In the quiet hum of Southwestern India, Shanbhag captures a cacophony of caste, patriarchy, and prejudice that fractures lives in silence.

“The intensity of a life can be measured in stupid decisions.”

Deceptively mundane, Sakina’s Kiss offers an intimate exposure of the corrosive power of societal constructs that crush lives and dare resistance. Translated from Kannada by Srinath Perur, Vivek Shanbhag weaves a multitude of themes that diffract onto a canvas, portraying Indian society through the crooked lens of Venkataramana, best known as Venkat.

Told in the first person, the story follows Venkat—a meritocratic, fervent follower of guru Tiwari, father to Rekha, and husband to Viji—whose life is upended when two lower-class youths unexpectedly knock on his door, demanding to know the whereabouts of his 20-year-old daughter. Fortunately, Rekha is staying with her uncle Antanna in an off-the-grid village, where there's no internet or signal. This brief and disruptive encounter sets off tensions within the family, triggering a series of fractured, non-linear memories, reflections, and present-day reckonings that expose the ingrained caste mentality, prejudice, and the suffocating grip of patriarchy.

One of the earliest scenes shows Venkat reflecting on his early life, as his name is shortened: Venkataramana by his village friends, Venkat by his engineer peers, and Venky by his colleagues—an allusion to his easy acceptance and non-confrontational nature. Venkat believes himself progressive and inclusive, but his actions tell another story. Beautifully translated by Srinath Perur, Shanbhag distinctively narrates Venkat’s most intimate thoughts without judgment, leaving the reflective work to the reader. This assertion does not mean the book is overly political or philosophical (although it can be, if the reader questions the character’s actions).

With hints of a thriller, Venkat and Viji set off on a journey to find out from Rekha who those men were and what they wanted so urgently from her. The story continues through a deliberately fragmented structure, unfolding the family’s history as a commentary on the patriarchy crumbling under the pressure of revolution. Some readers may find the lack of linearity frustrating, but life never unfolds neatly. There are powerful moments between Rekha and Venkat, illustrating the loss of the patriarch’s unquestioned authority over the younger generation, making it clear that Sakina’s Kiss is as much about the decline of a certain model of manhood as it is about individual failure. Rekha’s rebellion unmasks Venkat’s papery liberalism. His narrowed view of gender roles, his selective outrages, and his patronising cynicism about activism are portrayed with unflinching accuracy.

The story of Venkat’s uncle Ramana, a political activist turned fugitive, is precisely woven into the main narrative. Shanbhag subtly observes that the collapse of ideals—though dramatic and visible—is no less destructive than the quiet aggressions of everyday life. Through Ramana, Shanbhag shows how moral compromise hides itself behind virtue. Although Shanbhag exposes these themes throughout the novella, the story ends abruptly—or as I read it, cycles once again into a new phase of repression and resistance.

Ultimately, Sakina’s Kiss is a powerful exploration on how easy it is to lose oneself — piece by piece — to patriarchy, conformity, and compromise. It examines the quiet tragedies of Indian middle-class life: the betrayals we justify, the selves we abandon, the ideals we quietly let go, or loudly forced. It is not a loud novel, but it lingers with quiet devastation. Shanbhag’s characters do not scream their pain; they live it, deny it, and carry it forward into the next generation.

Recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven fiction that explores family dynamics, societal expectations, and the strained patriarchal model.

Rating: 4.0/5
Recommended

Thank you, Vivek Shanbhag and Faber and Faber Ltd, for this digital galley via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and personal opinion.

This book ended with me having so many questions. I honestly have no idea what was going on and feel like there were plot holes and parts of the story that were emphasized but had no closure/answer for. I did enjoy reading about the perspective of relationships for the viewpoint of the father/husband and there were some really thought-provoking quotes that I enjoyed. I’m just thoroughly confused by the ending, the plot, and the structure all together.