An Interview with Mr. Vishwas Mudagal (Author of Losing My Religion)!!!

His novel has recently been announced a "BESTSELLER". I got an opportunity to talk with Vishwas Mudagal. Do read the interview below and know what he wants to say about his future as writer and entrepreneur. 

How does it feel to be an author now, Mr. Vishwas Mudagal? And that too your debut novel becoming a bestseller? 

It feels incredible to be a published author. More so because I never really thought I would write a novel so early in my life. And it’s a definitely a dream come true to see Losing My Religion, becoming a best-seller. 

What exactly made you write such a different novel? 

I think that might be my style; I don’t know any other way of telling a story. I have no formal introduction to writing stories or novels, but the one thing I knew was that I wanted to write a meaningful page-turner and entertain the heck out of the reader. And I don’t think of anyone while I write my story, I write it for myself. The author in me has to entertain the reader in me. 

Moreover, the idea for LMR came from my life. I had started an Internet company in 2007 that couldn’t make money in spite of getting amazing user traction. I went broke and didn’t know what to do further. I wanted to quit everything and go on a journey across India, when I saw one of my friends doing it. But I couldn’t go on that journey, and ended up writing about a person, in my situation of bankruptcy, who goes on an uncharted journey when he meets a crazy American hippie. That’s how Losing My Religion happened!

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?

I am a serial entrepreneur and a CEO. I am currently the CEO of GoodWorkLabs, which helps global companies, startups and entrepreneurs build software products and succeed in the marketplace. Technology is an integral part of me and I have been passionate about it from childhood. 

Do I wish to come into full-time writing? That’s a tough question. Writing or rather storytelling is my passion. It gives me so much of pleasure that I forget the world when I write. But I love entrepreneurship with the same verve, it gives me an adrenelin rush that I can’t explain. How do I choose between the two things I absoutely love? I can’t. So the question is how do I balance my time to do both. That’s a Herculean task, especially when my readers are demanding (yes, demanding!) for my next book.

Did you really visit these places mentioned in your book like Malana, Goa and Haridwar?

I have visited majority of the places mentioned in the book. Travel is the food for the soul and I love to travel. You discover or re-discover yourself only through travel, and unplanned travel is the most exhilarating experience. 

I have been to Goa, Om Beach at Gokarna, Haridwar & New York, pretty much all the places mentioned in the book. The only place I haven’t been to is Malana, but I have traveled to the Himalayas extensively. 

How difficult was it for you to get published in this scenario when it is said that only rejection comes in the author’s way?

I took around two years to get published. Many publishers rejected the novel for many reasons, some because it was a fresh concept, some because they thought it’s a business book, and some because I was a debutant. But Fingerprint! believed in the book and commissioned it and the rest is something everyone knows. 

How has been the response of FingerPrint! till now seeing the good reviews coming in?

Fingerprint! is a great publisher, with a good editorial, design and marketing team. Recently they threw a success party in New Delhi celebreting the success of Losing My Religion. They have been very supportive and are putting all their weight behind my book. 

I have lately seen some celebrities talking about your book. Can we hope for this getting adapted into a movie?

Everyone who has read Losing My Religion wants to see it as a movie. People from the film industry are surprised to see that my book is actually written like a movie script. They feel it will make a big-budget blockbuster. I didn’t do it intentionally, but perhaps that’s the way I write. Only time will tell whether it will become a movie and who will take it up. 

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

I’m not sure when my next novel will come. People are eagerly waiting; some can’t even wait. I get mails and messages almost every day telling me how my novel has influenced them, inspired them, given them hope, made them cry, made them remember their friends who they have lost, helped them get over a breakup, pushed them to start a company—all this in just two months as my book launched recently. Many told me ‘Thank you for writing LMR.’ When I hear someone thank me for LMR, I am touched. 

I know people have huge expectations from me now. I heard one critic say: ‘How will Mudagal beat his own work?’ When people start worrying about how an author will beat his own work, I believe he has arrived. 

Since 2011, I have been stuck with an idea of a man in the future. I can’t get it out of my head and I hope that will be my next. But I might end up writing a sequel to LMR as well. I don’t decide these things, my heart does. So let’s see what comes next. 

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?

This is a tough one. I never prepare my speeches, I am always spontaneous. But I will definitely thank people who have supported me and believed in me. And my readers! And give a message to people to follow their passion without fear of failure with my parting words ‘Follow your passion and the world will follow yours...’

Youth in India has been told to follow a defined path of going to college, taking up a job, marrying as soon as possible, starting a family, buying a home, and never taking risks. We have to change this, we have to create an India that thinks big, that innovates, that defines a glorious future, and this is possible only when we take risks, experiment, and follow our passion. It is my mission to give this message to people in India of all ages. 

Rise of the Sun Prince by Shubha Vilas (Book Review:4.25*/5)

       

   After reading lots of epic fiction, I finally picked up this book based on pure mythology. "Rise of the Sun Prince" written by Shubha Vilas. It's first book in the series of "Ramayana: The Game Of Life" (whole series is going to be of 6 books). Jaico Books known for publishing similar stuffs once again gives us a book which has a soul of Ramayana and character of Rama right from its cover page to the words written to describe this beautiful tale. Book 1 is wholly dedicated to the life of Lord Rama from his birth to his marriage. Another specialty is its protagonist. Most of us would think peeping into cover page and synopsis that it would be Rama but the real protagonist of this book is Vishwamitra and then Dasaratha. That's what Book 1 gives you as a surprise. :-)

           When we talk about Ramayana, we talk only about the incidents that plays big part in the epic. But how did the hatred and origin of that particular incident occur, Shubha Vilas concentrates upon that in this book. E.g. How Rama(in his childhood) once plays a small prank with Manthra because of which she starts hating him more than before and that hatred results Rama going to exile for 14 years two decades later.

