CHENNAI: When it comes to adversities in life, how does one cope with situations and rise above them like a phoenix? Simple. Ask Anu. At the launch of Anu Hasan’s Sunny Side Up at Starmark recently, it is revealed that the book is a candid reflection of her thoughts, her experiences and her perspective of life which makes her look at even the grey side, with a smile.
Books on life and self-help have caught the attention of millions, with writers such as Paulo Coelho, Robin Sharma, really having left an imprint. While a section of such books aim to empower readers with the power of volition and the ability to design one’s own life, there is always the delicate balance between trying not to be preachy, while at the same time not being detached from the reader. “It is put together in a very light hearted way, without losing importance for the message I have learnt along the way,” the debutant author told us at the event. She went on, “I have shared my experiences and I wonder whether people have had similar experiences too. Does it resonate within you?”
She agrees that she is no philosopher, there are blemishes even in her happy frame of life. Through the book, she tries to take a minute to laugh at the things that have happened, rather than keep brooding over them. It is her experience with idiosyncrasies, which have given a different hue to the book. She added later, “I have problems just like anyone else has, I have failures. However, I am genetically programmed in such way that I look at the positive things. Somehow, they seem bigger and more important to me. “
Though this is her first book, writing has never been alien for her. In fact, Anu has been writing ever since she was eight. “I fancy myself as a poet. I have written 256 poems,” she revealed to her audience. And this is apart from her contributions to various magazines and other publications.
When asked to point out parts in the book which she enjoyed writing, it seemed difficult to choose one. She was quick to say that she loved ‘family, friends, dogs and cats.’ Anu has donned many roles so far, from being an actor and anchor to an entrepreneur. She tells us, “When you look at it, it sounds like I am transitioning, but really, I just do whatever comes my way.”
She adds,”The book was written over a period of eight years in the making — five years dreaming about it and one-and-a-half years of actually working on it.” Ask her what being a writer means to her, and she responds,”Writing the book was a fantastic experience. It is actually my soul in there.”
Anu is proud as she tells us that her BBC series is being telecast and two of her films are waiting for release. She winds up saying, “I am very receptive about whatever feedback I get. They say ‘you are three things: What you think you are, what other people think you are and what you really are’.”