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Aftertaste
Diwali 1984. Mummyji, the matriarch of a prosperous mithai business family, lies comatose in a Bombay hospital. Manipulative, determined, and seemingly invincible, Mummyji has held together her family through bribes of money, endless food, and adoration. Surrounding her are her four children: the weak and ineffectual Rajan Papa who is desperately in need of cash; Sunny, the dynamic head of the business with an ugly marriage and a demanding mistress; Suman, the spoilt beauty of the family who is determined to get her hands on Mummyji’s best jewels; and Saroj, Suman’s unlucky sister, who has always lived in her shadow. Each one of them wants Mummyji to die. Aftertaste tells the story of one business family and its bitter dynamics: of resentful bahus, emasculated sons, controlling mothers-in-law, and rapacious siblings. For at the heart of family lies money, not love. Full of rare period details and insights into the world of Baniya families, Aftertaste is worldly, astute, and utterly riveting.
- GenresIndia
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Namita Devidayal
6 books37 followersNamita Devidayal is a journalist with The Times of India, where she has written on a range of subjects from a satirical column called 'yummy mummy' to personal finance to culture.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 29, 2023
If ever there is an example required for "don't judge a book by it's blurb" this book takes the Bournvita burfee. Namita Devidayal's Aftertaste has blurbs equating it to be an Indian business book and a Marwari family drama - but the book turns out to be an half baked character study of siblings when the matriarch of a business is dying.
Bimz is the brainchild of Mummyji in the 70s when she was trying to protect her husband from a bad loan. The sweet shop business takes off with a lot of manipulation and smart tactics. After her husband passes away, Mummyji pulls the strings of her four children and grandchildren till the day she suffers a stroke. The book unravels with a lot of flashbacks and episodes going back to childhoods and recalling ultimately insignificant events.
Rajan Papa, the eldest son gets into money trouble and gets outmaneuvered by his brother Sunny in expanding the business. Sunny is an adulteror caught by his wife after he has an affair with a young cinema extra. Saroj the dutiful daughter who stays with her mother after her husband is cut out of his family business, is the epitome a good child. Suman is the sister who professes simple living, all the while being burned up on the aspect of her mother's diamonds.
When Mummyji has the stroke 4 days before Diwali, things change for the four characters who are in their own personal hells. There is also the next generation kids like Rahul the grandson - whose most complex confusions on sexual orientation get marginalized to 3 paragraphs before he is seen as a loving grandson.
There is a sense of hurry to the book, as if the time is limited. Each anecdotal character talks more about what happens than building depth to any character. Not to mention there were quite a few lazy sentences that seemed like fillers.
The book could have been edited more crisply I felt to at least keep the story engaging. A half decent book which could have done without the hype.
Bimz is the brainchild of Mummyji in the 70s when she was trying to protect her husband from a bad loan. The sweet shop business takes off with a lot of manipulation and smart tactics. After her husband passes away, Mummyji pulls the strings of her four children and grandchildren till the day she suffers a stroke. The book unravels with a lot of flashbacks and episodes going back to childhoods and recalling ultimately insignificant events.
Rajan Papa, the eldest son gets into money trouble and gets outmaneuvered by his brother Sunny in expanding the business. Sunny is an adulteror caught by his wife after he has an affair with a young cinema extra. Saroj the dutiful daughter who stays with her mother after her husband is cut out of his family business, is the epitome a good child. Suman is the sister who professes simple living, all the while being burned up on the aspect of her mother's diamonds.
When Mummyji has the stroke 4 days before Diwali, things change for the four characters who are in their own personal hells. There is also the next generation kids like Rahul the grandson - whose most complex confusions on sexual orientation get marginalized to 3 paragraphs before he is seen as a loving grandson.
There is a sense of hurry to the book, as if the time is limited. Each anecdotal character talks more about what happens than building depth to any character. Not to mention there were quite a few lazy sentences that seemed like fillers.
The book could have been edited more crisply I felt to at least keep the story engaging. A half decent book which could have done without the hype.
February 22, 2016
"Dolceamaro" è un titolo particolarmente azzeccato perché racconta il lato dolce e gradevole da un lato, e quello maggiormente amaro della vita, dall'altro.
L'aspetto dolce è sicuramente rappresentato dal negozio di dolci tipici indiani gestiti dalla proprietaria, una donna forte, determinata che ha cercato di fare il bene dei suoi figli. L'aspetto amaro assume le sembianze dei suoi quattro figli, ognuno con le sue problematiche e il modo diverso di vivere, che nutrono verso la madre sentimenti più di possesso che di vero e proprio affetto.
Ogni capitolo racconta ognuno dei figli, con la propria storia, le proprie paure che si mescolano alle tradizioni indiane.
"Dolceamaro" porta con sé un pizzico di dolcezza, ma anche e soprattutto la malinconia e la solitudine di un romanzo dal sapore d'Oriente e delle mille sfaccettature della vita.
