Monday 26 June 2017

BOOK REVIEW - “SHRAYAN BY ABHA IYENGAR”

BOOK REVIEW - “SHRAYAN BY ABHA IYENGAR”




​ Inadvertently I am the one who enjoys reading romance more than any genre for that matter when it comes to reading.

We all have a hidden place within ourselves, the place of longing and of escape from the dissatisfactions of life. However, is it that easy as it might sounds

The story revolves around Shrayan, a dweller of the underground finds his first friends in snakes and Sapera and discovers dance, which gives him strength and solace throughout his life. Sapera’s brother Vishwasghat murders him and sells Shrayan like an animal. Fate rescues him and he reaches a school. This is where he discovers beauty and love for the first time. He learns Kshatriyam, a martial arts dance form, and he learns to read and write. However, due to certain unfortunate circumstances, he is forced to run away and he battles with his own bestiality. Eventually, he reaches a place where he finds food, shelter and a job with a baba and his hunchback companion. But will this last or will Life continue to test him?

Shrayan has hooves and fur, but speaks, walks, eats and dances like a human. He reaches the fantastical land of happiness, where he meets Nordic beauties, snake-dragon women and a giant named Trishna, which means hunger. Iyengar brings in Indian arts, in Kshatriyam, mythology, in the dance drama unfolding the love story between Krishna and Rukmini, philosophy, in conversations Shrayan has with Lotus, Madeira and Manila, and Indian culture, in kundalini.  Indeed the climax was quite interesting with twists and turns as they unfold. For that, you need to read this book.

Now my Positive viewpoints:

The positives of the story are the narrative is conversational and engaging and lots of unexpected plot turns and character appearances keep the reader immersed. Love takes innumerable shapes and so does sexuality. Fatherhood recurs in the many relationships that are formed and lost. Most of the characters are unvoiced and multifaceted with histories, strengths, and failings.
Some suggestive points:
Although the narration of the story is good but in my opinion, the explicit descriptions went over the top. However, I was not convinced by several actions of the characters in the book. At times, it felt that they were maneuvered to satisfy what authoress want to state. Though sometimes it is hard to connect with any character. Still, they are plain and monotonous characters who don’t have a life.

Final words:


Overall if asked I would say this is a good job done by the authoress, the book has got great imagination context. Overall I would say...this is good job done by Authoress (Abha Iyengar) … I would give 3 stars to this book.

Saturday 24 June 2017

Questions of Why...

Questions of Why...



In a long time ..., for the first time,
So rejoiced .., I felt so happy,
I was in dire need of a shoulder ..., You came to me when.
There was no hope after tragedy .., You showed me.
You became my best friend.

The times we shared and the times we laughed.
Anything I could imagine.., Were priceless beyond
Uncertainty and difficulty .., We never knew the meaning of.
I showed you what it was like to be a fool, indeed a good fool
you taught me new ways of life.., And in return,

We grew as people, friends, and partners ..., The more we connected
I could trust and love once again You made me feel like
made me feel safe and wanted ..., the Words uttered out of your mouth
" how I feel. I adore you really..., Love is not a strong enough word to describe "

Yours were mine and my problems were yours
Something so special..., Blooming into something so deep,
Nothing else but each other..., we were blinded  
Days turned to months..., the hours turned into days
Feelings seem to flourish..., promises were never broken
This was real. So I thought...

Going so well.., Just as everything
Our battle of being together..., the distance began to win
Drifting apart.., we dedicated ourselves to making this work
We tried and tried... And just as everything was returning to they way they were
Love, devotion..., and adornment
You vanished into thin air as if you were just a dream

To this day.., my mind wonders how could something ..., so strong be defeated so easily
No words could express the confusion..., the doubt..., the feeling of foolishness
That runs through me as time goes by with an answer of Why....?
The last question left unanswered: Were you real or were you just one of my needs?

That is something that needs to be answered: One day, one lifetime
Very soon: I promise!



Sunday 11 June 2017

Questionnaire with Actor Manil Mayank Mishra



So, for this month  instead of any writer, an Actor from Indian Acting fraternity "Manil Mayank Mishra" 


 Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I come from a small town of Uttar Pradesh, Aligarh which boasts of its rich culture, Gothic buildings and a lot of poetry in the air all around. Though my roots go back to a small village near Shahjahanpur, again a small town famous for its colonial history, participation in the freedom struggle and industrial houses. Our family, specifically my parents, has always been known to be contributing, vibrant and vehement in opinion making which includes active public life in Politics and Civil Services.  The legacy includes my Great Great Grandfather who being a Police Sub Inspector in the British forces turned into a revolutionary killed one English official and was later hanged. His mausoleum still exists. I would always want to be known as the son of a great father, great grandfather than being an actor. My abilities can never match those people’s who brought me into this world.

