Leading publishing house HarperCollins India announced on Monday that it will soon publish the highly anticipated memoirs of legendary playwright, actor, and director, Girish Karnad. The book, titled ‘This Life at Play’, will be a translation from Kannada, and is set to release on May 19. In a tweet, the publisher said that the book will give a glimpse into the life of one of modern India’s greatest cultural figures.
‘This Life at Play’ was partly translated by the late dramatist himself, and was completed by the award-winning translator, Srinath Perur. According to the official announcement on the publisher’s website, the memoirs cover Karnad’s entire life journey, right from his schooling in Dharwad, Bombay, and Oxford, to his journey of becoming one of the finest playwrights of India and his success in the film industry.
The book has received heaps of praises from the likes of iconic author Amitav Ghosh, former West Bengal Governor and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, and renowned historian Ramchandra Guha. Praising the book, Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and a former UN Diplomat said,
‘By turns humorous and moving, and always insightful, This Life at Play reminds us of the life and times of one of our greatest national treasures.’
About the Author & the Translator
Girish Karnad was a playwright, actor, director, and writer, who is known for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of art and literature. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, which includes multiple National Film Awards, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, and the Kalidas Saman. Some of the most memorable works of Karnad include Yayati, Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Naga-Mandala, The Dreams of Tipu Sultan, etc. Srinath Perur is one of the prominent translators of the Kannada language. His works include Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghachar Ghochar. He has also authored the critically acclaimed book, It’s Monday, It Must Be Madurai.
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Noman is a literature expert, news analyst, and content creator. When not writing news and other content for clients, he likes to read novels and talk about them. Born and raised in a ghetto of Mumbai, he is vocal about the social issues facing the slums and his community. Noman is the co-founder of Bombay Reads, a platform where he likes to write and discuss books.