L'aspetto dolce è sicuramente rappresentato dal negozio di dolci tipici indiani gestiti dalla proprietaria, una donna forte, determinata che ha cercato di fare il bene dei suoi figli. L'aspetto amaro assume le sembianze dei suoi quattro figli, ognuno con le sue problematiche e il modo diverso di vivere, che nutrono verso la madre sentimenti più di possesso che di vero e proprio affetto.
Ogni capitolo racconta ognuno dei figli, con la propria storia, le proprie paure che si mescolano alle tradizioni indiane.
"Dolceamaro" porta con sé un pizzico di dolcezza, ma anche e soprattutto la malinconia e la solitudine di un romanzo dal sapore d'Oriente e delle mille sfaccettature della vita.
October 22, 2017
She rules the "Mithai Shop"
She rules the "House".
Enjoy it with Bournvita Barfi.
She rules the "House".
Enjoy it with Bournvita Barfi.
July 5, 2017
2.5. Not bad--I did finish it--but there's not much too this novel either. The writing is fine, but there's little story or characterization here. I did like the look at Indian culture and family dynamics, especially celebrations and rituals, but without that aspect, I wouldn't have bothered.
March 17, 2014
I was sceptical when I started Aftertaste. Blurb said it told story of a Baniya business family of the 80’s – good enough reason for me to be cautious. After all, this is story line of majority soap operas on Indian television today, where women cooking in kitchen are dressed as if they are attending a wedding and chief goal of their lives seem to either conniving against other women of the family or seduce someone else’s boyfriend or husband. I could not have been more wrong.
Aftertaste tells story that is probably one among countless similar stories from India’s business class families. It is story of Todarmal family during early 80s. India is still under Licenseraj, not yet economically opened up and almost all businesses, small and big, are family owned. Only family members are qualified to run the business, there is no professional organisation structure and family matriarch and patriarch hold the key to every decision. All business families are closely knit; yet there are squabbles among siblings, rivalry to gain upper hand in business and most importantly, an unspoken but distinctly visible tussle to corner family wealth. This is a typical Indian joint family drama that has transpired since time immemorial, from Mahabharata to Mughal war of succession.
Mummyji, the matriarch of Todarmal family has ruled the family and business like an undisputed emperor. Her four children, though independent in their own sense are still tied to her by an invisible thread of family business and wealth. Like a master puppeteer, Mummyji pulls these strings, goading, bribing and manipulating her children, all for the sake of family. However, Mummyji is now comatose after heart attack and the rivalry among her children is about to come out in open.
This could have been a melodrama with known twists and turns and stereotype characters. But Namita Devidayal has scored with her restrained portrayal of a dysfunctional family. The book takes us through small incidents that shaped up four Todarmal children – Rajan, Sunny, Suman and Saroj. Business always played a major part in their life. Family ups and down that came with business moulded their insecurities. Author has done justice to each character. Each chapter gives us a peek into a character’s mind outlining his or her rationale for pursuing family wealth and thereby wishing Mummyji’s death.
I especially liked the climax. It would have been very tempting to provide easy solutions to all family problems with “And then they lived together happily ever after” type of ending. But Devidayal has finished the book on a note of cautious hope. Yes, the problems are still there but the siblings have started to find their own footing; Saroj is looking forward to meeting her estranged husband, Sunny and Jassu will probably give second chance to their difficult marriage, Rajan and Sunny are thinking about overcoming their differences and Suman is no longer maniacally pursuing Mummyji’s Jewels.
I think non-Indian readers will enjoy this book more. If you are looking for fast, easy read set in old times, try Aftertaste.
Aftertaste tells story that is probably one among countless similar stories from India’s business class families. It is story of Todarmal family during early 80s. India is still under Licenseraj, not yet economically opened up and almost all businesses, small and big, are family owned. Only family members are qualified to run the business, there is no professional organisation structure and family matriarch and patriarch hold the key to every decision. All business families are closely knit; yet there are squabbles among siblings, rivalry to gain upper hand in business and most importantly, an unspoken but distinctly visible tussle to corner family wealth. This is a typical Indian joint family drama that has transpired since time immemorial, from Mahabharata to Mughal war of succession.
Mummyji, the matriarch of Todarmal family has ruled the family and business like an undisputed emperor. Her four children, though independent in their own sense are still tied to her by an invisible thread of family business and wealth. Like a master puppeteer, Mummyji pulls these strings, goading, bribing and manipulating her children, all for the sake of family. However, Mummyji is now comatose after heart attack and the rivalry among her children is about to come out in open.
This could have been a melodrama with known twists and turns and stereotype characters. But Namita Devidayal has scored with her restrained portrayal of a dysfunctional family. The book takes us through small incidents that shaped up four Todarmal children – Rajan, Sunny, Suman and Saroj. Business always played a major part in their life. Family ups and down that came with business moulded their insecurities. Author has done justice to each character. Each chapter gives us a peek into a character’s mind outlining his or her rationale for pursuing family wealth and thereby wishing Mummyji’s death.
