The Dev Anand Story by Dr. Govind Sharma (Book Review: 3*/5) !!!

1791st BLOG POST -->>

There are few authors whom you see in a certain image as per the kind of books that they write. One such author whose journey as a writer I have experienced myself since his 1^st book is Dr. Govind Sharma IAS Retd. I have read only his fiction books before his recent book that is a non-fictional attempt- a biography on the life of Bollywood Superstar, Dev Anand. The title of the book is “The Dev Anand Story” published by Notion Press in around 150 pages and is very different from all the books author has written till date.

Author calls himself a big fan of Dev Anand which inspired him to write this biography. The book is divided into 11 chapters where author starts with his early life and initial years in Mumbai. Then author directly jumps to the start of his career and the way he gets successful and how girls started giving their hearts to him and went crazy for him. One of his movies, “Guide” is discussed in a complete chapter dedicated to the movie and I must say, it deserves when the book is about Dev Anand and the 1^st movie we remember whenever his name comes out is this.

Author talks about both good and bad phase in the film career of Dev Anand and stays unbiased completely. It is definitely not written like a fan where even his failures are talked as successes. This is something that makes this book credible. Author discusses actor’s relationship with different directors and film studios and how he himself started a Production house but still continued working with few other studios. Little about his relationship with his wife is also discussed on how he met her, worked together in a movie and then married each other.

Another great point is that author discusses Dev Anand’s two brothers- Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand as much as he talks about Dev Anand which is a good decision as it has made this biography more interesting to understand the career graph of all the 3 brothers. I, personally, didn’t know about Dev Anand’s other two brothers and I only got to know through this book. In fact, a chapter is dedicated to Vijay Anand.

I liked the research by the author that he made on the actor without being someone who worked with him very closely or being from a journalism background. As I am just 30 years old hence knowing nothing about the era of Dev Anand which I have only heard here and there in Award functions, this book was a great opportunity to know about him and his movies which did well. I even made the To-Be-Watched list of his movies while reading the book as some movies are very vividly described by the author.

Now talking about the drawbacks:- The major problem with this book is that being a biography you get to know very less about Dev Anand as a person, the timelines in his life, the way he approached certain things, how he managed his routine with continuous work etc. Author majorly focuses only on his movies which also makes the book monotonous after a point of time as chapter after chapter, there is no change in gear and book continues talking in the same manner throughout. Secondly, there should have been uncountable quotes mentioned in the book as said by Dev Anand but there are very few of them that also mainly picked up directly from his autobiography. Author should have tried to pick these from newspapers, interviews etc. Last point- The cover page of the book could have been too dynamic considering the charming personality and looks of Dev Anand but it seems from the cover page that the book is more about Sharmila Tagore than Dev Anand.

Overall, this is a feel-good book and a great attempt if you want to know about Dev Anand’s movies. I have given following ratings to the last 3 books I read of Dr. Govind Sharma- 3.75*, 3.25* and 2.75* respectively. This book gets 3 stars out of 5 from my side. I wished little more from the biography as per my experience with this genre otherwise the book is a fine read.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA 

The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya (Book Review- 4.25*/5) !!!

1790th BLOG POST -->>

Whenever I find that a book needs my attention and not just casual reading, I keep it aside to be read either on weekends or whenever I shall get a quiet time from my schedule at a stretch so that I could complete atleast 100 pages in every sitting. Since two-weeks, I picked up Ratnadip Acharya’s 3^rd book titled ”The Speaking Stone” multiple times while traveling to office in the Mumbai local but whenever I got a gap of a day or two, I couldn’t remember what happened even in the last page that I read hence I scheduled it for the Sunday of 22^nd September and I completed 200 pages in a day and 100 pages today in 3 hours while waiting for my turn in the clinic.

Ratnadip is one author whom I have always respected for the topic he chooses to write his book upon because it always comes with philosophical tales and wordings which makes you self-introspect and understand the deeper meaning of life. This time with this book Ratnadip has written a completely different book than what he has written till date and I must say though I didn’t expect much with this topic, the story kept me hooked with it which made it possible to complete around 300 pages so easily in just two days. The narration of the story is bit slow but keeps you interested in what would happen next as the book involved two different timelines- one of 1900 era whereas the 2^nd one based in 2016-17.

Like every other historical fiction where the book becomes very complicated with its innumerable characters and confusing timelines, Ratnadip has tried his best in this book to keep things as simple as possible. Though his book can’t be called a philosophical attempt this time but it is of the genre which blends suspense, mystery, history, fantasy, thriller into a great fiction story which is again inspired somewhere from a true story. I liked how author choses the idea of exploring North-eastern part of India as it automatically gives reader a sense of adventuring into a new path altogether.

I really liked how author was able to connect both the stories together in the last 1/3^rd part of the book. It really becomes interesting by the end to know what exactly the truth behind the stone is that the protagonist takes too seriously which even involves us somewhere in the journey. I liked the chemistry that author develops between the characters- in both the eras. I liked how even in the modern set-up where love is in the air between the two characters still author doesn’t lose the focus from the story and doesn’t purposely insert intimate scenes. And- special mention how well Parul is described in the book. I am in love with this character. Also, each characterization in both the era is done so perfectly that you can imagine the story while reading in front of your eyes in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali kind of set-up.

