Raja Sen's first book is not a critique of a film, as one would expect. The popular critic’s first book, a children’s book entirely in limericks, is published by Penguin/Puffin. A part of a series called, My First Marquee, wherein Sen takes cinematic masterpieces and adapts them for children, the book is called, The Best Baker In the World.
An adaptation of The Godfather, this book is a tribute to Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece. You’d wonder how a children’s book can be based on a mafia narrative steeped in blood, gore and death.
But Raja Sen has only weaved in the drama sans all the violence. It remains to be seen, how he has managed this stupendous task. But Sen could not have found a more befitting icon to launch the book than our desi Don Corleone, Big B, who almost filled his shoes in Sarkar and the sequels.
Raja Sen started the book launch event with a lyrical tribute of a limerick to late Shashi Kapoor, who passed away on Monday. Amitabh Bachchan got a little cheeky and referred to Raja Sen’s job as a film critic.
He said that his book is very different from his regular vocation of ‘destroying’ films. He also went on to say that his granddaughter Aaradhya Bachchan had already read and loved the book. The illustrator of the book, Vishal K. Bhardwaj explained how such an offer that he couldn’t refuse found him.
The book was released by Big B in association with Grandma Tales 4.0, a property of Grandmama’s Cafe.
Here’s what transpired at the book lanch today. Check out the FB Live post below.
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT to find #PollutionKaSolution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)