Anand Neelakantan
Anand Neelakantan: The Pen that Built Baahubali's World Before the Battle Began
Anand Neelakantan brings mythology alive with his captivating storytelling and fresh perspectives
Ananya Verma
Fashion IndustryRecent events for Anand Neelakantan
wayanad
english, hindi, malyalam
10+ years
About Anand Neelakantan
Anand Neelakantan is a bestselling Indian writer, screenwriter, columnist, and orator who rewrote mythological narrative by focusing on the underdog, or in his instance, the "villain." An engineer by background from Thrippunithura, Kerala, he initially created a splash with Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012), rewriting the Ramayana from Ravana's perspective. The book sold more than a million copies and was included in Amazon India's "100 books to read in a lifetime."
He then wrote the Ajaya duology (Roll of the Dice in 2013 and Rise of Kali in 2015), a new adaptation of the Mahabharata from the perspective of the Kauravas. Next, he wrote the official prequel trilogy to Baahubali, beginning with The Rise of Sivagami, that topped bestseller lists and received critical success. Anand's books have been translated into more than nine languages and three have been shortlisted for the Crossword Book Award.
Most recently, Anand has widened his literary horizon with outstanding range. His recent publication, "Many Ramayanas Many Lessons" (January 2025), delves into the transformation and varied meanings of the Ramayana through the ages and across cultures. Earlier this year, 2024, he explored non-fiction with "The Asura Way: The Contrarian Path to Success" and children's writing with "The Tale of a Naughty Prank: A Puffin Chapter Book." His children's book "Mahi-the elephant who flew over the blue mountains" was shortlisted for the 2024 Crossword Popular Children's Book Award, which proves he can engage younger readers while still delivering his trademark storytelling depth.
The movie industry has also caught up; KR Movies and DAR Films have bought the movie rights to his book "Vanara: The Legend of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara," planning to make a multilingual film that will introduce his contrarian approach to mythology on the big screen. Outside fiction, he has also authored highly praised screenplays, like Siya Ke Ram, Mahabali Hanuman, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, Sarfarosh, Swaraj, and TAJ: Divided by Blood. From 2017 onwards, he has also written the fortnightly "Acute Angle" column for The New Indian Express. Now, he resides in Mumbai with his family and keeps reinventing well-known epics on their head.
He is a regular speaker at top literature festivals in India and around the world, such as Paris, Abu Dhabi, and other international spaces. His voice, which is anchored in mythology and contemporary connection, is heard worldwide. He has also conducted sessions on Creative Writing as guest faculty in top organizations such as IIM Indore and HDFC Ltd.'s in-house leadership development programmes, enabling professionals and students alike to grasp the power of narrative and creative construction.
Anand Neelakantan is a bestselling Indian writer, screenwriter, columnist, and orator who rewrote mythological narrative by focusing on the underdog, or in his instance, the "villain." An engineer by background from Thrippunithura, Kerala, he initially created a splash with Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012), rewriting the Ramayana from Ravana's perspective. The book sold more than a million copies and was included in Amazon India's "100 books to read in a lifetime."
He then wrote the Ajaya duology (Roll of the Dice in 2013 and Rise of Kali in 2015), a new adaptation of the Mahabharata from the perspective of the Kauravas. Next, he wrote the official prequel trilogy to Baahubali, beginning with The Rise of Sivagami, that topped bestseller lists and received critical success. Anand's books have been translated into more than nine languages and three have been shortlisted for the Crossword Book Award.
Most recently, Anand has widened his literary horizon with outstanding range. His recent publication, "Many Ramayanas Many Lessons" (January 2025), delves into the transformation and varied meanings of the Ramayana through the ages and across cultures. Earlier this year, 2024, he explored non-fiction with "The Asura Way: The Contrarian Path to Success" and children's writing with "The Tale of a Naughty Prank: A Puffin Chapter Book." His children's book "Mahi-the elephant who flew over the blue mountains" was shortlisted for the 2024 Crossword Popular Children's Book Award, which proves he can engage younger readers while still delivering his trademark storytelling depth.
The movie industry has also caught up; KR Movies and DAR Films have bought the movie rights to his book "Vanara: The Legend of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara," planning to make a multilingual film that will introduce his contrarian approach to mythology on the big screen. Outside fiction, he has also authored highly praised screenplays, like Siya Ke Ram, Mahabali Hanuman, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, Sarfarosh, Swaraj, and TAJ: Divided by Blood. From 2017 onwards, he has also written the fortnightly "Acute Angle" column for The New Indian Express. Now, he resides in Mumbai with his family and keeps reinventing well-known epics on their head.
