ABOUT US

1. Author of Published BOOKS

• War of Civilizations: 1857 A.D, 2008- it is a 2 volume work that covers India and its regional uprisings. It is the only book by and Indian and from an Indian perspective on the subject since 1950. It has unearthed, revealed, and questioned various theories that have been prevalent about the subject.
• Lucknow: Fire of Grace” published by Harper Collins India, 1998  The non-fiction book is the first full length, historical and contemporary narrative, covering a time span of more than 250 years, from 1722 to the present, of Indian subcontinent’s most fascinating city culture. Besides giving a highly readable, story of events, it redefines the Indo-Persian, Lucknavi way of beauty, politics, cuisine, fashion, architecture, money making, sensation, `ada’, `zaban’, honor and culture as authentic Indian-ness—as opposed to Hindutva, Jinnah’s two nation theory and Nehruvian `pseudo-anglicized’ secularism.      

• A novel “The Minister’s Wife”, published by PENGUIN in 2002. A hard-boiled, fast paced narrative about sexual and political corruption in contemporary India; an erotic thriller set against the backdrop of caste conflicts, mafia intrigue and the amorality of a world driven purely by ambition and wealth. The novel was in India’s top ten for three months; critics hailed it as India’s first HARDBOILED NOVEL. Till date 25,000 copes have been sold equaling Shobha De’s record.   

• Mangal Pandey: True Story of an Indian Revolutionary  Published in August 2005 by Rupa, this non-fiction book was hailed as a true account of Mangal Pandey’’s life; pitted against the Ketan Mehta film, it was seen as more authentic—it sold more than 10,000 copies, a records of sorts.     

Projects in Film and TV and Journalism

• Creative Director at “Reel Life entertainment” since 2006
• Contributor to Edit Page of all major news dailies- Times of India, Hindustan Times, Amar ujala, Hindustan, Rajasthan Patrika, Indian Express, Asian Age etc
• Wrote a fictional series “Jasoos Vijay” for BBC India that won awards. 
• Wrote and directed “ Rumani Kisse”, a five part television series for Zee Television.
• Wrote and Directed “Indian History through Cinema- 1947-1985“  a documentary for Kaleidoscope Entertainment, produced by Bobby Bedi.
• Assisted and worked with Muzaffar Ali on a film titled `Daaman’. 
• Directed “Bihar ki Kahani”, a short film on Bihar. 
•  Directed `Ganga Yamuni Tehzeeb”, a film on India’s composite culture.

Current Projects 

• Considered a specialist on 1857, the first war of Indian Independence; member of the national committee constituted by the government of India, under the leadership of Mr. Arjun Singh, the HRD Union Cabinet Minister, to celebrate 150 years of 1857 in 2007;  in charge of the audio-visual section.
• Wrote `Azeezun Bai’, a film script, the story of a Tawaif who fought for Indian Independence in 1857; talks are on with a prominent heroine for the title role; the film will go on floors in 2006 and released in 2007.     
• Wrote `White Justice’, a period English film script for Hollywood; agents William Morris are preparing the set-up.   
• Wrote `Legend of the Lean Man’ a political western for Hollywood; agents William Morris are preparing the set up. 
• Directing a documentary on “Iran and the US Stand-off” for Applause Entertainment; Michael Moore, the world famous director is the project advisor. 
• Writing and developing a new film script for Applause Entertainment. 
• Wrote `Tevar’, a gangster comedy and `Chaukadi’, a thriller; both the films will go on floors by year end; Tigmanshu Dhulia is the director.          
• Project Advisor of `Ghulami’, a film based on 1857, the first war of Indian Independence. Starring Sunny Deol, Sameera Reddy and Irfan Khan, the film is being produced by Pramod Sharma; Tigmanshu Dhulia is the director.
• Has a script bank, a new concept for Mumbai film industry with over fifteen concepts, scripts and synopses to be developed for any interested producer.         
• On the Governing Council of ICSSR- Indian Council of Social Science Research

1V. Times Of India ( 1991-1999)

• Columnist for Lucknow Times Major articles: five part series on the decay of North Indian/UP cities, especially Allahabad, Varanasi and Lucknow. Articles on 18-19th  century music/dance forms such as Kathak, Thumri, Dadra, Parsee Theatre.

• Investigative reports on the University Campuses, corruption in University departments, dynamics of student movement and the developing equations of caste-class conflicts through major events in Uttar Pradesh. 

• Roving Correspondent for Times of India,Delhi

Interviews with leading politicians like Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Dr. Jagmohan, VP Singh, Mulyam Singh Yadav

Investigative articles on atrocities against women, Dalits and OBCs in Uttar Pradesh

Analysis of the changing cultural patterns in the cities and villages of Uttar Pradesh in the 90s

• Contributor to the Times of India Edit page

Articles reviewing the results of UP elections both for the assembly and the Parliament: 1993 (assembly), 1996 (assembly and Parliament), 1998, 1999 (Parliament) 2002 (assembly). 

Cultural decline of elites in North India

The contemporary contradictions of the Indian middle class

Analysis of trends in cinema and entertainment 

1. Economic and Political Weekly (1991-1999)

• Regular, monthly column on UP politics

1. Film reviewer for OUTLOOK ( 2000-2002)

• Major Hindi/language films reviewed: Company, Aankhen, Dil Chahta Hai, Lagaan, Ghadar, Mission Kashmir, Mohabbatein, Refugee, Jungle, Kandukondian Kandukondian etc.
• Major English films reviewed: Patriot, Traffic, Training Day, Spy Game, Me, Myself and Irene, Black Hawk Down, Spiderman, A Beautiful Mind, Entity, Ocean’s Eleven, Gladiator 

VII. Other Interests

• Composer and lyricist for various songs for TV shows, pop songs 
• TV Commentator on UP politics, Indian Cinema and Entertainment for NDTV, Zee, CNBC and Doordarshan