Meet Arvind Rishi, a versatile graduate student and creative mastermind, known for his expertise in crafting diverse works, from enterprise-level applications to gripping novels, and thought-provoking short films. Among his literary achievements stands “The Brown Sunshine,” an extraordinary psychological thriller. With its fusion of mysticism, cultural

intricacies, and the fragility of the human mind, “The Brown Sunshine” invites readers to

step into a world of enigmatic beauty and unsettling truths. Rishi’s prose lingers in the mind, leaving an indelible mark on the reader’s soul long after the final page is turned. The book weaves a gripping narrative around the profound themes of existential crisis, grief, self-

realization, and various complexities of human nature.

Notably, “The Brown Sunshine” has achieved #1 trending in the Thrillers category on

Amazon India, showcasing Arvind’s exceptional storytelling prowess. Let us know more about him in this interview.

1.      Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “The Brown Sunshine”? How did the idea for this unique blend of mythology, philosophy, and fiction come to you?

The inspirations were mostly from a seed of thought that came to me a few years ago. It was the theme of how memories, and perspectives shape different men uniquely. People can go through the same set of events and come out taking

different learnings from it. I also wanted to bring the genre of psychological thrillers to the forefront in the context of fiction novels in India. I genuinely believe there is a huge range of audience for every type of content, until it is ‘engaging’ and there are ‘takeaways.’ Regarding the fusion aspect of the story, I always related to mythology and the beautiful way they conveyed philosophical messages across our ancient texts. I intended my world and characters to have a vivid history, which in turn made me utilise it. Additionally, I have spent quite a few years writing screenplays and

directing short films, so those experiences also gave impetus to the command I had over my skill set.

2.      Your book has been described as having a Dostoevsky-like take on characters. Could you elaborate on how Dostoevsky’s influence shaped the development of the characters in your novel?

Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Tagore always have been my favourite authors since my childhood. It probably was their realistic and poignant portrayal of human lives,

happiness and moments of tragedy. Tagore’s writings are rooted in the heartland of India and touch the emotional string every single time. I have studied Dostoevsky’s

books quite intricately, to say the least. Dostoevsky take on a human psyche and their reactions to the environment around them are unparalleled.

3.      “The Brown Sunshine” explores themes of choice and freewill. Why did you choose to explore these specific themes, and what message do you hope readers take away from your work?

The message would definitely be to read the book and have a good time! Being a writer of a book, the entire point of this painstaking activity is to lay out a unique

perspective of things to the reader. See, the entire point of writing a fictional story is that people can take home the message that appeals to them in the version they prefer. It is subjective. I would definitely want my readers to read through it and come up with their own versions of the message, which is pretty much how the real world operates as well.

4.      As a graduate student with a diverse range of creative interests, how do you manage to balance your academic pursuits with your passion for writing?

That’s a question, I do get a lot. While I was writing the Brown Sunshine, I had a full time career as a software engineer, and it was a hectic schedule. I used to work in the mornings and write at night, that’s how the story came to be. Currently I am pursuing my masters, so it is a separate set of challenges. Beyond work, I listen to music, a lot of podcasts and directing (and writing) short films. I also spend a lot of time reading research papers on topics such as quantum physics.

5.      Your book is rooted in India. How important was it for you to infuse elements of Indian mythology and philosophy into the narrative? How did these elements enrich the story?

Any form of art’s primary objective is engagement. My main audience is Indian, and I have spent the majority of my life here. It was important that I try and represent the culture, geography, climate and locations of eastern India through my book. This was a no-brainer. As I said, mythology has a powerful impact as a metaphor in any piece of art – visual, written or audio. You cannot do justice to mythology without dealing with the philosophical aspect of those characters. It is a natural chain of thought.

6.      Psychological thrillers often require in-depth research and a deep understanding of human psychology. How did you approach the research process to ensure your book felt authentic and engaging?

That is the tricky part right. It is the homework. I mean the character should be fleshed enough that each of them have a separate perspective, a separate driving force and a unique motivation. Once this and their backstory gets framed, it is obvious as to how they would react to situations and how they would frame their

actions. This book is a psychological thriller. I would like to say that a lot of effort has gone into structuring the plot and character progressions in a manner that is

‘engaging.’ The prime rule of thrillers, as you rightly point out, is to stay one step

ahead of the audience, is to be unpredictable, while still maintaining a form and flow. This is where I believe The Brown Sunshine stands out. Also, I would like to add a second point – that it fuses mythology with fiction and philosophy in a manner that serves the story, which I would want to believe is a standout quality.

7.      “The Brown Sunshine” has received critical acclaim and topped the Thrillers category on Amazon India. How does it feel to achieve such recognition for your work?

I am filled with gratitude and it does feel great. The amount of love and attention this book is getting from the readers is truly humbling and wonderful. This feels like a first step of a staircase, so yeah, there is a long journey ahead and pretty much work to be done.

8.      Are there any specific characters or scenes in the book that hold a special significance to you? If so, could you tell us why?

There is a scene in chapter 11 – “Running in Circles” which deals with the protagonist going back to Darjeeling to face his demons and find answers to the questions that have haunted his life. He basically goes from morgue to morgue, trying to recall a particular scene that happened in his childhood. The theme of nostalgia and the character trying to actually stop running from his problems, showed the strength he

is developing. Here, I got the opportunity to discuss the architectural brilliance of Darjeeling along with its cultural roots, which was quite interesting.

9.      What advice would you give to aspiring writers, especially those who are interested in exploring unique blends of genres and themes in their works?

I’ll keep this short. In my experience I have found execution and perseverance to be far useful tools than ideas and inherent potential.

10.  As a multi-talented creator, how do you switch between different creative mediums and maintain your creative flow?

Music. I play music, it is magical. It helps me set up a mood by putting my mind into that state. It helps me feel it a lot better and hence brings out the best in me.

11.  Can you provide us with a glimpse into your writing process? Do you have any rituals or routines that help you stay focused and inspired while writing?

In my humble opinion, writing is absolutely like any other job. No amount of passion, is going to get words on paper, unless you actually put sit down, think and type. It is hard work while being creatively conscious, which is pretty much what a lot of other

domain jobs require as well. So, I would say perseverance and obsessiveness to

crafting a great product were the keys. We do know that everything sweet comes out of hardships and struggle. There is absolutely no more happiness than to see your book being published and climbing the charts. . We are currently trending at #1 in

Amazon India, and like they say – a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

12.  Your book deals with a chilling secret older than civilization itself. Without giving away any spoilers, can you share what drew you to this mysterious aspect of the story?

I conceived this story 7 years ago, and this aspect was always at the center of the plot. This has always been there in my head. This book is part one of a trilogy and

there is a lot more story to come, which would utilise and payoff these aspects I am setting up now. So, it was always there in the plot, as you would see in future sequels.

13.  Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’d like to share with your readers? What can they look forward to from you in the future?

I am actively working on the sequel. This is part 1 of a trilogy. Other than that, I plan to delve into the non-fiction market as well, and I have a few ideas there.

14.  Lastly, do you have any plans to explore different genres or themes in your future works, or do you see yourself continuing with psychological thrillers rooted in mythology and philosophy?

Oh, I would love to write a comedy genre novel. Something like ‘Three men in a boat.’ Comedy is subjective and is a difficult genre to get right, but yeah, if you ask me, that is one book – I would definitely be interested in writing.