He is a regular speaker at top literature festivals in India and around the world, such as Paris, Abu Dhabi, and other international spaces. His voice, which is anchored in mythology and contemporary connection, is heard worldwide. He has also conducted sessions on Creative Writing as guest faculty in top organizations such as IIM Indore and HDFC Ltd.'s in-house leadership development programmes, enabling professionals and students alike to grasp the power of narrative and creative construction.
Achievements
1. Asura: Tale of the Vanquished was a bestseller and included in Amazon India's "100 books to read in a lifetime"
2. Ajaya: Roll of the Dice and Ajaya: Rise of Kali, Mahabharata from the Kaurava point of view.
3. The Rise of Sivagami (Baahubali prequel) rose to the top bestseller lists, shortlisted for Crossword Popular Award 2018
4. "Mahi-the elephant who flew over the blue mountains" shortlisted for 2024 Crossword Popular Children's Book Award
5. "Many Ramayanas Many Lessons" launched January 2025, his further exploration of mythological interpretation
6. Film adaptation rights for "Vanara" bought by DAR Films and KR Movies for multilingual production
7. Included in Forbes India's "100 top celebrities" in 2015 and 2017
8. Debut non-fiction title "The Asura Way: The Contrarian Path to Success" released January 2024
1. Asura: Tale of the Vanquished was a bestseller and included in Amazon India's "100 books to read in a lifetime"
2. Ajaya: Roll of the Dice and Ajaya: Rise of Kali, Mahabharata from the Kaurava point of view.
3. The Rise of Sivagami (Baahubali prequel) rose to the top bestseller lists, shortlisted for Crossword Popular Award 2018
4. "Mahi-the elephant who flew over the blue mountains" shortlisted for 2024 Crossword Popular Children's Book Award
5. "Many Ramayanas Many Lessons" launched January 2025, his further exploration of mythological interpretation
6. Film adaptation rights for "Vanara" bought by DAR Films and KR Movies for multilingual production
7. Included in Forbes India's "100 top celebrities" in 2015 and 2017
8. Debut non-fiction title "The Asura Way: The Contrarian Path to Success" released January 2024
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Why Anand Neelakantan?
A traditionalist in every sense, Anand is a storyteller who defies convention and connects strongly while doing so. His ability to reimagine well-known myths through new prisms piques interest and raises new questions. When he talks, you are not merely listening to Ravana or Duryodhana, rather you are stepping into worlds that challenge morality, power, and perspective.
His foray into children's books and non-fiction more recently is a testament to great versatility, as he shows he can tailor his contrarian approach to storytelling both by genre and by age group. His shortlisting for a Crossword Award for his work in children's books indicates his potential to present complex mythological ideas in ways that appeal to younger minds, and his business-oriented "Asura Way" presents practical insights derived from ancient stories.
His presence on stage mixes the scholarly with the anecdotal; telling us how Asura became viral, how The Rise of Sivagami sold out on day one, or how he presented epic screenplays to Netflix and TV channels. Now, he has even more to talk about in terms of the thrilling experience of witnessing his work come alive from page to screen, with the soon-to-be-released multilingual film adaptation of "Vanara" taking his mythological retellings to theaters across the globe. He demystifies the art of retelling massive epics in bite-sized, readable forms and why being authentic is important in making myths.
For corporate, academic, or literary functions, he provides commentary on creativity, contrarian thinking, cultural empathy, perspective-taking, and narrative innovation. His new foray into business philosophy with "The Asura Way" provides another thread to his speaking portfolio, enabling him to speak on leadership and success using the framework of ancient wisdom. He invites people to look at stories and individuals from unfamiliar angles. That message resonates if you're in Mumbai, Manhattan, or shooting a film in Mahishmati.
Book Anand if you are looking for a speaker who stirs the mind, fights for contrarian perspectives, and makes ancient civilizations feel fresh and timely now. He offers empathy, humor, and understanding; ideal for generating thinking long after the conference is over.
A traditionalist in every sense, Anand is a storyteller who defies convention and connects strongly while doing so. His ability to reimagine well-known myths through new prisms piques interest and raises new questions. When he talks, you are not merely listening to Ravana or Duryodhana, rather you are stepping into worlds that challenge morality, power, and perspective.
