Neelesh Misra

Summary

Neelesh Misra (born 4 May 1973) is an Indian journalist, author, radio storyteller, scriptwriter and lyricist.[1] He hosted Yaadon Ka IdiotBox on BIG FM 92.7. He is co-founder and editor of Gaon Connection, a rural newspaper.[2][3] He is working on "The Neelesh Misra Show" on Red FM 93.5 and "Kahaani Express" on Saavn.

Neelesh Misra
Misra recording his poem
Misra recording his poem
Native name
निलेश मिश्रा
Born (1973-05-04) 4 May 1973 (age 50)
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
OccupationWriter, lyricist, script-writer, Storyteller, journalist and entrepreneur
LanguageHindi, Urdu, English
Alma materSt._Joseph's_College,_Nainital
Montfort_Inter_College
Kumaun University
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Notable worksYaadon Ka Idiot Box
Notable awardsRamnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards (2007, 2012)
Karpoor Chandra Kulish Memorial Award (2009)
Spouse
(m. 2005; div. 2007)

Yamini Misra
ChildrenVaidehi Misra
RelativesShiva Balak Misra (father)
Nirmala Misra (mother)
Shailesh Misra (brother)

Early life and education edit

Misra was born on 5 May 1973 to Shiva Balak Misra and Nirmala Misra. He was born in Lucknow and brought up in Nainital, Uttarakhand.[4][5]

Career edit

As a journalist, he has covered conflict and insurgency over the past two decades in South Asia, traveling deep into the hinterland.[citation needed] His travels have taken him from the rebel heartlands of Kashmir to Naxalite-dominated areas of central and eastern India, to the faraway north-east which is home to some of the world's longest-running insurgencies. For his reportage from India's insurgency lands, he received the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism[6] and the K.C. Kulish Memorial Award in the year 2009.

He has written five books, including The Absent State (2010), which he co-wrote with Rahul Pandita[7]

Neelesh started his career as a Bollywood lyricist, when while researching for a book in Mumbai, he met director Mahesh Bhatt, which led to his debut song Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai for Jism (2003),[4] this was followed by hit songs like Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai for Woh Lamhe (2006), and went on write over 20 songs in over 15 films.[8][9] In 2012, he co-wrote the screenplay for Salman Khan starrer, Ek Tha Tiger, along with film's director Kabir Khan.[10]

He was the creative director, singer and songwriter in the India's first writer-led band, Band Called Nine, with singer Shilpa Rao and composer Amartya Rahut, working with traditional Indian craft of Qissa Goi (storytelling).[11][12] The band was launched in 2010 at the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai.[8] In 2011, the band released its debut album, Rewind, consisting of songs and storytelling, put together with narrative recited by Misra.[10][12]

He is also a blogger.[13] His blog contains his experiences during his days as senior roving editor, his thoughts on various issues, and the poems he has written. He hosts a radio show, Yadoon Ka Idiotbox on BIG FM 92.7, set in fictitious small town, Yaad Sheher, and which started its second season in 2012. He also hosts " The Neelash Mishra" show on 93.5 RED FM.[14][10] In late 2012, he along with Karan Dalal, started a rural newspaper, Gaon Connection, based in Kunaura, a village near Lucknow.[15][16]

Since Nov 2018, he hosts The Slow Interview With Neelesh Misra show on Youtube.[17]

Books edit

Non-fiction edit

  • The Absent State (Hachette, 2010), a book on insurgency co-written. ISBN 9350093669.[18]
  • 173 Hours in Captivity, Harper Collins, 2000. ISBN 8172233949.,[19]
  • End of the Line: The Story of the Killing of the Royals in Nepal. (Penguin, 2001). ISBN 9780143027850.[20]

Fiction edit

As editor edit

  • India Yatra (Harper Collins, 2009, with a foreword by Nandan Nilekani)[24]
  • Inspired India: Ideas to Transform a Nation, Harper Collins, 2010, with a foreword by APJ Abdul Kalam. ISBN 978-81-7223-782-0
  • Dream Chasing ,One Man's Remarkable True Life Story, a book by his father, Dr. S.B.Misra.(Roli Books, 2011,with a foreword by Sam Pitroda. ISBN 8174368191.[25]

Awards edit

Journalism edit

Entertainment edit

Personal life edit

Misra married Nidhi Razdan, a news anchor and editor, in 2005.[30][31] The couple divorced in 2007.

