Modesty is not the best policy
Mona
“I had a choice to be honest or modest and I chose to be honest,” opens Pankaj Dubey, dressed in earthy trousers, a lavender shirt, white jacket and a bag pulled across on a sunny Friday afternoon in Chandigarh.
Here’s one colourful writer which is evident from the way he shows up or the way he writes. At least that’s the impression we got from the opening chapter of his latest novel, Ishyiapa. After enjoying the success of his debut novel What A Loser! (in English and Loser Kahin Ka! in Hindi), figuring in the national bestseller’s list, he is out with his second book that’s launched amidst fanfare with a trailer.
This writer, producer and soon to be director, Pankaj is enjoying every bit of the journey he has undertaken.
Wanting to be rich and famous, he has met a banging start and makes no bones about it, “I am already in contract for two year with my publisher (Penguin Metro Reads).” And, he chooses to be different. So, here is one person who writes both in English and Hindi, and simultaneously. “I feel a lot is lost in translation so when I can write in both, why not? And, then there is a huge Hindi reading population.” We agree.
The books that come with a trailer on digital platform are obviously going to be turned into films, and he has already has roped in a producer for his first one. But writing a screenplay and a novel are two different worlds.
“You might feel that a book pans out like a film but trust me I had to devote hours and hours to write the screenplay of my first. In writing you can use any metaphor that’s rendered useless when penning down a script,” he elucidates. The prologue to the book that narrates his protagonist is so unhappy with name Pankaj, has the hall in splits and he explains how it troubles him that in 100 years of Indian cinema, there has never been a hero called Pankaj. We empathise with him totally. The first chapter shocks, especially when one reads the Hindi version. Leading to the question what happened to the language of good old literature.
“Look, the literary writing scare the hell out of youngsters. They relate better to ‘break up ka dukh’ than vedna or yatna.” We concede. Yes, based in Mumbai, he has enjoyed doing screenplays for film and looking forward to direct Loser Kahin Ka! “This too is a first that a writer is directing the film based on his book.” We told you, he chose to be honest, not modest.
mona@tribunemail.com