I especially liked the climax. It would have been very tempting to provide easy solutions to all family problems with “And then they lived together happily ever after” type of ending. But Devidayal has finished the book on a note of cautious hope. Yes, the problems are still there but the siblings have started to find their own footing; Saroj is looking forward to meeting her estranged husband, Sunny and Jassu will probably give second chance to their difficult marriage, Rajan and Sunny are thinking about overcoming their differences and Suman is no longer maniacally pursuing Mummyji’s Jewels.
I think non-Indian readers will enjoy this book more. If you are looking for fast, easy read set in old times, try Aftertaste.
February 15, 2013
Year 1984, Mummyji, the matriarch of the famous Mithai business family of Bombay lies comatose at Bombay Hospital. The least that is expected from her family is prayers but each of them are counting on her to die as they have a lot to gain with her death.
Rajan Papa, her eldest son is buried under a big debt and in need of money. Money that is being held on by Mummyji.
Sunny, the head of the business is living a rocky life. His marriage is breaking & his ever demanding mistress is not making things easier. He has a lot to gain with the death of his Mummyji.
Suman, the family’s spoilt beauty has her eyes on the precious jewel of her mother. Not that she has any lack of money from her Husband’s side but for her a little more won’t hurt.
Saroj the unlucky sister too has her own ghosts to rest & has been struggling to break through the shadow of her mother. She is yearning to break free.
They all have one common goal, money and they are ready to go to any extent for it.
Aftertaste is the story of each of these characters & their dynamics. It is a game of one-upmanship. Namita tells us the story of family which comes from a poor background, struggles to make ends meet, succeed in business and eventually end up running so much behind money that it becomes end all and be all for them.
How they get onto achieving what they want and will they ever realise the importance of relationships forms the crux of the story.
The book represents that stark reality of life, of how people put their interest before everything be it their mother, wife, son or brother. It also stresses upon the fact that children pick up from their parents. They emulate what they see at home and if you differentiate between children it comes back to hound you in this life only.
Set in old times this fast paced book makes for a good read. There is a rare charm in it because of its setting & makes for an interesting read.
Pick it up on a rainy day the book will entertain you.
Rajan Papa, her eldest son is buried under a big debt and in need of money. Money that is being held on by Mummyji.
Sunny, the head of the business is living a rocky life. His marriage is breaking & his ever demanding mistress is not making things easier. He has a lot to gain with the death of his Mummyji.
Suman, the family’s spoilt beauty has her eyes on the precious jewel of her mother. Not that she has any lack of money from her Husband’s side but for her a little more won’t hurt.
Saroj the unlucky sister too has her own ghosts to rest & has been struggling to break through the shadow of her mother. She is yearning to break free.
They all have one common goal, money and they are ready to go to any extent for it.
Aftertaste is the story of each of these characters & their dynamics. It is a game of one-upmanship. Namita tells us the story of family which comes from a poor background, struggles to make ends meet, succeed in business and eventually end up running so much behind money that it becomes end all and be all for them.
How they get onto achieving what they want and will they ever realise the importance of relationships forms the crux of the story.
The book represents that stark reality of life, of how people put their interest before everything be it their mother, wife, son or brother. It also stresses upon the fact that children pick up from their parents. They emulate what they see at home and if you differentiate between children it comes back to hound you in this life only.
Set in old times this fast paced book makes for a good read. There is a rare charm in it because of its setting & makes for an interesting read.
Pick it up on a rainy day the book will entertain you.
September 7, 2021
The title and cover of this novel initially gave me the impression of a sordid tale of a gold digging seductress, but it was when I flipped it over and read the rather contrasting synopsis, that I decided to give it a read.
'Aftertaste' starts off with the matriarch of a family run mithai business, known as mummyji, hospitalized after a stroke, with the backdrop of 1980s Bombay. Her four adult children appear at the scene in shared concern but possibly also with shared motives, hidden from one another.
The course of the story oscillates back and forth through the formative years and adult lives of the Todarmal family: An emasculated elder son who is in desperate need of money, while his doting wealthy mother turns a blind eye; the celebrated elder daughter and family beauty who preaches spirituality by day but curates greed by night, despite a privileged lifestyle provided by both her parents and consequently her husband; next in line is the dark skinned younger daughter who not only grew up in the shadow cast by her sister, but continues to reel through tragedies in her personal life as an adult; and finally the entitled youngest son, juggling a crumbling marriage, a demanding mistress and his growing control in the family business. They all have a lot to gain from Mummyji's demise and it's not just the business but most importantly the flashy family jewels, tucked away somewhere by the matriarch herself.
Set in decades past, the book offers an other timely charm and a close lens into desi family politics, the role of subcontinental women in different generations, the inception and growth of a family run business with changing roles by the players.
Aftertaste by Namita Devidayal is indeed a delightful read.
'Aftertaste' starts off with the matriarch of a family run mithai business, known as mummyji, hospitalized after a stroke, with the backdrop of 1980s Bombay. Her four adult children appear at the scene in shared concern but possibly also with shared motives, hidden from one another.
