Penguin Random House India proudly announces the acquisition and publication of best-selling author, seasoned columnist, and celebrated screenwriter, Anand Neelakantan’s upcoming mythological book, Nala Damayanti: An Eternal Tale From Mahabharata. Scheduled to hit the shelves in April 2023 under the Ebury Press imprint, the book is currently available for preorder on all major e-commerce websites.

This highly anticipated novel book tells an epic tale of love from the Mahabharat, with an unlikely narrator—Hemanga, the golden swan of Manasarovar. In his inimitable style, Neelakantan brings forth the plight of the underdog, the human race, and speaks of the only remedy that can save it, love. Using the Epic Mahabharat as the stage, this mythological fiction talks of the resilience and resolve of an unlikely hero, Hemanaga.

Having grown up watching and hearing renditions of classic tales in Sanskrit and Malayalam, Neelakantan wishes to take these stories to the modern audience through a contemporary retelling of a timeless classic. Poetic and lyrical yet easy to read, Nala Damayanti: An Eternal Tale from Mahabharata is a colorful, highly entertaining and a vivid treat for colourful Indian mythology readers and anyone who enjoys indulging in a captivating love story.

Neelakantan is an accomplished author with several books to his name, including the popular Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012), Vanara: The Legend of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara (2018), Valmki’s Women (2021), and two books based on the Mahabharata, Ajaya: Roll of the Dice (2013) and Ajaya: Rise of Kali (2015). Neelakantan’s Bahubali: Before the Beginning is a three-book prequel series to the popular Baahubali films. The first book, The Rise of Sivagami, was released in 2017 and became a blockbuster hit, shortlisted for the Crossword Popular Award in 2018. The series also inspired a Netflix web series adaptation, with the second book, Chaturanga, released in 2020, and the final installment, Queen of Mahishmathi, released later that year.

He has been praised for his unique take on Indian mythology and history. In addition to his excellent books, Neelakantan is also a master at weaving captivating stories that have enthralled audiences across multiple media platforms. His screenplays have graced the screens of popular television channels such as Star TV, SONY TV, Colors TV, Netflix, and DD National, with hits like Siya Ke Ram, Mahabali Hanuman, Chakravarthy Ashoka, Sarfarosh, and Swaraj.

Penguin’s children’s division will also be publishing Neelakantan’s Tale of the Naughty Flying Mountain on 27 March 2023 under the Puffin imprint. It is part of the Puffin Chapter Book series, which also includes works by Sudha Murty and Ruskin Bond. This new book follows Himavan, the lord of the mountains, who lost his wings due to the mischief of Narada, causing chaos. Vibrantly illustrated and filled with humor, it is an ideal introduction for beginners to humourorld of mythology.

Talking about the publication of Nala Damayanti: An Eternal Tale from the Mahabharata, Anand Neelakantan says, “With Nala Damayanti, I’m proud to offer readers a delightful take on an ancient narrative. Combining humour and optimism, this romantic comedy will captivate readers of all ages! It’s a unique twist on the classic Mahabharata story and features Damayanti as the protagonist who conquers adversity and is reunited with her beloved Nala – irrespective of what Kali, the god of misfortune, has in store for them. Unlike my earlier books, such as Asura, Ajaya or Vanara, which have been written in a more serious tone, this book radiates joy and laughter- one that serves as a reminder about the strength of love and perseverance.”

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, “Anand Neelakantan is back with a stunning new novel on the epic characters of Nala and Damayanti from Mahabharata. This fresh take on a timeless tale will keep you engaged and engrossed till the last page. I am proud to publish the book and hope readers across the world enjoy reading the book.”

About the author

Anand Neelakantan is the author of the Bahubali trilogy, the official prequel to S.S. Rajamouli’s movie. The first book in the series, The Rise of Sivagami, was released in 2017, was a bestseller across all charts for two years and was on Amazon’s list of top five bestsellers for 2017. The second book, Chaturanga, and the final book in the trilogy, Queen of Mahishmati, were subsequently published with outstanding success. Netflix has announced a series based on the Bahubali trilogy.

Anand debuted as an author in 2012 with his iconic book Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, which told the tale of Ramayana from the perspective of Ravana. The book has been translated into sixteen languages and is on Amazon’s ‘100 Books to Be Read in a Lifetime list.

