Ila Arun burst into public view with the controversial song from Khal Nayak (1993), Choli Ke Peechhey. But several years before that, she was already well known for her contribution to Rajasthani folk music.
Mumbai soon became her home, and it was in this city of glamour that Ila made a name for herself in every genre of the performing arts-film, television, music and playback singing-and also as a composer and lyricist. In the course of her creative journey of almost fifty years, Ila has been associated with several of the best-known names in this field-actors and directors, singers and music directors, classical and folk singers-who appear as characters in her story. Her passion, however, remains theatre.
A writer herself, with several original plays and many adaptations to her credit, this is her first book-an autobiography, which records her life from childhood to the present. It is an honest depiction of her successes and disappointments in the world of theatre, film and music.
Told in her inimitable style, with sincerity and a touch of humour, this is lla at her candid best, sharing a glimpse into her life and experience onstage and backstage, parde ke peechhey.
ILA ARUN wears many hats. She is a folk singer, actor, writer-playwright, music composer, lyricist, folk dancer and theatre producer-director, all rolled into one. Hailing from Rajasthan, she was introduced to films by the decorated director Shyam Benegal and initiated into creating music albums by HMV (now Saregama), later delivering many hits with Tips Industries. She has written five original plays and ten adaptations of some of the world's most famous playwrights, including the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, Today, she runs her own theatre group, Surnai Theatre and Folk Arts Foundation.
This is her first book.
ANJULA BEDI is a writer, editor, actor and translator.
A postgraduate in English literature from Delhi University, she has authored several corporate biographies. Anjula has been a partner and editor-writer for Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd, a publishing company started in Mumbai in 1990. Adept in both Hindi and English, she has edited over thirty books on art and heritage. Along with lla Arun, she is the co-founder of Surnai Theatre and Folk Arts Foundation.
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