Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of Mumbai Mafia - Tapa blanda

Zaidi has done a remarkable job in tracing the history of the Bombay underworld. But, I am sorry to say that like all other Indian biography/history books it is incomplete and so saying half truths. The author traces the life of Dawood's father with meticulous detail that would give him five stars but not of others! Especially the Hindu Dons and their honchos are left rather softly. Also names, where are the names of the film stars, politicians and police that attended Dawood's famous parties? There are no details of how extortions were carried out and who were the people in Bollywood and Bombay business that were contacted. How did they manage to get off the hook, how did they succumb to the threats and what WERE the threats? How did the underworld get their hands on weapons, where did they source them, who were the people behind the operations? Most frustrating is that the the entire book is soft on the Bombay police force and big politicians. Without their connivance no underworld could exist anywhere. Where are the rogue cops? Where are they now, what happened to them and their wealth? These obvious gaps left me rather frustrated. I bought the book the instant I saw it on the stands trusting Zaidi will tell the whole truth. But it is not so. --Navroze Contractor

Interesting and Fast Paced Sixty of the organised crime syndicate summarized in one book. The entire book is based on facts and when you are attempting such a work of non-fiction, it takes a lot of courage and good writing skills to keep the reader interested. And trust me you won't feel bored even for a single page. Its thrilling and its fast paced. What I liked the most is how the author has described, most of the things with minutest of details and given his views on the incidences. If you are a fan of gangster flicks, you will be able to visualise many scenes which have been adapted in a lot of movies like, Satya, Once upon a time in Mumbai, Company, Shootout at Lokhandwala, etc. --Jenish Kenia

Outstanding work Zaidi is back with his superb research and great storytelling. He has succeeded in chronicling the history of the Mumbai underworld since the early 50s. The book is full of nail-biting incidences and anecdotes. The author has refrained from including inconsequential information as well. Surely, the first book to refer to, if you want to know about organised crime in Mumbai. Though, at times, you may feel the underworld is glorified, it doesn't affect the flow and experience of the book. --Ameya Chumbhale

'By far the best book on Mumbai Mafia.' - Anil Kapoor 'If it wasn't for this book there would be no Shootout at Wadala.' - Sanjay Gupta 'Hussain Zaidi is a master storyteller.' - John Abraham Dongri to Dubai is the first ever attempt to chronicle the history of the Mumbai mafia. It is the story of notorious gangsters like Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Varadarajan Mudaliar, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem, but above all, it is the story of a young man who went astray despite having a father in the police force. Dawood Ibrahim was initiated into crime as a pawn in the hands of the Mumbai police and went on to wipe out the competition and eventually became the Mumbai police's own nemesis. The narrative encompasses several milestones in the history of crime in India, from the rise of the Pathans, formation of the Dawood gang, the first ever supari, mafia's nefarious role in Bollywood, Dawood's move to Karachi, and Pakistan's subsequent alleged role in sheltering one of the most wanted persons in the world. This story is primarily about how a boy from Dongri became a don in Dubai, and captures his bravado, cunningness, focus, ambition, and lust for power in a gripping narrative. The meticulously researched book provides an in-depth and comprehensive account of the mafia's games of supremacy and internecine warfare.