Sunny Gavaskar’s concentration has been inspirational: Giridharan

Saurabh Tankha

Now, you might find this statement coming from an author a bit odd and out of place. But then Giridharan’s talent is not limited as a writer or as the general manager at the Reserve Bank of India where he tracks large value frauds. The Mumbai-based 51-year-old is also an international sports commentator with the All India Radio and has covered test matches and one-day internationals including World Cup ties. He has anchored many a panel discussions and compered shows. He is also an expert panellist on DD Sports and News Nation.
In a chat with www.lifeandmore.in, the author talks about his latest book, Right Under Your Nose (Rupa; Rs 295), on who inspired him to write murder mysteries, what it takes to be a good storyteller, how he hopes his latest book could get converted into a movie, on his life and more…

When did the present general manager of RBI realise that he could pen murder mysteries?
Around four-five years back.

You work with the RBI, are a sports commentator with AIR apart from being a compere and anchor as also a cricket umpire. Which of these roles do you love playing the most and why?

Each role is fulfilling in its own way and they reinforce each other.

Your introduction in Right Under Your Nose states that you have churned murder mysteries in the form of screenplays too. Throw some light on these screenplays.
There are short murder mysteries that haven’t gone to make any headway, but I am still hopeful of them.

How different is one murder mystery from another when looked at from an author’s perspective?
Murder mysteries comprise the following elements: howdunnit, whodunnit, originality, field work, red herring and weaving all these in a realistic setting. The proportion of each of the above six elements is different in every murder mystery.

Did you get inspired by any crime author to write murder mysteries?

Keigo Higashino, the most. Also, Agatha Christie.

Who has been the most inspirational person in your life and why?
Many. My parents instilled values in me. I was also inspired by commentators, Tony Cozier and Sushil Joshi and the concentration of Sunil Gavaskar has been inspirational.

What does it take to be a good storyteller?
Getting into two shoes at the same time ie of the reader and the characters of the story.

What is that one thing which is the most important part of a book?
The messages that the book wants to convey and the manner in which the book conveys it. In my book, I wanted to convey the message:
i) Low tech and small budget but with loads of imagination can be better than high tech and high budget bereft of imagination
ii) The answer to most questions was Right Under Your Nose, but you need to have the vision to see it.

Fiction or non-fiction…
Both

Favourite childhood book
Ramayana

Favourite childhood author

Herge, the author of Tintin

Favourite book now
Devotion of Suspect by Keigo Higashino

Favourite author now
Keigo Higashino

You are, at present, reading
Lots

What’s up next from R Giridharan?
I am writing a sequel to this murder mystery – same protagonists, same type of howdunnit, whodunnit, Indian context and with field work. I’m also co-authoring a book on anger management. I hope this book could get converted into a movie.