His foray into children's books and non-fiction more recently is a testament to great versatility, as he shows he can tailor his contrarian approach to storytelling both by genre and by age group. His shortlisting for a Crossword Award for his work in children's books indicates his potential to present complex mythological ideas in ways that appeal to younger minds, and his business-oriented "Asura Way" presents practical insights derived from ancient stories.
His presence on stage mixes the scholarly with the anecdotal; telling us how Asura became viral, how The Rise of Sivagami sold out on day one, or how he presented epic screenplays to Netflix and TV channels. Now, he has even more to talk about in terms of the thrilling experience of witnessing his work come alive from page to screen, with the soon-to-be-released multilingual film adaptation of "Vanara" taking his mythological retellings to theaters across the globe. He demystifies the art of retelling massive epics in bite-sized, readable forms and why being authentic is important in making myths.
For corporate, academic, or literary functions, he provides commentary on creativity, contrarian thinking, cultural empathy, perspective-taking, and narrative innovation. His new foray into business philosophy with "The Asura Way" provides another thread to his speaking portfolio, enabling him to speak on leadership and success using the framework of ancient wisdom. He invites people to look at stories and individuals from unfamiliar angles. That message resonates if you're in Mumbai, Manhattan, or shooting a film in Mahishmati.
Book Anand if you are looking for a speaker who stirs the mind, fights for contrarian perspectives, and makes ancient civilizations feel fresh and timely now. He offers empathy, humor, and understanding; ideal for generating thinking long after the conference is over.
Talks About
1. Villain's Lens: Redoing Epics from the Dark Side
2. From Engineer to Myth-Maker: Building Contrarian Stories
3. Writing for Page, Screen & Stage: Bridging Mediums
4. Cultural Empathy Through Translation & Adaptation
5. Breaking Tradition: When Your Bestseller Demands to Be Different
6. The Asura Way: Ancient Principles for New Age Success
7. From Books to Movies: Translating Mythological Tales into Cinema
8. Writing Across Genres: From Epic Fantasy to Children's Books
1. Villain's Lens: Redoing Epics from the Dark Side
2. From Engineer to Myth-Maker: Building Contrarian Stories
3. Writing for Page, Screen & Stage: Bridging Mediums
4. Cultural Empathy Through Translation & Adaptation
5. Breaking Tradition: When Your Bestseller Demands to Be Different
6. The Asura Way: Ancient Principles for New Age Success
7. From Books to Movies: Translating Mythological Tales into Cinema
8. Writing Across Genres: From Epic Fantasy to Children's Books
Snapshots of Anand Neelakantan
Showcasing some prominent images and videos of Anand Neelakantan including our previous events and other endeavors.
Anand Neelakantan
Anand Neelakantan: The Pen that Built Baahubali's World Before the Battle Began
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FAQs
1. How to Book Anand Neelakantan for an event through engage4more?
If you want to book Anand Neelkantan, the man who gave mythology alternative narratives, then visit our website, engage4more, and submit the speaker inquiry form and our team will then connect to arrange availability, briefing, and scheduling.
2. What are Anand Neelakantan’s fees for an event?
Fees vary based on event type (keynote, panel, workshop), duration, location, and format. Reach out with details for a tailored quote.
3. Can I hire Anand Neelakantan for a corporate event through engage4more?
Yes! His stories are a great fit for leadership summits, cultural forums, book festivals, university events, and creative strategy sessions.
4. What topics can Anand Neelakantan speak about?
You can book him on mythological reinterpretation, creative thinking, cross-medium writing, cultural empathy, and narrative leadership.
1. How to Book Anand Neelakantan for an event through engage4more?
If you want to book Anand Neelkantan, the man who gave mythology alternative narratives, then visit our website, engage4more, and submit the speaker inquiry form and our team will then connect to arrange availability, briefing, and scheduling.
2. What are Anand Neelakantan’s fees for an event?
Fees vary based on event type (keynote, panel, workshop), duration, location, and format. Reach out with details for a tailored quote.
3. Can I hire Anand Neelakantan for a corporate event through engage4more?
Yes! His stories are a great fit for leadership summits, cultural forums, book festivals, university events, and creative strategy sessions.
4. What topics can Anand Neelakantan speak about?
You can book him on mythological reinterpretation, creative thinking, cross-medium writing, cultural empathy, and narrative leadership.