AUTHOR' BIO :
Anirban Bhattacharyya is the co-creator and Producer of one of the most popular crime shows on Indian television – ‘Savdhaan India’ which he has been producing since 2012. He is also a standup comic, and actor having debuted in the Yashraj hit ‘Sui Dhaaga.’ He grew up in Kalimpong and Calcutta. He did his Masters in Mass communication from MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He has been the Content Head of Channel [v] India and the Head of Non-fiction content at The Walt Disney Company (India). When he is not deep diving into crime stories, he is on stage regaling audiences with his solo standup show ‘Don’t Mess With the Bong.’
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
My grandmother was fourteen when she got married in 1935. So, she could not complete her education. Over the years, however, she taught herself to read and write at a time when woman were just supposed to play the roles of a dutiful wife and caring mother. She, therby, ensured that all her children and grandchildren fell in love with reading and stories. She didn't want them to feel as helpless as she had once felt. I owe this to my Thammu, the late Kamala Devi Bhattacharyya, who taught me the beauty of words and stories. And I owe this to my grandfather, Sachindra Kumar Bhattacharyya, my first best friend in the whole wide world. And having been absorbed 24x7 in producing and writing a crime show – the criminal mind fascinated me. What made an ordinary man or woman suddenly snap and take someone else’s lives… and when it comes to serial killers – they did not hesitate to take multiple lives.
Many of us think serial killers belong in the west – this book is definitely an eye-opener – where we see our country having been tormented by serial killers – homegrown desi serial killers.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
Research was difficult. And also to control the urge to throw up. These ghastly murders shook me! Often I have spent sleepless nights as my mind was screwed up reading and researching about these killers.
Also the fact that I work in the TV industry means that I am on call 24x7 – so the only ‘me time’ I got for myself to write the book was from 11:30pm to 4 am – and that is how I wrote the book – it took me 9 months to complete it – with the lack of sleep.
TBB really helped and the process was smooth. Suhail asked me to write the pitch and the first story and Penguin was on board within a month of me submitting the dockets.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?
I met Suhail professionally and he told me about The Book Bakers.
4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?
The Book Bakers is an incredible company that has touched and altered the lives of hundreds of people who once dreamt about becoming writers.
5. How do you see literary success for yourself?
I want to keep writing. It’s an addiction. Success will follow. An author cannot be one-book wonder. An author has to publish a minimum of 3 books which sell well to consider themselves as succesful.
6. When can we expect your next book?
There are three books in the pipeline – depending on how TBB pitches them and in what order – there is a book of Horror stories – based on real-life haunted locations, urban myths and legends; then there is a children’s book which I actually wrote when I was 11 years old – and I want to get that published; and there is a book of short stories and novellas – which is a memoir, a slice-of-life, coming of age stories about me growing up in a boarding school in Kalimpong and at home in Calcutta.
7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
Keep at it. Keep writing everyday. Even if it is a paragraph or nothing. A friend and mentor of mine – the actor Jayant Kripalani gave me the same advice. He said at the designated time just turn up and sit at the desk – even if you have nothing to write and you keep staring at the screen! Writing is a habit.
BOOK NAME: THE DEADLY DOZEN: INDIA’S MOST NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLERS
PUBLISHER : PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:
What is it that attracts us all to the stories and the heinous crimes committed by a Serial Killer? What is it that draws us to read about the exploits of these depraved human beings?
Is it because of the vicarious pleasures we derive from the macabre methods of the killings?
Or are the sheer numbers that gob-smack us into fearing them in awe?
Perhaps, it is the audacity of the killers who believe that the law will never catch up with them?
Or maybe, it is their unique modus operandi?
Or are we inquisitive to find out what happens inside their sick, twisted heads?
Or maybe something that appeals to our basic, primate instincts?
Maybe we all have a latent serial killer in all of us…waiting for the right stimulus to push us over into the dark side.
We have heard of the famous Serial Killers that have tormented the Western World – Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy, a.k.a ‘The Crazy Necrophile’, Charles Edmund Cullen a.k.a ‘The Angel of Death’, Pedro Alonzo Lopez a.k.a. ‘The Monster of the Andes’ and more. Many of us have looked at the phenomenon of Serial Killers to be part of the Western world and culture. But we couldn’t be more wrong! Because, crime and depravity are not contained by borders; nor are they endemic to a particular culture.
They can flourish anywhere and everywhere…
If you thought serial-killers were only seen in the Western World… think again!
India has seen some crazy, cold-blooded and dastardly murderers who have gone on a killing spree. And they have been both women & men!
What you are about to read will shock you, abhor you, make you disbelief and even scare you.
The world is not a nice place, after all… look after your children, guard your family, and look after yourselves. Because you never know when and where and who is watching you…
Is it because of the vicarious pleasures we derive from the macabre methods of the killings?
Or are the sheer numbers that gob-smack us into fearing them in awe?
Perhaps, it is the audacity of the killers who believe that the law will never catch up with them?
Or maybe, it is their unique modus operandi?
Or are we inquisitive to find out what happens inside their sick, twisted heads?
Or maybe something that appeals to our basic, primate instincts?
Maybe we all have a latent serial killer in all of us…waiting for the right stimulus to push us over into the dark side.
We have heard of the famous Serial Killers that have tormented the Western World – Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy, a.k.a ‘The Crazy Necrophile’, Charles Edmund Cullen a.k.a ‘The Angel of Death’, Pedro Alonzo Lopez a.k.a. ‘The Monster of the Andes’ and more. Many of us have looked at the phenomenon of Serial Killers to be part of the Western world and culture. But we couldn’t be more wrong! Because, crime and depravity are not contained by borders; nor are they endemic to a particular culture.
They can flourish anywhere and everywhere…
If you thought serial-killers were only seen in the Western World… think again!
India has seen some crazy, cold-blooded and dastardly murderers who have gone on a killing spree. And they have been both women & men!
What you are about to read will shock you, abhor you, make you disbelief and even scare you.
The world is not a nice place, after all… look after your children, guard your family, and look after yourselves. Because you never know when and where and who is watching you…