Kevin Missal’s latest novel, Parshuram, explores the story and legacy of Vishnu’s sixth avatar. The book expands the interconnected mythological world he established in his bestselling Kalki and Narasimh
Missal’s retellings avoid dense, moralising prose and familiar clichés. Instead, he presents ancient legends through action-driven narratives with cinematic elements.
Building a mythological universe
“I was always a fan of mythology in general,” Missal said during an interaction on the sidelines of the book launch. “I used to love Norse mythology and Greek mythology, like Percy Jackson, which was my favourite series. So, I realised, why can’t something like this come from India?”
Like Rick Riordan’s fictional universe inspired by Greek mythology, Missal draws on Indian epics and legends to build an interconnected world of his own.
“I try to make sure that I don’t have a lot of R-rated stuff that makes audiences squeamish, but I have a lot of blood, a lot of gore,” he said. “That just appeals to everyone at this time.”
Missal said he begins with detailed planning before drafting at a rapid pace. Asked how he brought the warrior-sage Parshuram to life, he said: “The process was simple: I took a lot of time to plot it, and then I wrote it in three days.”
Shaped by his college years
A graduate of St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, Missal said the diversity he encountered there during his late teens and early twenties broadened his worldview and influenced his approach to writing.
“What St Stephen’s did to me was that it kind of expanded my horizons as a person,” he said.
Missal added that the experience gave him “a very non-judgemental” perspective on the subjects he writes about and the people with whom he works.
“I think that has really helped me to just work with an honesty that I probably would not have developed if it were not for St Stephen’s,” he said.
Delhi as a source of inspiration
Missal also described Delhi as a city with a distinctive character that continues to influence his work.
“What I love about Delhi is that it has its own character,” he said. “It has its own twists and turns. It’s like a novel: Always unfolding and always being rediscovered from time to time.”
For him, the city’s contradictions and overlapping layers of history resemble the layered storytelling of mythological fiction. He said his experiences in Delhi have influenced the structure of his novels.
Advice for aspiring writers
Asked what guidance he would offer emerging writers, Missal stressed the importance of finding the right collaborators.
“My advice would be to surround yourself with the right people,” he said. “In the book space, you see that there’s just one name on the book, but I feel there are a lot of people behind it. Once you have the right set of people, you can definitely do very well.”
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