The Compulsive Confessor gets candid,and how! At 27,she is the author of a novel which has run into three editions in its first year,one thats now going to made into an English flick and one which has made Meenakshi Reddy Madhavans dream of being a free and full-time writer come true. Here on the invitation of Hamshira to interact with young readers at Dishant Public School,Chitkara,GCG-11 and for a book reading session at the English Book Shop,Meenakshis protagonist is 25-year-old Arshi,caught in lifes innumerable entanglements and quandaries. Todays world was what I wanted to write about,what I see around,the life of the urban youth and I wouldnt call it bold,for it came naturally and writing in the first person,your thoughts become you too. Also,it was a new subject and approach,I hadnt read a book like this one, Meenakshis now got used to ignoring the brickbats she receives from many men for not respecting culture,tradition and being a bad example for many Indian women! Meenakshi wrote You Are Here when she was 24,and is now busy with her second book,which is also about a young person in an urban set-up,but this time Im writing more about friendships and family ties,than focusing on relationships and I feel my writing is more mature now,at least,I hope so. In fact,Reddy has turned the book into a film script now,one that will be in shot in English,with the hunt for the leading lady already on,I was hoping for Konkona Sen Sharma or Sonam Kapoor,but right now,nothings materialized. Living in Mumbai,smiles Reddy,keeps her modest and grounded and the scope for character studies is larger,for the city has a huge immigrant population,which represents the young India. Right now,agrees Reddy,is a good time for young writers like her,for its a lot easier to get noticed and not be judged!
