Published Book: TRIKAALAGYA
ISBN: 9789354464072
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9354464076
The Rise Insight: Welcome to The Rise Insight, Naeem Sha. Congratulations on the release of your book. What responses are you getting from your readers? Please share your experience with this book.
Naeem Sha: Thanks for your kind words. The reactions for my debut fiction novel Trikaalagya which I am receiving are absolutely humbling and phenomenal. The readers have given invaluable comments like; “I thought I was in Rajasthan and actually living it.” “Women are strongly represented in Trikaalagya. It’s inspiring for every female to read this novel. I give it five stars.” “The story is so riveting so honest so raw, it is something that I have never read before.” I thank each and every reader for their generous views.
To tell you honestly about my experience in writing, I shall have to transport you back many decades …to my schooling days in Hill Grange High School. Since my school days, I had an affinity for the English language and Literature. I have to mention two of my brilliant English teachers Mrs. Saldhana and Dolly Thakore who made an everlasting impact on me. But after school and college I never got to express my love for the language or could cultivate my desire to Author a book. Next by a stroke of circumstance I got into writing dialogues and screenplay for Hindi feature films and also directing Hindi feature films which was a 24/7 commitment – English language took a back seat.
In the year 2020 when the world was imprisoned in their homes because of the Covid pandemic, I had to undergo a serious eye surgery. During my recuperating days, when there were bandages on my eye, and with so much time on my hands, I decided to author my first fiction novel. But how would I be able to do it? How could a blind man write a novel? It was a serious handicap but we found a way. I began discussing the novel with my elder daughter Nekko Sha, brainstorming with her. And when I had structured the entire plot and wanted to write it, my younger daughter Noorin Sha became my vision and my hand. I used to narrate my notes which she would meticulously type it on the laptop for hours. My wife Nazneen was the bouncing board, the blunt critic during those tough days. Together with the help and support of my wife and daughters we were able to finally reach the end of the novel in five months. This novel is the result of love and hard work of me and my family. My subconscious love for the language which had been dormant since school days finally channelized with the birth of Trikaalagya. I had assigned myself a job when the world was downsizing companies, and jobs were disappearing during the lockdown terror. The journey of this novel can never be truly explained in words. There was heart and soul contributing in the narrative. I am thoroughly content that Trikaalagya is my first novel. And the tremendous response from the readers and my eye recovery has accelerated my drive to continue my journey as an author. You won’t believe it but I am already writing the third chapter of my next novel.
The Rise Insight: What encourages you to become an Author?
Naeem Sha: I am a dialogue and screenplay writer of many reputed Hindi feature films. Most of those scripts were translated on the screen by different directors and cameraman along with other team players. I realized that my vision and my characters, my plots were never exactly what I envisioned; in Cinema the Director and other team players decisions alter and change the writer’s narrative. Cinema is a pudding made by many hands; especially if you are not a strong mindful writer director. Hence I always longed to author a novel. Because when you author a novel there is no one, I repeat there is no one who can alter and change your vision, your plot, and your world. What you write, what world you create is what the reader enters into. Their imagination is definitely subject to their visualization but if one writes meticulously and in minute detail, then the reader’s imagination will mostly be very close to what is created by the author. That’s the enriching, the rewarding moment. The readers see, sense and feel what we created. It’s the greatest enriching moment. You feel fulfilled and complete as an author.
Telling a story the way I want is what inspires me to sit down and pen my thoughts while holding each blank page. It’s a personal perception which I need to transfer to my readers in its true form…in the way I imagine it. It is similar to a lonely, oceanic voyage but I accept that challenge whenever I dare to write a novel.
The Rise Insight: What are your favorite topics of writing? Please tell us something about your interest areas in the literature.
Naeem Sha: My debut fiction novel Trikaalagya is a psychological thriller, punctuated with drama, suspense and romance. Irrespective of genre, I love to attempt a story with human emotions, because human emotion is the spine of a good narrative.
I am an avid reader with a voracious appetite to read books on different topics. There is a plethora of literature available in the world, impossible to experience and consume. We have only one lifetime; hence one has to be selective. I personally love engaging human drama and stories. I find it impossible to put down. I believe that as a storyteller my primary responsibility is to engage and stimulate the readers mind along with a strong desire to make it a memorable journey irrespective of the genre.
The Rise Insight: We were hoping you could tell us about some of those writers who had inspired you and whom you follow!
