Ruskin Bond on Facebook Penguin India Chat (June 7, 2012)

The Penguin India Facebook page photo of Ruskin Bond that was posted today before the chat began

Hi people, Ruskin Bond has been one of my favourite writers for the simplicity and charm he brings into his short stories and novels. I finally managed to get through to him, virtually although, through a chat session arranged by Penguin India on their Facebook page today. Among the many questions that were been thrown at him, he did answer the ones I posed.

Q. Hi, Dear Mr. Bond, loved reading 'Angry River' and 'The Blue Umbrella' , please do tell us what compelled you to write something alternatively dark like 'Sussana's 7 Husbands'? 
RB: Snehith, a writer must pick up on different themes and stories.

Q. Hi, Mr. Bond just how good/bad has it been to escape marriage? 
RB: Snehith, I would not call it an escape rather it eluded me.  

Q. Do tell us how do you find the computer as a writing device as compared to putting pen on paper? Do you use any electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, etc? 
RB: Snehith, I am still in the pen and paper phase.

Q.  Mr. Bond there are reports of the revival of the charming TV series 'Ek Tha Rusty'. Do you have any update on that?
RB: Snehith, yes, it is a new Rusty series now.   

Q. Hi, Mr. Bond its a joy to have this conversation, despite the virtual platform...What is your take on food? Do you enjoy eating? 
RB: Snehith, I enjoy eating but I'm not a glutton. 

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The one and half hour chat session ended with Bond conveying his thanks and that the session had 'certainly given me a good appetite for lunch'. 
 

Friday Release: The Blue Umbrella ( August 10, 2007)

PANKAJ KAPOOR AND SHRIYA IN THE FILM - THE BLUE UMBRELLA

The Blue Umbrella, a children's film by Vishal Bharadwaj will finally release on August 10, 2007 in India. The film is based on a Ruskin Bond novella of the same name.
The book tells the story of Binya, a little girl living with her brother in a remote village of Himachal Pradesh. One day she chances upon a beautiful umbrella left behind by tourists. Binya's imagination makes it almost a friend for her.
The village's richest man is a middle-aged shopkeeper, who has an old "falling apart" shop; occasionally selling warm Coca Cola bottles to tourists, apart from catering to the poor villagers needs.
In a poor village the umbrella seems like a luxury and the shop keeper desires to have it. He employs a boy to steal it from the girl. But the boy is caught by Binya's brother after a frenzied chase.
What happenned next? Read the book for that.
The film has the same setting but the story has been changed to facilitate the film's length.



Pankaj Kapoor plays the cunning shopkeeper and Shriya plays the little girl Binya.
Vishal Bhardwaj had earlier made the children's film Makhdee and the Shakespearean adaptation of Othello- Omkara.
The music is by the director himself with lyrics by Gulzar.
A song goes:

Baarish se jo rishta hai
Paani se mann kichta hai.....

(The relation that is with rain, water attracts me)

The lines personify the umbrella's desire. Gulzar is poetically brillant in the songs..there are three of them.


RUSKIN BOND OBLIGING A READER WITH HIS SIGNATURE.THE FILM IS ADAPTED FROM THE WRITER'S NOVELLA OF THE SAME NAME.