Books and Beyond with Bound

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature.  In this special episode of Books & Beyond, Tara and Michelle talk to two Indian diasporic writers – Shastri Akella and Jai Chakrabarti, about their books that break the mold of con...

What does it take to write a memoir of your mother, who was a courtesan in a changing India? Did Manish’s relationship with his mother color his own narration of her life story? Did he leave out bits that made him uncomfortable? What did his mother say when he told her he wanted to write a book about her? In this episode of “Books and Beyond,” Tara and Michelle talk to Manish Gaekwad, the author o...

What mysteries lie beneath ‘Meow Meow’ — one of Mumbai’s biggest drug scandals?  Join Michelle and Tara for a thrilling episode of Books and Beyond with stellar crime reporter Srinath Rao as he takes us on a journey of the process of writing his breathtaking book unveiling the life and crimes of Shashikala ‘Baby’ Patankar, infamous as ‘Mumbai’s Drug Queen’.  What is Meow Meow, the drug that floode...

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature.  How do ancient and moving epics reach the world through translation?  Join Michelle and Tara for a very special episode of Books & Beyond in partnership with Penguin Random House I...

Does life have to come to a halt once you touch 60?  Join Michelle and Tara in conversation with Nidhi Chawla and Reshmi Chakraborty about their book ‘Rethink Ageing: Lessons in Ageing from the Older and Bolder Generation’ — a book that challenges the way we think about ageing in India today. What does it mean to age actively, and how can one do it? Can you start afresh once you cross the threshol...

What secrets lie behind the silences of Bombay’s silent films? Join Michelle in conversation with Tejaswini Apte-Rahm about her book ‘The Secret of More’, as she learns about previously unrevealed secrets that lie behind the glitz and glamour of Bombay’s silent film era. ‘The Secret of More’ looks at Bombay of the 1900s through the rags-to-riches story of Tatya, whose life is intertwined with two...

Tara and Michelle discuss which "myths" changed the way they view the world, and which left no impression on them at all. In this episode, they cover the reason behind the unfailing popularity of myths, mythology books, screen adaptations and much more. Was it Adipurush’s dialogues that led to its downfall? How much VFX is too much? Why do we still love Amar Chitra Katha?  Tune in to fin...

Find out the nuances of writing feminist mythological retellings and historical fiction from the master storyteller, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni!  Join Tara and Michelle as they talk to her about her inspirations, her writing process, and her latest book ‘Independence’, which is a story of three sisters during the Partition of India and West Bengal. What is her origin story as a writer? How does sh...

Find out what happens when two psychologists unite to pen down stories from within the therapy room!   Join Tara and Michelle in conversation with Yashodhara and Aruna about their book ‘And How Do You Feel About That? Breakdowns and Breakthroughs in the Therapy Room’, in which they reconstruct and deconstruct the therapy process using fictionalized stories. What are some of the myths about therapi...

Find out how the Indian middle-class perceives dating and pre-marital intimate relations! Join Michelle in conversation with Aravind Jayan about his book ‘Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors’, which deals with the aftermath of a leaked intimate-video of a teenage couple from a middle-class family in Kerala. How can humour be used to write fiction about social issues? How does shame dictate the behaviour...

Find out what data can and cannot tell us about modern India - from the way we eat, work, pray, and marry!  Join Tara and Michelle in conversation with Rukmini S , the author of ‘Whole Numbers and Half Truths’, a book which uses data to decode and demystify the private, but social lives and habits of modern Indians. What does an independent data journalist do? How can numbers and data be used to t...

Find out how stories about South-Korean legends and dark lore made their way to the 2022 International Booker Prize shortlist! Join Tara and Michelle as they speak to South-Korean writer, Bora Chung, about her book “Cursed Bunny” – a collection of short stories that blends elements of magical realism, horror, and science fiction. How can speculative fiction be used to offer a critique of unequal s...

Discover the terrifyingly exciting world of the Food & Beverages industry in Bombay! Join Tara and Michelle in conversation with Gauri Devidayal and Vishwas Kulkarni as they talk about their new self-published book “Diamonds for Breakfast,” which reflects upon the joy and pain of starting a restaurant. How did they sustain their business during Covid 19? What is the process of self-publishing...