The course of the story oscillates back and forth through the formative years and adult lives of the Todarmal family: An emasculated elder son who is in desperate need of money, while his doting wealthy mother turns a blind eye; the celebrated elder daughter and family beauty who preaches spirituality by day but curates greed by night, despite a privileged lifestyle provided by both her parents and consequently her husband; next in line is the dark skinned younger daughter who not only grew up in the shadow cast by her sister, but continues to reel through tragedies in her personal life as an adult; and finally the entitled youngest son, juggling a crumbling marriage, a demanding mistress and his growing control in the family business. They all have a lot to gain from Mummyji's demise and it's not just the business but most importantly the flashy family jewels, tucked away somewhere by the matriarch herself.
Set in decades past, the book offers an other timely charm and a close lens into desi family politics, the role of subcontinental women in different generations, the inception and growth of a family run business with changing roles by the players.
Aftertaste by Namita Devidayal is indeed a delightful read.
October 28, 2014
Sometimes a book gives you a very unique experience and this book surely stands a testimonial to that. I can never forget it but for the most weird reason of course – a huge craving for sweet and not any sweet but Bournvita Burfi. A generation which has grown up on regular dose of morning-evening glass of milk can never thank the availability of Bournvita which made the routine into a much enjoyed activity.
To read more:
http://storywala.blogspot.in/2012/07/...
To read more:
http://storywala.blogspot.in/2012/07/...
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March 31, 2022Bimla Kulbhushan Todarmal, also known as Mummyji, is in hospital, in a critical state. Her four grown children, Rajan, Suman, Saroj and Sunny, are anxiously awaiting news.
From then on, the narrative takes us back to the history of the Todarmal family from the time the matriarch, Bimla, was a child, ending with great detail about their lives in the four days preceding Mummyji's stroke. Through separate sections devoted to all the characters, we get to know each of them in detail. The drawing out of the characters is done very well. We don't however like any of the characters. Perhaps the author meant us to feel dispassionately towards them all.
There wasn't any point to giving us the Prologue from the 3rd person PoV of the security guard at the hospital where Mummyji is admitted. An omniscient PoV would have worked just as well considering that the guard is a minor character.
The security guard suspects that the four children have nefarious intentions and don't really want their mother to live. How on earth does he come up with that idea from just watching them wait for news about their mother?
The verse at the beginning spelling out the twin concerns of the Marwari was apt. You get a sense of a world in which money is both a means and an end. Food, sex and money are paramount in the consciousness of almost all the characters here. We see their obsessions, the love for money and jewellery.
The author describes the dynamics of the family well. [They were collaborators but also competitors, which is how large families function.] We get to see the complicated relationships that exist between families and how sometimes the smallest of issues sour relationships.
Spread throughout the early history of the characters are delicious nuggets about the history of Bombay, the city we all love so much. The beehive bouffant so popular in Bollywood movies of the 60s and 70s are revived here. Of course, there are many references that only an Indian would be able to relate to. How women of certain communities called their husbands, Listen (Suniye), to get their attention, the open secret about vark etc.
These nuggets are served to us with bits of the larger history, of a nation suffering growth pangs.
The meaning of the title, Aftertaste, is clarified in a beautiful manner towards the end.
There's humour too as when pedas shaped like tanpuras end up looking like phalluses. There's an indulgent reference to the Marwari tendency to save money even at weddings by having family members eat out of the same plate.
The book doesn't let on about the year in which it is set, but we figure out that it starts in the late 50s, judging from the Murphy radio, the political and social events of the time.
The language was good, except for the occasional blooper. [The ambulance bleated its way into the hospital gates.]
The blurb on the back page calls the younger son Samir, but towards the end, Mummyji acknowledges that he wasn't even given a proper name.
Suman calls her brother Rajan Papa, but on page 5, she calls him just Rajan. An error since the right form of address is so important to Marwari tradition.
The son's name, Rajan, is too similar to that of the house help, Rajani.
From then on, the narrative takes us back to the history of the Todarmal family from the time the matriarch, Bimla, was a child, ending with great detail about their lives in the four days preceding Mummyji's stroke. Through separate sections devoted to all the characters, we get to know each of them in detail. The drawing out of the characters is done very well. We don't however like any of the characters. Perhaps the author meant us to feel dispassionately towards them all.
There wasn't any point to giving us the Prologue from the 3rd person PoV of the security guard at the hospital where Mummyji is admitted. An omniscient PoV would have worked just as well considering that the guard is a minor character.
The security guard suspects that the four children have nefarious intentions and don't really want their mother to live. How on earth does he come up with that idea from just watching them wait for news about their mother?
The verse at the beginning spelling out the twin concerns of the Marwari was apt. You get a sense of a world in which money is both a means and an end. Food, sex and money are paramount in the consciousness of almost all the characters here. We see their obsessions, the love for money and jewellery.