Anand also wrote the popular children’s book The Very, Extremely, Most Naughty Asura Tales for Kids, published by Puffin. There is an upcoming animated series based on this book. He has also published a short-story collection titled Valmiki’s Women.

Anand is a prolific screenplay writer and has written hugely popular series like Siya Ke Ram, Chakravarthi Samrat Ashoka, Mahabali Hanuman, Sarfrosh, Adaalat, Taj and Swaraj, among others.

For the past six years, Anand has been writing a regular fortnightly column, named Acute Angle, for the New Indian Express. Anand also writes in Malayalam and has authored a short-story collection, travelogues, articles and film reviews for leading Malayalam dailies. Anand dabbles in cartooning, painting, public speaking, life coaching, acting and modelling. He lives in Mumbai with his family.

Penguin Random House India is excited to announce the acquisition and publication of lyricist and journalist, Aalok Shrivastav’s well-known Hindi ghazal collection  Ameen. Published by the Indian Languages Publishing division of Penguin, the book is being presented in a new avatar with a foreword written by Dr Namwar Singh, Kamleshwar and Gulzar and is scheduled to release in early March. It is currently available for pre-order on e-commerce websites.

Aalok Shrivastav is an eminent poet who has significantly contributed to Indian poetry with his exceptional craft. From presenting a Sufiyana idea in just one couplet to giving a new lens to complex familial relationships, Aalok has brought many readers a different kind of joy with his work. Dr Namvar Singh, the paradigm of criticism of our time, called him ‘the light of Dushyant Kumar’s tradition’. Gulzar comments on his ghazals that Aalok has surprised him in many places. ‘When one listens to his simple words, one doesn’t realise that there is such deep movement beneath the surface.’

Commenting on this upcoming book with Penguin, Aalok Shrivastav says, ‘Penguin has embraced Ameen and this is the beginning of a new relationship. Ameen is coming out to a brand new audience in a brand new way. For a writer, the expansion of his readers is his biggest reward.’

Speaking on Ameen, Vaishali Mathur, Publisher, Indian Languages, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Aalok ji’s words are not just words, they have sound, a certain rhythm and create images in your “inward eye”. When you read his book, you feel the impact of his writing in a 3-dimensional sense. We are delighted that he is joining the Penguin family. We are sure that Ameen will touch new heights in this new avatar.’

About the poet

Alok Srivastava is a renowned poet, film lyricist and TV journalist. His book, Ameen (a collection of poems) is one of the best seller books in Hindi. Aalok’s works have been translated into Gujarati, Marathi and Punjabi as well as Russian languages.

He is the only young ghazalist whose compositions have been given voice by almost every big singer in the film industry including ghazal singers Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Udhas, classical singers Ustad Rashid Khan and Shubha Mudgal. Aalok’s works read by megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actor Ashutosh Ashutosh Rana often go viral on social media. The simple Hindi translation of Shiv Tandav Stotra by Aalok also went viral, when it was recited by Ashutosh Rana.

Aalok also collaborated with noted sitarist Anoushka Shankar in the album Traveller, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2012. Recently, Aalok has also written songs for the film Atkan Chatkan produced by music composer AR Rahman and the film Vodka Diaries.

Awarded with the honour of MP Sahitya Akademi in the year 2007, Aalok is the youngest poet to receive the International Pushkin Award from Moscow, Russia. He has also been awarded the International Poetry Prize in Washington DC and has been honoured by Katha UK in the House of Commons, the Parliament of Britain.

Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition of The City of New Beginnings: Unboxing Bengaluru, co-written by Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash, publishing under the Vintage imprint in November 2023. The book was acquired from literary agent Priya Doraswamy of Lotus Lane Literary.

This first-ever deep dive work on Bengaluru offers a richly researched narrative into India’s most global city. Bengaluru has transformed into a city of new beginnings but more importantly has become an aspirational Indian city. The book covers this journey, offering readers a fascinating exploration of the different sides and aspects of the city and the role it plays in the lives of the people who have made it their home. The book leans on data to build the backbone of the narrative while relying on absorbing ethnographic vignettes and extensive reportage to add flesh and blood to the chapters.

The authors also explore, among other things, the parallel economies that have cropped up; how the influx of young workers has changed the city; and the fault lines of unplanned and poorly managed growth over the decades. The gentrification of Silicon Valley in the US brought its own set of challenges. How will it play out for Bengaluru – a booming city in a populous India and beyond?

