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Exploring Resul's journey to Oscar fame

Oscar laureate Resul Pookutty's autobiography was released at a glittering star-studded function in Mumbai on Thursday.

Titled Shabdhatharapadham, (The Sound of Milky Way), the book explores the sound engineer's dramatic journey from an obscure village to Oscar fame.    

"When the publishers approached me to write a book, I laughed off the idea. I was too young to write an autobiography. But they persisted with the project. Eventually, I did agree," Pookutty said candidly at the function.

"I still know it is too young to write an autobiography. Hence, I would like to describe the book as a travelogue. But the publishers listed the book under autobiography for marketing reasons," he said.

Also present was music maestro AR Rahman and veteran filmmaker and lyricist Gulzar.

The book -- written in Malayalam and co-authored by Baiju Nataraj -- was released by Maharashtra Governor K Shankaranarayan, who handed over the first copy to music maestro A R Rahman.

In a unique way, Natarajan recorded Resul's conversations and later turned it into a book.  

Effusive in praise, the Governor, who hails from Kerala, said Shabdhatharapadham is one of the best books he read in the recent times.

The evening, surely, belonged to Pookutty, who read out two chapters, laced with his trademark humour and style.

Describing Rahman as his guiding light and big brother, Pookutty said he always looked up to the musical genius for inspiration.

The book's English translation -- published by Penguin and Malayala Manorama -- will be released later this year.

A R Rahman's autobiography, too, is expected to be released soon by the same publishers.

Cricketer Sreesanth, actress Nadia Moithu, former BMC chief Johny Joseph were among the other notable guests.