Teamwork Arts Podcast

In Epiosde 41 of Teamwork Arts podcast, Rana Safvi joins Eric Chopra to discuss her travels, the art of translation, the culinary heritage of India and her books that focus on a range of cultural and historical themes!

Sandeep Unnithan is the Managing Editor of India Today magazine in New Delhi, where he writes on national security. He is the author of Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 and Operation X. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Unnithan talks about the challenges he faced while writing war stories, the rigorous research that went into it and most importantly, finding the right balance between journalism and authorship in translating a riveting tale onto paper. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival in March 2022.  

 Chandrahas Choudhury is a novelist, essayist and literary critic. He has recently authored My Country Is Literature: Adventures in The Reading Life, a book of essays about writers ranging from Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay to Jawaharlal Nehru. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Choudhury voices the struggle of separating knowledge from information and the role of the internet in expanding the creative space.This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival in March.

Namita Gokhale is the author of twenty-one books and Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters) awardee for 2021. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Gokhale explores some fascinating perspectives on art, languages and culture. This episode was recorded at Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March.  

Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is a doctor by profession who has authored six books so far, including The Adivasi Will Not Dance, The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey and My Father’s Garden, among others. He has translated from Santhali and Hindi into English and is now trying to translate from Bengali. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Shekhar talks about the process of translation, the challenges and finding one’s own voice. This episode was recorded in march at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Naushad Forbes is the Co-Chairman of Forbes Marshall, India's leading Steam Engineering and Control Instrumentation firm, and the Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre and Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Forbes talks about making sense of chaos in an increasingly polarised world. This episode was recorded in march at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Omar Saif Ghobash is Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He is the author of Letters to a Young Muslim, a vital manifesto tackling the dilemmas facing young Muslims and everyone navigating the complexities of today’s world. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Ghobash talks about using words to navigate the minefield of ideas and geopolitics as artistic muse. This episode was recorded in March at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Anand Neelakantan is an Indian author whose debut novel, Asura: The Tale of The Vanquished, is a perennial best-seller in fourteen languages. Neelakantan has also written the official prequel trilogy for the blockbuster Bahubali films and has written screenplays for popular television series, including Siya Ke Ram, Chakravarthy Ashoka and Mahabali Hanuman, among others. In conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Neelakanthan talks about the importance of perspective in storytelling.  This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March.

Shunali Khullar Shroff is a Mumbai-based writer and author of the bestselling books Battle Hymn of a Bewildered Mother and Love in the time of Affluenza. She writes for a host of print and digital publications on modern Indian life, culture, travel and feminism, including Elle, Condé Nast Traveller, HT Brunch, Mint Lounge and Vogue, among others. In conversation with Sarthak Kaushik, Shroff opens up about being a mother, the challenges of resuming her career and most importantly, finding humour. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March.

Pragya Tiwari is a journalist who has written extensively on politics, identity, policy, and culture and has edited several publications, including Tehelka, The Big Indian Picture, and Vice. She currently works as a policy and culture consultant and is also the Creative Director of Oijo Media and co-founder of the Indian History Collective. In conversation with Sarthak Kaushik, Tiwari talks about journalism and the importance of research and reportage. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March. 

 Swati Chaturvedi is an Indian print and broadcast journalist, reporter, columnist and panellist for various newspapers and channels like NDTV, Gulf News and Haaretz. In a sensational conversation with music programmer and broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Chaturvedi talks about the future of journalism in India, ethics of reporting and the role of social media in the current political milieu. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March. 

Kutle Khan is a formidable multi-instrumentalist who has mastered more than 9 percussion instruments, and moves between genres with utmost ease. Founder of the Kutle Khan Project, he also has some well known TV shows to his credit, including the Dewarists, MTV Unplugged and Coke Studio India. In conversation with music programmer and veteran broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Kutle Khan talks about the raw and earthy flavour of Rajasthani folk music and mesmerizes the audience with his music. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March. 

Hailed as “the new king of Indian Classical violin”, Ambi Subramaniam is a violinist, composer, and educator trained by his father and guru, Dr L Subramaniam. In conversation with music programmer and veteran broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Subramaniam traces his career trajectory and emphasises on finding one’s voice that can strike a balance between traditions and trends without losing meaning. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March. 

Shashi Tharoor, a third-term Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, is the bestselling author of twenty-three books, both fiction and non-fiction. In a stimulating conversation with music programmer and veteran broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik, Tharoor talks about the importance of right words at the wrong time, the construction of opposites, diversity and his stance on the politics of the ruling party. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March. 

India’s leading film composer and singer, Sheykhar Ravjiani, in conversation with music programmer and veteran broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik talks about his journey as a musician, bumps along the road, and his equation with his partner Vishal Dadlani. Shekhar has been a widely loved personality on television as a reality show judge and mentor for over 12 shows such as ‘Saregamapa’, ‘Indian Idol’, ‘Dil hai Hindustani’, and 'The Voice' India. Having mentored over 300 contestants across 15 music reality shows, Shekhar has recently extended his passion for nurturing young talent by launching the GIIS-Shekhar Ravjiani School Of Music. This episode was recorded at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 in March.