Find out how the representation of the Indian family has evolved in Indian literature and movies! Join Tara and Michelle as they dissect the popularity of family drama stories in India, taking the examples of some of the best books and movies in this genre. How does literature explore questions of love, conflict, and changing social values within families? How do books and movies portray the cultu...

Find out how Deepti Kapoor wrote a part-crime, part-family saga that shines a light on clashing social identities. Join Tara and Michelle in conversation with Deepti Kapoor about her new book ‘Age of Vice’, in which crime, family dynamics, love, and friendship are weaved into one unforgettable story about the complex realities of contemporary Delhi. How do you deal with questions of morality in fi...

Find out the story of Feroza Begum, and how she lives on as a moral lesson in Rampur folktales!  Tarana Khan takes Tara and Michelle back in time to 1897 to the courts of Rampur’s Nawabs and the tragic yet courageous story of Feroza Begum as they talk about her book “The Begum and the Dastan”. Who was Feroza Begum? What was the life of women like within the zenana? What tactics did they employ to...

Explore Goa’s syncretic culture, and uncover the heart and voice of its people through stories in Konkani.  Damodar Mauzo takes Tara and Michelle on tour around Goa, capturing the essence of the taxi drive through his book: “The Wait and Other Stories”, a collection that weaves together Goa’s cosmopolitan reality. How is Goa standing strong in the face of growing intolerance? How does one aptly re...

Dive into the perilous world of gambling with Kamal Gupta as he discusses and divulges his story.  Kamal Gupta takes Tara and Michelle through his thrilling journey of counting and gambling documented in his book: “Play It Right: The Remarkable Story of a Gambler Who Beat the Odds on Wall Street”. A real-life underdog tale of one man turning the tables on the casinos and Wall Street without sellin...

Discover the thrilling yet bone-chilling research experiences of Neil D'Silva, one of India's most celebrated horror writers.  Neil D’Silva makes sure that shivers run down peoples’ spines as they read his book: “Baak: A Desi Horror Story”. Join Tara and Michelle as they find out what he puts himself through to instill fear in his readers. How did a cowardly child become an accidental ho...

Uncover the realities of running a bookstore through Rehana Munir's book "Paper Moon". Tara and Rehana sipped on hot coffee, as they talked about Rehana's book. A book that can only be compared to a warm hug. This is a coming-of-age story of a young bookshop owner, navigating through relationships, and building a new business from the ground up, after her father’s passing away....

Aashisha Chakraborty takes Tara and Michelle through her experience of surviving and thriving in a male-dominated industry with her book: “Mis (s) Adventures of a Sales Girl”. As the conversation unravels we learn about Tara and Michelle’s misadventures in their workplaces, and how they creatively handled the tricky situations. How did Aashisha find her way back after getting lost in Chandni Chowk...

Tara and Michelle debate over a question as old as time: “Do self-help books really help?” They cover everything from productivity and dating guides to philosophy and wellness books. Can reading a self-help book help you cut sugar from your diet? Is there a definite way to get the most out of your self-help book? Was Tara able to change Michelle’s mind? Tune in to find out! Books mentioned in this...

Find out how Aparna Piramel Raje wrote a part memoir, part guide on battling mental health. She has been speaking out about her bipolarity and the stigma around mental illnesses in India for over 10 years. She chats with Tara and Michelle about her revealing and vulnerable book, “Chemical Khichdi: How I Hack My Mental Health”. What prompted her to write the book? Why is balancing work and mental h...

Find out how romance is depicted throughout Indian mythology! Ashok Banker makes Tara and Michelle travel through centuries as they talk about his book “Epic Loves: Stories from the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata”. A book which finds love within the epic war of Mahabharata. Find out how love has transformed in our mythologies throughout centuries. If all the mythological stories are written by men,...

Find out how to write a self-help book and start an open discussion about sex! Leeza Mangaldas talks to Tara and Michelle about sex and how the cultural shock of this Indian taboo compelled her to write her book “The Sex Book: A Joyful Journey of Self-discovery”, a book that strikes a conversation about sex. Find out how to make your protagonist relatable to the reader without revealing their iden...