Conversations
Author Interview: When Women Write Women Characters, They’re Quite Counterculture, says Megha Rao
Indian performance poet and author, Megha Rao, writes for women. Her writing, if it has to be understood at a cellular level, must be viewed as a celebration of what
Author Interview: Warikoo Talks About Why He Wants To Be Simran’s Dadi and Why We Should Aspire To Do The Same
Ankur Warikoo, of Epic fame (pun intended), dropped by our store for a quick signing and an inevitable audience-directed conversation. The face of Indian self-help online and offline, and a
Translator Interview: “When I begin translating a text, I give myself over completely to the task. I translate from within the text”, says N. Kalyan Raman
Not much comes to be known about translators, the mediums charged with the uniquely herculean task of carefully locating an author’s idiolect and then transmuting, or rather recreating it in
Author Interview: “Life is woven from invisible strands of pain. A writer should examine them, try to understand them,” says Devibharathi
A Sahitya Akademi award winner, political activist, managing editor of a leading literary magazine, and screenwriter, Tamil author Devibharathi is more than just a prolific creator. He’s a chronicler of
Author Interview: Talking Cats, Dolphins on Drugs and the Biopeculiar with Gigi Ganguly
We had the great pleasure of talking to Gigi Ganguly, the author of Biopeculiar, her second book and the first title on Westland’s speculative fiction list IF. Kidnapped under the
Author Interview: “Comedy affirms the fact that we are all children. And you’re allowed to be a child when you write children’s books”, says David Baddiel
A long-time stand-up comic, an accomplished children’s author and literary figure, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the man behind the unofficial anthem of English football, the “Three
Excerpts from Devibharathi’s The Solitude of a Shadow
“Later, I loitered aimlessly for three days like an unhinged person. I had taken a day’s leave on the false pretext of having to accompany Amma to the hospital. Since
Author Interview: Meena Kandasamy On Embracing the ‘Problematic’ And ‘Junglifying’ Culture
The brilliant, evocative and seriously funny Meena Kandasamy emerged victorious last week when she quickly disarmed and thoroughly charmed all those who attended her signing of Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest
Author Interview: “Hopeful climate fiction helps change ideas about climate change,” says Rajat Chaudhuri
Climate fiction writer Rajat Chaudhuri was at Kunzum for the signing of his new book “Spellcasters”. Kunzum caught up with him for a brief chat on his books, climate change
Author Interview: We Have Always Had an Over-Dependence on Hindi Cinema in What We Call Indian Cinema, Says Amitava Nag
Celebrating the golden age of Bengali Cinema, independent film critic and academic Amitava Nag’s insightful release, The Cinema of Tapan Sinha: An Introduction offers readers an essential gateway into the
Actor Interview: Sharmila Tagore Talks of the Value of Story-Telling and Passes Along Some Excellent Book Recommendations!
If you don’t already know, then yes, we did have the sublime pleasure of meeting a fiercely well-read, fearfully punctual and delightfully warm Sharmila Tagore who, beyond being a critical
Author Interview: Plagues Had a Huge Impact on our Society, Says Julia Hauser
Plagues have impacted and moulded our societies in more ways than one. So much so that some of the best literature and art that we have came about because of
Author Interview: AI Is Going To Affect Everybody, Say Dream Machine Authors Appupen and Laurent Daudet
Artificial Intelligence is taking over the world one step at a time. Amid the marching footsteps of AI in almost all spheres of our lives, graphic artist Appupen and French
Author Interview: There is Love Even in a Core of Torture and Pain, Says Aparna Sanyal
It’s not every day that you see some ancient torture tools and are inspired to write short stories around them. But this is exactly what happened with Aparna Sanyal, author
Relevancy is a Key Element That Keeps Archies Attractive: Nancy Silberkleit, Co-CEO Archie Comics
For years, the Archie Comics have entertained generations of teenagers and adults around the world. But over time, as the world has progressed, so has the world of Riverdale. We
Author Interview: There is a Formula When it Comes to Crime Writing, Says Ashwin Sanghi
Master storyteller and crime writer Ashwin Sanghi was at Kunzum GK for the signing of his new book Razor Sharp. We spoke to him about his books, his ace detective
Author interview: My Stories are Based on my First-Hand Experiences, says Bappaditya Chakravarty
Bappaditya Chakravarty, the author of The Huntsmen, is a management expert who has worked at organisations such as the Mormugao Port Trust in Goa, has taught managemnet at IIM and
As a Society, We Are Ill-Informed About Sexual Matters: Dr Cuterus
When she’s not planning world domination, Dr Tanaya Narendra is busy breaking down barriers about sexual health and related matters and simplifying it so that everyone can understand it. We
