Back Seat - A Mumbai Tale

256 Pages·2009·0.9 MB·English

by  Kripalani Aditya

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Back Seat
A Mumbai Tale
Aditya Kripalani
Cover Photographs, Ruchi Mehta & Aditya Kripalani
Front Cover Design: Debashree Karnik & Tess Alexander
Back Cover design: Tess Alexander
Printers: Archana Printing & Packaging:
Mumbai Typeset: Mr. Chandru Jhangiani
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Acknowledgements
I
n four years out of film school what I’ve learnt is that it’s not just the art but
the person behind who needs to be really strong! Without the artist pushing it,
the art may be lying by the wayside. And without all these people behind me, I’d
probably be lying by the wayside myself.
In that list at the top is my wife Sweta, who’s been the one central pillar of
support throughout, without whom I wouldn’t be who I am, let alone this book
being what it is. Next in line with regards to Back Seat are the friends who read it
and felt for it strongly; Nadi, Amruta, Ruchi. In the same vein my Masi, Gulshan
Gidwani who is also my Editor and has been honest enough to edit it staying aware
that each word remains a part of my vision.
In making me who I am, a strong role has been played by the people who
taught me the various things I needed to get Back Seat out someday—my
teachers:Ashwini Mallik, Anjum Rajaballi and Shihan Pervez Mistry to name the
most prominent. Without the psychological stability and growth I began to have,
thanks to Mrs. Arunachalam and Gouri Dange, my therapists, this wouldn’t have
happened either.
Shamita Singha, a childhood friend, Ruchi Narain, Pubali Chaudhuri and
Abhijeet Deshpande for their reviews.
Last but definitely not the least in the list responsible for this book ever coming
out, are my parents, my grandparents, for their unconditional love and the many
friends who’ve been my family.
And all the books I’ve read over the years, the characters of which have
enthralled me, made me feel so humble, so loved, touched, pained, happy that I
someday was moved enough to want to use this medium of expression to say what
I myself want to say.
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Preface
O
ver the years, I’ve spent a lot of time with the streets of Bombay as my
playground and not too much money to spend. And so, occasions like birthdays
were spent planning the day around things like a buggy ride at Causeway, the fairy
ride from the Gateway and the Chicken Tikka Roll from Bade Miyan’s, followed
by a walk around town in the middle of the night when Bombay is at its best.
This story was first written out from another character’s point of view, four
years before the novel came into being. Then at a story work and healing workshop,
the general idea of flipping around a story completely by changing the protagonist
was discussed and Nikita’s story was born soon after. It has been a lovely journey
getting in touch with my feminine side through Nikita and living in her world.
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