Manjiri Prabhu

Dr. Manjiri Prabhu
At the launch of In the Shadow of Inheritance
Occupation	Novelist, Director of Pune International Literary Festival.
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Ferguson college Sophia College, Mumbai
Genre	Mystery Romantic suspense
Notable works	The Cosmic Clues The Astral Alibi The Cavansite Conspiracy In The Shadow of Inheritance Rolls:Reel and Real
Website
manjiriprabhu.in

Manjiri Prabhu (born 30 September) is an Indian author, TV producer and filmmaker. ^[1] She has been hailed as the 'Desi Agatha Christie' (Indian Agatha Christie) by the media and is acknowledged as being the first woman writer of mystery fiction in India. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Early life

Manjiri Atmaram Prabhu was born in Pune to Atmaram Prabhu, a businessman and Shobha Prabhu, a prominent astrologer in a family of five siblings. ^{[5] [6]} Manjiri started experimenting with novels at a young age and acknowledges Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie as her early inspiration. ^[7] She attended St. Joseph's High School and did her graduation and Masters in French from Ferguson College and Pune University. Manjiri then completed her post graduate diploma in Social Communication Media from Sophia College, Mumbai. and PhD in Communication Science from Pune University. ^[1]

Career

Manjiri joined the State Institute of Educational Technology (Balchitravani) as a TV producer where she directed more than 200 infotainment programs aimed at children and young adults. ^{[1] [8]} During this time, her unpublished novel was adapted into a Hindi feature film titled Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha for the National Film Development Corporation of India and she wrote the script and dialogues for the same. ^{[5] [9]} She also produced short drama films for Filmaka and directed travelogues. Manjiri is also the founder-director of the Pune International Literary Festival and International Festival of Spiritual India. ^[10]

Bibliography

• Symphony of Hearts (Romantic Suspense), Rupa (1994) ^{[1] [11]}
• Silver in the Mist (Romantic Mystery), Rupa, (1995) ^[1]
• Roles: Reel and Real (Non-fiction on Hindi films), (2001) ^[12]
• The Cosmic Clues (Mystery Detective fiction), Bantam Books, (2004) ^[5]
• The Astral Alibi (Mystery Detective fiction), Bantam Dell, USA, (2006), republished as Stellar Signs, Jaico, (2014)
• The Cavansite Conspiracy (Romantic Suspense Thriller), Rupa, (2011)
• The Gypsies at Noelle's Retreat - Riva Parkar Mystery series, Times Group Books, (2013) ^[13]
• In the Shadow of Inheritance (Romantic Mystery Suspense), Penguin India, (2014) ^[7]
• The Trail of Four (Destination Mystery Thriller), Bloomsbury India (2017)
• Revolt Of The Lamebren (Dystopian Science Fantasy), Readomania (2018)
• Voice Of The Runes (Destination Mystery Thriller), Bloomsbury India (2018)
• Mystery At Malabar Cottage (Children's Mystery), Readomania (2019)
• Flipped- Adventure Stories Children's Anthology), Story - The Treasure on Cocofarm, HarperCollins India (2019)
• The Final Act of Love (Romantic Mystery Suspense), Amazon Kindle (2020)
• The Adventures of Mithoo (Children's Fantasy), Readomania (2021)
• The DOGtrine of Peace (Non-fiction Spiritual), Readomania (2021)
• Legend of The Snow Queen (Destination Mystery Thriller) Readomania (2023)
• The Rampur Raza Mystery (A Sassy Library Thriller) NBT (2023)
• The Mystery of the Portuguese Hearts (Destination Mystery Thriller) Jaico Books (2024)

Awards and recognition

• The Astral Alibi honored as 'Notable Fiction' in Kiriyama Prize (2007) ^{[14] [15]}
• The Cavansite Conspiracy awarded 'Best Mystery' by BTB Awards (2012) ^[16]
• The Rampur Raza Mystery (A Sassy Library Thriller) NBT (2023) was launched by the Hon. President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmuji
• ‘Global Woman Leader By The 10th World Women Leadership Congress Awards’ (2023)
• 'Excellence in Service for Humanity' from the Rotary Club of Pune, Kalyani Nagar, (2022)
• 'Inspirational Women of Maharashtra -Excellence in the field of Writing’ (2017)
• ‘Most Admired Leader of Maharashtra' by ERTC Global Herald (2017)
• ‘The Rex Karmaveer Gold Medal Award’ instituted by iCONGO and the UN (2016)

References

1. "Manjiri Prabhu - Desi Agatha Christie". ISSUU. Storizen. p. 22. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
2. Ravi Shankar Etteth (20 December 2004). "Book review of Cosmic Clues". India Today. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
3. Arora, Kim (28 October 2012). "Desi Agatha Christies mark their presence". Times of India. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
4. Pais, Arthur J. (7 July 2006). "Prophetess of Doom". India Abroad. p. M3.
5. Rao, Veena. "Behind the Cosmic Mystery". NRI Pulse. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
6. "Contemporary Authors". Encyclopedia.com. January 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
7. S. Ravi (25 July 2014). "A legacy and dark secrets". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
8. Bhuyan, Avantika (16 July 2006). "Cosmic Connection". Pune Newsline - The Indian Express. p. 8.
9. Korde, Rajesh (21 January 2005). "Pune based writer makes waves in US". The Times of India. Pune. Times News Network. p. 2.
10. "3-day literature fest to feature English, Marathi writers - Times of India". Times of India. September 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
11. Agtey Athale, Gouri (13 March 1994). "Love at first write". The Sunday Observer. p. 50.
12. "Roles: Reel and Real". National Library of Australia - Catalogue. NLA. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
13. Shetty, Trupti (26 July 2013). "The Gypsies at Noelle's Retreat- A Riva Parker Mystery - Book Review". The Punekar. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
14. "Kiriyama Prize - 2007 Notable Books - Fiction". Kiriyama Prize. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
15. "Written in her stars". The Bangalore Mirror. Times Group. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
16. "Goa Arts and Literature Festival". www.goaartlitfest.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.