Nayanika Mahtani's Blog

Nayanika Mahtani
Across the Line

A small ray of sunshine came my way today amidst all the bleakness.




'Across the Line' has been selected in the Honours List of the 2020 South Asia Book Awards, alongside a fabulous line-up of books from across the world.


This is even more special to me as being based in the UK disqualifies my books from being submitted as entries for many prestigious awards within India.


'Across the Line' was a difficult book for me to write - there were many regrets that resurfaced, many conversations I wish I had had with my grandparents about this cataclysmic upheaval in their lives. There were days my daughters would walk in after school to find tears streaming down my face as I typed (which, even by my standards of sobbing along with Federer at tennis award ceremonies, was a little extreme.)


But I think it afforded me perspective, something I have really needed in these past few months. Perhaps, that's why this story chose to be written when it did, after waiting all these years.


So grateful for this honour, thank you SABA.

There's nothing more precious than to have a children's jury select your book as the winner, from amidst a formidable line-up of some fabulous books! Thank you, to Peek A Book and to the jury for their belief!

And then this happened....I was at Sainsbury's when I started getting messages that Tendulkar had Tweeted about Across the Line. I've never checked out faster. :) I'm still a bit stunned and we don't have milk or bread for tomorrow - but I'm over the moon. And so deeply grateful.

Nayanika Mahtani once harboured dreams of being a stage actor but became an investment banker instead. She is now an author and screenwriter. She lives in London with her family and their goldfish named Sushi and Fishfinger.

Rooted in the Partition of the subcontinent, this is a tale of borders and beliefs shaped by the games people play. In book stores by late November. Pre-order your copy on Amazon India at http://tiny.cc/nnipez today! :)

I first saw the 'Human Computer' Shakuntala Devi when she did a Maths show at my school in Kolkata. I was 6 but I remember she seemed magical. And it still seems magical that her extraordinary true story (that I've co-written with Anu Menon, with dialogues by Ishita Moitra) will be brought to life by the fabulous Vidya Balan. In the cinemas in summer 2020!

A collection of short stories for children by various Indian authors including Ruskin Bond, Rabindranath Tagore, Sudha Murty and somehow in that hallowed list, there is yours truly too :) Available for pre-order on Amazon (India).Do have a look if it might interest a little person in your life!