The second day of the Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest was bustling with bibliophiles and performing arts connoisseurs. The 15th edition of the festival had a vibrant line-up of artists, honouring and acknowledging their craft.in One such artist was the multifaceted singer, playwright, and actress Ila Arun, who unveiled her autobiography ‘Parde Ke Peechhey’ at Mumbai LitFest Lit. During the special event she chatted with Vidya Balan, Anjula Bedi and Gaurav Sharma and mesmerised everyone with her voice and excerpts from her book.
During the ‘Celebrating Women: The Shashi Baliga Memorial Session: My Medley,’ chaired by RJ and entertainer Gaurav Sharma, Ila Arun unveiled her new book, Parde Ke Peechhey, an autobiography co-written with Anjula Bedi. The book was launched with Ila Arun’s brother and India’s prominent adman Piyush Pandey, Anjula Bedi, actor Vidya Balan and Milee Aishwarya from Penguin Random House India.
The conversation during the book launch was humourous, candid and raw, highlighting Ila Arun’s life as a Rajasthani folk music artist to a theatre performer and one of the most revered singers in India. Gaurav Sharma also read a section dedicated to Vidya Balan from the book, that mentioned how Ila was impressed with Vidya, and how she was the right actress for a biopic of Meenakumari. Anjula Bedi then narrated a section about Ila’s birth date and how her mother wouldn’t remember it until much later.
Vidya Balan and Ila Arun relayed anecdotes of their days on film sets, the pranks they played, how Ila spontaneously performed live with Baol singers, and how she improvised certain songs. The session was further transported by music and dance. Ila Arun performed the traditional Rajasthani folk song, Charkha, where even Vidya Balan joined her onstage. She also rendered a dramatic performance of Gandhari from the Mahabharata, where she expresses grief over the death of her sons and curses Krishna.
While talking about the autobiography, Ila Arun said, “Everybody knows Choli Ke Peechhey. But nobody knows what is parde ke peechhey or how people actually are parde ke peechhey. The readers will have to come behind the curtains to truly know me, and the people who have moulded my life and nurtured it.”
She further said, “This autobiography was narrated by me and written by Anjula Bedi. I spoke in Hindi and Anjula recorded and translated it in English. I want to thank Vidya as well, who immediately agreed to be present here, despite her busy schedule.”
Vidya Balan said, “You can pick up and read the book anyway and from anywhere. I have known and worked with Ila ji for so many years, and she is magic! While reading her autobiography, I realised that I am still getting to know various layers to Ila Arun.”
She further added, “She’s a treasure trove of knowledge and experience. I was thrilled when she asked me to be with her during her book launch at the event. Her energy is childlike and I want to congratulate her for everything.”
The session ended with Ila Arun’s daughter Ishitta Arun dedicating a performance on Resham Ka Rumal, and a surprise dance performance by some of her superfans (who dressed in Ila’s style) dancing onstage with Ila Arun and Vidya Balan.
