Balaji Vittal
I love to write, read and watch movies whenever I can find time. I enjoy speaking in public forums whenever given an opportunity.
ABOUT ME
I am a 2nd generation Calcuttan (Kolkata was known as Calcutta back then) with my roots to the city dating back to the mid-1950s which was when my father migrated to the city, just like many other south Indian boys did. In my early years Calcutta organically exposed me to music, sports, theatre, debates, and literature. But save for a fleeting spark with the Hawaiian guitar, I was unable to pick up any of these skills.
” I love to write, read and watch movies whenever I can find time. I enjoy speaking in public forums whenever given an opportunity”
Author & Columnist
TEDX Speaker
Bollywood Commentator
Banker
Author & Columnist
TEDX Speaker
Bollywood Commentator
Banker
ABOUT BALAJI
Balaji's latest book Pure Evil - The Bad Men of Bollywood is a walk through the rogues gallery of the dark characters of Bollywood of the last ninety years. His first book "RD Burman: The Man, The Music" won the President's Gold Medal at the National Film Awards 2012. His second book "Gaata Rahe Mera Dil - 50 Classic Hindi Film Songs" won the MAMI Award for the Best Book on Cinema in 2015. His third book was the highly acclaimed "SD Burman: The Prince-Musician". Balaji is a columnist for leading newspapers, a Bollywood commentator and a public speaker at prestigious forums including Literary festivals.
How did the change from Banker to Bollywood happen?
BOOK STORE
Read My Books
“This book is next to my heart … it’s a fascinating book”
Shekar Gupta
– The Print
“A lot of effort by author to illuminate information & assessments of Hindi film music.”
– Scroll.in
“In ‘S.D. Burman: The Prince-Musician’, the authors painstakingly trace and illuminate the musical origins and roots of his major songs over the decades of his work.”
– TheWire.in
“The book speaks in a lucid style. Certainly worth a read”
– Indian Express
Pure Evil is among the most discussed books on Hindi cinema this year
Avijit Ghosh
It is impossible to replicate the talent, energy and dedication
to craft that was RD Burman, but this book comes close
Vidhu Vinod Chopra
I totally enjoyed Pure Evil. Be warned, though, it is a ticket to a den of vice!
Sriram Raghavan
…. (RD’s) trove of songs that refuse to age. And now, this book
