Om Books International releases Two Mothers and Other Stories by Khalid Mohamed

Anil Kapoor, internationally renowned actor launches the book

New Delhi, 27 February 2012: Om Books International in association with Shiro, the fine dining pan-Asian restaurant released Khalid Mohamed’s Two Mothers and Other Stories on 27 February, 2012 at Shiro, Hotel Samrat, New Delhi. The book was released by Anil Kapoor amidst august gathering of authors, film fraternity and the front runners of the society.

Bravely personal with quantum leaps into the imagination, Two Mothers and Other Stories by film critic, scriptwriter, playwright and director, Khalid Mohamed, explores a variety of themes ranging from familial bonds, the lingering Indian royalty, and media stratagems to Mumbai’s fast-vanishing Zoroastrian Irani cafés and the bold new world of website sexual relationships. Unfailingly entertaining, his first collection of stories presents what it is like to be immersed in life with its inexhaustible twists, shocks and surprises.

Speaking at the book launch, Khalid Mohamed said, “I write about people because I miss them, people who are no longer with me. Writing is a way of preserving them in my life. The stories in the collection are nostalgic, a remembrance of things past. Located in diverse milieus and eras, they present characters who will always be within me, half-real, half-hypothesised. ” 

Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International said, “It has been an enriching experience to publish Khalid Mohamed’s Two Mothers and Other Stories. These stories are about inner conflicts, about growing up and the losses the process engenders. I would like to thank Anil Kapoor for being here with us to launch this book and share the happiness with all of us present here. I would also like to thank Shiro, Audi Gurgaon, The Leela Palace and Dewar’s for their great support in putting up this event together.”

Co-partnering the starry event, Sanjay Mahtani, Co-Founder and Executive Director, JSM Corporation, said “Shiro has taken the step of proactively involving itself with art & literature over a period of time. The evolution of art, wining and dining, fashion and luxury is what we truly support and cater to. We are truly delighted at the opportunity of being hosts for the book launch and providing the perfect ambience and atmosphere for this noted book launch. This truly serves as the next big step which Shiro has taken towards the promotion of literature and in our endeavour we aim to take the trend forward.”

Note to the editors

About the Author

Khalid Mohamed started as reviewer and co-editor, during his teenage years for Close-Up, a film society magazine. He then covered crime, politics and the arts for The Times of India, Mumbai, from the mid-1970s on, engaged in daily reporting and film criticism.

Appointed Media Editor of the paper, he was next Editor of Filmfare while continuing as the daily’s film critic for 27 years. He reviewed television for The Economic Times besides contributing articles to The Illustrated Weekly of India and Femina. His writing has also featured in India Today, The Indian Express, The Telegraph, the international film weekly Variety and in Sunday Observer, London.

He was film critic for Mid-day, Senior Editor of DNA newspaper, and National Culture Editor and film critic for Hindustan Times. Currently, he is Consulting Editor to the Deccan Chronicle media group.

He has translated eminent painter MF Husain’s autobiography—Where Art Thou?—from Hindustani to English.

He has written the original stories and screenplays for three Shyam Benegal films: Mammo, Sardari Begum and Zubeida. He wrote the original stories and screenplays and also directed the films Fiza, Tehzeeb and Silsilaay. He debuted recently as a playwright and director of the stageplay Kennedy Bridge. His documentary The Last Irani Chai has been screened widely. His second documentary Smiles and Tears on Mumbai’s street children is under post-production. Presently, he is writing his second stage play and his first novel.

About Om Books International

Om Books International (OBI) has published amongst other genres, several cinema-related titles: A.R Rahman: The Spirit of Music, an authorised biography by Nasreen Munni Kabir; The Dialogue of Pyaasa: Guru Dutt’s Immortal Classic by Nasreen Munni Kabir; The Dialogue of Devdas: Bimal Roy’s Immortal Classic by Nasreen Munni Kabir; Still Reading Khan by Mushtaq Shiekh; Shah Rukh Can by Mushtaq Shiekh; The Original Screenplays of Lage Raho Munna Bhai and 3 Idiots; Bollywood in Posters by SMM Ausaja shortlisted for Vodafone Crossword Award 2010 for non-fiction to name just a few.

Some titles in the pipeline are: Indian Cinema: Love and Passion by Firoze Rangoonwalla; The Bachchans by SMM Ausaja; I’ll Do It My Way: the Incredible Journey of Aamir Khan by Christina Daniels, and many more. Cinema is one of the strongest suits of OBI. Besides, OBI publishes fiction, monographs on art and architecture, photo essays (the latest one being Mumbai, Where Dreams Don't Die by Raghu Rai and Vir Sanghvi; Forts and Palaces of India by Amita Baig and Joginder Singh), Fashion and Lifestyle books, Children's books, Mind, Body and Spirit books.

Om Books International runs a retail chain of bookstores across Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida by the name of Om Book Shop. Om Book Shop has an amazingly large collection of books and some really good bargains. The stock is truly enormous and there is definitely something there for everyone, from art to computers, astronomy to fashion. Browsing through the collection is like trawling through a treasure trove. There are various discount sales and the reader can pick up some real stocks at incredible prices. Om Books also has a virtual store from which one can order any book and win points under their Frequent Buyer programme. Om Book Shop organises book reading sessions and book launches. It recently opened a book store at Grand Galleria, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

About JSM Corporation Pvt. Ltd. (JSM)

A partnership between noted restaurateurs Jay Singh and Sanjay Mahtani, the JSM portfolio includes a repertoire of some of India’s most successful and well- known independent restaurants. From the super-premium luxury lounge Shiro, with its signature high ceilings, grand statues and award winning Oriental cuisine to the world- renowned Hard Rock Café and California Pizza Kitchen, JSM restaurants are known for their unique designs and uncompromising standards. JSM, through its subsidiaries, is the exclusive master franchisee for Hard Rock Café, California Pizza Kitchen and Trader Vic’s across India, and remains committed to its vision – Let Us Entertain You! 

For further information please contact:

Jennifer Sebastian Howell, Manager-PR & Corporate Communications, Om Books International jennifersebastian@ombooks.com