Ravi
Subramanian’s Bankster is a gripping
tale of money laundering… power… and politics. It beautifully captures both
corporate politics and politics in the name of democracy. It is about the greed
for money and the unabashed desire for power. It is about how people use others
to satisfy one’s own selfish deeds.
As the
story begins, we feel like we are exposed to a few random days in a bank. There
are too many detailing and innumerous incidents. There are many characters too.
The
book moves slow initially and eventually picks up the pace. There are too many
characters and they all carry shades of grey. The detailing of regular banking
transactions and the way Relationship Managers are forces to sacrifice their
integrity to meet the monthly/half-yearly/annual targets make it interesting.
Vikram
Bahl comes across as a smart career oriented guy…He is friendly ansd at the
same time knows how to get things things from others.
Harshitha
Lele as a professional with integrity…Her insecurity that arises on account of
ageing ans the jealousy she feels towards the sensual Zinaida is very real. We
all of us will go through such tough phases in our professional life. Sidharth
Lele as an understanding husband, is empathetic and understanding. He says the
right things at the right times and stands by his wife.
Zinaida
as a woman who uses her sensuality to get things done… She knows how to make
men fall for her charm. She is a woman who goes one extra mile of bewitching
her senior male colleagues to climb up the ladder of hierarchy.
Nikhil
and Anand come across as obedient subordinates… They follow their boss’s cues;
both implicit and explicit ones.
Tanuja
as any other HR; sweet and approachable… She has a fling in the office and shares
insider’s information.
Raymond
as a dedicated employee… Karan Punjabi as a brilliant investigator…. Indrani as
a responsible CEO…
Krishnan
Menon as an old man fighting for a mighty cause… He is a man who selflessly
takes steps to meet a promise he had made to himself. His dilemma and the way
he is used by others is something we see in our day today life. Jayakumar as a
corrupt politician…
Kavya?
The story would have been the same without her too!
What
makes this tale interesting is the plot. It is different… Thankfully not
another love story of kids or IIM graduates… It is doesn’t carries clichés
(Except Kavya of course)
Oh
yeah! It addresses a very important issue that is faced by mother India… An
issue that is shaking the Country manifolds – Money laundering! It implicitly
says that the one with power should use it rightly and the powerful should
never be negligent. It says that the seniors should never be biased or
under-estimate their subordinates.
To
conclude, I loved the book. It is different and transfixing. Go for the book… A
nice way to spend a beautiful weekend! And Ravi Subramanian, we are expecting
more books from you… We hope that you would play a vital role in taking Indian
fictions to yet another level!
PS:
Book review programs of Blogadda always enthrall me. This was more
special because I got a personally autographed book by the author. The book
would always remain as a cherished possession. And yes! Thank you Locomente! Wink
So you got the book and finished it too.. Great review here!! :-)
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