About The Author
Anirudhya Mitra is a journalist turned filmmaker based in Mumbai. During a successful stint (1982-93) of news reporting in The Times of India and India Today, he broke several stories, including the Bofors scam, Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, drug wars in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, money laundering by the BCCI bank that led to its closure, corruption in the judiciary, espionage scandal involving former Miss India Pamella Bordes Chaudhury that rocked the British parliament. Anirudhya moved to screenwriting and creating television drama series with UTV in Mumbai in 1994. Notable among his shows were SEA HAWKS on DD Metro. After that, he relocated to south east Asia where he wrote and produced feature movies of which ‘Di Bawah Lindungan Kabah’ (Under The Protection of Kabah) competed at the Oscars (2012).
Read the review here – Ninety Days : The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins by Anirudhya Mitra – Book Review
Interview
Q) Tell us about the idea behind the book?
It’s been thirty years that I had been asking myself whether to write a book on the assassination of India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It was during these three decades that friends, seniors and government officials have asked me why I have never thought of writing a book even after extensively covering one of the biggest crimes in modern Indian history for the India Today magazine. And then when I reconnected with some of the officials who had cracked the case, I realized that the assassination had continued to haunt some of them even after thirty years. I decided to write this book as a mark of respect for their stellar work and for the generation of today—to tell them about this intriguing piece of investigative journalism and to help them gain a deeper understanding of the events—and the attempted cover-up that followed—of what was surely a turning point in our nation’s history.
Q) When did you decide to become a journalist?
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to become a filmmaker. So, I quit a career in chemical engineering to try my luck in films in the early 1980s but nothing really happened. I was desperately looking for income to support my father who was just about to retire. I got down to reviewing films and soon I got attracted to new reporting. There was no dearth of inspiration at that time with Arun Shourie, M J Akbar and Shekhar Gupta around. I was lucky to get noticed and got a call from the Times of India in Delhi. And there was no looking back after that.
Q) What makes a good story?
A story that keeps you engaged, touches your heart and enlightens you about something that you didn’t know before.
Q) Key points to keep in mind while writing an article, or researching on a story
- Know your subject well and be clear about why you want to write about it.
- Keep it short and crisp. Nobody has time to read elongated stories. Also, your ability to communicate in fewer paragraphs is indicative of your clarity on the subject.
- The writing must be visual and less of flare of the language. That will engage the reader more. The content must be revealing.
- The writer’s hold on the subject is a must. Therefore, back up your writing with solid research. That’ll ensure authenticity of the content which is non-negotiable.
- Write something that the reader can relate to. Therefore, knowing your target reader is as important as knowing your subject.
Q) How much time did it take in the process of writing?
You mean the book? It took me around six months to write this book.
Q) What did the process of writing this book teach you?
Writing a book is different from writing in news publications. But then, I have been writing for decades for films and television series after quitting journalism dabbling in both non-fiction and fiction. So, writing this book came somewhat easy to me. And since it’s my first ever book, it also taught me that I can actually write a “book”. Earlier, I lacked the confidence.
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Q) What inspired you to write this book?
Like I said earlier, I have been toying with the idea but never really got down to it. I like to recall here that in 1998, when I was writing and producing the television series Sea Hawks, Zarina Mehta – my then boss at UTV told me that my stories on the assassination of the former prime minister must be made into a series. Yet, I didn’t follow up on it. And then came Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment with the same suggestion when I was pitching the story to him for a web series. I realized it’s time write the book.
Q) What inspired you to write this book?
Like I said earlier, I have been toying with the idea but never really got down to it. I like to recall here that in 1998, when I was writing and producing the television series Sea Hawks, Zarina Mehta – my then boss at UTV told me that my stories on the assassination of the former prime minister must be made into a series. Yet, I didn’t follow up on it. And then came Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment with the same suggestion when I was pitching the story to him for a web series. I realized it’s time write the book.
Q) Which is your favourite part from the book?
Difficult to pick one. But I guess the beginning of the book where I am struggling to get hold of a story that my editors will find useful for publication. I was racing against time and nothing was coming my way. But it ended well with the breaking news of how the conspiracy was hatched by the LTTE in the jungles of Jaffna.
Q) A book that had an impact on you, which helped you in writing this one?
All The Presidents Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
Q) Tell us about your plans? Planning a new book?
I am going to take up writing books on a regular basis hereafter while my screenwriting will continue side by side. Yes, I am working on a second book
Q) How your life changed after the book was published?
The book got raved reviews. Became a bestseller. So, personally, I find this journey exciting, satisfying. Applause Entertainment is producing a web series based on my book that’ll be directed by filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor. Also, I am writing my second book which is based on true events. The book has opened greater opportunities for me.
Q) What is a literary success for you?
When a book succeeds in moving its readers. When the author has been able to connect the reader with what he wanted to communicate. When a reader induces another reader to read the book.
Q) Being a journalist what would be that one message for all the readers.
Well, I ceased to be a journalist decades ago. Today, I am into screenwriting, fiction writing although most of the stories that I write are based on true events. I think the reader must be very careful about what they make out of a story, news report or an opinionated article. They should not get carried away by agenda driven write ups
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