Jainand Gurjar reviews Heartstrings and Harmonies by Manali Desai (published by Ukiyoto Publishing, 2024).
Songs often tell stories where each verse, chorus, bridge, outro and even refrain resembles a conversation, a dialogue, an emotion, some unsaid and (maybe) unacknowledged feelings, dilemmas and even delusions! Sometimes, songs become stories where we condition them with certain events and people, and thus, whenever we think or hum that song, we get transported to that same memory. Songs are like smells and fragrances that can transport us to different ‘zamaan-o-makaan’ – the time and space, circumstances and events. And thus if we think about it, songs—though recognised by our sense of hearing—evoke our other sensory organs as well, all through their storytelling.
Recommended Reading: Rhythmic words: A list of books about music
Stories Born from Lyrics, Not Vice Versa
Thus, when stories are woven around songs (and not songs around stories), they evoke more emotions and senses than one can think of. Heartstrings and Harmonies by Manali Desai is a collection of 29 stories that takes the readers on the lyrical journey of love as – Romance, Friendship, Hope, Revelation, and Life & Beyond.
Divided into five parts, where each part taps into the aforementioned sub-themes, Manali Desai transports the readers to the heartstrings of Bollywood movies – their songs (with the given translation) and beautifully entangles them with real-life scenarios and settings – where the readers can find themselves as the protagonist of the stories—in the middle of the traffic and listening to the Radio Jockey, in college listen to music with friends in partners, the melody of our mothers in the morning while making us try to come out of bed finally, one sings a song to calm oneself—each story, different from each other, give the readers a chance to transport them into the stories.
The core of the stories remains the same—the comfort that music brings to our lives—though the trajectory to reach that peaceful and comforting position can be quite turbulent and filled with rage, helplessness, loss or despair.
The Distinct Voice of Manali Desai
Having read five books by Manali Desai already before this one—which includes a short story collection as well—it’s astonishing to see how she comes up with newer concepts and stories each time and captives the attention of the reader. This book is another example of the classic “Manali Desai style” that has a lot of Bollywood references (including a retelling of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), melodrama, music (of course!), the war with her husband in the Dedication, the naming of the chapters and the idea behind the prologue, humour and feel good vibes, it has everything she is known for.
Recommended Reading: Unequal rhythm in Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music
Stories That Strike a Chord
The stories that stood out very well are—
It Didn’t Happen To Me, Why Did It Happen To You Then?
A soothing story narrating the complexities of one-sided love in friendship
Oh, Something Strange Is Happening
A reimagined ending of the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai movie that we all craved to see but never witnessed
With Dreams In My Eyes, I’ve Left From Home
A story about the significance of tender and gentle moments coming from strangers at a time when one needs them the most
New Colours In Every Moment
Shows how traditions in families are passed down from one generation to the next with the memories attached to them
My Shadow Will Follow You
A story that shows what happens when a bookworm is challenged to finish a book in a night!
This Intoxicating Evening
Shows how the objects around us are not merely some objects but the source of memories, stories, love and emotions.
—where each is different from one another and yet has the power to generate laughter, smile, satisfaction, and sometimes restlessness and vulnerability.
Where the Collection Could Be Stronger
Manali Desai’s collection finds its success in taking the readers on the melodies part of music and stories, though it could’ve been exceptional if it had shown more of the characterisation in the stories. There were moments when the characters needed more elaboration and association with the music besides each other. Like in the story “You are the Reason I Smile and Hum”, it would have made the story more connecting if some incidents of Niyati were shared to show her optimistic perspective about life, which in turn could have made the ending more inspiring.
Or, in the story “That’s What Life is All About”, showing the jovial side of Arjun would have complimented his description:
With a smile on his face and a joke coming out of his witty mouth every few minutes, nobody was surprised when he found his calling as a stand-up comedian.
– Manali Desai, Heartstrings and Harmonies
The writing style is fast-paced and comes with crisp and concise stories, which is perfect for someone who is looking forward to some short and engaging stories to get them back into reading from a slump or help in reading in between choruses or some work. But at the same time, it sometimes results in a lack of depth in the stories or characters and doesn’t give a chance to sit with the characters while humming to the tunes and listening to their conversations. It almost felt like the stories were music videos when I was expecting them to be short films.
Favourite Quote from Heartstrings and Harmonies by Manali Desai
It’s love
When your favourite song becomes their favourite too, and soon after it transitions into being ‘our’ song.
Conclusion
Overall, Heartstrings and Harmonies by Manali Desai represents a unique concept that was well developed by the author with the amalgamation of music and stories, offering a lot of comfort, calmness and melodrama. It’s the perfect book to be read with music and a cup of tea or coffee.
Have you taken this lyrical journey that intertwines music, emotions, and heartfelt storytelling? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