Talking about the book, the author, Malini Goyal says, “This book has been a great culmination of my 28 years in mainstream media. Coming from Delhi and working on it has been both a challenge and lots of fun. While it allowed me to explore the city dispassionately, it also forced me to work lot harder to be able to understand the city more intuitively and intimately.”

Author Prashanth Prakash adds, “This book reflects my deep love for the city and also my long-cherished desire to document its fascinating journey.”

Deepthi Talwar, Executive Editor, Ebury Publishing and Vintage, Penguin Random House India, says, “All cities in India have seen growth, but Bengaluru’s dramatic transformation is intriguing in so many ways, and we’re thrilled to have Malini and Prashanth’s insightful exploration into the city’s trajectory on our list. I know the stories within it will tell so much, not just about Bengaluru, but about the country, too.”

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage, Penguin Random House India, says, “The City of New Beginnings: Unboxing Bengaluru is a unique book about a special city beautifully and passionately put together by Malini and Prashanth. I am proud to have the book on the list and look forward to publishing it.”

About the authors:

Malini Goyal has been a business journalist with India’s leading publications – The Economic Times, India Today and Forbes magazine – since 1994. She was a senior editor with The Economic Times before quitting in 2021 to work on this book. As a journalist, she has spent time immersing in and reporting on diverse topics and geographies, including Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and different parts of India. She has tracked and reported on India’s startup landscape for over a decade now. Currently, she is the founder of UnboxingBLR, an initiative to curate, facilitate and catalyze activities that will help citizens and communities of Bangalore understand/engage with their city better.

Prashanth Prakash is a founding partner of the global venture capital firm Accel Partners in India. He began his career as an entrepreneur in the 1990s and, since 2004, has played a key role as a venture capitalist in nurturing Bangalore’s – and India’s – startup landscape. Accel in India has had a foundational role in shaping some of the most successful and category-defining startups in India, including Flipkart, Ola, Freshworks, Bookmyshow, Swiggy, ChargeBee, ZetWorks and InfraMarket. Besides, he is a passionate philanthropist, deeply involved in nurturing Bangalore as India’s startup capital.

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of writer and poet Abhishek Anicca’s insightful book on living with disability and chronic illness, titled, The Body Comes First on World Disability Day. The book is scheduled to release in December 2023 and has been acquired from Jacaranda Literary Agency.

In the social media era and the largely ableist world that we live in, people with disability and their lived experiences including the challenges they face and how they overcome them are often described as ‘inspiring’. The Body Comes First transcends the burden of being ‘inspirational’ with its raw honesty.

Anicca’s first-person narration in the essays offer an unfiltered and authentic take on what it really means to be differently abled when talking about navigating everyday struggles of the body and mind. The book dives into themes of care and caregiving, dignity and shame, dating and love. The Body Comes First sheds light on topics that have largely remained unspoken in Indian society, such as queerness, masculinity, plus-size life experience, and growing up having developed a disability in small-town India. In a language that is conversational and unpasteurized, but also truthful and unflinching, Anicca’s wry and personal writing compels the reader to become at once distant from, and proximate to his experiences.

Elated at the news of his book signing, author Abhishek Anicca says, “writing about disability and illness has been a cathartic process with Jacaranda and we are elated that Penguin will be part of this journey. My editor Chirag understood that our stories need to be told and assured me that I could be my authentic, vulnerable self without worrying about anything else.”

Having championed the book at Penguin Random House India is Chirag Thakkar, the Commissioning Editor for the project, who said, “Abhishek’s writing is personal, moving, and compelling. He bares it all with the most unclad kind of vulnerability and writes from a place of love, rage, courage, and truthfulness. At Penguin, we are very excited to diversify the voices we platform and Abhishek’s is a very valuable addition to our publishing plans.”

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, “The Body Comes First by Abhishek Anicca is an important book that will talk about living with and navigating through the struggles of the body and the mind. Unique in approach and candid in style, I am delighted to publish it for 2023.”

About the Author

Abhishek Anicca is a bilingual (English and Hindi) writer, poet, and spoken word artist. He identifies as a person with locomotor disability and chronic illness which shapes his creative endeavours. His work has appeared in Times of India, DNA, Daily O, Agents of Ishq, The Quint, TV9news, Outlook, India Spend, RHiME, Huffington Post India, Kitaab, Scroll.in and other publications. Abhishek’s poetry has appeared in Nether Quarterly, Gulmohur Quarterly, The Alipore Post, Rhetorica Quarterly (Lucknow), The Sunflower collective, Indian Cultural Forum, RHiME, Posham Pa, Jankipul, Samalochan, Prabhat Khabar, Apni Maati, Antrang, among others.

