Launch of 'The Collected Stories Autumn Blossoms' by Gajra Kottary

A prolific Indian screenplay writer and author, Gajra Kotthary, is also the recipient of multiple awards for television including the Indian Television Academy Award, RAPA Award, Indian Telly Award, Apsara Award and the Global Indian Television’s Best Writer Award.  

Having debuted as an author in 1996 with her first collection of women-centric short stories titled Fragile Victories, it was soon followed by another compendium entitled The Last Laugh. Her debut novel – Broken Melodies was published by HarperCollins India in 2011, simultaneously with its Hindi translation Bikhre Sur. 

 

She also co-authored her first original Hindi novel – Kora Kaagaz. Her subsequent novels followed with Once Upon A Star in 2014 and Girls Don’t Cry in 2017 (by HarperCollins India). She has also written two audiobooks for Storytel – The Perfect Switch in 2019 and Couple Goals in 2020 (voiced by Soha Ali Khan). 

 

In 2021, Gajra published a non-fiction novel ‘Healing At The Movies’ – published by Hay House which was then followed by the e-book Not Woman Enough which was published by Juggernaut on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

 

In 1999 she stepped into the audio-visual world by being a script associate with Mahesh Bhatt for Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar, and then entered the realm of television writing not only the story but also the screenplay for Hamare Tumhare for Vishesh Films, followed by another weekly serial -Panaah and ‘Astitva – Ek Prem Kahani’ – her longest running daily of 778 episodes.        

 

In addition to all of this, she developed the story for Balika Vadhu – a serial which highlighted and took a clear stand against many social evils existent in Indian society, starting with child marriage.

 

In 2013 she also wrote the story for the mega historical serial Buddha which is also available on Netflix and has written many critically acclaimed shows such as Jyoti, Godh Bharai, Ghar Ek Sapna, Ek Veer Ki Ardaas – Veera and Satrangi Sasuraal. Last year – in 2022 Gajra also wrote the popular show Na Umra Ki Seema Ho and the Hindi audiobook for Storytel known as Ishq Nautanki.

 

Recently, on November 2^nd 2023 she released her collection of short stories: Autumn Blossoms at Title Waves. Published by one of the largest English publishers in India, Om Books International. Having worked with some of the best-known authors such as Gulzar, Kiran Nigarkar, Satyajit Ray ((with the Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Archives)and Manu Joseph, Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri – the editor-in-chief of Om Books International.    

 

Weaving in poetry throughout the book, Gajra not only enhances the characterization but also creates a world for the characters which is a bit ‘more real’.  The book is divided into three sections and every chapter celebrates many different dimensions of womanhood. 

 

 

Autumn Blossoms by Gajra Kottary

 

https://youtu.be/CFtXFrcoImA?si=cwJ47B8YjbOW0KYy

 

One of the poems from the book which really stood out to me was 

 

“You my sister, my daughter

 

You are both to me

 

My tears, my laughter

 

You will set me free”

 

At the event, some of her friends from her work in television and films such as Kainaz Jussawala, Aparajta Krishna, Shalini Kapoor, Vinta Nanda, Rita Meher and Anup Soni were all present to celebrate such a victorious moment with her.

 

In addition to this, her son who is also an author and actor from London, Advait Kottary especially made his presence felt. I was lucky to also get a copy of his book – Siddhartha The Boy Who Became The Buddha.