"A Story of Love and Passion"
Author: Paulami DuttaGupta
Published By: Shree Books
ISBN: 978-93-504-9761-6
About the Author:
Born in Shillong, many moons ago, with schooling at Loreto Convent, and an English Honors from St. Edmunds College, Paulami Duttagupta started her career with All India Radio Shillong. She had written and also given her voice to a few shows there. Later she came down to Kolkata and got a post graduate degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. She had also taken up a fancy to learning Spanish, but today confesses that she has forgotten most of it.
She has written for ‘The Times of India’ in the ‘Guwahati-Shillong plus Edition’ and also ‘The Shillong Times’. Television had always attracted her and was connected to the Bangla TV industry for about 6 years. She was associated with ETV- Bangla, Akash Bangla and Sony Aath in this period.
Having left her day job in 2012, Paulami took up full time writing. Her first novel, “Pinjar” released in early 2012. Her second novel “Unplanned Destinty” released in 2014. She is also the screenplay writer of the national award winning Khasi film – “Ri Homeland of Uncertainty”.
“Ri” has been adapted into a novel and is releasing in August ’14.
She is currently working on her next project, “After a Decade of Solitude” which will be released in November’14 and writing the script of her second movie as script writer.
Apart from writing full length novels, she has written several short stories and articles. She has also contributed to the “Minds@work Anthology” and the “Family Matters International Anthology” in 2013. Recently she has contributed to the “Learning and Creativity Anthology” and “Her Story Anthology”, a part of Change India Initiative.
When she is not writing or watching movies, Paulami is either reading biographies or classic pieces of literature. Cricket, food, cinema, books and music are an integral part of her life.
Author Interview:
I would have surely asked the Author to share a cup of coffee while asking this question. Since we both stay at different cities I took the help of technology and interviewed the Author online. Let’s go and see what Paulami has to say about her book.
1. Before I ask anything else, could you enlighten us a bit about your book and the characters?
A. Unplanned Destiny was written almost 3.5 years back. The manuscript is actually longer but I had to tweak it as the word count was way more than what the publishing house wanted. Unplanned Destiny was written at the earlier days of my career as a writer and today I am actually surprised to have written this. Romance is actually not my forte and I’ll cherish this book for a long time.
2. “Unplanned Destiny” is obviously a fictional book but do the characters have any resemblance in real life?
A. No. They are just a figment of a crazy imagination.
3. If I’m not wrong, this is your first book, so what made you to step up into the creative world of writing.
A. Unplanned Destiny is not my first book. My first book is Pinjar published back in 2012. I have been writing for a while and wrote articles for The Times of India – Guwahati Shillong Plus and The Shillong Times. I have also written plays and youth shows for AIR Shillong and was student editor of my college magazine. So yes I have done nonfiction for a while. But fiction writing did just happen. Had a laid back job and lot of time, put pen to paper and the stories just happened.
4. Are you a writer by ‘choice’ or by ‘chance’?
A. I would say both. Writing with manic energy happened by ‘chance’. And leaving my job to write film scripts happened by ‘choice.’ I had a television job and had been in the industry for close to 6 years but then the world of movies and books was just irresistible.
5. How does it feel to be an Author? Tell us something about your Pre-Author life and Post-Author life?
A. There wasn’t much thrill in a stable job! Now that I am working from home I feel the thrill and frustration of writing all at the same time. Writing has brought my life from a slow track to a much faster track. Two books and a film all releasing in the same year is actually satisfying. Also seeing my name peep out from a few anthologies is also a reason to smile. Writing needs a lot of discipline and I am actually in quest of that. My pre-author life was more of schedules and stability. Now it is like the London
6. What are your favorite books and who is your favorite Author?
A. The list of favorite books is too tall. So I’ll name my favorite authors. Jane Austen, Kate Chopin, Bronte Sisters, Hardy, Dickens, O Henry, Tolstoy, Sheldon, Sparks
I also read a lot of Mills and Boon. And among the contemporary writers’ books Boats On Land, Our Moon has Blood Clots and Edge of Desire are keepsakes.
In film writing of course Gulzaar Saab is an absolute favorite. And Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy scripts can be read over and over again.
7. Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies?
A. I am rather a lazy person and have little time after my daily session of reading, writing and movie watching. But I do listen to music a lot. Cricket is a good sport to watch for me and of course long walks, good food and shopping.
8. There are many aspiring writers trying to get their story published, any advice for them?
A. There will be rejection slips and more rejection slips in the start. Just keep writing. That angst these slips give you will only improve your writing and get you your first contract.
9. Lastly, any words for me and my blog???
A. You are indeed doing a great job. Reviewing books is not a mean feat. Thanks for featuring my book and interviewing me. Cheers. God Bless. Rise and Shine.
It was really a great experience talking to Paulami and again thanks to her for honoring me with this opportunity.
Book Blurb:
Headstrong and independent Mahi has turned her back on her parents and moved to Mumbai to avoid an arranged marriage. She is finally living life on her own terms and loving every minute of it when she receives that fateful phone call that is to change her life. Her beloved cousin Rasika has been despicably used and abandoned by media tycoon Veer Khurana. Spurred by an urge for revenge, Mahi moves to a new job and a new city to get close to Veer, and plans to destroy him just as he destroyed Rasika, whom he deserted by leaving her pregnant, unmarried and alone. But things don't go as planned. Things grow awry when she finds herself forced into marriage with the very man she despises. Her carefully drawn plans are turned upside down when she finds herself falling in love with the enemy.
Who is the real Veer? And what of Rasika now? Mahi realizes she has no choice in the matter but to give in to her unplanned destiny.
My Review:
Before I began to write my views on the book, I thank the Author for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book. With that I would also add, though this book is sent to me by the Author as a reviewer’s copy, I was completely unbiased while writing this review.
The male protagonist of the story, ‘Veer Khurana’ is a thirty two year rich media guy and owner of the channel Bharat Live. Not only is he rich but arrogant too. The female protagonist, ‘Mahi’ is a girl who fled away from home as her parents tried to tie her knot to some NRI Engineer. She didn’t want to hurt her parents but having no other way she decided to leave her hometown and move to Mumbai to live her dreams. The other important character of this story is ‘Rasika’. Set in the backdrop of cities like ‘Mumbai’ and ‘Delhi
As the story moves on, the Casanova Veer falls in love with Mahi as they met for the first time in an Annual channel meet at Mumbai. As Veer’s character was known to Mahi, she first hesitated. But with the kind of personality he has, it’s impossible for a girl to ignore. Ultimately Mahi accepts his proposal and then begin their love story. When both realized that they are perfectly made for each other they decided to get marry.
On the day of their marriage Veer mobile beeped. It was a message from Mahi. Excitedly he pressed the read button considering it might be a romantic message from Mahi but the message was, “I was in Delhi
Want to know what happened next?? Then you have to read the book. It would be completely unfair to the Author if I write the entire story here. To know more about Veer, Mahi and the most important, Rasika you have to read the book.
On a personal note, even for a once I didn’t felt like putting the book down. The book has a gripping story which will make you crave to turn the pages until it’s completely done.
My Rating: 4/5
( This is a book you should definitely read. I can't promise you will cry but I am sure you would enjoy reading it )
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Paulami is a talented writer and an even amazing person. She is one of the few people in the industry I've adored since the beginning. I haven't picked her book but I guess I am going to do that pretty soon, all thanks to your review :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. This book really has a gripping story. You must read it.. :)
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