By Passang Dolma Baraili
Dehradun, 1 Dec: The fourth session of the second edition of the Crime Literature Festival of India, held on the last day of the event, delved into the topic, ‘Crime Fiction vs True Crime: Is the Tide Turning?’. The panel featured authors Kiran Manral, Richa S Mukherjee, and Ruby Gupta, with Pooja Marwah moderating the engaging discussion.
The session explored the evolving genre of crime literature, focusing on how authors draw inspiration from real-life incidents while weaving fictional narratives. The panelists emphasised the importance of addressing the complex nature of crime through literature, aiming to shed light on its psychological depth and societal implications, rather than simply portraying it as a grim reality.
Richa S Mukherjee shared her journey from Journalism to Crime Fiction, highlighting how her journalistic background has shaped her writing. The discussion also touched upon Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), which was inspired by a real-life murder in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, a pivotal moment that led Ruby Gupta to explore the mystery and crime genre.
Kiran Manral spoke about her versatility in writing, incorporating humour into crime and psychological thrillers. She emphasised her focus on writing about women at different stages of life, offering diverse character portrayals. Manral’s creative experiments with narrative styles have earned her a unique place in the crime fiction world.
The session concluded with a thought-provoking discussion on how crime literature continues to evolve, blending fiction and real-life events to engage readers with the complexities of human nature and crime.
(Passang Dolma Baraili is a 2nd year student of Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass communication, Graphic Era Hill University)
