Parde ke Peechhey An autobiography (as told to Anjula Bedi)

Ila Arun burst into public view with the controversial song from Khal Nayak (1993), Choli Ke Peechhey. But several years before that, she was already well known for her contribution to Rajasthani folk music.

Mumbai soon became her home, and it was in this city of glamour that Ila made a name for herself in every genre of the performing arts—film, television, music and playback singing—and also as a composer and lyricist. In the course of her creative journey of almost fifty years, Ila has been associated with several of the best-known names in this field—actors and directors, singers and music directors, classical and folk singers, who appear as characters in her story. Her passion however remains theatre.

A writer herself, with several original plays and many adaptations to her credit, this is her first book, an autobiography, which records her life from childhood to the present. It is an honest depiction of her successes and disappointments in the world of theatre, film and music.

Told in her inimitable style, with sincerity and a touch of humor, this is Ila at her candid best, sharing a glimpse into her life and experience onstage and backstage, parde ke peechhey.

Ila Arun is a folk singer, actor, writer–playwright, music composer, lyricist, folk dancer, theatre producer–director.
Anjula Bedi is a writer, editor, actor and translator.