The author describes the dynamics of the family well. [They were collaborators but also competitors, which is how large families function.] We get to see the complicated relationships that exist between families and how sometimes the smallest of issues sour relationships.
Spread throughout the early history of the characters are delicious nuggets about the history of Bombay, the city we all love so much. The beehive bouffant so popular in Bollywood movies of the 60s and 70s are revived here. Of course, there are many references that only an Indian would be able to relate to. How women of certain communities called their husbands, Listen (Suniye), to get their attention, the open secret about vark etc.
These nuggets are served to us with bits of the larger history, of a nation suffering growth pangs.
The meaning of the title, Aftertaste, is clarified in a beautiful manner towards the end.
There's humour too as when pedas shaped like tanpuras end up looking like phalluses. There's an indulgent reference to the Marwari tendency to save money even at weddings by having family members eat out of the same plate.
The book doesn't let on about the year in which it is set, but we figure out that it starts in the late 50s, judging from the Murphy radio, the political and social events of the time.
The language was good, except for the occasional blooper. [The ambulance bleated its way into the hospital gates.]
The blurb on the back page calls the younger son Samir, but towards the end, Mummyji acknowledges that he wasn't even given a proper name.
Suman calls her brother Rajan Papa, but on page 5, she calls him just Rajan. An error since the right form of address is so important to Marwari tradition.
The son's name, Rajan, is too similar to that of the house help, Rajani.
April 8, 2019
Reading a second book by an author is much like watching a movie sequel, the reader's expectation is a greater barrier for the author to scale than merely a plot or a narrative. Namita Devidayal's first book "The Music Room", a memoir with a twist, featuring the life and times of her music teacher as the centerpiece was a wonderful debut for this journalist.
Like the earlier book, Aftertaste also has a central theme, not music but something more primal, food. Specifically, the heavenly mithai that the matriarch of the Todarmal family has converted into a thriving business. Mummyji, as the powerful old woman is known, is in the hospital, suffering from a stroke from which she is not expected to recover. The book chronicles the effect of this event on the condition of her four grown children and the impact her impending death has on the family dynamics.
The narration moves back and forth between the days prior to Mummyji's stroke in the lives of Rajan Papa, the oldest son, who is in a financial crunch which his doting mother is aware of but does nothing to alleviate; Suman - the once-beautiful elder daughter who preaches spirituality and detachment but is firmly entrenched in the material world, Saroj - the unfortunate, dark-skinned younger daughter struggling with her personal tragedy compounded by Mummyji's tyranny, and Sunny the youngest spoilt son who is juggling an extra-marital affair while dealing with business problems.
Through the lives of one family, the book shows the obsession of business families with money and its constant pursuit which becomes an end in itself even as the family ties chafe under the eternal pressure to maintain wealth and more importantly, social standing. Mummyji transforms the sagging fortunes of her husband by using her skill at making mithais, and as she traverses the traditional barriers, she picks up the family honor and the power that accompanies her actions. A strategy of bribing her kids either with food or money leaves a devastating trail in the dysfunctional family, spelling doom even for the next generation.
The story is fairly interesting but the author's use of similes and metaphors about food leave a bad taste. Instead of the gentle "show, not tell" style of the Music Room, there is judgment and justification for each character's action, an analysis of events from the author's point of view about the reason the characters behave the way they do. While a few loose ends are tied up at the end, it was heartening to see the surprise unresolved piece which is apparent but invisible to the ones who clamor for it.
I was reminded of a similar family saga "Home" by Manju Kapoor which focused on the lives of three generations of a business family that settles in Delhi after the partition. Both books read like polished versions of the family soaps more popular among TV viewers. Perhaps it is in this element that as a serious reader I am disappointed.
Like the earlier book, Aftertaste also has a central theme, not music but something more primal, food. Specifically, the heavenly mithai that the matriarch of the Todarmal family has converted into a thriving business. Mummyji, as the powerful old woman is known, is in the hospital, suffering from a stroke from which she is not expected to recover. The book chronicles the effect of this event on the condition of her four grown children and the impact her impending death has on the family dynamics.
The narration moves back and forth between the days prior to Mummyji's stroke in the lives of Rajan Papa, the oldest son, who is in a financial crunch which his doting mother is aware of but does nothing to alleviate; Suman - the once-beautiful elder daughter who preaches spirituality and detachment but is firmly entrenched in the material world, Saroj - the unfortunate, dark-skinned younger daughter struggling with her personal tragedy compounded by Mummyji's tyranny, and Sunny the youngest spoilt son who is juggling an extra-marital affair while dealing with business problems.
Through the lives of one family, the book shows the obsession of business families with money and its constant pursuit which becomes an end in itself even as the family ties chafe under the eternal pressure to maintain wealth and more importantly, social standing. Mummyji transforms the sagging fortunes of her husband by using her skill at making mithais, and as she traverses the traditional barriers, she picks up the family honor and the power that accompanies her actions. A strategy of bribing her kids either with food or money leaves a devastating trail in the dysfunctional family, spelling doom even for the next generation.