Author Interview: ‘There’s Something Special about Seeing a Woman Through a Woman’s Gaze,’ says Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Critically acclaimed and widely-loved author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s latest and first non-fiction book, An Uncommon Love, narrating the difficult and delightful early years of the Murty relationship, was recently launched
Author Interview: Translation is Translating a Wisdom Into Another Wisdom, Says Tamil Author Jeyamohan
The English translation of Tamil author Jeyamohan’s new book – A Fine Thread – was launched recently. The book, a compilation of 16 stories ranging from art’s place in spirituality
Author Interview: Writing is The Creative Side of Reading, Says Ivy Ngeow
She’s a trained architect and visual designer and she’s an author. When she’s not designing beautiful interiors or buildings, she’s busy writing psychological thrillers. We managed to catch up with
Author Interview: Mami Suzuki is a Composite of Everyone I Have Met or Know, Says Simon Rowe
Simon Rowe, author of the new book Mami Suzuki Private Eye, tells us why most of his lead characters are female, the inspiration behind Mami Suzuki, his life in Japan
Interview: It’s a Struggle For the Indian Diaspora Abroad to Put Our Roots Down, Says Ruchita Misra
London-based author Ruchita Misra speaks to Kunzum Review about her new book Her One True Love, the complicated topic of her book and how the Indian diaspora abroad struggles to
Interview: The geopolitics of the Battle of Kohima has always been neglected, says Mmhonlümo Kikon
Mmhonlümo Kikon, author of His Majesty’s Headhunters, a seminal work on the Battle of Kohima and the role of the Naga Headhunters of Nagaland says his book is a necessary
Interview: Our Writing Should Stimulate or Instruct or Entertain, Have Purpose, says Shobha Tharoor
Author Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan speaks about her books for children, brother Dr Shashi Tharoor, her book on her mother – Good Innings – and how reading is important for children.
Interview: My Book Provides an Anglo-Indian Voice in Australian Literature, says Patrick Lyons
Masala and Murder author Patrick Lyons talks about his new crime thriller, future plans and how books are a shared experience for him and his sons. BSA: Where did the
Interview: Books let us live many lifetimes, says Vishal Bhardwaj
An interview of film director vishal bhardwaj at Kunzum.
Interview: From a Tour Guide’s Story to a Book, Author Sumant Batra Tells us How Anarkali Came Into Being
An interview with Sumant Batra, the author of new book Anarkali.
Interview: If You Read, You Will Become a Writer, Says Author Amitava Kumar
Author Amitava Kumar was at Kunzum Jorbagh for the signing of his new book The Yellow Book. We caught up with him for a short interview and he gave us
This Short Story Helped Author and Public Intellectual Gurcharan Das Get His First Job
The habit of reading can help you get out of sticky situations or turn them around to benefit you. That’s what happened with author, management guru and public intellectual Gurcharan
Interview: The Doms Must Be Given The Respect and Dignity They Deserve, says Radhika Iyengar
Debutant author Radhika Iyengar‘s first book Fire On The Ganges looks at the lives, ambitions and travails of the Doms – a community of corpse burners on Chand Ghat in
Interview: I Write Humour and Social Commentary Based on Indian Society Masala, says Anuja Chauhan
An interview with RomCom author Anuja Chauhan on her new book The Fast and the Dead.
Pick a Small, Easy Habit, and Don’t Miss 2 Days in a Row, Says Habit Coach Ashdin Doctor
Habit Coach Ashdin Doctor, the author of three books on habits and how to change your life was in Kunzum for a book signing. We caught up with him over
Interview: Origami Aai Explores Complexity and Everydayness of Indian Families, says Manjiri Indurkar
Manjiri Indurkar’s new book Origami Aai was launched at the Kunzum on Thursday. Kunzum Review caught up with her for a quick interview. The Gift That Keeps On Giving My
Interview: Translation is the Language of Democracy, says Arunava Sinha
Academic and translator Professor Arunava Sinha was at Kunzum Book Cafe for a signing of his new book The Taliban and I. We spoke to him regarding his translations and
Monsters Born and Made: Author Tanvi Berwah on the Genre of YA Fantasy
Although at its preliminary stage, YA Fantasy is gaining popularity in eyes of young Indian readers and they are craving for Indian narratives more than ever now. To understand the same, Kunzum's Khushi Arora talks with author Tanvi Berwah.
Crimson Spring: Navtej Sarna on Fictionalising the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Diplomat-turned-author Navtej Sarna revisits the Jallianwala Bagh in the most meticulous and overwhelming manner. Kunzum's Divye Bhagwani talks to him to learn all things about fictionalising a factual event.
Batshit: Kritika Kapoor On Her Feminist Horror Debut Fiction
Kritika Kapoor's deliciously feminist debut novel Batshit unwraps repressed anger in women with unrealistic beauty standards and other regulations that society throw on them but with a haunting twist!
