SaraWong at 06:44, 25 November 2025

2025-11-25T06:44:45Z

New page

{{short description|Indian author, TV producer and filmmaker (born 1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Dr. Manjiri Prabhu
| birth_date =
| image = Manjiri Pune Launch ITSOI 016.jpg
| caption = At the launch of ''In the Shadow of Inheritance''
| birth_place =
| occupation = Novelist, Director of Pune International Literary Festival.
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = [[Ferguson college]] [[Sophia College, Mumbai]]
| genre = Mystery Romantic suspense
| notableworks = The Cosmic Clues The Astral Alibi The Cavansite Conspiracy In The Shadow of Inheritance Rolls:Reel and Real
| spouse =
| children =
| website = {{URL|http://manjiriprabhu.in/}}
| honorific_prefix =
}}
'''Manjiri Prabhu''' (born 30 September) is an Indian author, [[TV producer]] and filmmaker.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://issuu.com/storizen/docs/march2014/1|title = Manjiri Prabhu - Desi Agatha Christie|access-date = 2014-10-30|website = ISSUU|publisher = Storizen|page = 22|archive-date = 15 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160315124819/https://issuu.com/storizen/docs/march2014/1|url-status = dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Cosmic Clues review">{{cite news|author1=Ravi Shankar Etteth|title=Book review of Cosmic Clues|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/books/story/20041220-book-review-of-the-cosmic-clues-by-manjiri-prabhu-788812-2004-12-19|access-date=30 October 2014|work=India Today|date=20 December 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Kim|last1=Arora|title=Desi Agatha Christies mark their presence|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Desi-Agatha-Christies-mark-their-presence/articleshow/16987499.cms|access-date=30 October 2014|work=Times of India|date=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Arthur J.|last1=Pais|title=Prophetess of Doom|work=India Abroad|date=7 July 2006|page=M3}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="NRIpulse">{{Cite web|url = http://www.nripulse.com/Archives/Profile_DrPrabhu.htm|title = Behind the Cosmic Mystery|access-date = 31 October 2014|website = NRI Pulse|last =Rao |first = Veena|publication-place = Atlanta, Georgia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-2698300323/prabhu-manjiri-1964.html|title = Contemporary Authors|date = January 2007|access-date = 31 October 2014|website = Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> Manjiri started experimenting with novels at a young age and acknowledges [[Enid Blyton]] and [[Agatha Christie]] as her early inspiration.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|author1=S. Ravi|title=A legacy and dark secrets|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/manjiri-prabhu-unveils-her-latest-mystery-novel/article6249428.ece|access-date=31 October 2014|work=The Hindu|date=25 July 2014}}</ref> She attended St. Joseph's High School and did her graduation and Masters in French from [[Ferguson college|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.<ref name=":0" />

== 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|title = Cosmic Connection|last = Bhuyan|first = Avantika|date = 16 July 2006|work = Pune Newsline - The Indian Express|page = 8}}</ref> 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.<ref name="NRIpulse" /><ref>{{Cite news|title = Pune based writer makes waves in US|last = Korde|first = Rajesh|date = 21 January 2005|work = The Times of India|agency = Times News Network|page = 2|location = Pune}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/3-day-literature-fest-to-feature-English-Marathi-writers/articleshow/22197473.cms|title=3-day literature fest to feature English, Marathi writers - Times of India|work=Times of India|date=September 2013 |access-date=2016-07-11}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
*''Symphony of Hearts (Romantic Suspense)'', [[Rupa & Co.|Rupa]] (1994)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|title = Love at first write|last = Agtey Athale|first = Gouri|date = 13 March 1994|work = The Sunday Observer|page = 50}}</ref>
*''Silver in the Mist (Romantic Mystery)'', [[Rupa & Co.|Rupa]], (1995)<ref name=":0" />
*''Roles: Reel and Real (Non-fiction on Hindi films)'', (2001)<ref>{{cite web|title=Roles: Reel and Real|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3034988|website=National Library of Australia - Catalogue|publisher=NLA|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>
*''The Cosmic Clues (Mystery Detective fiction)'', [[Bantam Dell, USA|Bantam Books]], (2004) <ref name="NRIpulse" />
*''The Astral Alibi (Mystery Detective fiction)'', [[Bantam Books|Bantam]] Dell, USA, (2006), republished as ''Stellar Signs'', [[Jaico Publishing House|Jaico]], (2014)
*''The Cavansite Conspiracy (Romantic Suspense Thriller)'', [[Rupa & Co.|Rupa]], (2011)
*''The Gypsies at Noelle's Retreat - Riva Parkar Mystery series'', Times Group Books, (2013)<ref>{{cite web|first1=Trupti|last1=Shetty|title=The Gypsies at Noelle's Retreat- A Riva Parker Mystery - Book Review|url=http://www.thepunekar.com/the-gypsies-at-noelles-retreat-a-riva-parker-mystery/2013/07/|website=The Punekar|access-date=3 April 2015|date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408192048/http://www.thepunekar.com/the-gypsies-at-noelles-retreat-a-riva-parker-mystery/2013/07/|archive-date=8 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''In the Shadow of Inheritance (Romantic Mystery Suspense)'', [[Penguin Books|Penguin India]], (2014)<ref name="Hindu" />
*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)<ref>{{cite web|title=Kiriyama Prize - 2007 Notable Books - Fiction|url=http://www.kiriyamaprize.org/notable/2007/2007notable.shtml|website=Kiriyama Prize|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930082930/http://www.kiriyamaprize.org/notable/2007/2007notable.shtml|archive-date=30 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/columns/sunday-read/Written-in-her-stars/articleshow/45924905.cms|title=Written in her stars|date=17 Jan 2015|work=The Bangalore Mirror|access-date=3 April 2015|agency=Times Group}}</ref>
*''The Cavansite Conspiracy'' awarded 'Best Mystery' by BTB Awards (2012) <ref>{{cite web|title=Goa Arts and Literature Festival|url=http://www.goaartlitfest.com/galf2013/authors2013.htm#Manjiri_Prabhu|website=www.goaartlitfest.com|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111005952/http://goaartlitfest.com/galf2013/authors2013.htm#Manjiri_Prabhu|archive-date=11 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*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 ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prabhu, Manjiri}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Indian women television producers]]
[[Category:Indian television producers]]
[[Category:Indian women novelists]]
[[Category:Indian women filmmakers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Writers from Pune]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Novelists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Film producers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Savitribai Phule Pune University alumni]]
[[Category:Sophia College for Women alumni]]

Manjiri Prabhu - Revision history

SaraWong at 06:44, 25 November 2025