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Interview with Mukul Ranjan Author of the Book “Cold Cock”

Mukul Ranjan is a director and screenwriter in Hindi film industry. His origins lie in Bihar’s Madhubani district. He is a humanities graduate from Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University. Later he took his Master’s degree in Journalism from Mumbai University. Journalism was not his calling as he considers himself primarily a raconteur. He started his career as a screen writer with a Hindi film. He has written and directed several movies, documentaries and TV shows. Singing, travelling and working towards sustainable living are his hobbies. COLD COCK is his debut novel.

Book Title: Cold Cock
ISBN: 9789354463907
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing (www.evincepub.com)

Lets Talk with Mukul Ranjan:

The Rise Insight: Before we begin with the interview, I would like to extend a warm congratulations from our team for “Cold Cock.” It seems to have become quite a sensation soon after its publication. How do you feel about it?

Mukul Ranjan: Thank you so much for your kind words. I am still trying to soak in all the reactions that are coming after Cold Cock’s launch. My sincere gratitude to all my readers and God Almighty, up there.

The Rise Insight: Tell us the story behind the creation of “Cold Cock.” What were the events that led to its creation?

Mukul Ranjan: I was trying to write a novel. I had several stories in mind for it. But I set it up inside a TV channel to make it more lively and found it to be a fresh setting for a novel. The glamour aspect of it, weird characters, the lingo, everything fell into place after it. The audience, the readers watch their favourite tv shows but they don’t know about the tears, never ending arguments, back breaking work and ego clashes of its makers and their team members. Cold Cock is a small attempt to bring background to the foreground!

The Rise Insight: As an author, do you think “Cold Cock” successfully conveys all that you had in mind? Or would there be more to come through your pen?

Mukul Ranjan: I have kept a small door open for a sequel. Everything depends on my readers’ feedback and my publisher’s backing. Let us see what future has in store for Cold Cock fans.

The Rise Insight: “Cold Cock” is developed in an abstract manner that reaches the readers in no time. Did you have any other ideas for its construction or chose the poetry format for writing in the first place?

Mukul Ranjan: I had other ideas definitely for building up the narrative. But after mulling for a long time on the technique I decided on this route to make it easily absorbent for my readers. Techniques, if applied wrongly, defeat the whole purpose, mostly. So, I kept it minimal and abstract.

The Rise Insight: “Cold Cock” as a book is difficult to be restricted to one category. Yet, if you were to categorize, which would that category be?

Mukul Ranjan: Reader’s Choice ! Ha ha, just joking. Categories, styles and genres are decided by market forces to bracket it. The reader is only looking for enjoyment out of his reading. If my reader has purchased my book it is my duty as an author to entertain him, engage him and give him/her some joy while reading. Which category, Cold Cock falls into, you could tell me better.

The Rise Insight: As an author of “Cold Cock,” would you describe yourself being influenced by other authors? Which author would they be?

Mukul Ranjan: I really don’t think so. I love reading books of my favourite authors again and again. But does that really influence me ? The critics would be the right people to answer this.

Some of my favourite authors are Kunal Basu, Acharya Chatursen Shastri, Richard Bach, Narendra Kohli and Jeffrey Archer.

The Rise Insight: “Cold Cock” has introduced you as a promising writer. Can the readers expect more work from you in the future? Would you please share your plans?

Mukul Ranjan: There is something in the pipeline. I’m waiting for my readers’ response to my debut novel. Then I’ll be better prepared for my next outing.

The Rise Insight: How easy or difficult was it for you to pick situations and build up on them and at the same time remain objective about them in “Cold Cock”?

Mukul Ranjan: I had characters, situations and a story with me. I just had to create the right universe for them. Birha fit in perfectly and Cold Cock happened organically after that. You got to be really careful about handling the situations while writing. The pace is extra fast and the impact is gone. And if the movement is laborious it appears to drag. The trick is to build it at the right speed, hold the moment for the desired amount of time and then, move on.

The Rise Insight: As a title, “Cold Cock” carries associations that touch multiple dimensions. What is the story behind its creation?

Mukul Ranjan: I was waiting for this question. Lot of people have asked me why the title of my debut novel is Cold Cock. Please allow me to be immodest for once. The story of naming it Cold Cock is as interesting as the novel itself. After I finished writing it I had a title. And obviously, I was excited about it. But with time I started looking for a different title. So another title came to me. I was happy and thought I would stick to it. But again, I was itchy to get a nice title. Look, I seriously believe that if the title is apt half the job is done. A full year passed and there was no title. With time I forgot about both, my novel and its new title.

I was watching a boxing match on TV. In the final round, a fallen boxer was trying to get up when the commentator described it as the winner had coldcocked him. My book is also about the rise, fall and rise again. That match was over and my novel had its title – COLD COCK !

The Rise Insight: “Cold Cock” strongly stimulates the readers to take an objective approach and understand life in that light. How did you as a person develop this approach?

Mukul Ranjan: It happens with time. Nature finds a way to prepare you for your future life; first as parents in the house, second as teacher in the school and finally, third as a senior or boss at the work place. Then one sits back and tries to apply one’s mind to the challenges his/her life throws ahead.

The Rise Insight: How would you describe your literary endeavours and all that went into your making as a writer before “Cold Cock” materialized?

Mukul Ranjan: I have been writing for newspapers, magazines and radio since my college days. I chose to be a screen writer in the Hindi film industry after training as a journalist. I also have my blog site where I write blogs regularly. So the next step was writing a novel. Cold Cock is a junction, metaphorically speaking, for my long journey as a writer !

The Rise Insight: There are so many unique perspectives in your “Cold Cock.” What is the most challenging thing about writing such complexity in a simpler version?

Mukul Ranjan: I call it ‘detach the attachment’. Its a thin, challenging transparent line as an author. One needs to be attached to one’s characters to figure out everything that they would do next. And at the same time, stay detached in order to remain objective and keep it simple. I believe that is how one gains the trust of one’s readers and followers.

The Rise Insight: I wish you luck with your future ventures and hope to read more powerful and exciting books from your pen. Thank you for sparing your time.

Mukul Ranjan: Thank you so much for this lovely conversation. And for providing me this platform to express my thoughts. Thank you once again.

The Rise Insight

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