Amish Raj Mulmi on How Nepali People Interact With the World
Amish Raj Mulmi set out to fill the vacuum of the knowledge of Chinese influence on Nepal by recording the lives of indigenous Nepali people. Curious about his research, Kunzum's Ananya sat down with him to know more about his writing process.
The Test of a Poem is Whether It Can Hold Your Attention, Whether It’s On a Page Or a Screen: Ranjit Hoskote, Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Award
Poet, translator, art curator and critic Ranjit Hoskote sat down with Sumeet Keswani for a chat—about everything from Hoskote's various practices informing each other, to the place of poetry in the current public discourse, and the newer platforms poets must embrace.
Chaos Is at the Heart of Most Literature: Amit Chaudhuri Talks about Writing on Cities
Amit Chaudhuri has many avatars―singer, novelist, critic, editor, professor, and poet! At the Jaipur Literature Festival 2023, we caught up with him to discuss his unique approach to writing, expression through Hindustani music, and affinity for the chaos of cities.
The Idea Is to Reclaim What The Text Is, Not to Invent a New Text: Meena Kandasamy on Her Feminist Translation of a Tamil Classic
Kunzum speaks with Meena Kandasamy about her latest book—a feminist translation of a Tamil classic—her tools of activism, artificial intelligence, her next poetry collection, and the writers and books that have shaped her craft.
Only through Education is Resilience Possible: Sheela Tomy Speaks on Environmental and Social Justice
Sheela Tomy's debut novel, Valli, was shortlisted for the 2022 JCB Prize for Literature. Kunzum wanted to know more about her book and environmental activism, and bring her ideas to you, so we sat down with the author for an enlightening conversation.
I Think Strong Women Write about Strong Women in Difficult Situations: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is back, with a novel about three sisters caught up in the aftermath of India's Independence and Partition. We sat down with her at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2023 to talk books, strong female characters, inspirational women writers, and more.
I Don’t Want to Feel Guilty for Not Taking Care of an Object: Award-Winning Author Ruth Ozeki on Letting Go of Things
From Chinese fortune cookies to scissors, unusual objects possess a voice in Ruth Ozeki's latest novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness. Curious, we approached Ozeki to understand her writing process, relationship with objects, obsession with libraries and bookstores, and Buddhist approach to life.
We Come from Worlds Where Reality is Wilder than Fiction: Booker Prize Winner Marlon James
Winner of the 2015 Booker Prize, Marlon James, was one of the many acclaimed speakers at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2023. We spoke with him about African myths, unlearning Eurocentrism, his book recommendations, and the upcoming third book of his Dark Star trilogy.
Every Obituary Is a Hurried Piece of Literature: Anees Salim
Anees Salim opens up to Kunzum about his Facebook alter-ego, his obsession with waterbodies, the recurring themes of death and hopelessness in his novels, and, of course, The Bellboy.
“It’s Like a Return to a Home That I Was Never Able to Claim as My Own”: Amitabha Bagchi on the Hindi Translation of his Novel
Winner of the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2019, Half the Night is Gone is Amitabha Bagchi's third and arguably most popular novel. The author speaks with Kunzum about the book and its new Hindi translation, his literary influences and recommended reads.
“How You See a Plant is How You See the World,” Janice Pariat Says on Her Novel, Everything The Light Touches
Author Janice Pariat speaks to Kunzum about her latest novel, Everything The Light Touches, and the tussle at the heart of it, her affinity for botany, adoption of erasure poetry,
“The Murder at the Heart of Black River Felt Like a Personal Loss”: Nilanjana S. Roy Talks about Delhi and Her Latest Novel
Author and former journalist Nilanjana S. Roy talks to Kunzum about the many facets of Delhi, her latest book, the biggest literary influences on her craft, and her next novel.
“I’ve written a crime novel because I wanted to read a specific kind in India and wasn’t able to find it”: Tanuj Solanki on his new book
Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar winner Tanuj Solanki answers all our questions about his latest novel, Manjhi's Mayhem: from his genre shift to doing justice to a Dalit POV and his crime-writing inspirations.
In Search of the Divine: Rana Safvi on her Sparkling Foray into Sufi History
Scholar, historian, translator, and author Rana Safvi is an authority on Delhi and its cultural heritage. Her latest book, In Search of the Divine, is a deep dive into Sufism and its lost history. She tells us about the initial idea of the book.
I Enjoy Screenwriting the Most: Poet & Fiction Writer Rochelle Potkar Gets Candid with Kunzum
Rochelle Potkar is an award-winning poet, fictionist, screenwriter, critic, editor, and translator. We sat down with her to understand how these different artistic pursuits come together in her life.