       Even the fight between Vishwamitra and Vasishtha is something new and exciting to read. How does Ramayana lands into Valmiki's responsibility to write is with what this book starts with. The story of Ahilya turning into stone, the formation of Srilanka, the competition between Vayu and snake etc. are also given the main preferences in the book along with main occurrences in Ramayana. 

     

   The usage of capital H in "He" and "His" even when the words arrived in the middle of a sentence to describe Lord Rama shows the amount of respect author has for Him. I read a book "The Exiled Prince" few days ago. You can call this book an improved version of it. The small notes and messages in the footer of pages are as beautiful as the story. I want to only read it once again specially because for most of the time, they acted as interruption to the story(drawback). Also, the "Laws" of few things that author has noted in between of chapters are inspirational. 

            The chapter from the Book 2 introduced in the end of this book didn't worked well with me. I felt it took away the excitement of climax from Book 1. Also, the cover page of this book though beautiful, serene and attractive makes it look as if the book is for school children. That's the only reason why adults won't pick up the book misinterpreting animation as children's muse. But read this book to know about Vishwamitra's elegance, Dasaratha's simplicity and Lord Rama's rise. In all, I would give this book 4.25* out of 5. It's definitely readable. Go For It!

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

An Interview with Rajev Paul- Actor and Poet!!!

1077th BLOG POST -->>

It has been a wonderful opportunity to interview Rajev Paul- Rajev Paul an actor on Indian Television, has been known for the roles he has done from Swabhimaan to Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki to Nach Baliye and recently Big Boss 6. He released his book of poetry in Hindi "Mumbai Mohabbat Aur Tanhai" in 2012. Do read the interview what he wants to say about his poetry and the two books he has contributed in.

1. Hello Rajev, how has been life after Bigg Boss as you turned out favorite of many viewers?

That’s very sweet of you to say. Yes I get tremendous response from people all over the world..Children, men, women all seem to be extremely fond of me. I have been travelling for events appearances and hosting shows all over.

2. When you entered the house, you had published a poetry collection of yours. Why didn’t you talk about it on the cameras? 

Well now you know what we speak and what is shown is different..I spoke about it quite a few times about my book "Mumbai Mohabbat Aur Tanhai". A lot of people write to me about it.

3. Since when did your interest in writing poetry develop?

Well my book got published in 2012 and my Juhi Chawla had done the honors . I used to write since a long time. Obviously poetry can’t be written in a day and a book certainly not overnight. I look at my poetry writing skill as a gift of God and it has come to  me through my mom who is a great poet and I always saw her write..though she has not published her poetry.

4. What was your first book of poetry about?

My book is a collection of poetry in Hindi as the title suggests its called "Mumbai Mohabbat Aur Tanhai" and it aptly speaks about Love Loneliness and Life in a Metro..the Politics of our country parents families…Hometowns etc..All the thoughts that we come across on a daily basis..that's what you find in the book..Its a reflection of your feelings..

 5.    Are we going to see Rajev with more books on poetry in coming years?

Yes I have been fortunate to be a part of another book called Aatish which is again a collection of poetry from different poets in the world and it has amongst others The Gulzar Sahab and Irshad Kamil. Each poetry is on a social issue accompanied by a photograph depicting the poetry…It’s a unique effort..which must be appreciated. Its been compiled by Foquia Wajid from Bangalore and her team called On Fire.

6. Why don’t you write poetries in English too; as the audience for English language is wider?

Oh I think in Hindi and my Hindi is certainly better than my English..though when I read works of other eminent poets I feel I am nothing..But rather than using complicated unheard of words just for effect..I use colloquial but decent language which a common person can relate to and understand.

I do at times write in English but am not sure if I am ready for a full fledged book in English as yet..but you never know maybe I am hiding something that I will reveal at an appropriate time.

7. We have seen you sharing poetry on your Social Networking accounts, what comments do you receive for it? 

Oh yes I love to share my work..Thats how I got the confidence to bring my book initially…Social network is like a nasha.. Like how actors say films and Tv Theatre give you stardom..But theatre gives us..Instant connect and instant reaction…

Same way here on Facebook you post something and one gets instant reactions from people the world over..Its madness and amazingly satisfying…I post things on topical subjects..of lately I have been writing about the ongoing Elections in the country and in my own lil way I contribute my views and try and put people’s feelings in my words. 

People mostly like my work and sometimes share their own stuff with me and want me to correct or comment on theirs..The flip side though is at times people pass it off as their own on their walls..and forwards bbms and whats app…its q funny when I receive my own Poetry as a forward.. 

8. When is your next published work coming out?

Hopefully sometime this year…Now my second book is getting ready..I can assure you its much better than my first work..I think I have evolved as a human being and have had far more experiences of life..and been in situations much more and hopefully been able to understand absorb and hopefully feel more and able to express my feelings in a better way..So yes sometime this year my new book will hit the stands..

9. Are we also going to see you write stories?

Hmmmm…that’s a suggestion I get from most of the people..but if you read my poems..there is always a story that am telling in my own way…Poetry is a part of the story..dil dukhna..kuch ehsaas feelings ka hona..aur unhe alfaaz me baya karna is poetry…In my book there are some stories in poetry form which run into more than 10 pages..Read my book to know more.. 

10. What is the last thing you would like to tell your readers?

Internet is a great thing…But book reading is also great..read books they help you have better conversations. And poetry is amazing..alll love poetry as I think all songs are now poetry but no one buys a poetry book easily..I always ask people..you love poetry? And the answer is always..Oh yes..and then I ask when was the last time you purchase a book of poetry..and the answer is…ummmm..so pls change that answer…say Yes..:)