http://www.westsideplus.com/fullStory.asp?...RT0016200711203



FROM MARIJUANA MAHARAJA TO STIRRING SHANTARAM


Kunaal Majgaonkar, Powai


Getting an introduction right is a daunting task for even the most celebrated of writers from the fourth estate. What doubles the dilemma is when you have some one who took LSD for breakfast, farmed marijuana, was a conman to the core, a revolutionary of sorts, duplicated every document under the sun and hobnobbed with the mujhaideen. The individual in question has also spent ten years in jail, been a part of the Mumbai mafia, but has now traded the aforementioned for a pen.

They say the greatest problems have the simplest of solutions and so introducing Gregory David Roberts as just Shantaram ends the debate. In a tête-à-tête with a more than packed auditorium at IIT Powai’s annual jamboree, Mood Indigo, the pony-tailed Australian was a treat to the ear when he spoke on a plethora of issues, anecdotes and of course, answered queries on the book that has been changing lives, Shantaram.

Talking of the ordeal he went through right from the age of 16, which is traced through the book, Roberts had the audience dumb struck after they heard the tale of survival from the horses mouth. “At the Arthur Road jail, I was beaten for 16 hours a day. I was tied, face down and at times, I thought that I would drown in my own blood,” recounted Roberts.

Writing the book was trial by fire and narrating an incident, Roberts says, “I was in prison, back home, when I was halfway through penning the book. The next thing, I know, is that the officer-in-charge reduces my work to pieces, and thinks it fit to be flushed down the toilet. I went up to him, and told him that I felt sorry for him. And that he did what he did, because some one did something bad to him. I forgave him and walked out.”

Years later, at the launch of Shantaram, in a packed conference hall, I noticed a man peeping through the crowd at me constantly. He came up to me later, and stood at a distance, with a copy of the book in his hands. I recognized him to be the same Officer, who destroyed my initial copy. One big hug and a signed copy later, everything was fine,” he smiles.

The unanimous question that everybody had was how on earth he managed to survive this acid test. “The reason, why I am here today, is because I learned to forgive myself. When I was with the mafia in Mumbai, one wise guy told me that there are always two doors that you pass through. One is the door of regret and the other, forgiveness. I regret everything I have done. I have been naïve, stupid and am ashamed of myself, but I learned to forgive myself and that has given me strength. Besides, my mother’s love was a painkiller,” he says.

Today, things have taken a complete U-turn, and Roberts cannot remember, the last time he sipped alcohol or did drugs. Lives have been transformed reading this bestseller, and people cannot have enough of Shantaram. Shantaram, the movie, starring Johnny Depp is on the cards soon and Roberts cannot wait for it to breathe life.

Talking about the project, Roberts says, “When I was selling the rights for a movie, there were Russel Crowe, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Johnny Depp. I decided to go with Depp, even if his was the lowest bid because it was he who spoke about the India he knew, his Indian friends, Indian places and how much he loved paneer paratha. The others could have well been planning to film on Mars, that’s how much they spoke about India!”

You did not have to possess the IQ of an IITian to understand ‘Shantaram’. His talk was as simple, as the life he led in the slums of his beloved “aamchi Mumbai”.

Here's a little more , supposedly from GDR about how Johnny got the role.

Hindustan Times, Mumbai, May 23, 2007
Article: Shantaram Reloaded

Excerpt:

Johnny Depp is the only American actor who’s clued into India –
from its cuisines and writers to
Satyajit Ray and Mani Ratnam.

From here:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/St...m%2fEM+reloaded

Very cool!! Thanks, Depputante!! The bit about the Officer who flushed GDR's manuscript down the toilet reminded me of a customer who came into the book store where I work and saw a copy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.... She said she had worked with Ken Kesey and actually gotten him fired from his job. I asked her where that was and she said "a mental hospital"; I asked her why she fired him and she said, "because he didn't do any work, he just wrote all day." :P Six degrees of separation!
I would LUV to hear GDR speak sometime. I bet he is absolutely mesmerizing! There's no question he's got great instincts ~ choosing Johnny to bring his book to life is proof of that. And how savvy of Johnny to play up his own regard for India and not use the Hollywood/money angle. Two great beings collide! I can't wait for the outcome of their collaboration, yaar!
:snoopy

There is an old interview with him up on youtube and he *is* totally mesmerizing :)
part one: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wGL5eTU5DXA
part two: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh4GD4YLbNw
part three: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QWjnkxDW0cU
part four: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YjcNOzh3J1g
part five: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QBJ7eMWSXfE

Thanks for all the news :) I'm totally drinking it all up!

Thanks y'all!!

Me either!!!

Thank you for posting those youtube interviews of Greg's rozoweskarpetki. These are great!! I've only had time now to watch the first 2... I would love to hear him speak in person too!!

Thanks for all the new goodies everyone!

~ Mary Kay

paneer parantha recipe

make your own paneer

I'd love to have the opportunity to hear him speak in person too! How funny was the story about the passport, I think it's in the Youtube #4.
This man just captures your attention and keeps it whether he's writing or speaking! He's very charismatic and I just love to hear him speak using an Indian accent.
AND I'm so glad he chose Johnny! woohoo
:thanks all for the articles and videos!

What a beautiful voice he has, a totally true and open person. His accent is not what I thought Austrialians sound like. The person reading "Shantaram" on the cd has, what I thought, an Austrialian accent. I am sure Johnny will have no problem becoming Linbaba.

Well, I visited my favorite Indian Vegetarin buffet restaurant today, took a look through the menu and VOILA! I had some JOHNNY FOOD! :)

Imagine an Indian version of a grilled cheese sandwich! ;)
It was in the bread section of the menu.
Imagine chickpeas ground, and fried in oil. then add some dry cottage cheese, a bit of cumin, parsley, and red pepper, and a little pinch of cilantro. Kind of like that. Not very spicy at all. Of course this could differ depending on the restaurant. Looks like flat bread, with cottage cheese and the spice inside. It tastes quite 'rustic' as if made over a campfire. I guess that part is from the type of flour.
The a little bit of quite salty vegetable based (Chutney?) came with it.

I don't know how I missd these---thanks for posting the links! :D

This was a wonderful find! Thank you.
Joanie

Thanks for the links!! I can't wait!!