Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Fine Balance

By: Rohinton Mistry
Narrated by: Shernaz Patel, Neil Bhoopalam, Kenneth Desai, Anand Tiwari, Rajit Kapur, Zafar Karachiwala
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.07

Buy for $13.07

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A compelling dramatisation of Rohinton Mistry's Booker Prize-nominated novel about India's underclass.

India, 1975. Desperate to preserve her independence from her abusive brother, Parsi widow Dina Dilal turns her cramped city apartment into a sweatshop. But when her eyesight begins to fail, she hires two tailors - uncle and nephew Ishvar and Om, who have fled from caste violence in their native village. She also takes in a lodger - Maneck, a reluctant student from the mountains.

Initially wary of each other, the four strangers soon form a close bond of friendship, loyalty and love. But their lives are about to be turned upside down, for India in the mid-1970s is in a state of crisis, riven by political turmoil and corruption. As Indira Gandhi's 'emergency' measures come into force, civil liberties are suspended and human rights suppressed. In this climate of chaos, violence and injustice, Dina and her makeshift family find themselves struggling to survive and facing an uncertain future....

Tragic, comic, poignant and redemptive, this heart-rending drama is a celebration of the human spirit under inhuman conditions. Adapted by Ayeesha Menon and Kewel Karim, it stars Shernaz Patel as Dina, Kenneth Desai as Ishvar, Anand Tiwari as Om and Neil Bhoopalam as Maneck.

Production credits:

Written by Rohinton Mistry

Dramatised by Ayeesha Menon and Kewel Karim

Produced by Nadir Khan

Directed by John Dryden

Music: Sacha Putnam

Sound Design: Steve Bond

Production Manager: Niloufer Sagar

A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Cast:

Dina - Shernaz Patel

Ishvar - Kenneth Desai

Om - Anand Tiwari

Maneck - Neil Bhoopalam

Rustom - Zafar Karachiwala

Ibrahim - Rajit Kapur

The Thakur - Jayant Kripalaini

Ashraf - Darshan Jariwala

Nusswan - Farid Currim

Ruby - Anahita Uberoi

Narayan - Vivek Madan

Young Dina - Tirtha Kotrial

Young Ishvar - Eshan Savla

Young Narayan - Samar Uraizee

Ensemble - Jim Sarbh, Abhishek Saha, Meherangiz Acharya-Dar, Faezeh Jalali, Shivani Tanksale, Nadir Khan

Beggarmaster - Ankur Vikal

Worm - Namit Das

Rajaram - Jaimini Pathak

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 March - 5 April 2015.

©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about A Fine Balance

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bravo for FINE BALANCE

Wonderful audio theatre . Gets to the core of the book , delivering a sober message in digestible bits without losing the poignancy and feel of India in 1971

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Recommend

I am about to listen to the other version as well. Always a surprise when a horn blows in an audible book that I'm listening to while driving. You will definitely think about these characters throughout your day.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unexpected love, life snd sorrow

A very intense play about what I assume is the real and unfair reality of life in India. Heartwarming at times, hopeful at others. Realistic in the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!