The story is fairly interesting but the author's use of similes and metaphors about food leave a bad taste. Instead of the gentle "show, not tell" style of the Music Room, there is judgment and justification for each character's action, an analysis of events from the author's point of view about the reason the characters behave the way they do. While a few loose ends are tied up at the end, it was heartening to see the surprise unresolved piece which is apparent but invisible to the ones who clamor for it.
I was reminded of a similar family saga "Home" by Manju Kapoor which focused on the lives of three generations of a business family that settles in Delhi after the partition. Both books read like polished versions of the family soaps more popular among TV viewers. Perhaps it is in this element that as a serious reader I am disappointed.
April 22, 2018
A well formed family drama with memorable characters. I was looking for an easy holiday read that would get me back into finishing novels, and this one fit the bill perfectly. Devidayal weaves an engrossing narrative interspersed with wisdom and flashes of insight.
February 28, 2021
Read this and my reviews of many, many, many other books on my blog at Feminist Quill
Might I start off by saying that I cannot believe this book has a average Goodreads rating of below 3, when SO MANY terrible books are rated 4 and 5 out of 5 stars?
Plot Description: The powerful matriarch of a wealthy business family (they sell sweets) has suffered a str0ke, and lies dying. Aftertaste is the story of how her children and her children-in-law deal with her impending death, while also fending off personal troubles of their own. In addition to metaphorical interpretations, the title also directly refers to the theme of Indian sweets that runs through the book in the form of the Todarmal’s business.
The one word I’d use to describe this book is “stark”. Stark as in “stark reality”. Stark as in “stark truth”. Stark as in “stark naked”.
[Note: This has nothing to do with the well known and generally unfortunate House of Stark, located at Winterfell.]
‘Mummyji’ is what she’s called, and that term itself is SO typically Indian – of the way we’ve managed to blend English customs with customs of our own from all over the country. So far, she’d run the family business with an iron fist and an eagle eye on the accounts. They’ve zillions of rupees stashed away in a Swiss bank account – the details of which are known only to Mummyji. Then there’s also the matter of Mummyji’s extremely valuable jewels (emeralds or diamonds or something. I forget exactly which). These too, have been squirreled away with none of the children the wiser to their location.
Mummyji clearly doesn’t trust her kids, and with good reason, because as it turns out, they’ve kind of been waiting for her to die for quite a while now. Each of them for their own personal reasons – her eldest son, Rajan Papa, is in debt to a local money lender. Her daughter, the beautiful yet indifferently married Suman seems hell bent on finding those jewels or die trying. Her other son Sunny – the spoilt brat who’s cheating on his wife, and her youngest daughter Saroj, who’s been estranged from her husband under the weirdest circumstances ever – they all need money from her for some reason or the other.
Mummyji herself is no saint, and as the story progresses, she’s revealed to be a master manipulator, and the ultimate controlling parent – determined to keep her kids tied to her apron strings way after they’ve grown up, gotten married, and, in some cases, had children of their own.
The story explores numerous subplots as it switches between narrators, including side characters like the largely overlooked and invisible servants of the house, Sunny’s young mistress, and one of Mummyji’s grandchildren, who’s struggling with issues related to his less than heteronormative sexuality. Not many of these subplots – if any at all – are boring or annoying. Rather than distracting the reader from the main narrative – which is my main gripe with many multiple narrator stories – the subplots combine to make a perfect whole.
What you end up with is a lazy, comfortable Sunday afternoon read that doesn’t pretend to you that life is any less difficult, messy, ugly or complicated than it really is; but makes you feel like maybe you can deal with it all the same.
As long as you take it slow and relaxed, like the pace of this book itself.
P.S.: I haven’t done a very feminist critique of this book because it represents more than half the types of quintessential Indian women you can ever come across. Reviewing it from a feminist perspective is going to require a scholarly article on Indian Feminism, no less.
Might I start off by saying that I cannot believe this book has a average Goodreads rating of below 3, when SO MANY terrible books are rated 4 and 5 out of 5 stars?
Plot Description: The powerful matriarch of a wealthy business family (they sell sweets) has suffered a str0ke, and lies dying. Aftertaste is the story of how her children and her children-in-law deal with her impending death, while also fending off personal troubles of their own. In addition to metaphorical interpretations, the title also directly refers to the theme of Indian sweets that runs through the book in the form of the Todarmal’s business.
The one word I’d use to describe this book is “stark”. Stark as in “stark reality”. Stark as in “stark truth”. Stark as in “stark naked”.
[Note: This has nothing to do with the well known and generally unfortunate House of Stark, located at Winterfell.]
‘Mummyji’ is what she’s called, and that term itself is SO typically Indian – of the way we’ve managed to blend English customs with customs of our own from all over the country. So far, she’d run the family business with an iron fist and an eagle eye on the accounts. They’ve zillions of rupees stashed away in a Swiss bank account – the details of which are known only to Mummyji. Then there’s also the matter of Mummyji’s extremely valuable jewels (emeralds or diamonds or something. I forget exactly which). These too, have been squirreled away with none of the children the wiser to their location.