Talking Books with Ashwin Sanghi, the Man behind the Myths
Ashwin Sanghi has crafted a niche for himself with his peculiar combination of mythology, theology, and thrilling plots. This came out of a mixed inheritance of reading habits, he reveals.
Writing a Sequel to a Pulitzer Prize Winner: Less is Lost, But Andrew Sean Greer is Not
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less, Andrew Sean Greer went against industry advice to release a sequel this year: Less is Lost. He talks about his writing process, character inspirations, favourite LGBTQIA+ books, and much more.
What Does It Take to be Published by HarperCollins India? Executive Editor Swati Daftuar Answers All Your Questions
Swati Daftuar is the person behind books by literary giants like Amish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi, Chetan Bhagat, Anuja Chauhan, and Preeti Shenoy. She tells us all about her process, favourite reads, and TBR pile.
I Allow Words the Liberty to Take the Form they Choose: Author Jerry Pinto
Prolific writer and translator Jerry Pinto speaks about existential writing, deconstructing stereotypes, and the relief he finds in translation.
It’s Terrifying to Think Fictional Characters Have Such a Hold on You: Author Aanchal Malhotra
As Aanchal Malhotra gets ready to launch her first fiction novel, The Book of Everlasting Things, she gives Kunzum a sneak peek into the book and the challenges she faced in switching from oral history about the Partition to a fictional love story.
Literary Translation Plays a Critical Role in Building Bridges between Communities: Author & Translator Daisy Rockwell
The translator of the 2022 International Booker Prize winner, Tomb of Sand, Daisy Rockwell speaks about the craft of translation, her affinity for Partition novels, and her upcoming projects.
We Don’t Recognise All The Ways Women Contribute To The Economy: Author Shaili Chopra
Founder of SheThePeople.TV and author of Sisterhood Economy, Shaili Chopra speaks with Kunzum about the often-invisible contribution of women to the economy.
I Am All My Characters: André Aciman on Writing about Desire, Shame, Insecurity, and Gender Fluidity
The bestselling author of Call Me By Your Name talks about his most popular novels, writing about desire and shame, gender-fluid characters, and his next book.
Reading List: Filmmaker Onir Lists His Favourite Books
Onir didn’t want his autobiography to be just another Bollywood memoir rife with glamour and gossip but a tool to empower and educate marginalised communities. This reading list serves the same purpose.
Bearing the Torch With Pride: Ameya Narvankar, Author | Conversations
It’s a world that has an instinctive itch to change. It evolves even as it stays the same. And in its everlasting quest to reform and repeat the bygone, it needs its crusaders, it finds its crusaders.
Ayesha, is one such crusader, bearing the torch...
“I wanted to tell the story of people whose traumatic experiences during the insurgency are silenced by political narratives”: Hannah Lalhlanpuii, Author | Conversations
The world has worked overtime to distance its children from everything that’s wrong with it. Wars, for instance. News and literature about real life wars were a taboo for children, even young adults, except for a The Diary of a Young Girl occasionally thrown in. Recently, however, the plot has changed.
That Sparkling hOle in the Little Bookshelf: Sayoni Basu, Consulting Editor, Penguin Random House | Conversations
A kid with a book is an onlooker’s delight. However, it is not just that. A kid with a book is an affirmation of an alternate future, a future that is hard to predict. A future that may never materialise. A luminous, promising future.
The Middle Finger travels through its strictly sheltered alleys and leaves behind a sparkling smudge: Saikat Majumdar, Author | Conversations
Where would we all return if not to love? Why won’t we die, to live? Saikat Majumdar’s latest novel is about love, and sacrifice. It’s about Eklavya giving up his thumb to his guru. It’s about Megha returning to arrange a bookshelf with Poonam.
The Land of the Thunder Dragons …and Its Little Monster Fighters | Evan Purcell, Author | Conversations
Superheroes are a common occurrence in children’s and YA stories. So Karma Tandin could be just another Batman or Spiderman next door. However, hold on! Evan Purcell, author of the Karma Tandin Monster Hunter series, planned this little superhero differently.
“Everyone Recognises the Value of Reading at Some Level”: Himanjali Sankar, Editorial Director, Simon & Schuster | Conversations
Publishing a book is like stuffing a note into a bottle and hurling it into the sea. Some bottles drown, some come safe to land, where the notes are read and then possibly cherished, or else misinterpreted, or else understood all too well by those who hate the message. You never know who your readers might be.
“I Write the Story for Myself”: Arefa Tehsin, Children’s Author | Conversations
Each time a story is told for children, a little nugget of intellectual innocence and truthfulness is added to the world. It swerves humankind towards a more enlightened prospect. Arefa Tehsin has stirred us in this direction quite a few times with her handful of children’s books – The Chirmi Chasers, Amra and the Witch, Globetrotters, Steel of the Jungle God.