Author Interview- Deepa & Kanishka

About the Authors:

Deepa and Kanishka are authors, podcasters, artists and they have their own artists' collective. They are saadhaks of Hindustani Classical Music. On their channels, they talk about filmmaking, podcasting, writing - everything digital. Their stories and poetry revolve around relatable content and inspirational anecdotes based on 'feel good phenomenon'. 

Q1. What do you think is important for a good story or poem?

A: Stories are the oldest institution and they have nurtured civilisations. There is, undoubtedly, no better way to bring a change in the world but through compelling storytelling for that is the only language that can be understood by every beating heart in the universe.

Stories are what we thrive on to survive. They give us courage to fight our struggles and never give up because there is always a story of a champion, waiting to be heard. If your story or poem serves this purpose, you have a good story idea. All you do now is pen it down, put it out in the world, and let your story find its own way to the readers.

Q2. Do you think it is important to be emotionally invested in your writing or just the right technique works?

A: Stories are like hot soup that you can gulp when you want to heal. A manuscript is incomplete if it is not read cover to cover and doesn't give your reader a reason to come back to it in some point in their life. Words weaved into relatable content connect at a deeper level with the readers.

You can't write a poem or a story that you don't understand yourself.  Words are transparent. If you don't know your story, the audience will know that you don't. So, you have to keep working hard for it. It's subjective and each writer builds their own technique which is unique to them.

You give form to your ideas and stories as a writer, so it's a mix. You have to care enough about your story to write it in the best way, but the telling of it is also important. Hence, technique and structure play an important role as well.

Q3. What advice would you like to give your fellow writers?

A: Wear your stories with great pride. Believe in your story, write it and share it with the world. Don't be fazed by criticism.

Q4. What inspired you?

A: Deepa- I grew up on my grandmother's stories and folktales. She's the greatest storyteller I have ever known. I have imbibed her storytelling style and learnt the power of storytelling from her.

Kanishka - Stories exist inside us, they are born even before we put them down on paper. I feel that staying true to myself, my roots and hearing out the stories that called out from inside me is what gave me inspiration. 

Q5. Do you try to be more original or to deliver the readers what they want?

A: The most beautiful thing about the times we live in is that the readers only want to engage with original content and not the inspired one. The more unique your story, the more audience it will garner. That's irrespective of genre, time, context etc. It is an exciting time for writers who have new ideas to put out into the world.

Q6. What's your favourite TV or web series, talk a little about it.

A: We keep discovering new content. However, there are some that help you in understanding stories and also in building up memorable characters. To name some, we really enjoy How I Met Your Mother for its humour and storytelling style in a mundane world. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is one of the most relatable series that you can binge watch at any time. Also Full House, Wonder Years are well told. Some of the best movies that one should watch are School of Rock, Dead Poets Society, Shree 420, Chashme Baddoor, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, Goodwill Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, On The Waterfront, Shawshank Redemption and the likes.

Q7. Tell us something about each other, weird habits etc.

A: Deepa- He is a perfectionist, grammar nazi and likes to read, re-read, rewrite every line or chapter. He gets really involved in what he's writing and is forever excited about writing new stuff. His poems deeply resonate with the sentiments of young readers, that's his best quality.

Kanishka- She holds a treasure trove of ideas and stories and poems inside her. She really embodies spontaneous writing and does it ever so well. Writer's Block doesn't exist for her as she can truly write anything on the fly. She gets ideas, stories, poems, scripts and so much more in a matter of seconds. That's something so unique to her. Her writings are emotional, moving and thoroughly engaging.

Q8. If you could tell something to your younger writing self, what would it be?

A: All writers of a young age need to be told this statement - You are in your best times to write great stories. These are the ideas that the world needs to hear. Small scribbled poems, doodles, drawings, art that you hide in your rough notebooks, or on the back pages of your fair notebooks, all those 'distractions', are a great piece of art. No matter whatever anyone will tell you, this truly is a treasure. So, keep building it. Homework, marks, percentage come and go. A great piece of art lives on.

Q9. Do the both of you like to read? Do you have any favourite books?

A: Deepa - Reading is an inseperable part of a writer's life. Some of the best books are Enid Blyton's The Naughtiest Girl and The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris and Alec Azam.

Kanishka - Stories have always held a special place in my life. I really enjoyed Charles Dickens growing up and his are some of the best stories to binge read at any age. I've also loved reading the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore for its depth and emotional connect.

Q10. When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

A: When you have stories inside you that you feel strongly about, and you want to share them with the world, you will naturally find your way to donning the hat of a writer. 

Q11. Do you have any secrets hidden in the verses that only you two could understand?

A: There are lots of exciting stories hidden in these verses. But the best thing is readers will relate their stories to the verses as well.

Q12. What period of your life do you like to write about mostly?

A: We don't write about our life, in particular, in our stories. Sometimes, they are inspired. More often, they are stories that we feel should be told.

Q13. What did you enjoy the most during the collab?

A: Spending time, reading out poems to each other -- almost like performing on a theatre stage. With every poem we wrote, we got to know more about each other, writing style, depth, versatility and passion for telling compelling stories.

You can buy their book on

Amazon