Destination Wedding

August 3, 2020
Basu (Windfall) takes a humorous look at an Indian American family’s trip to the subcontinent in this charming, soul-searching tale. Brooklynite Tina Das, bored with her job seeking content for a streaming network, flies to India with her friend Marianne, Tina’s divorced parents, and Tina’s mother’s boyfriend, David, for a wedding. Tina’s father has engaged the services of a matchmaker in India and is hoping to meet someone there, while Tina, having recently broken up with her boyfriend, is determined to find an Indian man to marry. While Tina’s parents try to enliven their lives with new loves, Tina picks up with Rocco Gallagher, an Englishman living in India whom she had briefly dated in London a year ago. While exploring a relationship with Rocco and the possibility of moving to India to be closer to him, Tina gains newfound enthusiasm for her job after she gets the idea for a documentary on Indian weddings, starring her cousin’s wedding planner. While the shifts in point of view between Tina, each of her parents, and Marianne can be confusing, Basu is a capable plotter and creates vibrant set pieces, such as the elaborate wedding. From Brooklyn to New Delhi, Basu never ceases to entertain.

Author Diksha Basu transports listeners to a posh Indian wedding filled with intriguing characters and family drama. Narrator Soneela Nankani introduces Tina Das, her parents, and her best friend, Marianne Laing, in this fast-paced, entertaining listen. Nankani channels Tina and the people in her life, illuminating her insecurities and her confusion about where she belongs. Nankani's warm yet often sarcastic tone during amusing dialogue and her ability to speak with an authentic-sounding Indian accent when needed showcase her acting techniques and make listeners feel like they're part of the Das family. Nankani smoothly differentiates each character and their struggles, which are centered around love and relationships. D.Z. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine