The year that was 2013

Picture from the net
 

The BIGGEST success of 2013 was the whooping growth of Social Media, which increasingly is being accessed on handset, Tabs, or dear old, laptop.

For me, starting with my declaration (which was highly edited by partner!) Up Close: Another colour of the rainbow, did excellent and brought forth what I love most – lots of laughter and admiration. I received calls from friends saying how much they enjoyed the piece.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/01/up-close-another-colour-of-rainbow.html

Soon , followed my first meeting and interview with my all time favourite, Sanjna Kapoor. Along with the photographers we stood below her house in Delhi on one wintry morning late December 2012, to do the interview. She was her classy best and the interview was warm and full of memories of the past, her father, mother, grandfather and her new baby, Junoon. Of course like all mothers, she did stop  by to talk only for a bit though, about her biggest joy, her son.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/01/mission-junoon-sanjna-kapoor-talks-of.html

March 2013 was a winner!

My partner’s book, Transgressing Boundaries was released by Zubaan book.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/03/book-release-transgressing-boundaries.html

The interview with one of the greatest writers of our times, Madhulika Liddle followed.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/04/madhulika-liddle-engraved-in-stone.html

Then, what I would love the world to remember him for – the last interview Rituparno Ghosh did was with me at his residence in Kolkata where he spoke on many things which are close to him and most of all, about himself. Talking to him was easy, as we shared something(s) in common, Advertising & Media being one. I am sad he is no more with us, because, at least the world would have seen a film surely on what he thought of the Nirbhaya issue and the way Media handled it. His question was: had she not been a girl in her early twenties, and hence, within quotes, at the marriageable age, fertile with the ready mix of stats that collate with how patriarchy looks at women, would Media be interested in the case? Hence, is Media not patriarchal at core? We may say that again, in the recent Tarun Tejpal case as well. If the woman was past her 50s, would Media, care too hoot?

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/04/rituparno-ghosh-shaking-you-out-of-your.html

In September, my publishers Xynobooks LLC, released my second Book, Laughing Stock Productions. A bag of laughter, it is what I call my Govinda Film – paise wasul – Get your money’s worth!

Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Stock-Productions-ebook/dp/B00EXSR9G8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381149332&sr=8-1&keywords=laughing+stock+productions+by+julia+dutta …

Closely followed the death of our friend Betu Singh.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/10/silent-is-lamp.html

October brought with it, the publishing article on one of my most favourite academic person, who can laugh and be joyous as well. Uma Chakravarti, whose work on the 1984 riots in Delhi, was path breaking. As a feminist and a historian, she has many books to her credit, but what she is doing now, is going to leave a stamp on Visual Art and Film making.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/11/uma-chakravarti-larger-than-life-picture.html

In November, I completed the first draft of my third book. In a nutshell the how to, lies is a magic formula – become single for a month, if you are partnered, write, outsource everything else, dramatise and play out your book in front of the mirror, take short breaks, drive yourself with your deadline of 30 days to write the full novel. You might do it in 21 even with the breaks, as I did!

To take a break from the mundane, I did my first translation/transcreation of a Tamil song I so, love.

http://juliadutta.blogspot.in/#!/2013/11/nee-you.html

Come December, I have been partying and rejoicing! I am truly grateful to 2013, for all that it brought to me and I know in my heart as surely as one good day, gives birth to an excellent one the next, or what the sages have said: The future is what you make of the present, 2014 will bring to pass all I want in my heart and carry my passion of writing to another level.  And so, I sit with my arms open to what will be, will be!

 

Happy New Year 2014! May it bring all the goodness of life, joy and happiness!