In a glitzy and high profile function, the multi-talented and ever youthful Kamal Haasan launched a Crime Thriller Novel in the name of “No Murdertonight” authored by his friend and colleague Gollapudi Maruthi Rao’s son Gollapudi Subba Rao. Well acclaimed Cinematographer and Film Maker Rajiv Menon was also present at the launch.
While talking about his debut Novel, Gollapudi Subba Rao said, It was an idea that was pushed into in making of a murder mystery by my good friend Rajiv Menon. No Murder Tonight is as Chennai-centric as it can get. How many English crime novels can you think of, that have been set in Chennai? Not many at all. I consider myself lucky in that sense that I have been able to write one.
Since I have been living here for 40 years, I knew I could give shape to the characters better if the story is set here, make them rooted to the culture and seem real. Setting the backdrop required more effort than just collating the experience over the years. So, I had to do lot of research on my own. All this, combined with whatever I have read in the newspapers and magazines, and seen with my own eyes. I have used it all in the book.
He also added that to understand the nuances of crime fiction writing, he underwent a one week course at Manchester in UK. Here he met people from different parts of the world who had a very unique perception of crime based on their background.
Kamal Haasan said, “It was an interesting development that Subba Rao hailing from the well-known Gollapudi family has penned this crime novel.” Going back into history, he mentioned that Vaduvur Duraisamy Iyengar was a pioneer in writing such Crime Thrillers even before Sujatha, but it was all in Tamil. Therefore an English Crime thriller from a fellow Chennaite is a happy augury.
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From L to R: Rajiv Menon, Film Maker and cinematographer, Kamal Haasan, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao and “No Murder Tonight” Author Gollapudi Subba Rao |
Rajiv Menon who went to school with Subba Rao mentioned about the entrepreneurial spirit Subba Rao displayed in his school days. But he never ever thought in future, he will don the role of a writer and produce such a thrilling novel.
Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, Subba Rao’s father said that during his younger days, writing was a no-no and almost a taboo. But. In 40 years, he has produced some of the finest works in Telugu, which has also been made into films. He wished his son Subba Rao all the very best.
Author Profile:
A post graduate with an MPhil in English Literature, G.V. Subba Rao hails from a family that’s deeply steeped in music and the arts. His father, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, is a well-known Telugu author, award-winning playwright and screenplay writer, as well as a film actor of repute. His grandfather, Padma Bhushan Dr. Sripada Pinnakapani, was a doyen of Carnatic music.
Rao is also Managing Trustee of the ‘Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation’ instituted in memory of his brother Gollapudi Srinivas. This foundation confers the annual ‘Gollapudi Srinivas National Award’ for the ‘Best Debut Director’ in India and has been doing so for the past seventeen years.
It is no surprise that this businessman and avid traveller turned to writing, penning travelogues for newspapers and magazines. His articles have been published in the Deccan Chronicle, The Hans India and the Ashvarttha, a wellness magazine.
Rao now turns an author with this debut novel, ‘No Murder Tonight’, an edge-of-the-seat thriller.
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