This Life At Play

Girish Karnad was one of modern India’s greatest cultural figures: an accomplished actor, a path-breaking director, an innovative administrator, a clear-headed and erudite thinker, a public intellectual with an unwavering moral compass, and above all, the most extraordinarily gifted playwright of his times.

This Life at Play, translated from the Kannada in part by Karnad himself and in part by Srinath Perur, covers the first half of his remarkable life – from his childhood in Sirsi and his early engagement with local theatre, his education in Dharwad, Bombay and Oxford, to his career in publishing, his successes and travails in the film industry, and his personal and writerly life.

Moving and humorous, insightful and candid, these memoirs provide an unforgettable glimpse into the life-shaping experiences of a towering genius, and a unique window into the India in which he lived and worked.

Format: Digital download and online
Release Date: 19 May 2021
Pages: None
ISBN: 9789390327812

A sparkling, unputdownable memoir by a towering literary and theatrical genius – AMITAV GHOSH

Not just the story of an exceptional writer but a manifesto for the roots of our contemporary culture – ARSHIA SATTAR

An autobiography as vividly theatrical as any of this titan’s works – BARADWAJ RANGAN

Karnad at his captivating best – GOPALKRISHNA GANDHI

A mesmerizing and magical account – MARIA AURORA COUTO

What an extraordinary man. What an extraordinary life – NAGESH KUKUNOOR

Warm, witty, and deeply insightful memoir – RAMACHANDRA GUHA

Dense with people, places, events, inquiry, insight, observation and, above all, creative expression – SHANTA GOKHALE

A candid and intimate account of a life rich in achievements and friendships – SHASHI DESHPANDE

By turns humorous and moving, and always insightful, This Life at Play reminds us of the life and times of one of our greatest national treasures – SHASHI THAROOR -