Mummyji clearly doesn’t trust her kids, and with good reason, because as it turns out, they’ve kind of been waiting for her to die for quite a while now. Each of them for their own personal reasons – her eldest son, Rajan Papa, is in debt to a local money lender. Her daughter, the beautiful yet indifferently married Suman seems hell bent on finding those jewels or die trying. Her other son Sunny – the spoilt brat who’s cheating on his wife, and her youngest daughter Saroj, who’s been estranged from her husband under the weirdest circumstances ever – they all need money from her for some reason or the other.
Mummyji herself is no saint, and as the story progresses, she’s revealed to be a master manipulator, and the ultimate controlling parent – determined to keep her kids tied to her apron strings way after they’ve grown up, gotten married, and, in some cases, had children of their own.
The story explores numerous subplots as it switches between narrators, including side characters like the largely overlooked and invisible servants of the house, Sunny’s young mistress, and one of Mummyji’s grandchildren, who’s struggling with issues related to his less than heteronormative sexuality. Not many of these subplots – if any at all – are boring or annoying. Rather than distracting the reader from the main narrative – which is my main gripe with many multiple narrator stories – the subplots combine to make a perfect whole.
What you end up with is a lazy, comfortable Sunday afternoon read that doesn’t pretend to you that life is any less difficult, messy, ugly or complicated than it really is; but makes you feel like maybe you can deal with it all the same.
As long as you take it slow and relaxed, like the pace of this book itself.
P.S.: I haven’t done a very feminist critique of this book because it represents more than half the types of quintessential Indian women you can ever come across. Reviewing it from a feminist perspective is going to require a scholarly article on Indian Feminism, no less.
September 10, 2013
As the name goes, the book also lingers on the mind for quite some time. A very strong point of the book is the portrait of each character. Every character is unique and different from each other and has been portrayed through the words very very effectively.
Aftertaste is a story of a big, joint business family settled in Mumbai. The period it is set around is 1984. Kulbhushan Todarmal is a dealer in grains and stuff where one day he faces loss. His wife, Bimla Todarmal, at that point of time, comes up with an idea of setting up of a mithai shop which she is good at preparing. Thus it is the birth of her fifth child “Bimmo Di Barfi” – Shop named after her. After that, there is no looking back. Soon Kulbhushan Todarmal dies and Bimla, known as Mummyji by everyone, becomes the whole and sole of the business and its the other way round for her too.
Behind her, are her four children, the eldest son, Rajan Papa, then 15, who is forced to leave the school and look after the business, Suman, the young and beautiful daughter, Saroj, the timid girl and Sunny who then a toddler, neglected by his parents and craving for attention.
Now in 1984, Mummyji is hospitalized due to a stroke and the politics in the family business surfaces up. Everyone has his and her own life. Rajan Papa, is badly in need of money, Suman is lusting over her mother’s jewels, Saroj is as confused as she used to be and Sunny, who has turned out Mummyji’s replica, wants his own way out. One thing among all the siblings is common – Everyone wants Mummyji dead.
The life of Mummyji and her children is described in mere a week of Diwali, What happens before, during and after Diwali. Aftertaste tells the story of one business family and its bitter dynamics: of resentful bahus, emasculated sons, controlling mother-in-law, and rapacious siblings. The cover of the book rightly defines the story it contains and a worth reading book!
Aftertaste is a story of a big, joint business family settled in Mumbai. The period it is set around is 1984. Kulbhushan Todarmal is a dealer in grains and stuff where one day he faces loss. His wife, Bimla Todarmal, at that point of time, comes up with an idea of setting up of a mithai shop which she is good at preparing. Thus it is the birth of her fifth child “Bimmo Di Barfi” – Shop named after her. After that, there is no looking back. Soon Kulbhushan Todarmal dies and Bimla, known as Mummyji by everyone, becomes the whole and sole of the business and its the other way round for her too.
Behind her, are her four children, the eldest son, Rajan Papa, then 15, who is forced to leave the school and look after the business, Suman, the young and beautiful daughter, Saroj, the timid girl and Sunny who then a toddler, neglected by his parents and craving for attention.
Now in 1984, Mummyji is hospitalized due to a stroke and the politics in the family business surfaces up. Everyone has his and her own life. Rajan Papa, is badly in need of money, Suman is lusting over her mother’s jewels, Saroj is as confused as she used to be and Sunny, who has turned out Mummyji’s replica, wants his own way out. One thing among all the siblings is common – Everyone wants Mummyji dead.
The life of Mummyji and her children is described in mere a week of Diwali, What happens before, during and after Diwali. Aftertaste tells the story of one business family and its bitter dynamics: of resentful bahus, emasculated sons, controlling mother-in-law, and rapacious siblings. The cover of the book rightly defines the story it contains and a worth reading book!
