23 May 2011
By koshkha
In Contemporary fiction, Fiction Books
When I read Farahad Zama’s first book ‘The Marriage Bureau for Rich People’ I was completely bowled over by the gentle tale of Mr Ali, the retired gentleman making matches across racial and religious divides. It felt like I’d found a blend of Jane Austin and Alexander McCall Smith and he’d hit the jackpot for me by setting it in India. I read his second book which I liked but not to quite the same degree as the first and when I spotted the third was about to be released I asked Curiousbookfans to see if the publishers could let me have a copy. Hence just a few days after it was released the postman brought me a copy of Zama’s third book – The Wedding Wallah.
In the southern Indian coastal city of Vizag, Mr Ali is still running his marriage bureau under the watchful eye of his redoubtable wife and with the efficient support of his assistant Aruna.
Farahad Zama
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1 Jul 2010
By koshkha
In Creative
When I read The Marriage Bureau for Rich People I was hooked immediately. I have an extensive collection of books set in India and whilst it’s a country I love to visit and to read about, I have to admit that happy light-hearted fiction set there is hard to find. I asked Vladimir to approach the author – Farahad Zama – and ask if we could interview him. Below you’ll find the results of that interview.
I’d certainly advice any of the Curious Book Fans reviewers to consider approaching writers as getting direct contact must surely be one of the most interesting ways to fulfil some of those ‘curious’ yearnings to learn more about a book or writer you’ve really enjoyed.
CBF: You grew up in Vizag and married a local girl. Was your marriage arranged and if so how did your experience compare with that of the marriage candidates in your book?
Farahad Zama: Yes, my wife’s uncle was our neighbour and that’s how the marriage was arranged. I met my wife for the first time in October and we were married on New Year’s eve, six weeks later.
Farahad Zama, interview
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4 Jun 2010
By koshkha
In Contemporary fiction
“Like a barber who shaves the cat for want of something to do” – Mrs Ali
Mr Hyder Ali, Government Clerk (retired) has been struggling to fill his days since he gave up work. It’s not easy for his wife either. She’s going crazy at him fussing around the house and wishes he’d get out from under her feet and find something to do. You might suppose he’d take up golf, collect stamps or spend more time at the mosque but instead he comes up with the unlikely idea of starting a marriage bureau. With decades of his own happy marriage behind him and a keen understanding of human nature, it’s just the job for a man in need of distraction. Of course it’s not just ‘any’ marriage bureau because Mr Ali is smart enough to know that all good businesses need a point of difference, something to make it stand out in a busy marketplace. His business is thus the “Marriage Bureau for Rich People“. Oh if only we could be so blatant in our branding!
Farahad Zama
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