Questionnaire with Actor Manil Mayank Mishra

1.       How did you first get involved in acting, are you an imaginative person?

I didn’t get involved in it per se. The surroundings actually drove me in it. I come from a college in Delhi University (Kirori Mal College) which has vastly contributed to the Indian Cinema and Indian theater. Though I was never involved with Players (the Dramatic Society of our College) as I was heavily into debating, somehow I realize now, that a large part of my heart was into acting. So, interestingly, this too was known to my fellows in Players as well.

Yes, I think my mind allows me to imagine. In fact, everyone is imaginative else the world would be a barren platform of crude realities.  Since I do a lot of poetry as well, I think acting, poetry or writing are just an extension of the imaginative stretch of a beautiful mind. I create, therefore I exist.

2.       What do you find most challenging about your acting?

It's romance, romantic characters and expressing your heart out to someone on stage or on camera. Though my viewers and my co-actresses say I am quite good at it but deep down I know its hard for me to pretend romance. which is why most of the stories and scripts (be it Khushfahamiyaan, Khushfahamiyaan 2, Khushfahamiyaan –Bass Itti  Si and now Khwaab Dum – B – Dum) which I have written and directed as films or on theater are romantic because I really need to know what I don’t know. Isn't it?

3.       What do you do when you are not acting?

Many things, in fact. I can lie on my bed for grazing the ceiling of my rented apartment for hours imagining voluptuous stories and ideas. I read about anything. I can read a book cover to cover like a zillion times if it interests me. I like how the author describes his book rather what’s in it. I drink a lot of coffee. I don’t watch Television or films. I prefer speaking on phone than these WhatsApp messages. I remain connected with people who love me.


4.       Where do you see yourself 6 months or 5 years down the road from now?

Nowhere. I don’t plan things. I think that mother nature has a better understanding of me. My past and my present keep me grossly occupied and I don't think about future. Nature does its best all the time.

5.       How do you keep coming with content for your acting?

As in, there is no particular school of thought of acting I believe in. I take stories, expressions by speaking and interacting with people who otherwise are not connected to me. Strangers in cabs, lorry drivers, couples sitting in a garden, Ice cream seller, lonely men, and women etc.

6.       What’s is the best thing an actor can give to his viewers?

That’s just one, inspiration. If any actor on stage or camera inspires even one man or woman in the audience to be an actor beyond entertainment, I think he has done his job. Anybody can entertain, only a few can make you an entertainer.

7.       Under whom and where you got the training of acting?

None. Nowhere.  With all due respect to the premiere acting schools of the nation, I don’t think acting can be taught but it can always be learned and you don’t need an institute to do that. The world around and people attached are teachers of every day. Plus, barring NSD, FTII, SRFTII and a few more, rest everyone has mushroomed acting institutes as a source of minting huge money.  So, there is no point. Just, rectify the mistakes of your childhood and you will be a great actor. Done deal!

8.       What role would you like to play?

I would definitely wish to play a substantial character of an Army guy or a teacher. Though I have played both, however, I still find my solace in them. I have played a lot of romantic characters but that isn’t where I would call myself an actor. I am bad at romance.

9.       Do you have a preference of theatre or film?

See. I do a very specific type of theatre where we write our stories and don’t perform adaptations etc.. So, any day I would love to work for a theatre which gives you a cinematic feel and film which gives you a theatrical understanding.

10.   Who would be your dream crew?

Haha. That’s tricky but to be truly honest, a female actor who has a plush pronunciation of Urdu, a camera man who knows more than me when I am directing, a male actor who looks good and is respectful to even a spot on the sets and yes, a dedicated guy to me who takes care of my shades and coffee. All I want is my actors should have spent more time in a library than in a gym.

11.   What would you do If you couldn’t act anymore?

That day wouldn’t come because I will die before that.

12.   Any challenges if you have faced in your career?

Many. To top the list, the reluctant producers who don’t want to invest in a new story and don’t want to change the trend. Secondly,  hunting for actors. This Mac Donald generation has literally devastated our fundamentals.

13.   If not an actor, what another profession you would have chosen?

I really never thought about it but yes, if not into acting, I would have been a father to a great son and a beautiful daughter, an Army Captain into Infantry or else teaching Political Science in Delhi University.

14.   Any advice you want to give to the aspiring actors?

Of course,  read good books in the initial years of your childhood, watch less (that in fact is more of ideal parenting). Try getting into some good acting school but if you can't, don’t lose heart, you don’t necessarily need an institute to teach you acting. Run rather than hitting a gym. Try mixing up with someone who doesn’t belong to your society and never ditch in love.


Some Glimpes of Manil’s Acting performances