Book Review: And Then One Day... A Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah

Book review: And Then One Day... A Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah

Publisher: Penguin Books India/Hamish Hamilton

Pages: 272

Price: Rs699

It is refreshing to read an autobiography which does not start with 'I was born on...' but then Naseeruddin Shah never followed conventions. And as neither he nor his mother were sure of his birth date or year, the question of 'I was born on...' never arises, which also gives him the leverage to change and choose his age "according to my mood".

Unputdownable!
And Then One Day grabs you right from its preface. Never one to shy away from speaking the truth, Shah gives an honest account of the 64 years (or 63) of his life in this memoir. The book is so honest that sometimes it blurs the difference between being straightforward and rude. Not one to mince words, Shah makes no effort whatsoever to hide his contempt for normal Bollywood masala movies and no-so-masala movies as well. Neither does he care to hide his indulgences -- be it smoking, dope, women or acting. He may as well be narrating his life story as a son, husband, father and actor (in NSD, FTII and Bollywood) to himself, that too without a filter. He writes what he thinks, and that's what makes this memoir a memorable piece of work.

Pages of life
The anecdotes written by Shah in his specific sticking-to-grammar style touch your heart. There are many poignant and heartbreaking moments in the book which despite written in lighter vein touch your heart. There is nothing in the book for those who know Shah but the fans (read admirers) will get to know a new side of his personality. The chapters which discuss his love for cinema and theatre are full of life. He tugs at your heart while giving his acceptance speech at Dilip Kumar's house with the veteran's Filmfare trophy in hand. And while he keeps on cribbing about his estranged relationship with his father, you can feel his anguish of not being able to make it to his funeral.

Of romance, and more
Despite being an autobiography, Shah doesn't shower praises on his acting prowess, not does he embellish his 'struggling days' with a melodrama. The book remains true to Shah's character – never praising one more than one deserves, sometimes giving much less credit to the deserved individual. The book is a must-read for all aspiring actors, especially those who want to venture into Bollywood and yet act. The book has everything – drama, action, romance, heartbreak – but never let's you assume that you are watching a Bollywood movie. It will not be an exaggeration to say that And Then One Day can easily stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one of the best memoirs ever written by a cine star – Romancing With Life by Dev Anand. Not to mention the full marks for writing that correct English!