 |
| Vidya Balan reading passage from Unhooked |
 |
| Releasing book |
 |
| Vidya answering questions posed by film journalists |
 |
| Book lovers gathered at Landmark at release function |
Today we had been to Landmark, a very happening bookstore at Infinity Mall, Andheri. The occasion was official release of 'Unhooked',a novel by Munmun Ghosh. Ms. Ghosh worked as a full-fledged journalist with Stardust,Movies,Mid Day, The Daily, The economic Times before turning to creative writing. Her first novel 'Hushed' was published in 2005, it delved into the lives of the marginalized classes of Mumbai. Now, in 'Unhooked', she tried to explore the metro phenomenon of intellectual mating between the sexes and its repercussions.
Story revolve around single and zesty Anamika revels in courting the men she fancies, but with words alone, careful not to indulge her physical desires. She is determined to lose her virginity to that man alone who commits. Uday, her married friend, based in Amsterdam, thinks differently. Strongly attracted to her, he cajoles her to give in to him; for her own good, he claims. Denying the body is wrong and unnatural in his view. But Anamika believes her latest find, Shekhar, a MNC professional, is getting serious about her and will soon propose.
She waits it out, supported by her two chums Mohini, a divorcee who has affairs as a matter of necessity, and Preeti, a careerist, now seeking marriage desperately. But Shekhar seems in no hurry to commit. Uday meanwhile steps up his pursuit with frequent mails and calls. So the novel is about Anamika’s dilemma. Munmun devoted three four pages describing Anu’s intimate sexual acts with her friend with graphic details.
Before attending the event I found that the book is already available on Flipcart, online bookstore since June 2012, but Munmun organized its official release function today at Landmark and invited noted Hindi filmstar Vidya Balan. Is it not paradoxical that to promote an English novel, you have no choice but to rope up actor of Hindi movies ?
But let me appreciate Vidya Balan, she is not like any other film actress and star. She is one of those rare independent thinking individuals who live by their convictions alone. She chooses roles in films she can personally relate to, irrespective of banners, names, and the money on offer. This is her approach to life. She follows it in other spheres as well. If she finds strong reasons to support or promote a cause, activity or even a book, she goes all out to do so.
Munmun initially thought about calling a film actress for release of this novel as she want to give little bit of glamour to the release event and tried her luck with few top heroines. Now a days, every film star charges hefty fees right from cutting ribbon of Saree Shop to Hair Design Studio and to do Thumkas in celebrity marriage.Vidya also reportedly charge fees in Crores for endorsing a particular brand of Sari. But her story in this particular case is different. A SMS request by the author Munmun , sent to Vidya got immediate reply and set the ball rolling . Vidya set only one condition that she wanted to read the novel first. The author promptly sent the book to her, she read it and had high praise for it and said 'yes' to the request to launch the book . And she did this out of her pure love for good literature and her conviction in the substance of the novel.
The time for release of book was 7.00 PM, there was a good turn around of journo mostly filmi type , TV channel crews and of course book lovers. Vidya came almost one and half hour late. But she regaled everybody by reading portions of novel.And khas baat yeh hai ki Vidya is becoming smarter and ravishing day after day. She spoke good about the book: "I loved UNHOOKED... In a certain sense, I identified with the book, not just through my personal experiences, but with what I have watched of people around me, especially girls in the media and the metros, whom I interact with all the time. There's so much pressure today on girls to have boyfriends. People look at you as if you are diseased if you don't have one. And you are made to feel depressed on special days. I have gone through it too."
Later, the session turned out to be more ofVidya Balan's press conference with film journalists because most of the questions were relating to Vidya rather then the writer or her novel.
Later, the session turned out to be more ofVidya Balan's press conference with film journalists because most of the questions were relating to Vidya rather then the writer or her novel.
.jpg "A Gumnam Actress Strips Nude to Protest Auto/taxi Fare Hike")