April 10, 2013
The initial impression of ‘Aftertaste’ – the title coupled with the cover seemed promising. But later, when I browsed through the synopsis, my entire conception of the title changed! And that is what piqued my curiosity even more.
Greed, envy, pride, ‘Aftertaste’ is a blend of all the emotional topsy-turvy that a joint family can go through. Politics happen everywhere… And family politics is one very sensitive issue with the Indian audience. An area where all the television serial producers apparently make the most money!
‘Aftertaste’ is a story of such family politics spread across three generations – Mummyji aka Bimla Thodarmal and her four children – Rajan, Sunny, Suman and Saroj. Children who had to grow up before time, who were bossed around, who were neglected and who were cunningly manipulated by Mummyji; even after they married and went their own ways.
‘Aftertaste’ has each character beautifully carved out. Imbibed with variant personalities, every character is done fair justice. Rajan inadvertently following in his father’s footsteps, Sunny undergoing the trauma of an unsatisfied marriage, Suman putting her entire faith and belief not in herself but his holy highness and Saroj awaiting re-union with her estranged husband. And as for Mummiji, she is the apple of every one’s eye… That soon begins to start pricking!...
For the full review, visit IndiaBookStore.
Greed, envy, pride, ‘Aftertaste’ is a blend of all the emotional topsy-turvy that a joint family can go through. Politics happen everywhere… And family politics is one very sensitive issue with the Indian audience. An area where all the television serial producers apparently make the most money!
‘Aftertaste’ is a story of such family politics spread across three generations – Mummyji aka Bimla Thodarmal and her four children – Rajan, Sunny, Suman and Saroj. Children who had to grow up before time, who were bossed around, who were neglected and who were cunningly manipulated by Mummyji; even after they married and went their own ways.
‘Aftertaste’ has each character beautifully carved out. Imbibed with variant personalities, every character is done fair justice. Rajan inadvertently following in his father’s footsteps, Sunny undergoing the trauma of an unsatisfied marriage, Suman putting her entire faith and belief not in herself but his holy highness and Saroj awaiting re-union with her estranged husband. And as for Mummiji, she is the apple of every one’s eye… That soon begins to start pricking!...
For the full review, visit IndiaBookStore.
September 12, 2025
I read Aftertaste in 2015 and gave it 5 stars because it completely drew me in. The novel is set in Punjab and centers around a wealthy baniya family who built their fortune through a sweets empire. At the heart of the story is the formidable matriarch, Mummyji. When she passes away, the balance of power shifts and greed, rivalry, and buried family tensions rise to the surface.
What I loved most was how Namita Devidayal captured the drama of inheritance, tradition, and ambition within one family. The baniya setting added authenticity, and the sharp writing made each character — flawed, selfish, vulnerable — feel real. It’s both entertaining and insightful, mixing family politics with social commentary.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — Highly recommended if you enjoy multi-generational sagas that expose the dynamics of money, power, and relationships.
What I loved most was how Namita Devidayal captured the drama of inheritance, tradition, and ambition within one family. The baniya setting added authenticity, and the sharp writing made each character — flawed, selfish, vulnerable — feel real. It’s both entertaining and insightful, mixing family politics with social commentary.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — Highly recommended if you enjoy multi-generational sagas that expose the dynamics of money, power, and relationships.
March 17, 2012
Light read but well-written with a startling start that keeps you on edge a little, setting the tone for the whole book. A divorced Mom of an infant who is also a nationally-renowned chef must start over after losing her marriage and her beloved restaurant. Really enjoyed all the fun parts about food, cooking and eating!
March 7, 2012
If you are a "Get moving with it' kind of reader, skip this one. Pick this if you want something for a lazy afternoon, getting cozy under a blanket with a nice cup of coffee. If you enjoy writing that takes you there, you will be splashing around with the characters in Aftertaste
August 30, 2012
Easy read. Nothing earth shattering. So many books lately about divorced women with babies and cheating ex-husbands. Everything wraps up neatly and you see the pieces coming together long before they do.
November 14, 2010
If you liked Music Room and bought this book, beware. This is even worse than Shoba De.
Totally avoidable
Totally avoidable
Read
December 12, 2010sweet
December 6, 2011
A typical family saga..where the mom rules and the story of her siblings..where there is greed,rivalry etc..Was an ok kinda read..
December 19, 2011
This author's essay sums it up all - http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/eat/after...
May 6, 2016
Deliciously heartwarming tale of a Baniya family.
Loved every bit of it. No thrills and unnecessary melodrama, just a simple and free flowing story that grips you till the end.
Loved every bit of it. No thrills and unnecessary melodrama, just a simple and free flowing story that grips you till the end.
April 18, 2020
Slow and predictable.
April 28, 2013
its like a cup of pop corn during the interval of an awesome movie - an in between, breezy read
August 20, 2016
A delightful tale of a family in the sweets business http://www.anureviews.com/aftertaste-...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews