If You Love Someone - Hyderabad Launch

The Hyderabad launch of 'If you love someone..' is at Landmark, Road No 12, Banjara Hills (next to Ohri's) on the Friday, 5th of March at 630 p.m. Gangaraju has consented to be the chief guest and Mohana Krishna Indraganti has agreed to introduce the book and be the guest of honor. I sorely miss Ms. Meenkashi Mukherjee on this occassion because we had discussed this book extensively in the past and I would have loved to hear her opinion and maybe, even introduce the book.
I have also invited Sumanth to join us on the panel that day, and he agreed, making it an all-male panel for a book like 'If you love someone..'. But I guess we will play it along with our feminine sides.
I am going to send out an invite to all that I know but just in case anyone happens to see this blog and is not on my mailing list, please do drop in and attend the event. And if I have not met you before, I would love to. The e-invite is attached.
Organising the event
For all those writers who wonder how one gets to go about arranging these events, here's the dope. You either speak to the bookshop directly or go through the publisher. Bookstores normally like to have events that bring in footfalls and in most cases they are very happy to host the event. In fact Landmark was more than welcoming when I broached the topic. They have their own creative team that has come up with lovely posters and mailers. They have a PR fim, an inhouse compere and they take care of everything from the backdrop to the booksales and promotion. The writer needs to come there and smile, read maybe and sign. If the writer is an unknown quantity (like me), a chief guest and other known guests help in bringing in media and some public. I am relying on my freinds and family to make up the numbers as they did last time, so loyally!
Any writers who wish to know more about this process can write in to me and I will share whatever I know. In fact when I dropped in at the store this evening, Landmark's store manager was actually wondering if we could do more events with local authors. I told him that there were several local writers and that I would share this information with him the next time. If you are an author/poet who wants to do a book reading contact Kailash, Store Manager at Landmark, Banjara Hills.
So then, more on the event to follow.

And A Loss - Art Beat Capital Stumbles

A win against this team would have ensured a semi final berth and we were aware of that. In fact we wanted to play ISB, the new team, in their first match so we can catch them unaware before they adjust to the format. But full credit to the youngsters that they pulled off a creditable win.
We started off with two changes - Sumanth and Sreenivas were not available for the match. So I stepped in, and Subbu was pulled in to bolster the batting (though I would have preferred to have Ramesh playing this match). We lost the toss and were asked to bat. Pawan opened with Subbu and they put on 15 for the first wicket with 4 dismissals. Gajanand and Ramesh played next and they added 14 with a couple of dismissals. Things were not looking too good at 29 in 8 overs when Sanjay and Shilpi walked in and added 49 runs for the third pair. We ended up with 78 at the end of 12 overs. Suri and I batted for the last pair and could manage only 9 runs with 6 dismissals. That set us back a bit and we ended with a fighting total of 87.
ISB began by losing a wicket off the very first ball. But they batted hard and confidently despite playing for the first time. They added 29 for the first wicket. The second wicket added 10 runs. The third pair added 17 runs. AT 56 in 12 overs we looked like we had a good chance especially since Shilpi and I finished our two overs and gave only 10 runs. But Sanjay's over on the 15th cost us about 15 runs and they were suddenly at 81 requiring only 7 to win. ISB batted sensibly to secure a win off the last ball and ended up with 88!
It was a close match. Now we are back to waiting for ISB to lose two matches in which case we play a faceoff. If they win three, we are out of the competition.

Bestseller list - If You Love Someone

For the second week running The Hindu's Hyderabad edition carried 'If You Love Someone' at the top of its bestseller list in the Metro Plus. This list is based on weekly sales at A.A.Husain Bookstore, Abids, one of the oldest bookstores in Hyderabad. I consider it a great honour. The list can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2010/02/16/stories/2010021650240400.htm


The book launch of 'If You Love Someone...' at Hyderabad is to be held at Landmark, Banjara Hills on March 5, 2010. More on this once other details are finalised.

Art Beat Capital Wins Third Match

Art Beat Wins Third Game
We went into today's game facing a must-win situation. The team from Bengaluru has won 3 out of the 4 games and tops the table. If we win today's game we will be second in the pool and have a good chance of making the semi final.
We decided to play the same eight as the last match. Sreenivas took his time in coming for the game and I almost had to step in for him. But then he made it just in time and we fielded the winning team - Sanjay, Gajanand, Pawan, Suri, Shilpi, Sreenivas, Ramesh and Sumanth.
We batted first and got off to a good start. But after 2 overs when the score was eighteen, Pawan and Sreenivas got into a spate of run outs - five - and still managed to get a start of 18 for the first wicket. Gajanand and Ramesh did a good job of adding another 19 for the second wicket with another four dismissals. 39 in eight overs. Sanjay and Sumanth walked in at a dicey situation and played magnificiently adding 40 without losing a wicket even once. Sumanth was in great form with two brilliant cover drives for four, a lovely pull and some neat placements. He really looks graceful when he bats and has the gift of timing. Sanjay pulled off a fine 6 in the last over and it was 89 at the end of 12 overs. Suri and Shilpi batted sensibly to add another 14 to the score and we wound up with 103 in our 16 - a good score.
The opponents however got off to a good start adding 37 in four overs. The next pair too it to 51 in eight and the next took it to 66 in twelve. A spate of dismissals through run outs, catches and stumpings got us ahead and by the time the last four bowlers got through their overs through we were home comfortably. Sumanth bowled his off spin well, and in his two overs there were the usual run outs which we have come to expect. Suri bowled a great spell once again and Pawan complemented him well.
There is a possibility of an extra team being added to the pool which means another league match before knowing the semi line up. But we are looking good as a team now and are ready for the next match as well.
We all went down to the Extreme Sports Bar at Karkhana save Ram and Sumanth and had a good time. Mohan, Sagar and our other supporters joined us for the revelries!
Onwards then Art Beat!

Art Beat Wins 2nd match - Yes Factor!

The Art Beat Capital Team

Presentation ceremony by Vidyuth Jaisimha
Sumanth in action

Sumanth, Ram and Umesh

Pawan and Sreenivas in action
Our team Art Beat Capital, (the production house which is making 'The Men Within' into a movie) played its second round robin match last night. It was a must-win situation because we need to win all remaining matches in the round robin to be in contention for the semi final berth. The Bengaluru team that beat us in the first match is already through and our chances now lie in how other teams perform. In such a situation, we took the field.
I opted out, having pulled a hamstring muscle badly in the first game. I also felt that the younger and more flexible have a better chance at turning this game around. So the final eight for the game was as follows - Sanjay alias Military (captain), Gajanand Reddy, Suryaprakash, Pawan, Shilpi, Sreenivas and Ramesh and Sumanth (the likely lead in the movie) stepping in to replace me and Ramesh. We lost the toss and the opponents chose to bowl.
We started with Pawan and Sreenivas as the opening pair. We knew we had to minimise the dismissals and that was drilled into each pair. The opening pair did a fairly okay job until they got that strange illness of a rash of run outs again - four - and still managed to put up 14 on the board. The second pair of Gajanand and Ramesh went in with low expectations and did a wonderful job - only one dismissal - and added 35 runs! The score was 47 by the time they finished their 4 overs and it included one rousing six by Gajanand. Sanjay went in next paired wih Sumanth and once again, after a couple of early dismissals, they rallied round to add 34 runs in their four overs to take our total to 81 with only two dismissals. Sanjay got a great six as well. We were on target for over 120 runs in our innings when Suri and Shilpi walked in. But a series of run outs and dismissals - about five in all - set this pair back - and we wound up with 91 on board with 12 dismissals. A competitive total certanly but by no means not a matchwinning total.
When the opponents batted we had Gajanand bowl the first over. Shilpi bowled the second. Suri bowled the third and so on. We got a few run outs early thanks to the younger team. Our catching could have been better and Sanjay missed a stumping chance. The first pair put on 17, the second took it to 37 and the third to 49. Our main concern was figuring out when to bowl Sumanth. But when he got the chance, he kept it simple, and his first over got a net minus with two dismissals - a huge bonus! With the final four overs to go, the last pair needed 43 runs to get to win, and we looked like we were home on a canter but things turned out different.
Sanjay's first over got about 10 runs, Sumanth's over another 10 or so, Sreenivas bowled his over for almost the same number of runs and suddenly they were upto the last over with 14 to get which was too close to comfort. Thankfully the ball was in the able hands of Gajanand and he started off confidently with a dot ball, and a 2, 2and 2 in the next 3 balls. Eight to get in two balls and he conceded two in the next ball which meant that unless he bowled a no ball or a wide, they needed six off the last ball. Thankfully the last ball was a 2 again and we were home by 3 runs!!
Its such a huge difference when you win. Nothing compares to that feeling. We won our 60 small Royal Stag coupons at Extreme Sports Bar having won the match and decided to hold off celebrations until the next match is done.
Now on to the next match on Wednesday!

ML Jaisimha Indoor Cricket Tournament - First match

The first match of the Indoor cricket tournament was played yesterday morning against a Bangalore team. The match was at 8 in the morning and we all reached the ground on time. It was the first match we ever played in this fast-paced, indoor format. I wanted to opt out in view of my not-so-good physical condition - not having payed the game for a year. But I played in the end and wound up going for the toss.
The Bangalore team was young and fit and seemed to be in good nick. We were a bunch of old players who were good at the outdoor game, obviously rusty and not so fit. It was going to be a challenge anyway. We got the team together Shilpi and Sreenivas, Ramesh and me, Suri and Sanjay, Pawan and Gajanand. We lost the toss and they opted to bat.
Their first pair batted four overs for 44 runs without getting out even once (each time someone gets out it is a penalty of minus five, the pair bats on for all 4 overs even if the net score is in minus). That was a flying start. But then once we got the spinners on, the brakes fell, with Suri getting three dismissals in two overs. Ramesh got one, I got a couple, and the series of dismissals got us back into the game. The opponents ran well, negotiated the bowling well, and put up a score of 94.
We started off with Shilpi and Sreenivas batting confidently and adding 18 in the first two overs without losing a wicket. And then in a sudden spurt, they lost wickets four times which set us back into the negtaive. By the time they returned to the hut after 4 overs, we were 6. Ramesh and I went in next, and we had our fair share of dismissals. The game is so fast that decisions have to be made very quickly. Despite one lovely six by Ramesh we added only two to the total and ended up with a team total of 8. Suri and Gajanand took the tally to about 20 and then Sanjay and Pawan took it to 38. We lost by 56 runs.
In the final analysis it was clear where we went wrong. We had 19 dismissals, mostly run outs and ended up with a total of 38 i.e. we actually scored 133 runs but got penalised 95 runs. Also we gave away several extras in terms of wides and no balls - almost 20-30. The opponents got 94 with 8 dismissals, a total of 134!
Beaten thoroughly, we were a sweaty and sore lot. Obviously we are not used to being treated like this and being made fools of. But we learnt from this game and I think we should be much better in the next. I pulled my hamstring in the very second over itself and now it hurts like hell. I do not think I will be able to play the next match atleast. We need to win the next two games to be in contention for the semis.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable format especially now that we are getting a hang of it. Let us see what happens next!

A Pleasant Evening at the Evening Hour

The Evening Hour (www.eveninghour.com) is a wonderful concept - a library, bookstore, coffee shop and a movie watching and conference space rolled into one. More of a library and bookstore, the Evening Hour goes by the appropriate tag line of "Relax, Refresh and Rejoice", and is located in the heart of Kukatpally (in the lane adjacent to JNTU, and accessible to a lot of the reading public in that area). I was very impressed with the concept just as I was with the young owner Priyanka, whom I met through Rama Raju. Over a few mails we fixed up a book reading cum a Meet-the-Author session on the 20th of February.
It turned out to be a very pleasant evening with a well read and highly interactive crowd. For starters I was welcomed into the store with a lovely bouquet and we were soon drawn into a freewheeling discussion on my journey as a writer. There were several questions on being published, the process of writing a novel, the state of writing in India, whether it makes commercial sense to write at all, how to sign up movie deals and so on and so forth. It being a bandh-like situation yesterday due to the Telangana issue, the audience was sparse in the beginning, but it gradually swelled as the evening progressed.
Priyanka's father was very effusive in his praise for 'The Men Within' which he said was one of the few books that he had read at one go. It was very heartening to hear his views on 'The Men Within' and its many layers. There were a few others in the audience who were either reading the book or had read it.
I did a reading from 'The Men Within' as well as 'If You Love Someone'. Choudary drove me there, Nalini and Ajay dropped in and Shobha and Anjali joined us halfway through the program. We enjoyed the lovely samosas, soft drinks and the hopistality thoroughly. The program ended by about 8 p.m.
I am glad that there are young entrepreneurs like Priyanka who are encouraging the reading habit through such wonderful concepts. The Evening Hour has a good selection of books and videos at a very affordable price. It is clean, well lit and has a good display. Not only that, the Evening Hour has a facility where the book/video can be delivered at home. The Meet-The-Auhor initiative is a wonderful one and I do wish there are more people like Priyanka who take up such initiatives. And Priyanka herself should do more such events in the future. Thanks Priyanka and your team for a truly memorable and enjoyable evening. And for the record, I am available whenever you want me for an event!