Ashes of Desire: A Film story -by Saif Hyder Hasan

This unconventional story travels from the studios of Bombay to the cafes of Paris and the vineyards of Bordeaux, where cinema, art and memory converge. At its heart is Devdutt Bose, an idealistic filmmaker whose passion for his craft leaves an indelible mark on two women Bhavna, a celebrated singer actress whose extraordinary voice and fierce intelligence shape his artistic vision, and Claire, a young Frenchwoman whose chance encounter with him in Paris alters the course of her life.

Around them unfolds the vibrant world of filmmakers, actors, writers and musicians, where every act of creation demands its own sacrifice. Real figures from the history of cinema merge with fiction, while everyday objects a violin, a wine glass, mirrors and forgotten rooms quietly preserve the echoes of lives once lived.

In this book talk, Saif Hyder Hasan, theatre director, playwright and novelist, will explore the novels themes of cinema, love, memory, artistic ambition and the enduring power of creation.