The Rajwada Poisonings - new crime novel

 

The big day finally arrived and my book was launched at the Pune International Centre (PIC) at 5 pm on the 15th of May. It was launched by Arti Kirloskar, along with Vishal Soni, the publisher of Vishwakarma Publications, Suman Kirlosker, Amita Bambawale, a reading specialist and educator, and noted economist Ajit Ranade.

Now I am officially the author of two crime novels. 

The seating was for about a hundred people, and those who came late, struggled to find a seat. The  Q&A session followed the official launch. Amita had a list of questions ready and it went off well. 

People coming up to and telling me that book launches are usually boring but this one wasn't. Maybe because a lot of the conversation was about how crime fiction is an indictment of society. This was in fact, the flyer. 

The audience found the discussion about how crime fiction brings out social truths and also about the nuances of writing, interesting...if one goes by the flurry of questions came afterward. One person came up and said he had been going for writing classes but what he learnt here, in one hours, beats all of that. Hearing that felt good.

More on what was discussed once I get the video of the event.

The questions from the audience had to be stopped as the deadline for the end of the event came up. 

There is a lot lot more that I want to share...my long journey on how I finally produced this novel...but more on that later.

There was a brisk sale of books at the launch as well. 

The legend of adman Piyush Pandey

Piyush Pandey, the renowned Indian advertising man, who passed away on 23/10/25, was the Chief Creative Officer Worldwide (2019) as well as the Executive Chairman (India) of Ogilvy. He received the LIA Legend Award in '24, and the Padma Shri in 2016. He was known for his  "indigenous" influence on Indian advertising, a turn away from the influence of western advertising and ideas which did not resonate with the Indian audience. 

This is an article from over 25 years ago; it's a face-off with Nita Jatar Kulkarni – an interview done for A&M magazine, (15th November 1999 issue), the only ad mag at the time. There are

A thriller about murder, witchcraft, and royals

The sequel to my first debut novel The Hawa Mahal Murders is now with the publisher...waiting to be published. It's been ready for many months but finally with the publisher.

This took me a long time to finish. Five years. I took time to write the first one too, but was sure I'd write the next one much faster. I thought maybe 2-3 years. Being more experienced and confident, I was sure I could do it. 

Personal events intertwined. Births and deaths in close family and also plenty of travel. This shouldn’t be a reason for the delay, but it is.

There is nothing more I would like than to shut myself off from the outside world and write…write…write. But I chose not to do that.

Why? Writing makes you more conscious of being alive, but writing is not life. 

Is writing my life? I have to grudgingly admit that no, writing is not my life. Maybe if I was alone in this world with nobody I loved deeply, and if I lived on an island with pots of money, then writing could easily become my life. So that's decided. Writing is not my life. I love others and want to be with them too...I am not a typical writer. Neither melancholy and nor do I crave for solitude. In fact I crave company...laughter, noise, food, drink and parties. Does this make me an odd personality in the world of writers? Well, I guess it does make me odd in the world of good writers. Somehow I always believed that the best writers are committed 100% to writing. 

Do I think I am a bad writer or a good writer? Good, very good. Not literary, but very good at writing suspense and mystery. Very good at characterisation. I think I write better novels than many mystery writers who are famous...people will think it's my ego talking. Well, I truely believe it and don't consider myself egoistic in the least.

Writing is my passion, even if it isn't my life. It makes my heart sing, my soul float and it makes time fly. I may fantasize living on an island in an ocean or in the Himalayas, just writing, but I know I won't last more than a week. 

When I was in my teens and till the early twenties, reading was my life. Reading was exclusively my life. Nothing else mattered. I read everything I could get my hands on. I ignored life. I ignored friends. I ignored family. But by the mid-twenties, I was involved in life, involved with earning money, and involved with my children. That is why my novel, a book I always wanted to write came late. Very late. I don't regret it. 

I loved every minute of writing The Hawa Mahal Murders. Just like I loved every minute of writing its sequel. Yes, it's a sequel. What's it about? That will be my next post.

Hopefully it will launch soon. 

My writing will continue. Writing helps me breathe. So does Life.

.

Sequel to the HM Murders is ready

Writing here after a long time. 

I was busy finishing the sequel to The Hawa Mahal Murders. The title will be revealed later, and I promise that the sequel is as exciting, if not better than the HM Murders. One of the criticisms I faced about the HM Murders was that there were too many characters. I loved them and felt they were important, my intention being to make it as real as possible. But I get the reader point of view. In the sequel there are fewer characters. Sub-plots are present and they add depth to the story. Like the HM Murders, it's not a run-of-the-mill mystery. There is a deep exploration of the characters' minds, including that of the villain/s.

The story is about a female detective, a single parent, trying to earn a living. Risking her livelihood and her life, she disappears into a small town to investigate a murder/s. The story is not plot-driven. Nor was The HM Murders. I let the characters take me where they wanted to go. There was suspense and dread in it for me as well. 

The novel has been a long time to write, because of three things. One, I write slowly. Two, ageing parents, and three, travel. 

But it’s done and I am satisfied. I am satisfied with the story and the premise, and also because there is closure at the end, not just for me, but for the characters, Smita and Jai. I enjoyed being with my favourite characters on their onward journey. Saying goodbye to them was hard. 

Work has started on a third book. It's non-fiction. At the same time, my mind is swirling with ideas for a third novel. I want to create new characters for this one. 

Another thing I want to do is to get on social media because have I been an abject failure in that area. I am starting anew with Bluesky. I like the hope it symbolises. This is my handle there: 

@nitajk.bsky.social

About the psychology of rape

Rape is rarely about sex. It's more about violence and also about revenge. Rapists do not see their victims as sex objects, but as objects of hatred. 

This small piece, based on a studies, was published in The Telegraph, on 7th May 1995.

Film techniques used in the Allen Solly ad film

Prasoon Pandey, who made this Allen Solly ad commercial, initially worked with Highlight Films (when this film was made) but later co-founded Corcoise Films, based in Mumbai. In this article, in an interview with Nita Jatar Kulkarni, Prasoon talks about the film techniques used in making the film. The interview was published in A&M magazine, a leading advertising and marketing magazine at the time. It was published in the 30th September issue of the magazine...more than 25 years ago. 

Prasoon is the brother of Piyush Pandey.

When the Allen Solly guy walks into the frame, the pace is slowed down, even as the pace of the music (a techno-track) is increased. This creates a contrast between the bright spark that the Allen Solly man is, as compared to the humdrum world in which he