An Interview with Vijay Mane, author of "All I Need is, Just You!"!!!

I had an opportunity to interview Vijay Mane, author of "All I Need is, Just You!". Do read the interview:-

1.  Hello Mr. Vijay, what is your feeling after being an author? What’s your perspective about life now after achieving a rare flagship in your life?

Vijay : Well, it feels great when we achieve something new, which we thought impossible or out of our reach. I am of the opinion that we should always be engaged in the progress of ourselves without considering the circumstances. They always test us and tempt us to leave the task, especially when you suffer from the toil and nothing goes right. However, no matter how difficult it is, we should give ourselves into our passion, only then we can achieve anything we want.

2. When you saw your first novel for sale on E-commerce websites and placed at a bookstore for the first time, what kind of thoughts dominated your mind?

Vijay : I was excited to see my novel on amazon. I cannot express that feeling. Even the shiver of anxiety cannot be captured in words. And speaking about the hardcopy, I have not seen it in any bookstores as these would be available with very few bookstores like Oxford and Odyssey. I would like to see the photos of my novel from my readers.

3. Before we head towards discussing your book, we would like to know in spite of being an author, what do you exactly do? And do you wish to continue with the job or come into full-time writing?

Vijay : I am a deputy manager in one of the biggest companies of India. And I am proud of my organization. Apart from our financial goals, we are engaged in many social and environmental activities. I am always among the bunch of top performers and I enjoy working with loads of work. When you are in such a position where you have the power to get the work done, it always feels good, even if you are under a lot of pressure. Honestly. I enjoy it. It keeps me moving.

This is my first novel in English. And speaking the truth at this moment, I would prefer to continue with my job.

4. What is your latest book all about? And from where did this idea occur to you?

Vijay : This is the true love story of one of my friends. When I thought of writing a novel, this very story came in front of my eyes. It was one of the reasons, I have seen him changed. It was very tough for him to accept reality but he took it as a challenge. When I asked his permission to pen down the story, initially he was a bit hesitant but finally he agreed to the idea and opened up quite frankly.

5. How much long did it take to write this book from the moment you started developing the story to start writing it till completing it finally with editing and all?

Vijay : It took me around three months to write the details and then a month for editing it.

6. Indian Publishing is too hard to deal with, was it easy for you to get a Publisher or did u wait for a long time to get your work published?

Vijay : After editing the manuscript and all, I had sent it to a few publishers. However, as it happens with most freshers entering this field, I too got refusals. The publishers are also correct from their point of view. Why would they risk on some new entrant’s manuscript? Then I decided to try my luck and self published the book.

7. What are the Promotional strategies that you and your publisher have applied to  promote / market your book?

Vijay : I have made the video trailer of the book and it is on youtube, the facebook page is already there. There are exciting updates being uploaded regularly on it. Few giveaways for readers. The book is made available on major online retailers like amazon, flipkart, infibeam etc. We are working on few more strategies for the book to reach maximum readers.

8. What exactly is your target from your Books- 1. Getting most copies sold out, 2. Getting the love of readers or 3. You just wrote it because you wanted to write a book once in your life, hence you have no targets?

Vijay : I am already a writer in Marathi with two books to my credit. One of it had won the prestigious literary award for best comedy book of the year 2008. However, due to limited readership, I decided to switch to English.

If you ask me about target, there is the combination of both. I want my book to appear in the bestsellers list and of course, who wouldn’t want a lot of love from his readers?

9. By when are you coming up with your next novel? And if possible, do give us an idea about what it would be.

Vijay : I am busy promoting this book. The exact details about the next novel would be difficult as of now but it would definitely be the second part of Sameer’s life. That’s for sure!

10. In the end, tell us in 5-7 lines, what speech will you give if you win a Major Award for the Best Indian Author for your books?

Vijay : Dream wild. When your dream becomes your obsession, everything comes to you, to fulfill your dream. There is a big problem while dreaming big – we enormously limit ourselves. However, you will be surprised with the results when self-limits are thrown away. Nobody can stop you from reaching the summit of success, if you work honestly. The process could be slow, but you will definitely get there. And more importantly, when it comes to success, there are no shortcuts.

…

Acting Smart by Tisca Chopra (Book Review: 3*/5)!!!

It's me with Tisca Chopra handing her book to me.