Misra married Yamini Misra in 2008 and they have a daughter. Yamini also writes some stories for the Neelesh Misra Show.[32]

Filmography edit

Screenwriter edit

Lyricist edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lakshmi, Rama (10 April 2023). "He's the Garrison Keillor of India, and he's reviving the art of storytelling". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ^ gaon. "About Gaon Connection". www.gaonconnection.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Gaon Connection Survey: 50% rural Indians prefer India-made COVID vaccine". cnbctv18.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Next Big Thing: Meet Neelesh Misra". IBN LIVE. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Tapping the rural news space". The Hindu. 9 December 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Express, Indian. "Ram Nath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism he has been editor of Hindustan news paper". Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  7. ^ Sudhir Mishra (17 September 2010). "Book Review: The art of losing a war". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Nine times lucky". Hindustan Times. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  9. ^ "I was offered to script film on Benazir Bhutto: Neelesh Misra". The Hindu. 7 February 2009.
  10. ^ a b c "Neelesh Misra: Reviving the traditional storytelling". CNN-IBN (IBN LIVE). 18 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Shilpa Rao to sing for webcert online". Hindustan Times. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Band Called Nine releases its debut album". The Indian Express. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  13. ^ India. "User Profile: Writer At Large". Blogger. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Neelesh Misra: The journalist, lyricist and author on reinventing the art of storytelling". Outlook. 24 September 2012.
  15. ^ "Tapping the rural news space". The Hindu. 10 December 2012.
  16. ^ Beuro, Gaon Connection. "Gaon Connection : Agriculture & Rural News, News in Hindi, हिन्दी न्यूज". www.gaonconnection.com.
  17. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Pankaj Tripathi || Episode 1 || The Slow Interview With Neelesh Misra". YouTube.
  18. ^ Amazon.com – The Absent State
  19. ^ Amazon.com – 173 Hours in Captivity
  20. ^ Amazon.com – End of the Line: The Story of the Killing of the Royals in Nepal
  21. ^ Amazon.com – Once Upon a Timezone
  22. ^ Amazon.com – Neelesh Misra ka Yaad Sheher Volume-I
  23. ^ Amazon.com – Neelesh Misra ka Yaad Sheher Volume-II
  24. ^ HarperCollins Publishers India Ltd.
  25. ^ Amazon.com – Dream Chasing ,One Man's Remarkable True Life Story
  26. ^ "Nominees - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2010". 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011". 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^ "Nominations - Mirchi Music Awards 2017". MMAMirchiMusicAwards. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Winners - Mirchi Music Awards 2017". MMAMirchiMusicAwards. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Actual romance blooms in small towns: Neelesh Misra". IndiaGlitz.com. 29 November 2005. Archived from the original on 5 May 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  31. ^ "Nidhi Razdan". in.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  32. ^ "Gaon Connection: Going beyond the village". indiantelevision.com. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  33. ^ "About – Writer At Large".
  34. ^ T-Series (3 July 2015). "'Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata (Reprise)' Full AUDIO Song - Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor - Bajrangi Bhaijaan". Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ T-Series (30 June 2017). "Jagga Jasoos : Jhumritalaiyya Song With Lyrics l Ranbir, Katrina - Pritam Arijit, Mohan - Neelesh". Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 – via YouTube.

External links edit

  • Neelesh Misra Official Website
  • Neelesh Misra at Bollywood Hungama
  • Neelesh Misra blog
  • Neelesh Misra at IMDb
  • Hindi Blog