Kiran Manral's Blog, page 9
April 5, 2020
In the Economic Times: Reading in the time of Netflix:
“However, FOMO shouldn’t drive you to apps that give you the executive summary of a book, says Mumbai-based author Kiran Manral.
There are quite a few in the market, like Blinkist for non-fiction. You might as well read a long-form article on a subject instead, she reasons: “Summary takes away the pleasure of reading.” Manral is also not entirely in favour of reading challenges that put a lot of pressure on people when everyone has a different pace of reading.”
Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/reading-in-the-time-of-netflix-urban-indians-have-a-new-fear-of-missing-out-on-books/articleshow/70309349.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
In The Times of India: Indian romance writers talk about their favourite love stories
With bestselling authors Preeti Shenoy, Ravinder Singh, Andaleeb Wajid, Milan Vohra and Sudeep Nagarkar.
07/7Kiran Manral
Author Kiran Manral has penned love stories like ‘Once Upon A Crush’ and ‘True Love Stories’. She told us that she has not one but two all-time favourite romance novels. Talking about the kind of love stories that warm her heart, Kiran said, “I love the love stories which aren’t traditional romances; but those which define how I was introduced to the unconventional idea of the fact that love might not really be all roses and moonlight. The first was ‘Jane Eyre’, older man with a dark secret. Then there’s ‘Gone With The Wind’ in which Scarlet O’Hara pines for the unavailable Ashley Wilkes all through only to realise when she loses him in the end, that her true soulmate was Rhett Butler.”
Read the entire article here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/indian-romance-writers-talk-about-their-favourite-love-stories/photostory/74132794.cms?picid=74132826
Midday on Horror Writing in Indian English Literature
Have You Seen A Ghost?
Updated: Feb 23, 2020, 08:22 IST | Jane Borges | Mumbai
A popular party ice-breaker, ghost stories are finally finding their place in modern Indian English literature. And we just might have Karan Johar and Co. to thank
Kiran Manral switched from chic lit genre to horror in 2016 with The Face at the Window (Amaryllis). Her horror short story, Upon His Return, was selected for The Best Asian Speculative Fiction Anthology (Kitaab) in 2018.
Author Kiran Manral, an established voice in the chic lit genre, turned to horror in 2016 with The Face at the Window (Amaryllis), a psychological horror, which tells the story of Mrs McNally, a retired school teacher, living alone in a cottage at the foothills of the Himalayas. “To be honest, we always had a great culture of horror folktales, but nobody was able to formulise it into new-age contemporary horror, after the Ramsay Brothers,” she says.
That is now changing, because of demand for fresh content rooted in Indian lore. “I think this new generation of readers and consumers of visual fiction are changing the game; they are open to reading horror in the Indian context,” says Manral, whose other horror short, Upon His Return, was selected for The Best Asian Speculative Fiction Anthology (Kitaab) in 2018.
Read the entire article here: https://www.mid-day.com/articles/have-you-seen-a-ghost/22636288
Read more here: https://www.mid-day.com/articles/have-you-seen-a-ghost/22636288
Top Indian women authors reveal their inspiration- The Times of India
On Women’s Day, The Times of India asked Kavita Kane, Preeti Shenoy, Venita Coelho, Khyrunnisa A and me about women authors who had inspired us.
Kiran Manral
Author Kiran Manral has penned books in various genres including romance, thriller and parenting. Sharing her thoughts on writers who have inspired her, she revealed that she has two favourite authors for different reasons. “I like Charlotte Brontë for ‘Jane Eyre’. She was probably the first feminist character and her story read very real. Before reading her book, I didn’t realise that women can be strong, independent and not just pretty.”
She further added that when it comes to writing, the author of ‘Rebecca’ Daphne du Maurier inspired her writing. “‘Rebecca’ is a book that stayed with me. I like Daphne du Maurier’s writing for the way she builds suspense which has inspired my writing.”
Read the entire story here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/top-indian-women-authors-reveal-their-inspiration/articleshow/74532628.cms
In the Midday today
Talking about how to write apocalyptic fiction with dear friend and bestselling author Ashwin Sanghi and Bilal Siddiqui.
Story From The End Of The World
Updated: Apr 05, 2020, 08:35 IST | Nasrin Modak Siddiqi | Mumbai
With Indian publishing houses announcing apocalyptic fiction writing contests, here’s your chance to get published. Before that, some expert advice
READ THE GENRE Author Kiran Manral, who has dabbled in the genre through a short story and micro fiction on the post-apocalypse scenario that will soon be published, says that apocalyptic fiction has long been popular. “Noah’s Ark and the flood that wiped the Earth clean of wicked mankind is an early example of post-apocalyptic work. There are several examples of it in mythology too. From the modern ones, The Road is a good read. Do make it a point to read the genre before you attempt it,” she adds.
