I know about Judi (Simran) Silva from Absolute Write Forum (perhaps the most useful forum for freelance writers). What made me interested about Judi was that her passion about India and Bollywood. I really got surprised to know about her that she lives in USA but write extensively about Bollywood. You can know about her more from this link and she has emerged as a prolific writer about Bollywood in USA. She has two blogs: Everything Indian and Writing from Within. Her passion about India has convinced me to interview her and know about her more. I am happy that I decided to interview her as I could know about the increasing popularity of Indian movies in USA.
I emailed her the interview questions and I am presenting here the interview for the readers:
IndianRaj: Tell us something about yourself.
Simran: I’m a freelance writer for several publications (India New England Newspaper, Lokvani and Associated Content) and two Bollywood columns (The Global Indian in New Zealand and Paramount Airways in India). I interviewed Raj Baddhan of Sabras Radio in the UK, who is overseeing the UTV/Sabras tie up for SRK's new movie 'Don' and their spectacular events starting on August 23rd.
I just started a new writing company called Dark Horse Adaptations, along with co-writer, Ana Gagney, where we also promote our Bollywood script and soon to be published novel - ‘My India: Passages Through Time’ (working title). Bangalore based graphic designer/cartooning/illustrator Manoj Vijayan has also joined our team recently.
Dark Horse is also promoting (US) author Sattar Memon’s ‘The Ashram’ and (UK) author Fuad Omar’s ‘Bollywood: An Insider's Guide. We’ve also just taken on (India) author Abhijit Dasgupta’s ‘Three’ for which we are looking for a US based publishing agent.
IndianRaj: Why did you decide to write about Bollywood?
Simran: Intrigued after watching my first Bollywood film K3G, three and a half years ago, started the whole process. The culture, beauty, songs and dances, along with the dramatic storyline captured me right from the beginning. It was something I had never experienced before and I had to know more about it.
Searching the Internet and coming across a Bollywood portal called Bollyvista was the answer. They were looking for writers. What better way to learn more and have fun doing what I love - writing - at the same time. I’ve been writing for them ever since and thank them for giving me - a non-Indian - the chance to show that I could learn and write about this “new world” that I’d found. It has opened other doors for me in my writing career to the point of being published internationally, something I never thought was possible.
IndianRaj: You have two blogs now. Do you find it difficult to manage two blogs at the same time?
Simran: Since my second blog, “Writing from Within” is just in its early stages, yes. When I just had “Everything Indian” it was much easier, as I kept to that topic (for the most part) with all my posts. After participating in the project ‘Absolute Write Chain’ for several rounds, I realized there were other things I wanted to write about and share, as memories and ideas were surfacing from reading the other members’ posts. Thus, the second blog was created. Now, I just have to find time to keep up with writing for both of them. Over time it will become easier.
IndianRaj: There are many writers in South Asia who want to break into the American freelance writing market. What advice would you give to them?
Simran: Go for it and don’t give up! The freelance market is difficult for anyone to break into but it’s worth it once you do. It’s very rewarding if you stay positive, keep setting attainable goals for yourself and work diligently to perfect your craft. There are going to be times when you want to give up but don’t; keep persevering. It will pay off in the long run if you’re patient enough to wait for it.
South Asian writers can give a new point of view, perspective, if you will, to the American writing market. Look at the famous SA authors, journalists, film directors that we have here. It is possible and within your grasp, if you really want it and work hard to get it.
With the American writers trying to make it in South Asia, it will be a nice exchange and interchange of thoughts and ideas if we can work together and help each other. Writers, no matter what country we may find ourselves in, need to stick together and work for the same common goals.
IndianRaj: Who are your favorite actor, actress and director in Bollywood? Why do you like them?
Simran: Favorite actor - Shah Rukh Khan - Why? Now I know some people reading this are going to say, oh he always does the same old thing, the same old roles. But, in his defense (not that he needs me to defend him), I have to say, if you go back and study him from the beginning of his career until now, you will find that is not the case. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to follow him through his career as it was happening. After buying all of his films (except for ‘Chamatkar’, which I can’t find anywhere) and first watching them through, then going back to study them, you see that SRK is a versatile actor with his roles and that he has really come to grow both as an actor and as a person.
Favorite actress - Madhuri Dixit - Why? The grace and elegance she gives to her roles is amazing; her dancing is superb. She puts forth 100% into embodying a character, yet makes it look so effortless. Whether it’s vengeful Shivani in ‘Anjaam’, forsaken Chandramukhi in ‘Devdas’ or the lighthearted Pooja in ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, she breathed life to each and every one of them exquisitely. I’m really looking forward to her making a comeback.
Favorite director - can’t pick one. I love Yash & Aditya Chopra for their evergreen and timeless films, like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Noorie, Karan Johar for endearing me to Indian cinema with Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and my all-time favorite Bollywood song - Suraj Hua Maddam, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his brilliant rendition of ‘Devdas’ and the passion he exuded through ‘Black’.
IndianRaj: You live in USA. Give us an idea about the popularity of Bollywood movies in USA.
Simran: I don’t think promoters and /or producers realize the extent to which India cinema has taken hold here. Bollywood is becoming much more popular not only among the NRIs and desi communities, but among non-Indians too, especially since directors like Karan Johar and Ashutosh Gowariker came here to shoot parts of their films and producers like SRK, who promoted his ‘Paheli’. Shows like ‘Temptations’ also have given rise to the interest shown in Indian cinema. Even though the big cities have Hindi cinemas, I think they need to come to the smaller towns too. It’s worth driving the sixty miles to the nearest theatre, but it would be nice to have one closer to home for me. The several desi radio stations that we have here in the States have helped to promote Bollywood as well.
US members of the UK based Asian Outlook Forum have come up with ways to introduce Indian cinema by hosting Bollywood parties, where they show its films, they enter writing competitions in school using BW as their theme, sell BW themed items from their online stores and so forth.
I even recently interviewed two sisters, Sheetal and Shilpa Kochavara (which I featured on my SRK site - who took a handful of non-Indian kids and turned them into Bollywood dancers. They performed for a crowd of people who had no idea what BW was up until that point. They performed songs like Ishq Kamina from ’Shakti’ and Mere Chandni Tu Sona from 'Silsiilay’. It was a hit and their performances would have even made Farah Khan want them for her dancers.
American singer/songwriter Don Hammontree also piqued interest in BW with two of his tribute songs, one for Juhi Chawla and the other for Karishma Kapoor. The event when he launched his CD - ‘The Mumbai EP’ was a blast to attend.
I think Indian cinema is definitely here to stay and its popularity will grow even more in a relatively short time.
Thanks so much Razib. This is such an honor for me to be interviewed by you.
All the best to you in all your future journalistic ventures.
Judi/Simran
Posted by: Simran | August 14, 2006 10:22 AM | Permalink to Comment