Here’s a book that has you rooting for the murderous Robin Hood of Bombay

Called ‘Indian noir at its finest’ by Sudip Sharma (creator of Paatal Lok) – Manjhi’s Mayhem is an explosive novel that combines a tight mystery and an anti-hero who refuses to back down.

In this book, Tanuj Solanki has masterfully constructed the exhilarating underbelly of Mumbai whose stories we have so come to love.

The protagonist, ‘Sewaram Manjhi’ works as a security guard outside a posh Bombay cafe. On the surface, he’s not unlike millions of invisible Indians who make the city tick, but there is a difference: he holds rage in his heart, and he will go to any length to snatch a chunk of the good life. Enter Santosh, hostess at the restaurant across the street. A damsel in distress, Santosh has a strange request for Manjhi, and far be it from him to say no. What follows is tabaahi—mayhem—as Manjhi finds himself caught in a web of lies and deceit, and on the trail of a bag full of money that will lead to broken noses, bloody heads, sex, seduction and murder. If he succeeds, Manjhi might finally discover what it means to be in control of one’s destiny in a land where birth determines fate.

To read this story, get your own copy of ‘Manjhi’s Mayhem‘ from your nearest bookstore.

About the author

Tanuj Solanki’s last novel, The Machine is Learning, was longlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature 2020. In 2019, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for his short-story collection, Diwali in Muzaffarnagar. He lives in Gurugram with his wife. He’s @tanujsolanki on Twitter and @tansol1986 on Instagram.

The book was first published in India in 2020 as Chats With The Dead

Penguin Random House India is proud to announce that critically acclaimed Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka’s The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, which was first published by Penguin India as Chats With The Dead, has won this year’s Booker Prize for Fiction. This is the first Booker Prize for Shehan. This was also the first time that books originating from an Indian publisher had been nominated for the Booker Prize two years in a row. In 2021, Anuk Arudpragasam’s A Passage North was in the running for the Booker Prize. Tomb of Sand, written by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy Rockwell, and published by Penguin in India, was also the winner of the International Booker Prize 2022.

A classic whodunit with a brilliant twist, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida searingly exposes the plight of a country caught in the aftermath of civil war. Embroiled in red tape, memories of war, and ethical dilemmas, this unforgettable story captures readers right from the very first page up to its startling denouement, constantly upending its premise with its staggering humanity.

Commenting on winning the award, author Shehan Karunatilaka says, ‘Seven Moons has been on a phenomenal journey across many drafts and years. Was an honour to be part of a magnificent shortlist. And it is surreal to experience such an outpouring of love since the announcement. It’s still slowly sinking in but I am absolutely ecstatic.’

Manasi Subramaniam, Associate Publisher and Head of Rights at Penguin Random House India and the editor of the book, said, ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almedia by Shehan Karunatilaka is a masterful work of modern philosophy that insists on being uproariously funny through all its deft acrobatics through the living and the dead. I am delighted that this brilliant book has won the Booker Prize 2022.’

Meru Gokhale, Publisher, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘I am absolutely delighted at the honour and recognition being given to Shehan Karunatilaka’s work. It’s wonderful to see writers from South Asia receive long-overdue international recognition in this extraordinary year for Penguin Press, through both the Booker International Prize for Tomb of Sand and the Booker Prize for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.’

The Booker Prize 2022’s jury is chaired by Neil MacGregor, cultural historian, writer and broadcaster along with a five-person panel- Critics Shahidha Bari and M. John Harrison, historian Helen Castor and novelist and poet Alain Mabanckou.

About the author:

Shehan Karunatilaka is a Sri Lankan writer whose first book Chinaman won the Commonwealth Book Prize, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, and the Gratiaen Prize, and was shortlisted for the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize.

Lata: A Life in Music is the first English translation of Yatindra Mishra’s award-winning Hindi book Lata: Sur-Gatha

On the 93rd birthday of India’s most iconic vocal artist Lata Mangeshkar, Penguin Random House India proudly announces the acquisition and publication of her biography titled, Lata: A Life in Music. Originally written in Hindi by writer–poet Yatindra Mishra, this is its timely and monumental translation by the award-winning writer and translator, Ira Pande. Celebrating art in its totality and telling the life story of India’s most loved singer of all time, this book is scheduled to release early 2023 under Penguin’s Vintageimprint.

