To know more about a mentally deranged man, who collects body
parts of various women to create his dream girl, read The Other Side,
suggests Rakesh Kumar
Talent is visible right from childhood, is a saying that fits young writer Faraz Kazi, who started writing at the tender age of seven. Now, at 26, there were various achievements that have been added to Kazi’s bio-data, such as the YCOF National Excellence Award and the National Debut Youth Fiction Award 2013. He is also a member Film Writers Association of India and his debut Truly Madly Deeply earned him laurels from all over the country. He has come up with a horror novel, The Other Side. A mentally deranged man, who collects body parts of various women to form his dream girl, to a skeptic who enters a mansion of horrors to win a bet and much more, this is what The Other Side talks of. Excerpts from an interaction with the author:
What are we going to find in The Other Side?
The Other Side is a combination of 13 paranormal stories. And each story has a unique flavour like a raw horror that no other writer has written so far. Most of the stories are based on shock. For instance, the last story about a guy, who vows to create his own dream girl with the best skeletons of others because the woman in actual (life) discarded him. So, how he does that is the story.
Any connection with the reality?
Yes...Some of the stories are inspired by reality. For instance, Rukan Dekh’s story is based on Lake of Skeleton, which is actually in the Himalyas. Hundreds of skeletons are lying there. Whose skeleton are those is still mystery.
How come the idea struck your mind for this horror genre?
Our rich tradition, mythology, folklore, big history and culture are the sources of my ideas. But these days, we are so engrossed in our work that we tend to forget our own history, own legend and fear factor. In the West, however, they write about their mythology and they are read by not their people but by our people. While in India nobody does, therefore, I thought that I should be the first one to introduce the hardcore horror novel in India
Many writers these days write keeping a movie’s script in their mind. Do you also think so?
No, I never write keeping a movie in mind. I write for myself and if it has to happen for a movie it would happen. To earn millions is not my target.
Any personal experience of yours? Do you believe in spirits?
I did have some (experience) of it, which I have mentioned in the prologue. Do read the book even though we have fabricated a bit to give a human touch. And yes, I believe … there are good and bad sprit as well.
Your preparations for this book?
I have done three years of research on this subject. In India, hardly any writer (touches) upon this genre. Therefore, I had to bank on foreign writers. I have also gone through many research articles, watched footages to get the feel of it. At the same time, I had to
visit places like Bhangrah and graveyard.
Movies and novels based on horror get a poor response. Reason?
The same question I have asked director Vikram Bhatt at Mumbai’s launch event. He replied that there were lots of misconceptions about this paranormal subject. We are missing good writers, scripts and director, who could infuse the essence of the horror on their part to convince the Indian audience.
Your first book was a love story and this one is horror. Which genre did you enjoy most?
I avoid this part where people tag you with a certain genre. Therefore, I won’t be happy to be called a romance brand. I believe a true writer could adapt to anything. If there are stories he could write about anything, not necessarily only romance. Romance can be part of suspense story too and it is up to a writer how he moulds it.
The book, The Other Side, was launched at Landmark store, Ambience Mall, Vasantkunj, on 21 November.
Talent is visible right from childhood, is a saying that fits young writer Faraz Kazi, who started writing at the tender age of seven. Now, at 26, there were various achievements that have been added to Kazi’s bio-data, such as the YCOF National Excellence Award and the National Debut Youth Fiction Award 2013. He is also a member Film Writers Association of India and his debut Truly Madly Deeply earned him laurels from all over the country. He has come up with a horror novel, The Other Side. A mentally deranged man, who collects body parts of various women to form his dream girl, to a skeptic who enters a mansion of horrors to win a bet and much more, this is what The Other Side talks of. Excerpts from an interaction with the author:
What are we going to find in The Other Side?
The Other Side is a combination of 13 paranormal stories. And each story has a unique flavour like a raw horror that no other writer has written so far. Most of the stories are based on shock. For instance, the last story about a guy, who vows to create his own dream girl with the best skeletons of others because the woman in actual (life) discarded him. So, how he does that is the story.
Any connection with the reality?
Yes...Some of the stories are inspired by reality. For instance, Rukan Dekh’s story is based on Lake of Skeleton, which is actually in the Himalyas. Hundreds of skeletons are lying there. Whose skeleton are those is still mystery.
How come the idea struck your mind for this horror genre?
Our rich tradition, mythology, folklore, big history and culture are the sources of my ideas. But these days, we are so engrossed in our work that we tend to forget our own history, own legend and fear factor. In the West, however, they write about their mythology and they are read by not their people but by our people. While in India nobody does, therefore, I thought that I should be the first one to introduce the hardcore horror novel in India
Many writers these days write keeping a movie’s script in their mind. Do you also think so?
No, I never write keeping a movie in mind. I write for myself and if it has to happen for a movie it would happen. To earn millions is not my target.
Any personal experience of yours? Do you believe in spirits?
I did have some (experience) of it, which I have mentioned in the prologue. Do read the book even though we have fabricated a bit to give a human touch. And yes, I believe … there are good and bad sprit as well.
Your preparations for this book?
I have done three years of research on this subject. In India, hardly any writer (touches) upon this genre. Therefore, I had to bank on foreign writers. I have also gone through many research articles, watched footages to get the feel of it. At the same time, I had to
visit places like Bhangrah and graveyard.
Movies and novels based on horror get a poor response. Reason?
The same question I have asked director Vikram Bhatt at Mumbai’s launch event. He replied that there were lots of misconceptions about this paranormal subject. We are missing good writers, scripts and director, who could infuse the essence of the horror on their part to convince the Indian audience.
Your first book was a love story and this one is horror. Which genre did you enjoy most?
I avoid this part where people tag you with a certain genre. Therefore, I won’t be happy to be called a romance brand. I believe a true writer could adapt to anything. If there are stories he could write about anything, not necessarily only romance. Romance can be part of suspense story too and it is up to a writer how he moulds it.
The book, The Other Side, was launched at Landmark store, Ambience Mall, Vasantkunj, on 21 November.
