Anosh Irani
Encyclopedia
Anosh Irani is an Indian-Canadian novelist and playwright. An Irani (like Parsi, but of recent Iranian
extraction), he was born and raised in Mumbai
, although he has indicated that he personally prefers the city's traditional English name, Bombay. After working in advertising in India, he moved to Vancouver
in 1998 to study and pursue writing.
His first full-length play, The Matka King, premiered in October 2003 at the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver. His play, Bombay Black, won four Dora Awards, including Outstanding New Play. Irani was also featured in Quill & Quire
as one of a handful of young Canadian “writers to watch.”
He published his debut novel
, The Cripple and His Talismans, in 2004. This dark fable won critical acclaim for its magic realist
depiction of the seedy beggars' underworld of India.
Irani's second novel, The Song of Kahunsha
, was chosen as a CBC Book Club One pick, and was selected for the 2007 edition of Canada Reads
, where it was championed by Donna Morrissey
. Kahunsha is a story about the abandoned children of Bombay, struggling for survival and to hold onto hope amidst the violence of the 1993 racial riots.
His third novel, Dahanu Road
, was published in 2010.
His latest play, My Granny the Goldfish, premiered at the Arts Club Theatre Company's new venue, The Revue Stage, in Vancouver on April 16, 2010.
. He received his Bachelors degree in Creative Writing in 2002.
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
extraction), he was born and raised in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, although he has indicated that he personally prefers the city's traditional English name, Bombay. After working in advertising in India, he moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1998 to study and pursue writing.
His first full-length play, The Matka King, premiered in October 2003 at the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver. His play, Bombay Black, won four Dora Awards, including Outstanding New Play. Irani was also featured in Quill & Quire
Quill & Quire
Quill & Quire, a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry, was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, but its publisher claims a readership of 25,000...
as one of a handful of young Canadian “writers to watch.”
He published his debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, The Cripple and His Talismans, in 2004. This dark fable won critical acclaim for its magic realist
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
depiction of the seedy beggars' underworld of India.
Irani's second novel, The Song of Kahunsha
The Song of Kahunsha
The Song of Kahunsha is a novel by the Indian-Canadian novelist and playwright Anosh Irani, published in 2006 by Doubleday Canada and in 2007 in the US by Milkweed Editions....
, was chosen as a CBC Book Club One pick, and was selected for the 2007 edition of Canada Reads
Canada Reads
Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC.-Overview:During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series...
, where it was championed by Donna Morrissey
Donna Morrissey
Donna Morrissey is a Canadian author.At age 16 Morrissey left her birthplace, The Beaches, a small outport on the west coast of Newfoundland. She lived in various places of Canada before returning to St. John's where she studied at Memorial University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Social Work,...
. Kahunsha is a story about the abandoned children of Bombay, struggling for survival and to hold onto hope amidst the violence of the 1993 racial riots.
His third novel, Dahanu Road
Dahanu Road
-Location:Dahanu is located 65 km north of Virar on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Railway. It can be reached from National Highway NH-8, 20 km off from Charoti Naka. It is 22 km North of Boisar on the Western Railway line. It has nice and beautiful beaches. There is...
, was published in 2010.
His latest play, My Granny the Goldfish, premiered at the Arts Club Theatre Company's new venue, The Revue Stage, in Vancouver on April 16, 2010.
Education
From 1998 Irani attended the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. He received his Bachelors degree in Creative Writing in 2002.
Works
- The Matka King (2003, play)
- The Cripple and His Talismans (2004, novel) ISBN 978-1551928036, Raincoast Books
- The Song of KahunshaThe Song of KahunshaThe Song of Kahunsha is a novel by the Indian-Canadian novelist and playwright Anosh Irani, published in 2006 by Doubleday Canada and in 2007 in the US by Milkweed Editions....
(2006, novel) ISBN 978-0385662291, Anchor Canada - Bombay Black (2006, play)
- Dahanu Road (2010, novel) ISBN 978-0-385-66699-2, Doubleday Canada
- My Granny the Goldfish (2010, play)