The author, Yatindra Mishra, says, ‘Lata di is an artist of global repute; it has been a real honourto see this well-loved and awarded book find new readers in English.’

Yatindra Mishra’s decade-long dialogue with Late Mangeshkar has resulted in a book that goes beyond the conventional and explores the lesser-known aspects of this great artist, introducing the readers to Lata Mangeshkar as an intellectual and cultural exponent and providing a rare glimpse into the person behind the revered enigma. It is an exclusive peek into her life—both personal and professional.

On the English edition, translator Ira Pande says, ‘to translate Yatindra Mishra’s book while bringing forth the sweet purity of Lataji’s voice, her genuine humility and dedication to her music has been both a challenge and a joy.’

At the confluence of cinema, music and literature, this tome is the most towering biography of the voice of the nation that also documents sociocultural changes from the late British era through post-Independence India right up to the twenty-first century. This is the story of the various myths, mysteries, truths and contradictions that make a human an icon and make an icon incredibly humane.

Remarking on the uniqueness of Mangeshkar’s place in Indian culture, Meru Gokhale, Publisher, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India says, ‘there will perhaps not be another artist as extraordinary as Lata Mangeshkar.’

The original Hindi version of this book, Lata: Sur-Gatha, won the 64th National Film Award and the MAMI Award for Best Writing on Cinema (2016–17).

Thrilled to be publishing the book and calling it a ‘go-to source to know more about the life story behind the most recognized voice across generations,’ is Chirag Thakkar, Commissioning Editor, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India.

Among stellar writers and public figures who have endorsed the book are Gulzar, Shubha Mudgal, Kavita Krishnamurthy and others. ​

About the Author

Yatindra Mishra is the author of four collections of poetry and some well-received books on Indian music, cinema and arts in the Hindi language such as Girija, Devpriya, Sur Ki Baradari, Akhtari and Shahernama Faizabad (ed.).

About the Translator

Ira Pande is a writer, columnist and accomplished translator. Over the years, she has translated short stories, novellas, memoirs, autobiographies and literary portraits. She was awarded the Crossword and Sahitya Akademi award for her translation of Manohar Shyam Joshi’s novella Tata Professor in 2010. She has also translated Shivani’s stories and memoir AmaderShantiniketan, as well as Apradhini: Women without Men, a work on jailed women.

This gripping read comes from editor-turned-author at Penguin Random House India

Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition and publication of an original and high-stakes mythological fantasy novel, Samsara: Enter the Valley of the Gods by Penguin editor and debut writer Saksham Garg. Samsara is India’s next big fantasy that would take readers on a journey like none other. This book is the first part of a trilogy and is scheduled to hit the shelves later in the month from the Ebury Press imprint. It is currently available for pre-order on all major e-commerce websites.

Samsara follows an atheist protagonist based in New Delhi who one day mysteriously finds himself transported to a hidden valley in the Himalayas. In this realm of magic which is home to Hindu gods, immortal yogis, and mythical beasts, the mission is clear for the Souls of Samsara: to learn the ancient art of yogic sorcery and prepare for a treacherous journey not many can survive. Full of twists and turns, the protagonist must make a tough decision that will change not just his life but the fate of an entire nation. The book demonstrates the forgotten concepts of Moksha, Brahman, Ahimsa, and the cycle of Samsara, and presents a bold take on the idea of God.

With a fascinating and never-seen-before world filled with intrigue and relatable themes,Samsara is here to delight and shock readers who enjoy mythological works, fantasy and science-fiction novels.

Saksham Garg, Editor, Penguin Random House India, and debut author, says, ‘This book is a consequence of ten years of writing, to deliver a simple message—a note on how we view religion today. It has been a long and fruitful journey, but this is just the beginning. I hope that readers can feel the magic of Samsara transform them, just as I did while writing it.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Samsara will take readers on a thrilling and adventurous ride through its intricately etched plot and believable characters. A pathbreaking work, it will find its unique space in the world in mythology, fantasy, and science-fiction. I am proud to publish Samsara, and I wish the very best to its writer Saksham Garg.’