Natasha Malpani Oswal took a long road before she realised that poetry was her calling
Mona
Poetry that stems from life and contemporary stories is what Natasha Malpani Oswal likes to tell. And, this former investor with three degrees from prestigious Oxford, Cambridge and Stanford, is living her passion!
Her expression that started with poems has led to being the founder of the production house, Boundless Media, which tells new-age stories through films and series. Having taken the leap in career, Natasha had barely started in January 2020, and despite two lockdowns since, she is going strong.
“The pandemic has taught me that even the best- laid plans may not work, one needs to have patience and be experimental.”
What intrigues is her circuitous journey to what she loves. Like any other Indian kid, she followed the footsteps of her doctor parents – studying science at Oxford. Not having her heart in it, she pursued a degree in development at Cambridge. Being an investor for five years, she knew she wanted to marry investment and social impact that made her head to Stanford for an MBA. A coaching programme made her question what she loves – which turned out to be reading and writing, and that put Natasha on a new journey.
Her first collection of poetry is called Boundless. “Having lived abroad for over 10 years, I was little scared to move back to India. I wrote poetry as a personal diary, of the changes I have gone through in the past 10 years,” she says.
The encouraging response to her poems made her turn her diary into a book. Soon, it was followed by another, titled Reinvention. “The first one was about finding my own identity.” The second one takes her expression from self to amplifying her voice for society. A huge fan of EE Cummings, it’s his short, sharp, cunning poetry that she loves.
She is equally invested in her production house. “To win the millenials is an uphill task. You are competing with global content today. So, we take our time on a script.”
Her Brave New World on Hotstar is a satire set in alternate reality in a tongue-in-cheek satirical look; Little Things on Netflix chronicles the trials and tribulations of a couple in their 20s. She also released short series, Objectified, Cancelled and Unseen on Boundless Media.
“I want to showcase Indian content that travels internationally,” says Natasha, who is quite fond of Zoya Akhtar. “Made in Heaven was a rooted Indian show that won audience globally. “Zoya Akhtar’s Tiger Baby is making amazing content.”
Working through the pandemic, Natasha sees the future for those who are ready to embrace the challenges and make the most of it. A dark, comic, feminist film is on her mind.
mona@tribunemail.com