Read more here: https://www.mid-day.com/articles/story-from-the-end-of-the-world/22714211
November 8, 2019
The fab Festivelle brunch
When the lovely duo behind Festivelle, Gul Panag and Shruti Seth, invite you to a Festivelle get together over lunch, you put on your pointy shoes and a sharp dress and make sure you’re there because where else can you find a gathering of such wonderful, super achieving women all in one place, letting their hair down and having a great time.
Given I rarely get out into the world from my cave, this was the perfect opportunity to catch up with dear pals and fab authors Shunali Khullar Shroff, whose recent release Love In The Time Of Affluenza is flying off the shelves, and Meghna Pant, who is hard at work on her next which I can’t wait to read. There was the lithe Swaty Singh Malik down from Delhi especially for this get together, Shyni Shetty, Anu Menon or as we know her better, Lola Kutty, Sonali Gupta, Smriti Kiran of MAMI, Anupama Kapoor, Nupur Sharma of PR Pundits, Preeta Sukhtankar of The Label Life, Mini Mathur, Maria Goretti, Nikhila Palat who brought the actual star of the afternoon in her arms, her little baby, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ishika Mohan Motwane, Simple Kaul, Sandhya Mridul, and I’m missing some names here, but they’ll come back to my ageing brain eventually.
Great conversations, great fun and a fun time had by all. Thanks Shruti, Gul and Festivelle, with Layal who keeps it all together, for the lovely afternoon. And the goodies from Just Herbs, Jean Claude Biguine, and Kerastase were absolutely delightful!
August 21, 2019
August 12, 2019
May 24, 2019
Of fusion and khichdi: Tresind Mumbai
The other day, the very wonderful and insistent Komal Lath finally wore down my resistance and had the offspring and me at Tresind in BKC at Mumbai for a meal. Did we enjoy it, well just let’s say the offspring didn’t have dinner that day and he’s not a chappie to miss his victuals.
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The interiors are subtle and tastefully done. Copper, gold, eggshell and marbled paneling make for a muted palette which allows the food to stay centre stage. The seating is thoughtfully spaced out so you’re not cheek by jowl with the next table and are spared of their conversation intruding yours.
When you enter, they have a really snazzy ritual of putting an aromatic smoke thingie on your table to perfume the immediate area and whet your appetite. I was gobsmacked by the gorgeous show plates. They were immediately removed to make way for more practical plates for the actual messy task of eating, but they pleased me enough, given I’ve long decried the terrible trend of slates, blocks of wood, aluminium and tin plates and more.
I loved the showmanship at Tresind. They made presentation and experience part of the experience, smoothly and surely, but most importantly, they didn’t let it overshadow the flavour and taste of the dishes. Mixology, molecular gastronomy and fusion were the core drivers of the experience.
I am no food blogger, so forgive me the lack of detail. My mocktail came in a long container which had dry ice put into it, with a whole slew of infinite stuff which overwhelmed me and I finally dared taste it when it cooled down. Lava Lamp they called it. Most delicious. The offspring had a custard based mocktail which came in a boat like contraption, which I forgave it because it was so smooth.
For the starters, I had lettuce rolls with prawns and the offspring settled for Tandoori Lamb Chops with Rosemary reduction served with ghee roast potatoes. The main course was Kosha Mangsho with green peas kachori for him, and Chicken Sukka with Neer Dosa for me. Edible petals added colour and texture to the dishes. The star dish of the day though was their khichdi which elevates the humble dish to a ritual with ingredients from across the states of India being added to it, while it is still on the brazier on the table. The chef explains the raison d’etre behind making a performance of a humble dish, which to be honest, is considered comfort food in most homes across the country and not really something you would associate with fine dining.
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Desert was Pina Colada, which is coconut rosogulla, lemongrass espuma, and pineapple sorbet, which the offspring and I ended up sharing because we were stuffed to the gills. The copra shavings on the dish added flavour, texture and nostalgia, growing up as one has in Mumbai with these part of pancakes and curries.
We emerging blinking into the late afternoon, sated yet not overfull, perhaps a mark of how light the food was. Do I recommend it? Highly. I found that the experience, the presentation and the knowledge the staff had about the dishes and the purpose and idea behind them was wonderful. Well worth a visit. Or two.
May 14, 2019
Magical Women. Stories edited by Sukanya Venkatraghavan
Title: Magical Women
Stories edited by Sukanya Venkatraghavan
Publisher: Hachette India
ISBN: 978-9388322027
Genre: Fantasy, Magic
Pages: 232
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars
An anthology isn’t easy to edit. There are varied voices – each with their own agenda, writing style, and each writer that adds wonderfully to the collection. Sukanya Venkatraghavan, author of Magical Women has done a wonderful job of the anthology of 14 Indian women writers writing fantasy and all things magical in the aptly titled, “Magical Women”.
All these stories may seem similar at some level, and probably they are – most of them reflect on Indian magical creatures and stick to making them relevant for our time and age. What is also wonderful is how the “feminist angle” is subtle, but strong. It doesn’t shout out from the rooftop, but it is there – in your face, making you aware of how you read some…
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