.
The writing
When it comes to the writing part, the storytelling is decent but it is much too linear and lacks mystery and twists. A few pages into the story and it’s not difficult to guess the way it is headed in the end. The climax, thus, falls flat and fails to impress the reader. Had the story been revealed in layers, it would have done wonders for the reading experience.
What stands out?
As far as I recall, I haven’t read a story based on dance bars in a long time. And thus, the unique setting and theme count as a refreshing change from the usual contemporary fiction that many authors churn out.
Some references to recent events in national affairs have been included in the story. These refer to the involvement of a particular star’s son in a drug-related bust. Inclusions such as these not only add the relatable and contemporary factor but also do a good job of refreshing the reader’s memory.
What not to expect?
For those of you, who are looking forward to the book thinking of it as erotica, let me warn you that this is not what the book is about. There are some explicit scenes here and there, but in the end, the book is a mix of crime and drama with a unique setting of a dance bar.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Divas of Pegasus Bar using the link below.
