A discussion between Jaishree Misra and Abbas Tyrewala, moderated by Nilanjana Roy on the novel in adaptation, exploring questions such as: faithfulness or distance? Should the filmmaker follow the book, or can he use it as an inspiration for his own creation? And – lost in translation? Does a book lose some of its qualities when it is translated into a visual medium, or can book and film complement and enrich each other?

Jaishree Misra works as film classifier at the British Board of Film Classification in Soho. She has written four novels, her debut novel Ancient Promises was published and sold worldwide by Penguin UK and became a major bestseller in India. Subsequent books include Accidents Like Love and Marriage, Afterwards and The Little Book of Romance. Her most recent book (a historical novel on the life of Rani of Jhansi, called Rani) has been bought by a Bollywood film company who plan to start shooting in November 2008. She has an MA in English Literature from Kerala University and two post-graduate diplomas from the University of London, one in Special Education and the other in Broadcast Journalism.

Abbas Tyrewala’s great success as a screenwriter has helped to rejuvenate the Mumbai film industry with new ideas. In a short career he has already written lyrics, adapted Shakespeare, and constructed an unforgettable character in Munnabhai, which turned the medical profession topsy-turvy. A student of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Abbas entered the film industry as a song-writer. Walking the tightrope between critical acclaim and commercial hits, he has earned himself a formidable reputation as the scriptwriter of films such as Main Hoon Na (2004); Munnabhai MBBS (2003) and Maqbool (2003). He makes his directorial debut with the soon to be released Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.