Between the lines

Unlike a lot of writers, he8217;s very happy with the way the movie has turned out. 8220;I was consulted on the script by the writer, Simon Beaufoy,8221; he says, 8220;and I always knew that there were certain things in the novel which would not work on the screen and that they would have to be changed. But the important thing is that the essence of the novel has been retained.8221;

Swarup says that he derived comfort from the knowledge that the film was to be directed by acclaimed director Danny Boyle. 8220;I8217;ve watched all his movies8212; Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later 8212; and I think he8217;s brilliant. I knew that he would bring his own unique vision to the whole project and just knowing that he would direct it, made me comfortable with it.8221;

He admits that the novel remains more personal than the movie. 8220;But the movie and the book are separate entities,8221; he says, adding 8220;I watched the movie in London at the closing of the British Independent Film Awards and I was very impressed.8221; He adds, 8220;The success of this movie is making other western directors look to India for stories. It8217;s no longer the exotic India of the Maharajas.8221;

Already, the BBC has approached him to adapt his second novel, Six Suspects, for the screen. 8220;But they8217;re still debating whether to turn it into a full-length movie or a six-part series,8221; he says. Swarup has received offers from Bollywood to write movie scripts, but he isn8217;t interested. 8220;I already have a full-time job as a diplomat.8221; he says.

But he assures that he will be there for the Indian premier of the film. 8220;I8217;ve been invited to attend the Jaipur Literary festival and the movie is going to be the centre-piece of the festival,8221; he says.

Many perks come of being a writer. 8220;I8217;ve been to so many literary festivals now. One gets to meet so many people from the field, people whose works you8217;ve read and admired,8221; Swarup confides.

Recently, he was approached by Rasa Sekulovic, the Serbian translator of Q 038; A, to be part of a charity project The Children8217;s Hours: Stories Of Childhood. Swarup was asked to contribute a short story, alongside such luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Nadine Gordimer and Andre Brink.

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