        Reading a Non-fiction book always gives you some or the other knowledge even if its related to you or not. Except Biography, I can never imagine an actor/actress writing any kind of Non-fictional piece for almost 200 pages. Tisca Chopra does this rarity with her recent novel,"Acting Smart" which also has the tagline of "Your Ticket to Showbiz". This 202-pages novel is published by HarperCollins, one of the leading publications in India. The cover page of the book has Tisca Chopra laden with beautiful green dress smiling back. :-) The back cover page has comments of people like Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Raju Hirani, Imtiaz Ali, Farah Khan and Manish Malhotra on her book. You can not ignore this book even if you have nothing to do with acting and Bollywood. It has some kind of a feel that you'll surely pick it up. Though Rs. 350, the cost of the book, is too high for anyone to pick. It should have been around Rs. 150 or so. 

 

 SYNOPSIS:- 

Thousands of young people arrive every day at the Mecca of entertainment, Mumbai, to become an actor. Most of them come with hope in the heart and starry dreams in their eyes. In the absence of proper guidance, it does not take long for most of these dreams to turn to dust, in what is essentially a dog-eat-dog world of cut-throat competition. Tisca Chopra provides great advice on how to build a career as an actor. How do you go about preparing an impressive portfolio and showreel, what does it take to audition well,what are the avenues for training, and how does one avoid the casting couch? Written in an informal, conversational tone, and brimming with insightful insights gleaned from the author’s vantage point of being a true-blue insider, this is an essential handbook for every aspirant in the crazy world of showbiz.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:-

One of Hindi cinema’s most beautiful and stylish actresses, Tisca Chopra has trained with theatre greats like Naseeruddin Shah and Ferozi Abbas Khan. She got her big break with Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par for which she won several national and international awards. Apart from being a regular on stage, she is also a favourite with advertisers, endorsing brands like Tanishq,Titan Eyewear, Olay, Horlicks and Kellogg’s. She is currently starring in the Indian franchise of the hit American series 24,being produced by Anil Kapoor. She is also developing a number of film scripts with her pilot-author husband, Sanjay Chopra.

          After reading the whole book, I came to the conclusion that if you are an aspiring actor, you could not believe that there's a book full of mantras for you. It's not about what you'll do after becoming an actor, it's all about what you have to be while you are on your way to search for that small role to make into the thing called Bollywood. For those who do not have anything to do with this field can read it and know the amount of hard work every face that you see daily on television and theaters does to get there. A wonderful eye-opener written chapter-by-chapter by Tisca Chopra making one realize that it's only easy if you have decided to be of stone with no emotions and only work. 

           Before reading the book, I presumed that Tisca would have talked about her own journey in Bollywood and hence I was skeptic that who would like to read her story because she's not one of those starring in Big budget movies as a single lead actress. But after reading it, I am in awe the way she has carried the whole book talking less about others and more about them who matters and she herself idolizes. She gives example initially on how to be in Mumbai on your own rather than being with someone's support. The example she gave of a girl having no accomodation hence she made a railway pass of Mumbai-Nashik train, used to sleep in it and get ready for next auditions in train itself is quite motivational and moving.

           I liked all the guidance she gave in the end of each chapter as a summary and something to write it in your diary, repeat it daily to remember your right way. Again she says that as an actor you just couldn't stop training. Because even if you have toned yourself as an actor and dancer, you never know when you might have to become an Olympic athlete like Farhan Akhtar. Another amazing piece. In her book launch, she specifically talked about The Casting Couch and hence I was waiting for this chapter to come. Finally it came. It is the best chapter of the book. Clearly and respectfully, she states how Casting couch works and how one can save him/herself from it. She also gave some examples on how she saved herself from a director once. Its my recommendation to everyone to at least read this chapter if not the whole book. 

          I also liked her take on money. How money is important in this industry is what she speaks about. Later on, she also tells that its our back ground that shall always be lucky and supportive when everyone else shall leave. She tells how people start changing themselves after coming to Mumbai but the ones who keep their originality gets work for the character they are themselves in real life. She tells how Ratan Rajput didn't lose her originality and bagged the leading role in a serial on Zee TV. She tells why Nawazuddin Siddique keeps getting work and such roles because he's the same that he always was. I liked how she also gave importance to TV actors in one of her chapters. An incident when she tells how she got to see a yesteryear's great actor in a queue of junior artist to get work shocked her. There are many such shocking elements in the book that I loved reading.

