Bunny Reuben

An Interview with Bunny Reuben

Extract from the Savage Trio by Bunny Reuben

A veteran of the Indian movie industry –

FOLLYWOOD - as he calls it- Bunny Reuben has been in film journalism for over 25 years. He started his career with Sunday Standard as its film critic (1950-54), then moved on to Filmfare as chief reporter (1955-60). He was closely associated with Star & Style for over a decade and was the founder-editor of Cine Blitz (1975/76).

He had a close relationship with Raj Kapoor. Shortly after the death of the showman Bunny Reuben wrote and published Raj Kapoor's biography-The Fabulous Showman. He also authoured Mehboob: India’s Demille. Both the books are meticulously researched, profusely illustrated and are considered a must read for students of cinema.

As a result of his long relationship with the film world he is known more as a filmwallah despite having written short stories, which have been published in prestigious journals like the Transatlantic Review, The Antioch Review and The New World Writing. Apart from these he has a novel: You, I and Her and a collection of short stories Monkeys on the Hill of God to his credit as well.

A powerful storyteller, Bunny Reuben uses punctuation to evoke atmosphere and experiments with words to convey a visual image.

Known to the world at large as a jovial, hail fellow, an extrovert and an ardent film wallah Bunny Reuben is actually a very private person, an unusual personality. From a very early age, he has written, painted and has finally surrendered himself to a lifelong passion for cinema.

Mumbaibest, brings you Bunny Reuben.....

Mumbaibest: Could you give us a brief backgrounder about yourself?

Bunny Reuben: I was born in the pre-independent years. As a student I loved books and magazines and preferred to spend time in a bookstore rather than a toy shop. I was extremely influenced by Perseus, Jason and Theseus, the three giants of Greek Mythology. I was simply enchanted by cinema, as a medium, a way of telling a story. I also loved to paint and was strongly influenced by Paul Gaugin, the French post Impressionist painter. I lost a year in college as I chucked everything and went to my grandmother’s farm in Avas Village to paint. At that stage my strongest inclination was towards becoming a painter.

Even today when I write I use a lot of visuals and visual techniques in writing.

Mumbaibest: How did you start writing?

Bunny Reuben: I used to write short stories and articles on films.

Mumbaibest: What was the first thing you ever wrote?

Bunny Reuben: A short story called The Moving Finger. It was published in 1945, in the Bombay Chronicle. I also wrote articles on the nature of cinema and people important to the growth of cinema.

Mumbaibest: How did your books come about?

Bunny Reuben: I was encouraged by C R Mardy, the editor of Illustrated Weekly of India who promoted my work and published a number of my stories in the weekly and by the editor(I do not remember his name) of Thought India, a weekly from Delhi. I was encouraged me to compile my work and publish them in a book form. My books on Raj Kapoor and Mehboob Khan were a result of my years in journalism and my close association with them.

Mumbaibest: What meaning do your books have for you?

Bunny Reuben: My books are very much a part of me.

Mumbaibest: Could you quote something from your book that is very close to your heart and tell us why does it have so much meaning for you

Bunny Reuben: I can’t think of anything offhand but the story In the Mango Season from my book Monkeys on the Hill of God is very close to my heart.

Mumbaibest: Can we expect some more books from you in the near future?

Bunny Reuben: I have two more books coming up. I find myself being drawn towards social issues, social imbalances. My books are now focused on people who suffer, the real people, the ugly reality. I find myself inspired by a quote by Taslima Nasreen, where she says, "Writing is not only to please (readers) but to arouse anger (as well)."

Mumbaibest: What is your advise to upcoming authors who are looking at publishing their own expressions of creativity?

Bunny Reuben: Have conviction. Believe in yourself. Don’t plan to be a writer one day. Be a writer now. For that, you have to begin writing now, atleast 10 pages of work everyday, never mind if you scrap everything later.

By: Faridoon Shahryar