By Rashmi Kumar - Express India - Pune, India
Monday, September 4, 2006
As soon as the conversation opens, poet, playwright and translator Anju Makhija talks about Pune. Born and brought up here, Makhija’s affinity towards the city is obvious. “We travelled a lot due to my father’s profession and Pune is etched in my memory,” says she.
So, little wonder then that Makhija is excited about her trip to Pune on September 4 at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where she along with theatre personality Tom Alter and poet Priya Sarukkai Chabria will read selections from the book Seeking The Beloved, written by 16th century Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif, translated by Makhija and Hari Dilgir.
Taking a break from her Pune memories, Makhija talks about herself, almost matter-of-fact. “I started writing poetry in my teens and my commercial writings overtook my passion to write poems,” says she. Makhija also wrote columns for The Indian Express Mumbai in late 90s - Expressions and Media Mix.
Makhija has written eight plays so far. Some of her well-known works include Unspoken Dialogue with Alyque Padumsee and The Last Train, that was shortlisted for the BBC World Prize. “This play was recently staged in Mumbai and received a tremendous response. It is a subtle political and religious satire,” says she. Makhija has also worked with international directors, but most memorable was working with German director Michael Laub, for whome she wrote Total Slammer Masala. “The play never came to India but travelled all over Australia and Europe. I love Laub’s style. He is such an avant garde. His style is never to work on a story, but, to take up a theme and work upon that,” she adds.
After, “pushing herself” to write more poems, there was no looking back for this lover of Sufi music and writings. “Then, I decided to get my poetry book published. As a result View From The Web was born, followed by Pickling Season,” informs Makhija. Her poem with the same title (Pickling Season) also won the BBC World Prize and talks about how relations and pickles are so similar. “They both sour, they both are so much fun much as long as you preserve them in the right vessel!” she describes.
But, Makhija has a remorse. According to her, poetry is hardly anyone’s choice these days. “As a writer, you constantly need to push yourself to write and secondly, there is a niche reader of poetry,” she concedes.
And, as if on a natural instinct, she gets back to her favourite topic - Pune. “My granny stayed here. During my initial years in Pune, I was so fascinated by the way she conducted herself. I have dedicated most of my books to her,” she fondly recalls.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
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Saturday, November 25, 2006
Versatile Verse
By Rashmi Kumar - Express India - Pune, India
Monday, September 4, 2006
As soon as the conversation opens, poet, playwright and translator Anju Makhija talks about Pune. Born and brought up here, Makhija’s affinity towards the city is obvious. “We travelled a lot due to my father’s profession and Pune is etched in my memory,” says she.
So, little wonder then that Makhija is excited about her trip to Pune on September 4 at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where she along with theatre personality Tom Alter and poet Priya Sarukkai Chabria will read selections from the book Seeking The Beloved, written by 16th century Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif, translated by Makhija and Hari Dilgir.
Taking a break from her Pune memories, Makhija talks about herself, almost matter-of-fact. “I started writing poetry in my teens and my commercial writings overtook my passion to write poems,” says she. Makhija also wrote columns for The Indian Express Mumbai in late 90s - Expressions and Media Mix.
Makhija has written eight plays so far. Some of her well-known works include Unspoken Dialogue with Alyque Padumsee and The Last Train, that was shortlisted for the BBC World Prize. “This play was recently staged in Mumbai and received a tremendous response. It is a subtle political and religious satire,” says she. Makhija has also worked with international directors, but most memorable was working with German director Michael Laub, for whome she wrote Total Slammer Masala. “The play never came to India but travelled all over Australia and Europe. I love Laub’s style. He is such an avant garde. His style is never to work on a story, but, to take up a theme and work upon that,” she adds.
After, “pushing herself” to write more poems, there was no looking back for this lover of Sufi music and writings. “Then, I decided to get my poetry book published. As a result View From The Web was born, followed by Pickling Season,” informs Makhija. Her poem with the same title (Pickling Season) also won the BBC World Prize and talks about how relations and pickles are so similar. “They both sour, they both are so much fun much as long as you preserve them in the right vessel!” she describes.
But, Makhija has a remorse. According to her, poetry is hardly anyone’s choice these days. “As a writer, you constantly need to push yourself to write and secondly, there is a niche reader of poetry,” she concedes.
And, as if on a natural instinct, she gets back to her favourite topic - Pune. “My granny stayed here. During my initial years in Pune, I was so fascinated by the way she conducted herself. I have dedicated most of my books to her,” she fondly recalls.
Monday, September 4, 2006
As soon as the conversation opens, poet, playwright and translator Anju Makhija talks about Pune. Born and brought up here, Makhija’s affinity towards the city is obvious. “We travelled a lot due to my father’s profession and Pune is etched in my memory,” says she.
So, little wonder then that Makhija is excited about her trip to Pune on September 4 at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where she along with theatre personality Tom Alter and poet Priya Sarukkai Chabria will read selections from the book Seeking The Beloved, written by 16th century Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif, translated by Makhija and Hari Dilgir.
Taking a break from her Pune memories, Makhija talks about herself, almost matter-of-fact. “I started writing poetry in my teens and my commercial writings overtook my passion to write poems,” says she. Makhija also wrote columns for The Indian Express Mumbai in late 90s - Expressions and Media Mix.
Makhija has written eight plays so far. Some of her well-known works include Unspoken Dialogue with Alyque Padumsee and The Last Train, that was shortlisted for the BBC World Prize. “This play was recently staged in Mumbai and received a tremendous response. It is a subtle political and religious satire,” says she. Makhija has also worked with international directors, but most memorable was working with German director Michael Laub, for whome she wrote Total Slammer Masala. “The play never came to India but travelled all over Australia and Europe. I love Laub’s style. He is such an avant garde. His style is never to work on a story, but, to take up a theme and work upon that,” she adds.
After, “pushing herself” to write more poems, there was no looking back for this lover of Sufi music and writings. “Then, I decided to get my poetry book published. As a result View From The Web was born, followed by Pickling Season,” informs Makhija. Her poem with the same title (Pickling Season) also won the BBC World Prize and talks about how relations and pickles are so similar. “They both sour, they both are so much fun much as long as you preserve them in the right vessel!” she describes.
But, Makhija has a remorse. According to her, poetry is hardly anyone’s choice these days. “As a writer, you constantly need to push yourself to write and secondly, there is a niche reader of poetry,” she concedes.
And, as if on a natural instinct, she gets back to her favourite topic - Pune. “My granny stayed here. During my initial years in Pune, I was so fascinated by the way she conducted herself. I have dedicated most of my books to her,” she fondly recalls.
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