My Page

A writer can't ask for more than these glowing reviews. Blessed and honoured. #bookreviews #thankfulwriter #readerfeedback #shortstories

It's a sad time for humanity. The world over, a wave of tyranny, willfulness and the might of power has taken over the lives of common people. The ordinary person never mattered anyway, but now their insignificance has reached new lows. Whether its in administration, business, health, education, science and technology, medicine, arms control, environment management, or simply quality of life, if you have the moolah, you have everything. And this is more pronounced in developing countries like India. We are so far away from real progress that it seems like it will take a lifetime to reach a decent quality of life. Yes, despite our space missions and IT supremacy, we are far away from real development. Quality of Life? Get a decent education they said. Well, prepare to shell out your life's savings first. Any school worth its name will demand exorbitant fees and security deposits that are guaranteed to give you a mini heart attack. Then comes the actual struggle of your child - k...

From the story, The Curious Mr. Rakshit.... "Of late, observing the young couple in the opposite flat had become his favourite pastime.  He would wait till they woke up around nine in the morning. As an early riser who woke up with the sun, he couldn’t fathom how they slept in so late. “Taking advantage of work-from-home”, he thought slyly. “Lazy no-gooders!” He had discovered other facets of their lives too, peeping from his window every now and then. The wife would argue with her husband every now and then. Obviously, he couldn’t hear what they quarrelled about, but he saw her pointing fingers at him and walking around agitated. The husband didn’t react much usually. Sometimes though, Mr. Rakshit observed him talk back defiantly to his wife. It satisfied him that the man refused to be cowed down. What was a man without a spine, huh? He would hide behind the curtain and see this drama being played out. His own life was plain vanilla compared to all this melodrama. His wife and he...

When an Indian film makes it the prestigious Cannes film festival, the world sits up and takes notice! And the lovely ladies swinging on the stage is a recent memory that brings a sense of pride. I had the good fortune to catch this film on screen recently. A review of such work is unnecessary, but still am bursting to say a few words. Right from the scintillating background score, to the events that unfold like pages fluttering in an open book, to the effortless performances, it's a masterpiece all right! The first half romances Mumbai- in the rains, at night, in the bazaars, in dingy rooms, in the local trains. Image source: Wikipedia  The second half shows what light truly is, brilliant sunshine, crashing waves and salty air in a small coastal village in Maharashtra. You can feel the taste of salt, the breeze in your hair and the touch of sand under your feet, the cinematography is so real. Payal Kapadia masters the art of holding back, of showing beauty in the mundane. The hosp...

Don't judge the book by its cover, they say. But in today's appearance-crazy times, a book is not only judged but also bought on the basis of its cover! So, an author has to spend considerable time threshing out ideas and images, and finally agreeing on something that truly reflects the spirit of her writing. And here's the result! Much heartburn, sulks and shouting matches later, I have finalized this. Hope my prospective readers like it too! Fingers crossed for the book release next week!  #bookrelease #coverreveal #shortstorycollection  #newbookalert

At a time when I'm gearing up for the launch of my third literary venture, here come some words of appreciation from people I look up to: Julie Bannerjee Mehta , noted Literary Critic, Academic and Author:  "The allure of Barnali Roy's style of telling a story is the lucidity and simplicity with which she weaves plot and chharacter. Refreshingly understated, yet persuasive in the deft way she reveals human emotions -- be it a innocent victim of a betrayer who used her, or a parent who is unable to understand his child-- she conjures her fictional  landscapes with the deep understanding of the pain and separation of the blows that young and old must battle everyday. Her insightful  prose is for readers across borders." Sourabh Mukherjee , bestselling Author of true crime and psychological thrillers: "Set in contemporary urban India, Barnali's stories are about self-discovery. In her free-flowing yet impactful narrative style, she writes about our dreams and as...