         Coming to the drawbacks now: I felt as if Tisca Chopra didn't cover many other aspects required for coming in Bollywood. She should also have suggested few names that one should try to contact once in Mumbai who are genuine and love to work with debutante. Tisca keeps giving examples and statements by few selective people as Imtiaz Ali, Boman Irani, Shabana Azmi, Anurag Kashyap etc. It would have been better if she would have brought comments by many more actors in her book. Most of the times, Tisca have given example by not writing names of the directors, actors and casting teams. I know its purposely done to avoid controversies but it would have been wonderful if she would have named few of them. I needed some masala actually. Haha! In all, I would say a fine attempt for all the struggling and aspiring actors. I give the book 3 out of 5. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Planet B 2 by M C Raj (Book Review- 4*/5)!!!

      If you ask me, what books make me read them in a go and what make me read them 50 pages/day, I would say a book that's wonderful but written in a slow pace is read by me part by part. I did the same with this amazing book called "Planet B2". It also has the tagline "Human War against Nature". It's written by M. C. Raj, an experienced personality and a prominent writer. This 433-pages novel is published by Partridge publishers, a Penguin Random House company. I am amazed at the quality of books Partridge are publishing these days. Though they are available for big prices at Flipkart and other websites but still they are worth it. Every book that I am reading by them, I am looking forward for more books. Planet B2 is again one more name that I will add in the awesome books list of Partridge Publishers. 

   

INTRODUCTION:-

M C Raj creates a new planet with life. No wonder that Americans want to occupy it. The hitch is that the beings in PlanetB2 are cosmic formed out of the entropy of life giving waves. Not only they but also many human beings oppose the over ambitious project of Rustler, the US President who decides to destroy the planet if his plans failed. All the missions of Rustler's to PlanetB2 fail and in total frustration he turns his ire towards all those who oppose him on earth. He forms Earth Alliance. Those who oppose him under the leadership of the German Chancellor form the Cosmic Alliance. Plumbel, the close friend of Rustler's is the kingpin of the formation of Cosmic Alliance. Another world war becomes inevitable. Humanity is destroyed in the NBC (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical) war that ensues. What happens to Rustler, what happens to the cosmic beings, what happens to world leaders and Plumbel etc. are brought out in many plots by weaving by the author. War strategies, information galore, creation of a new planet and a new way of life for peace and non-violence are bound to enthrall the readers and compel them to extricate the many plots. A festive time is ahead

            M. C. Raj has attempted a Sci-fi book which is very rarely attempted by authors of India and even if they do it, the book doesn't get better responses. But the way Raj has written with great insights, I felt as if I was watching a Hollywood flick throughout the duration of 10 days for which I read this book part by part because it had too many pages to consume all in a go. :-) Raj hasn't used great technical languages, usually which the authors use in such kind of books. He has kept the book straight and less confusing which makes it easy for you to remember the incidents and chapters even when you pick book again after reading half of it. I only felt that the book was written quite in slow pace but still, it manages to hold you back because you want to know what happened at the last in the fight of human vs alien and human vs human. 

             Book tells it clearly how America, the superpower, wants to conquer not only the world but universe too. The state of mind of its President is shown bluntly and truthfully without hiding any fact. You will feel that you are reading a true tale of USA because that's what we have kept hearing and seeing in all these years. The character of Rustler is wonderfully described and maintained throughout the book. His bad attitude pays off and that's what I was waiting to read. The book really starts when Carolina is introduced to the new planet and its logic about cosmic. The whole Science described is an amazing read. The launch of Big Belly4 is stated anxiously and I liked reading the emotions of Rustler, Plumbel and other people engaged with the project. Later on, I loved the short-time chemistry between Plumbel and Marissa. The Native America's description by the author through the character Marissa is described passionately which makes you love the place and its people. 

            The second part of the book becomes a thriller-kind-of-a-thing when all countries starts protesting against Rustler's theory. I also liked the concept of World War been brought up in the story. It was much needed. I loved the way Carolina and Marissa's transformations happen in another planet. It is very exciting to read the changes in their life because of being in another planet among another people. I loved the concept that the aliens aren't shown as villains but genuine beings. The anti-climax and climax will just take you off your seat. I recommend this book to all the Hollywood movie lovers especially the one which has fight between aliens and humans involved. I give this novel- 4 out of 5.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!