Naeem Sha: I love Charles Dickens, Bernard Shaw, William Golding, Robert Ludlum, Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer, Khalil Gibran, P G Wodehouse, Mario Puzo, Michael Crichton to name some. I also find many of the new writers extremely wonderful. To be honest; a good story is more important than any writer … is my personal belief.
The Rise Insight: The titles seem different and catchy; how you decided it? Please let us know the story behind it.
Naeem Sha: I was in a catch 22 situation during the naming of the novel. I had two titles in mind; they are words that predominantly appear in few chapters in the novel. The title ‘Trikaalagya’ for my novel was suggested by my elder daughter Nekko. She strongly debated that Trikaalagya which was also ingrained in the narrative made a better title highlighting various reason apart from being novel and an extremely rare Sanskrit word. Her pointers were totally valid and I was won over. Trikaalagya spells the mystic of India and elevates the content of the narrative. I won’t be rude to underline here that after being highlighted by me this rare Sanskrit word…I mean ‘Trikaalagya’, will become a more widely used word within a few years, in India and abroad.
The Rise Insight: What are your achievements so far? Tell us something about your writing career.
Naeem Sha: Professionally I am a film director and a dialogue and screenplay writer of many blockbuster Hindi feature films, Like GUPT, MOHRA, OFFICER etc. I have also written and directed TV serials and Commercials. In 2006 a film named Tsunami 81 which was written and directed by me was officially selected in the Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival. I have also been a judge in some film festivals. Apart from this I have a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. I also am a trained Martial Artist and a pet lover. My pet is a ShihTzu puppy named Murphy.
The Rise Insight: What is your current goal in writing career? How do you see your future in writing?
Naeem Sha: After the overwhelming response to my debut novel I have decided to author at least two novels every year beside writing and directing movies. The pandemic actually pushed me to hone my novel writing ability and now that I am enjoying the process I might as well churn out all that is locked in my mind since years. The readers will be pleasantly surprised with each of my forthcoming novels is my conviction and belief. Further, my novels will soon be made into Motion Films; it’s just a matter of time.
The Rise Insight: Are there any other books being worked by you? Please let us know about your future projects.
Naeem Sha: My next book is based on a true story. It’s a survivor’s story, extremely inspiring, emotional and humorous: a slice of life narrative. The readers will never forget the characters life struggle and their heart touching journey; it shall live in their hearts forever. It is human saga which will moisten their eyes and bring a smile on their face. The next book will include true incidents from my own life – incidents which have scarred my heart, incidents which shaped my life’s decision and made me a better human being.
The Rise Insight: How you see Indian writing in the 21st century? What changes do you see in the modern way of writing? Do you feel it has been changed by the time?
Naeem Sha: Writing is very personal. The style of narrating a story, the choice of words, the metaphor, the symbolism and vocabulary may differ with time and generation. But ultimately the reader has to be engaged. The soul in writing has to be there constantly. One cannot depend merely on craft and style to narrate a story. Simple words can say a great story. I would like to mention Rabindranath Tagore here. He said, “It is very simple to be happy but it is very difficult to be simple.” With due respect, I would like to rephrase it for the moment and say, “It is simple to be difficult but it is difficult to be simple.” Art can never be replaced by craft in any art form. Cinema and Literature definitely needs a good content…a soul.
The Rise Insight: How easy/ difficult it was for you to publish your book? What message would you like to give to budding authors?
Naeem Sha: Publishing is the next logical ladder after finishing your novel. But fortunately today there are many good publishers and online partners offering various packages. One has to just do thorough research and zero on to one’s requirements. It’s difficult but achievable. I have begun my first book journey with Evincepub Publishing, hoping that it will be a memorable one.
To the budding authors I would like to ask a simple question, what would you do If you wanted to learn swimming. You have to jump into the water, get wet… right. Exactly, start writing. Take the first step. Each small step will take you towards your goal. Concentrate on each step….not the goal. Don’t just think…Do it because time is ticking away.
Finally I wish to end by saying that, writing a novel is like floating in a cold lifeless void at the initial stage, all alone – with just blankness around. It is lonely, scary, riddled with uncertainties. When I completed the novel, the blankness, the void evolved into a new exciting world. A world with beating hearts, with living breathing characters, embedded in cold print. They actually educated me. It is a journey of fulfillment. a journey of self-discovery.