Woman, wine and melodrama

Television writer-turned-book author, Smita Jain's Kkrishnaa's Konfessions has an oddly spel title. The shocking pink book cover displays a woman with a flirtatious gaze. She's flaunting a glass of wine and a cigar. I meet the 35-year-old writer at her Andheri apartment that's painted in screaming colours. She has been associated with the TV shows Remix, Darna Mana Hai, Bombay Talking, India Calling, Kajjal.. Sabki Aankhon mein Bassi and Kabhi Haan, Kabhi Naa.

Theatrics aplenty
"I always failed to add the over-the top-melodramatic elements to India Calling and Kajjal.., which are expected from TV soaps," she shrugs.

The peculiar spelling of the book's title turns out to be a pun on the letter K, sparked by a numerology fixation, which seems to be pretty rampant in the TV community.

In essence, the book's plot hinges on a TV soap writer Priyaaka Kkrishnaa, who wants to retain her long-running, successful primetime show Kkangan Souten Ke. But then she's afflicted with the classic writer's block. Follow heartache and torment.

"It's an absolute khichdi", Jain cackles. Melodrama, which she couldn't incorporate into her TV shows, is found in generous dollops in her first novel, which could well be adapted into a soap.

The light-eyed debutante author thinks Kkrishnaa's Konfessions will make a better film though.

Coming soon..
Currently, Jain is writing, Sun Yaar.. Chill Maar, a desi telly version of the American sitcom Friends.

Aware that several publishing houses are opening up to a new generation of Indian writers, Jain also has another book in the offing. She reasons, "I guess it's got to do with the fact that today there is a Chetan Bhagat, who writes on subjects people can relate to.. and the books are bought."

She devotes three hours a day to blogging. "People spend a lot of time social networking online..blogs are the best way to make contact with readers," she deduces, quite content to be hammering away at her laptop in an apartment of screaming colours.