Book Review: Ambapali by Tanushree Podder

Namrata reviews Tanushree Podder’s latest novel Ambapali (Penguin India, 2023), and calls it a beautiful combination of history, drama, suspense, and romance.

The Indian subcontinent has a rich history with powerful characters, both men and women. Time and again, this has been used as an inspiration for books and cinema. Ambapali is one such historical character, taken by Tanushree Podder to create this heady tale of romance, power, and greed.

A well-known travel writer and novelist, Tanushree Podder has written several non-fiction books before moving to fiction and has now published sixteen novels.

As the name suggests, this novel is the story of Ambapali, known as the most beautiful and talented woman in the entire Jambudweepa (Indian subcontinent as it was called then). Considered to be wealthier than most kings, she was courted by thousands of men. However, she renounced it all to become a Buddhist nun.