Growing up in Bell-bottoms

Given Krishna Shastri Devulapalli's background being the same — having a grandfather who was a maverick poet, and an artist father, one may wonder if this book is the author's biography. But, he quickly clarifies, "The protagonist Gopi is not me. This book may have tiny autobiographical elements — when it comes to living in Madras, having a creative family — but otherwise it is pure fiction." Ice Boys in Bell Bottoms is a story about growing up, says the author. "Usually when we read books that involve childhood, there is always something monumental taking place in the backdrop. But, I believe that growing up in itself is full of turmoil. That is why my book is purely about childhood," opines Devulapalli. He further adds, "I wanted to primarily focus on the childhood of a kid who is growing up in a family full of creative people." But why the title Ice Boys in Bell Bottoms? To which he laughs and recalls, "As kids, back then, we used to mispronounce the game I Spy as 'Ice Boys'. And bell bottoms, because the book is set in 1970s. Hence the name." Born in Hyderabad, but later moved to Chennai, Devulapalli is multi-faceted and his background of being an illustrator, cartoonist and a graphic designer will vouch for the same. Then, how did this sudden inclination towards writing take place? Devulapalli explains, "It was not sudden. I have always wanted to do a lot of things — one of which was writing." He believes that writing is a very lonely process. Recollecting what happened around two years ago, which is when Devulapalli began writing his book, he shares, "Two years ago, all my friends were excited about joining Facebook. But, I was writing a book, and could not have any scope for distraction. So I told them that they can join Facebook and I will go and write a book."Ice Boys in Bell Bottoms is the first in the Trilogy, reveals Devulapalli. “The second one will be set in the Eighties. I'm thinking of calling it Rally Days and Disco Nights. And, the third will be set in the Nineties." But, he does not plan to stop here. This debutant author has many other books in the line, and plans to venture into making films as well. "I want to write my own films and direct them," signs off an ambitious Devulapalli.