Writer Ravi Subramanian's daughter is following in her dad's footsteps

They are poles apart, and enjoy telling different stories. But, writer Ravi Subramanian and daughter Anusha do share a common love

Author Ravi Subramanian with daughter Anusha who has just been signed on by Penguin India for her first novel with them, Never Gone. Pics/Shadab Khan

Author Ravi Subramanian is an anxious father and he confesses that he has probably never experienced this kind of nervousness, even when he published his first bestseller, If God Was A Banker, nine years ago.

When he meets us at his Pali Hill residence, Ravi is warm and welcoming, but restless at the same time. That it’s his teenage daughter Anusha’s first interview could be the reason. As we flip through the first few pages of Anusha’s new novel, Never Gone, he’s on the edge of his seat, following our gaze. “Protective dad?” we ask. He blushes, “Aren’t we all?”

While author Ravi Subramanian began his writing career at the age of 36, his daughter Anusha released her first book, Heirs of Catriona, when she was 12 years old. 

At 16, Anusha is the youngest author Penguin India has signed up to write a novel. “It was actually 15,” Ravi corrects us. She was in Standard 10 when she was approached by the publishing house. Anusha walks into the room, and not belying the geeky pair of glasses that she sports, she innocently tells us, “I have to go back to studying after this.” No wonder she scored 97 per cent, her father says proudly, even as she wrote the book.

“Anusha studies hard, but writes harder,” says the 46-year-old. “Like you… right?,” Anusha chimes in. Ravi looks at her teasingly, and says, “I don’t know.” She then prods her mother, Dharini, who is sitting right across, “Am I not like dad?” “I doubt,” her mother adds, after some thought. “How is it possible?” she asks, throwing her arms in the air.

The fact that Anusha wants to be like her dad, is a given. Though, later during the interview, she refuses to admit to it. “I think I started writing because dad started writing. I wasn’t aware of the hype around his book, but I remember penning down my first story right after that,” she recalls. “The story was called Ponylicious. It was the tale of three donkeys,” Ravi says, laughing. “Not donkeys,” Anusha interrupts him. “They are ponies!” she says with a pout.

Four years later, at the age of 12, she published her first novel, Heirs of Catriona, with Rupa. “It was pure fantasy,” she says. “My new novel is completely different. Never Gone is more about human relationships and friendship,” she says of her young adult novel, which is a story about six students in high school. “It’s something that I can relate to,” says Anusha, a Standard 11 student.

“Because this was a character-driven story, I didn’t let anyone else read the book until I wasn’t convinced about my characters,” she says, “Not even dad!”

For a change, Anusha, who has always discussed her plots and stories with her dad at the dinner table, was glad that he hadn’t read her drafts, until a copy arrived at home. “I am not allowed to read his books!” she says. That evens it. “But that’s simply because my books are not appropriate for children,” says Ravi, who has written several bestselling thrillers on the banking world.

“I am glad that she didn’t take any help from me for this book. In fact, her editor (Hemali Sodhi) sent me an SMS, telling me not to interfere. So, I backed off,” adds Ravi.

He recalls the day Sodhi messaged him last year, asking if his daughter could write for Penguin. “Sodhi read a post that Anusha had written on her blog, about a classmate who had passed away, and thought she should write a book,” he says. The father and daughter were over the moon, jumping with glee, in separate rooms, both choosing not to show how happy they were. Anusha was following in her dad’s footsteps. “But let me clarify, I started writing at the age of 36. Writing to me, happened on a whim,” he says, very honestly. “Anusha, on the other hand, is a methodical writer. I think she has got a great style. It’s actually far better than mine,” Ravi says. Anusha quickly adds, “That can’t be true dad. But I can’t comment, because you haven’t allowed me to read any of your books.”

Despite having two books in her kitty already, Anusha, doesn’t see herself becoming a writer. “I don’t think I would enjoy it if someone forced me to do it.” And then, she also wants to get into genetics. “You can’t be a part-time scientist and a full-time writer,” she explains. “But, I have seen it work the other way round,” she adds, smiling at her dad one more time.

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