A biography of a cricketer is an unusual choice for a poet. Why Muthiah Muralitharan?
Why not? I met Murali in Sri Lanka at a time when I was going through a renaissance in my love for cricket. I had originally planned to do an interview with him about the obstacles he has faced as a cricketer -- and about racism in the cricketing world -- but then realised the subject was too big for me to handle.
He impressed me so much: He is genuine, down to earth, funny, incredibly resilient, and an amazing sportsman. I asked him to keep me in mind if he were ever to do a book, and he did. My involvement has been with researching his early years, and I think the experience has been a one-off thing.
I am not going to go around doing other cricketer biographies. But, as a writer, I relish getting immersed into entirely different worlds -- and cricket (especially in the subcontinent) is way out there on another level.
The maiden who bowled Murali over
What are the concerns you often choose to address when you are compelled to write poetry?
I don't think you ever set out to address certain things as a poet. Certain themes just obsess you. For me, in this first collection, the emphasis has been very much on the body -- how it is a source of great joy and great disappointment. The body as an area of geography, politics, sexuality betrayal, illness, renewal. This has come out of being a dancer for five years, and I think also that, as a first collection, the voice is very raw and very much to do with how the self relates to the external world.
The new collection I am working on is very different: the poems are much quieter, almost spiritual -- to do with connections and bridges, beginnings and endings.
Image: Tishani (right) at Muthiah Muralitharan's wedding. Left: Murali's mentor, former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga
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