Books and Beyond with Bound Bound Podcasts

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. 


In this special episode of Books & Beyond, Tara and Michelle talk to two Indian diasporic writers – Shastri Akella and Jai Chakrabarti, about their books that break the mold of conventional storytelling and offer nuanced perspectives on gender stereotypes. 

Being Indian writers based out of the US, how do they explore themes of gender, sexuality, and identity in their works? How do they challenge the stereotypes and expectations of Indian culture and society? How do they celebrate the diversity and complexity of the LGBTQ+ community in India and beyond?

They discuss Shastri’s “The Sea Elephants” – a queer coming-of-age novel about a young man ‘Shagun’ who joins a street theater troupe and discovers his feminine side. And Jai’s “A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness” – a collection of stories that explore family, culture, and identity across borders, featuring characters who defy gender norms and embrace their true selves. 

Tune in to have your perspectives challenged! 


Book mentioned in this episode : 
The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
The Gathering by Anne Enright
Close to Home by Michael Magee
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkein

Authors mentioned in this episode : 
Salman Rushdie 
Fareed Zakaria
Aanchal Malhotra
Bernard Malamud
Michael Cunningham 
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni


Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound edit by Kshitij Jadhav
If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What does it take to write a memoir of your mother, who was a courtesan in a changing India? Did Manish’s relationship with his mother color his own narration of her life story? Did he leave out bits that made him uncomfortable? What did his mother say when he told her he wanted to write a book about her?

In this episode of “Books and Beyond,” Tara and Michelle talk to Manish Gaekwad, the author of “The Last Courtesan,” a memoir of his mother, Rekhabai, who was one of the last tawaifs (courtesans) in India. 

They discover Rekhabai’s extraordinary life story, from being sold and trained as a wife to becoming a singing and dancing star in Calcutta and Bombay, to raising her son in a challenging world. They find out Manish’s own journey from growing up in a world of mujras, kathak and thumri. 

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the fascinating lives of Manisha and Rekhabai, and their bond of love and courage.

Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound Edit by Kshitij Jadhav
If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What mysteries lie beneath ‘Meow Meow’ — one of Mumbai’s biggest drug scandals? 

Join Michelle and Tara for a thrilling episode of Books and Beyond with stellar crime reporter Srinath Rao as he takes us on a journey of the process of writing his breathtaking book unveiling the life and crimes of Shashikala ‘Baby’ Patankar, infamous as ‘Mumbai’s Drug Queen’. 
What is Meow Meow, the drug that flooded the streets of Mumbai? How did Baby get involved in the drug racket, and who is she beyond her persona as a criminal? How does one report crime?

Tune in to dive into an enthralling conversation about crime!

Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound Edit by Kshitij Jadhav
If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. 

How do ancient and moving epics reach the world through translation? 
Join Michelle and Tara for a very special episode of Books & Beyond in partnership with Penguin Random House India, where they have some exciting conversations around translations with two language connoisseurs, Nandini Vijayaraghavan and Catherine Thankamma! 

They talk about Nandini Vijayaraghavan’s four-part translation of Tamil legend Kalki’s epic myth, “Sivakami’s Vow” and Catherine Thankamma’s translation of the Malayalam bestseller, "Susanna’s Granthapura" by Ajai P. Mangattu. Michelle and Tara, with their guests, uncover the process and politics of translation, talk about fidelity to original texts and understand the fall back in time to learn about the world of myths!

Tune in to learn the secrets of translation and mythology!

Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound edit by Kshitij Jadhav


If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/

Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.



If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Does life have to come to a halt once you touch 60? 
Join Michelle and Tara in conversation with Nidhi Chawla and Reshmi Chakraborty about their book ‘Rethink Ageing: Lessons in Ageing from the Older and Bolder Generation’ — a book that challenges the way we think about ageing in India today. What does it mean to age actively, and how can one do it? Can you start afresh once you cross the threshold of 55? And how do you prepare for your second innings? Michelle and Tara find out what options are available to senior citizens in terms of jobs, hobbies and dating! 
Tune in to an enlightening discussion!

Books mentioned in this episode:
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay


Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Edit by Kshitij Jadhav
If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What secrets lie behind the silences of Bombay’s silent films?
Join Michelle in conversation with Tejaswini Apte-Rahm about her book ‘The Secret of More’, as she learns about previously unrevealed secrets that lie behind the glitz and glamour of Bombay’s silent film era. ‘The Secret of More’ looks at Bombay of the 1900s through the rags-to-riches story of Tatya, whose life is intertwined with two parts of Bombay’s beating heart – the textile mills and the silent film industry. How does he spin his story from one industry to the other? Does he fall or fly in the City of Dreams?
Tune in to find out!
Books mentioned in this episode:
Manjhi’s Mayhem by Tanuj SolankiBorderless by Namrata PoddarThe Education of Yuri by Jerry Pinto
Produced by Aishwarya Jawalgekar
Sound edit by Kshitij Jadhav
If you want to create a book to cherish your loved ones or share your knowledge with the world, read more about Bound's ghostwriting services here: https://www.boundindia.com/services/ghostwriting/Or email us at connect@boundindia.com.


‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.