There is melody, as well as melancholy that you experience when you turn the pages of The Secret World of Mehlli Gobhai: The Man Who Found Art Everywhere (Pratham Books). Written by Jerry Pinto and illustrated by Kripa B, this new title will draw the reader towards unknown aspects in the great abstract artist’s life; simple episodes and elements that moved and inspired him to create exceptional art. Pinto evocatively brings to the fore aspects and anecdotes of his life as only a friend can. And so, we too as readers are privileged to access this special bond and journey. Excerpts from an interview:

What was going through your mind when you began to write this special book about your friend, Mehlli Gobhai?
In many ways, walking the streets of Mumbai or the bylanes of Gholvad was part of my ongoing sentimental education. Each time we talked, I came away with another perspective: gravity as the enemy of the body, dragging everything down; the melodrama of the arrival of the monsoon; the colours of death in nature… I wanted to share how a 30-year-old man could become a child when confronted by genius.