Talking about the drawbacks, I would say the initial pages should have started with some bang that could have directly drowned the reader in the story rather than the gradual set-up which has been used which takes time to develop interest in the tale. Also, some more editing was needed with 50-60 less pages as it really becomes too predictable and slow at times. One static complain that I have with author is that the Cover Page of all his books aren’t interesting- though we say a book isn’t judged by its cover but such good stories and writing needs a good cover page for the readers to notice it.

Except these little things, I would say, with each book, Ratnadip Acharya is getting better. I rated his 1^st book 3 stars, the 2^nd book 3.75* and I would definitely give this book 4.25* out of 5 for the kind of suspense and mystery author keeps throughout the book. Kudos!

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA 

Kisholoy Roy:- "Writing block to me is a myth" (Interview)

1789th BLOG POST -->>

Hi Dr.Kisholoy, we would like to know how you got into the Writing space? How did it all start?

It was always there within me but then as individuals we often discover certain creative instincts within us a little late in our lives. It especially happens when there is no one in your immediate family who is pursuing a similar field as a profession or as an amateur. Actually i discovered the writer within me sometime during my college days. I started with writing short stories. Then i started experimenting with other genres as time went by.

What gives you motivation to write book after book in different genres?

A THOUGHT. Yes a thought that strikes my mind and when that thought stays with me for sometime and it keeps troubling me night and day like a pestering kid; that serves as the fodder for my next book.

How do you take time from your schedule for writing and what challenges do you face with schedule?

I have my workshops on marketing management to conduct and also various consulting and teaching activities but then it’s the temptation to tell a story that matters. When that temptation crosses a certain threshold limit, i somehow happen to find time for writing a book at any point of the day.

Tell us something on your love for your Cricket as we know you are from Bengal and you want or not, your default settings are set to Sports.

I have been an avid observer of the game since 1985 when our house got its first colour television set. However my love for the game acquired quantum leaps during the Sourav Ganguly era. Here was someone who was initially an underdog but then he moulded himself according to circumstances and set such high standards of sportsmanship, that it was worth emulating for many in different other walks of life. To a certain extent, yes that ‘Bengal’ connection that you mentioned can be counted as one of the reasons.

How difficult it was to write book on Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni named “Czars of the East”?

Honestly speaking it was both easy and difficult. Easy because among all the players whom i have been following in the last 20 years of Indian cricket, these were the two icons whom i have really admired for their approach, conviction and their ability to set trends and hence knew a lot about them. But then the irony was when i started my research for the book, i found that both Ganguly and Dhoni had so much to tell through their respective careers that it would be next to impossible to accommodate two full fledged biographies in one book which was my ‘big idea’ for the book.

Also tell us something about the motivation behind writing a complete book on just a Test match between India vs Australia. And why that match particularly?

Oh that Test match! It was and will remain an unforgettable episode in Indian cricket. The Test match at the Eden in March 2001 was not just a test match that was unbelievably won by India at the end but was more of a trigger for things to come. It was the trendsetter for a more potent Indian cricket team. A team that was super confident wherever it went and had no inhibitions to display their attitude and prowess against any opposition.

Which according to you is the turnaround ODI match for India? And if we are going to witness a book on that from you?

The NatWest trophy final in 2002 undoubtedly. What a match. It was another episode where the Indian team under the able leadership of Sourav Ganguly raised from the rubbles like to the proverbial phoenix and dominated the game.

Well a book on that game? Perhaps not!

Do you ever face Writing Block which we keep on hearing so much or is it just a myth according to you?

Writing block to me is a myth. See as a writer we are all first social creatures and hence often we are preoccupied with fulfilling our priorities in life. Sometimes that effort leaves you with very little time for any creative pursuit and you are unable to concentrate on the relevant and required thought process but then that to me is not a ‘block’.

What are your future plans on writing? Which book are you currently writing or planning to write?

Presently i have ideas about two fictions that will serve as light-hearted and entertaining read

primarily. They will focus on various unexplored perspectives of love. The book development process is on.

Any feedback on how tough it is to get published in India as we have seen almost all your books are self-published?

See, primarily i am an author of books on case studies in management and books on marketing management. Initially i published text books with various publishers in India but the royalty that they offered was ridiculously low which made me decide on going my own way or rather the self published route. Getting a publisher in India who will be offering you the end of year royalty based on merit of the book is a next to impossible task. After all when you author a book with all your efforts, you do not want to do charity but earn out of your efforts and hence going the indie way is and should be the practice.

Any words for the budding writers and the readers who wait for your book.

My advise for budding writers is whether you go by the traditional route of publishing or the indie route, focus on the content. Do not come up with trash since there is already so much in the market. Content and its presentation are two main areas that budding writers should focus on and as for readers they should be wise and conscious enough to spot the right sort of books to read.