There is no past, as long as books shall live. Books make the past our heritage and our home. - Edward Bulwer Lytton. The saying holds true as Aditya Shastri, CEO-Corporate, UFO moviez Ltd., tells Nidhi Jain.

----Who introduced you to reading?
My eldest brother, Dr Satyendra Shastri, introduced me to reading. During my growing up years, he introduced me to almost everything that I know now. He used to read a lot and that's how I was introduced to reading.

---Kind of book collection you have
The first ever book collection I had was the children's encyclopedia which all my three brothers read while growing up .My father had a book library at Mahim which did not run well because it had all the classics and non fiction. That is what I buy, a lot of non fiction.

---On your favorite authors and well written books

Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything is one of the best books I have read last year. I also liked Hitler's General. I don't really go by the pedigree of the author but rather by the quality of the book. The finest books that I have read are The World is Flat, Undercover Economist and Freakonomics are some of the books I really liked.

I find something interesting in every book. Sometimes when my wife gets a fiction book at home, I read it. I know people like the thrill, romance in such books but what I look for is an idea that strikes me - somewhere. This thought actually drives me to buy a particular book. If I go out shopping, I would buy more books than anything else.

---What do you think of self help books?
I think they help well. I have a collection of Osho books. As long as something lets you do better. The Power of Now was a good book and it helped. Self help books are helpful only if we are willing to help our self. They can show us the path but we have to travel through it.

---Money and time you spend on books
I spend most of my traveling time with a book. I travel twice a week and all my journeys are accompanied by a book. I don't read while I am in a car though. My most frequent purchases have to be books. In terms of cost though it is low because books are not very expensive.

---Your reading pace
I read very quickly. I can finish an interesting book in two or three days.

---Your first book
I think it was Hardy Boys.

---Currently you are reading
The End of Cinema As We Know It: American Film in the Nineties by Jon Lewis.

---Books that do not hold you
I don't think I have come across any book that does not hold me. I may not go through the book from start to end. I do refer back to a few books often and there are a few books which I read again and again.

When seeking out the value of a poster, it is important first of all to determine its actual authenticity and whether the release date makes it an original or re-release item. Paper size, texture and copyright info usually determine age of most film posters. Many of the earlier vintage posters produced before 1940 had studio logos and copyrights but were often not dated.

Several aspects of these posters make it easy to identify them as reproductions

First, their size - 24" x 36" - a size not produced by any movie studio for display in theaters. The standard "one sheet" size movie poster was always 27" x 41". Second, at the bottom of the poster was clearly printed "copyright Portal Publications". Re-release or reissue posters are still "original" theater used movie posters, but have considerably lesser value than a first release poster. Most often a reissue can be determined by looking at the bottom of poster in the right hand corner. There will usually be an "R" in front of a year number - as in "R56" - if it is a reissue. Other clues are phrases such as "An Encore Hit", "Brought Back by Popular Demand" or "Nothing Cut But the Prices".

Poster Value
For movie posters, value is determined by a combination of factors, the most important being the title of the film. The most desirable posters are those from the most universally loved films such as Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, or It's a Wonderful Life. The second deciding factor in desirability are the graphics on the poster. Often the title to a film poster might not be of importance but the graphics can be gorgeous. The poster might be illustrated with beautiful art-deco graphics or depending on the artist, of which many well-known illustrators of the first half of the twentieth century worked on posters, it could make the poster valuable. Finally the Condition is of great importance.The top horror and science fiction film titles have always generated the highest prices and continue to do so. Other genres and stars that receive high value include Film Noir, the Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Douglas Fairbanks, early Walt Disney cartoons and other classic animation, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Determine Value of Poster

As with any collectible, prices for movie posters fluctuate wildly.

Movie Poster Grading

Mint
A never used poster. May show minor signs of age and wear at folds due to storage. No holes, no tears.
Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.
Fine
A poster with bright colors, clean, with general signs of use. May have minor tears at folds with minor paper loss, may have fine pin holes. May have restoration.
Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.
Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.
Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/ or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.

It's very interesting to take time out of something which is close to one's heart. Book reading is common with any person who has achieved a mark. Nidhi Jain met up with Ashish kaul, sr. vice president, corporate brand development, Essel Corporate Resources Limited, and got to know his likes and dislikes when it comes to books.

Kind of Book Collection you have:
Not much of a collection as I don't believe in gathering books and knowledge. Usually I pass them on for others to know and learn

Taste in Books:
The book has to be rare and genuine in thought process and most importantly, relevant to me. I will not read a book just because someone big has written it or it has become a rage. Popularity of the writer is of no significance to me.

On favorite authors and well written books:
"My God Died Young" is an autobiography worth dying for! The sincerity and honesty of Sasthi Brata is amazing. It is very rare that you read an autobiography and feel connected with each and every word and incident. Irving Wallace is another magician that I am deeply impressed with. You can "see" the story unfold in front of your eyes.

Do you find interesting things in every book? How do you choose books you read?
It takes great effort in choosing a book and often its is after serious discussions with friends who have read them before. I am not adventurous when it comes to choosing books.

What do you think of self help books?
I think it is the biggest literary racket of our times. It is a big disappointment to see people reaching out to such books. It only indicates that people are losing belief in their own abilities in an era of creative famine.

Money and time you spend on books
Hardly any.

Your reading pace
Amazingly fast.

Your first book
My God Died Young.

Browsing and e-reading
Only when required.

Currently you are reading
The Almighty (for the third time).

Books that do not hold you
Academic.

Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer (for Indian Idol-1&2/Fame Gurukul/Style on Star world/Milan Fashion Week on Star world/Ad world on BBC world) Director (MTV Hero Honda Roadies Season 1) at Miditech has been in companionship of books from the beginning but it nurtured during his college days at St.Stephens in Delhi where he was doing his BA Hons and onwards? in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

--Who introduced you to reading?
My father. I remember him reading through loads and loads of books when I was a kid.

--Kind of book collection you have
Have all sorts of books, from big picture books to current favorites. Have a lot of books from my grandfather's collection. He used to invest a lot in books and was always up to date on his reading. I have a lot of books on history, as I did my BA (Hons) in history; wish we had some of them in college though!! I also have a little book in which I keep a record of the books I have read!!! :-)

--On favorite authors and well written books
"RK Narayan" is my all time favorite author, have read all his books.
Another well written book is "The World is flat" by Thomas L. Friedman.

--Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read
Always look out for interesting stuff and underline it if I ever want to refer to it. Choose books by browsing in book shops, especially the Oxford Book Store in Mumbai and also airports. Also, read everything recommended by my elder brother, Niret.

--What do you think of self help books?
Not much. Somehow they all seem too complicated and take life too seriously and almost always convince you in the first chapter that "You're a loser, now read on".

--Money and time you spend on books
No problems on spending money on books, if they need to be read and are worth it. Always have the book I am reading in my bag, wherever I am.

--Your reading pace
Depends on how busy work gets. Sometimes I manage to finish very fast but sometimes a book drags on for a couple of months too!!

--Your first book
"The Children's Bible".

--Browsing and e-reading
Just news websites. An E-reading book somehow does not do it for me.

--Currently you are reading
"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle.

--Books that do not hold you
Usual American Fiction Stuff.

Experimenting is the motivation, like food to the creative brain, one cannot get it in one sitting, it needs continual and regular 'top up's. A live example is first time author of 'That thing called love'. Tuhin A Sinha has always had a flair for writing (it provided him a stepping stone into the entertainment world). He was fascinated by people of television and concepts always drew his attention. Extremely excited about his new book, Tuhin says he has more things up his sleeve, in a conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

What made you write this book

Being a writer it was a logical extension, and also there is a sense of possessiveness and exclusivity that a novel gives me.

Book and Character

The publishers (Shrishti publication) wrapped up the making in two months, as they liked the subject, which is on relationships, a universal theme. Being a scriptwriter my characters reflected the spirit of Mumbai, and how it keeps bouncing back, its ethos, etc., the entire conceptualization made its marketing little easier. The characters in the book are those we can all relate to - one is cheating on his wife for no reason, there's a male chauvinist waiting for an emotional shed, an idealistic guy, a gay; and many more are the faces to my story.

Crux of the book
How the morality paradigm has changed in Indian society.

Cover page

After securing permission from a German photographer, this picture was taken which highlights the darkness of the monsoon and depicts a sense of loss.

Next on Agenda
The marketing of the book has taken a toll. What do I want to do next? Playing cricket for India would be great.

Book that captured attention
Tuhin is an erratic reader; sometimes he read a lot, sometimes nothing. But among his few favourites are Sidney Sheldon novels, Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Among the Indian authors there are Rupa Bajwa's A Sari Shop, Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone, The Insider by the late Narasimha Rao, Jaswant's Singh's Call to Honor, Anurag Mathur's Making the Minister Smile.

What's next
Maybe a story on cricket, with a difference; expect it to come soon to keep the momentum going.

