The extraordinary Life of Max Bulandi | Book Review
Review of Sidharth Singh's Novel - The Extraordinary Life of Max Bulandi
'If you've been wondering whether India will ever produce a world-class
rock band, think no further. The Flow is here.'
Nirvana's life is a mess--he is a jilted lover, a bored addict and a
disillusioned journalist. Nothing, it seems, can get him out of his funk.
Until one afternoon, when he discovers a pile of back issues of India's
premier youth magazine from the 1970s, Junior Standard. An article
on a famed rock contest of the time catches his eye. It mentions a band called
The Flow and their frontman, Max Bulandi, hailed as India's answer to Jim
Morrison. Nirvana is consumed by the article and when a chance meeting with an
old Bombay rocker whets his appetite further, he embarks on a search for the
mysterious Max Bulandi and the early pioneers of the Indian rock music scene.
As he traces the lost history of The Flow across Bombay, Calcutta, Shillong and
Benares, it opens up to him a world of riffs and beats that transforms his life
quite completely.
Exhilarating and utterly original, The Extraordinary Life of Max
Bulandi is at once a coming-of-age story with a twist and a
much-awaited hat-tip to the legends of Indian rock music.
Book
Review #4 of 2025
The Extraordinary Life of Max Bulandi
by Sidharth Singh is a masterful exploration of music, self-discovery, and the
often-overlooked Indian rock scene of the 1970s and 80s. Combining fiction with
cultural history, the novel pays homage to India’s contribution to the global
rock narrative while exploring the complexities of passion, purpose, and
redemption.
At its core is Nirvana, a
disillusioned journalist whose mundane life takes an unexpected turn when he
discovers an old magazine article about The Flow, a legendary Indian
rock band that once rivalled the world’s greatest. This discovery ignites a
burning obsession to uncover the life and legacy of Max Bulandi, the band’s
enigmatic frontman.
What begins as a journalistic pursuit
soon becomes a transformative journey, as Nirvana uncovers the riffs, beats,
and legends of a bygone era that shaped a cultural movement and altered his
perspective on life.
Max Bulandi is portrayed as a
character of immense talent and profound contradictions. A genius on stage but
deeply flawed off it, his journey is marked by soaring triumphs and devastating
falls into addiction and obscurity.
The book is a sort of tribute to the
legacy, casting light on a rich cultural history often relegated to the
shadows.
The narrative transports readers
across India, and skillfully intertwines the local with the global, creating a
nostalgic yet uniquely Indian tapestry of music, identity, and cultural
evolution.
The storytelling is both layered and
immersive, with Nirvana’s quest interspersed with anecdotes and memories from
those who knew Max. These accounts reveal not just Max’s extraordinary life but
also the era’s social fabric, grappling with themes of travel, relationships,
addiction, and redemption. The interplay between Nirvana’s personal growth and
Max’s unraveling forms the emotional core of the story, making it deeply
resonant.
The writing is simple yet evocative,
drawing readers into a world where every chord and lyric holds meaning. The
author infuses the narrative with wit, curiosity, and a sense of discovery that
mirrors Nirvana’s journey, making it both a page-turner and a thought-provoking
read. The engaging chapters ensure a steady pace, while the emotional depth
compels readers to reflect on the cost of genius and the impact of forgotten
legacies.
This novel is more than a novel about music; it’s a vivid portrait of an era, a celebration of resilience, and a poignant reminder of the human cost of artistic brilliance. Part history, part fiction, and wholly original, it’s a book that resonates with music lovers, fiction enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates the enduring power of storytelling. This is a journey into the heart of India’s rock heritage that lingers in your mind long after the final page.
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