Pritish Nandy’s book of poems ‘Again’ launched

India’s leading lifestyle bookstore along with Rupa & Co hosted the official launch, reading and signing of Pritish Nandy’s book of poems‘Again’. Gulzar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shashi Tharoor, Chetan Bhagat & Anupam Kher were in conversation with the author.

Acclaimed as one India’s most exciting poets in English, with a following  to die for, Pritish Nandy suddenly stopped writing poetry one day. None of his 32 books of poems, some of them runaway bestsellers, were permitted to be reissued as he walked away  from his literary pursuits and began his spectacular career in journalism and public life.

This is his first book of poems since then.

Typically, Nandy plays with form, visual, typography to create a world of his own, unique and resonant with images from his past and present. The man who once redefined Indian poetry is back with his unique play of words and metaphors to take you back to the times when poetry ruled, when thousands of Pritish Nandy’s obsessed fans thronged to readings to hear him speak his lines and win over their hearts.

Full report here ISB

Alack, bareheaded!

There's a poet lurking inside every copy writer. The ends may differ  — to move the reader to a certain mental state in poetry and to move him enough to procure or recognise a product in advertising — but the means of using words to 'startle' the reader from a humdrum condition to a more engaging one is the same.

Again  Pritish Nandy
Rupa; Rs 995;  Pp 103

So it comes as no surprise that one of the best advertising men that India never had, Pritish Nandy, has returned to poetry, his first love, after wading through the swishy waters of journalism, politics and film production. Unsurprisingly, Again is a collection of poems that has the smell and the spring of topshop billboard slogans. The cascading typography that comes with the words has a glossy ad's signature on them. The rather ironic lines, "My friends are famous. My enemies too./The women I have loved (or escaped from) are now more famous than me./And that's how I would like it to be./I raise a toast/to my anonymity," remind me of the good old liner notes on an LP.

Full report here Hindustan Times

Saying it as it is

When you’re a writer you can’t fear reprisal, says Pritish Nandy in response to Altaf Tyrewala’s statement that he is scared of speaking the truth in these days of hire-a-hoodlum


My first newspaper article appeared when I was 14. I’ve been writing since. There’s very little I can do apart from writing. I figured this out a long time back. I also figured, around the same time, that I’m not capable of writing like anyone else.So, much of my life has been spent trying to delve into my own mind and writing what I think, feel, believe in.

I agree with Altaf Tyrewala (‘What I really want to write Gives me Nightmares’ Mumbai Mirror, February 18) that this is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, it’s difficult, very difficult and a bit scary. I should know. I’ve had some brushes with danger. Luckily, I have survived them all. Today, looking back on my life as a writer, I often ask myself if the risks were worth taking. Every time, the answer’s the same: Yes.

I began as a poet and the Writers Workshop published my first book of poems when I was 16 or 17. I wouldn’t know because I don’t keep copies of my books. Nostalgia is not what makes me who I am. I write because I cannot but write.

Full report here Pune Mirror