Tuhin's book 'That Thing Called Love' reviewed by Jairaj Padmanabhan, Regional director, Optimum Media Solutions,"That thing called love' is about 'those complexities and confusions in the matters of heart'. Set at a good pace, debutant novelist and scriptwriter Tuhin. A Sinha weaves a contemporary story of a bunch of well-etched out characters' exploring expectations, disillusionments and fragility in relationships. Pranav, as a character particularly stands out. The book captures interesting moments in the backdrop of that chaos called Mumbai.Not surprisingly, sex does make its entry. However, it could have been much better dealt with by Tuhin".

You would think a loner child is a negative sign in the growing years but in the case of Ravi Kiran, CEO, South Asia, Starcom Mediavest Group, it helped him come close to books and develop an immense love for them. Kiran managed to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk to Correspondent Nidhi Jain about books, books and more books?

Can John Grisham make you so pensive?

Who introduced you to reading?
I guess my dad. Or perhaps my elder brother. Don't really remember. Our home was full of books and you just couldn't have avoided them, unless you had a strong ability of pretension.

Kind of book collection you have
I started buying my own books when I was in junior school. Some of the early ones were Marxist theories sold on the street really cheap, published by Mir Publications in Moscow. I later learnt that most of them were subsidized by the USSR government to propagate Soviet beliefs. I also bought a lot of books when I went to engineering college in Kashmir. I spent almost 80 per cent of my pocket money on books then - classic literature by Aldous Huxley, Charlotte Bronte, books on behavioral sciences, philosophy, and satire. Since it took me a couple of years to get a room with a book rack, my room used to have books everywhere, and some of my room mates used to make a mockery of that.

Taste in books
I like most kinds. My choice at a point depends on my mood. I like philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, marketing, organizational behaviour, human relations, technology, thrillers, war stories, human history. I haven't developed a taste for stuff like culture, geography etc. I have read a few books on science fiction, but not of late. In general, I do not like 'how to' books.

Browsing in the FMS Library - Delhi

On favourite authors and well written books
Dr Eric Berne, Jiddu Krishnamurthy, Jean-Paul Sartre, Aldous Huxley, Antoine de Saint Exup?ry, Seth Godin, Alvin Toffler, Malcom Gladwell, Harry Beckwith, Tom Friedman, Amartya Sen, Sumantra Ghosal, Edward de Bono, John Grisham, Jeffery Archer, Alistair McLean, Robert Ludlum. I have been lucky to have read very few poorly written books. I like The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exup?ry, Being and Nothingness by Sartre and The Mirror Makers by Stephen Fox, Heart at Work by Jack Canfield and Jacqueline Miller, Purple Cow by Seth Godin, First Break All Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, What do you say after you say Hello by Dr. Eric Berne, The Mechanism of Mind by de Bono, The Mind's I by Douglas Hoffstader, The Textures of Silence by Gordon Vorster, Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. These are some of the books that have had a life and behaviour changing effect on me.

Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read?
Before the internet, I used to decide by reading back-of-the-book. I am also sure many of my friends have had an influence on my choice of books. Now I browse for books online and often spend time in bookstores browsing. I am not a speed reader; my reading speed is really low. I go through every word, every page, and some times I read the same page or section many times over. There are books I have been reading for years. There are books I have read several times. Every time I read a book, I get new meanings. I guess the meaning has something to do with what I am doing at that point in time or what I am going through in my life.

The early student collection - Kashmir

What do you think of self help books?
I don't particularly fancy them now, although when I was in college, I liked a few of them. I guess it all depends on how sure you are of yourself and who has written a self help book. Most of them are too preachy.

Money and time you spend on books
The time I spend on books has come down a lot in recent times, since life's so hectic. But of late, I have been listening to audio books or reading them off my Palm Treo handheld, when I am traveling. It's not as enjoyable as a book in your hand, but it's convenient.

Your reading pace
As I said before, very slow. I take three times as much time to read a book as my wife does. One reason behind that is my mind's temptation to drift away on a tangential thought chain. I have never felt the pressure to finish a book.

Your first book
Not sure, but I think it must have been a story from the Panch Tantra.

Browsing and e-reading
A lot of late. On my PC screen, on my hand held and through the audible software. I also browse the net at least 2-3 hours every day and love reading stuff on my feed reader.

Currently you are reading
I think about eight books simultaneously. Here are the ones I remember: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared M. Diamond, The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, The World is Flat by Tom Friedman, A Prison Diary by Jeffrey Archer, The Argumentative Indian by Dr Amartya Sen.

Books that do not hold you
Cannot remember.