Annie Syed

Annie Zaidi is an Indian writer born in 1978, recognized for her contributions across various literary forms. Her career began in journalism, where she worked for publications like Mid-Day and Frontline, and also maintained a blog that later formed the basis of her essay collection, "Known Turf: Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales." This debut non-fiction work was shortlisted for the Vodafone Crossword Book Award in 2010.

Zaidi's literary output is extensive, encompassing novels, poetry, short stories, and plays. Her novel "Prelude To A Riot" received the Tata Literature Live! Award for Book of the Year in 2020. She also won The Nine Dots Prize in 2019 for her work "Bread, Cement, Cactus," which was later published as a book. Her play "Untitled-1" earned her The Hindu Playwright Award in 2018. Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies and literary journals, and she has been acknowledged by publications like Elle magazine as an emerging South Asian writer.

Annie Zaidi has established a significant presence in the literary world, earning accolades for her diverse body of work. Her novel "Prelude To A Riot" was honored with the Tata Literature Live! Award for Book of the Year in 2020, and it was also shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature. In 2019, she was a recipient of The Nine Dots Prize, a prestigious award that supported the development of her essay "Bread, Cement, Cactus" into a published book. Her earlier non-fiction debut, "Known Turf: Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales," a collection of essays, was recognized with a shortlisting for the Vodafone Crossword Book Award in 2010. Zaidi's creative output extends to poetry, short stories, and plays, with individual works like "Crush" (2007), "The Good Indian Girl" (2011), and "Love Story # 1 To 14" (2012) showcasing her versatility.

Before dedicating herself fully to literature, Annie Zaidi pursued a career in journalism. She began her professional journey in the media after completing her studies, working for an online platform and then as a reporter for Mid-Day. Her tenure at Frontline magazine, starting in 2005, proved influential, as it was during this period that she launched her blog, "Known Turf." This blog's content eventually formed the foundation for her acclaimed essay collection. Her early recognition included being named one of the "Women (under 30) to Watch Out For" by Rouge, a supplement of The Times of India, in January 2008. Zaidi has also been a contributor to a wide array of publications, including Caravan, Open, The Hindu, Elle, and Forbes India, and previously held a weekly column for DNA (Daily News and Analysis).

Beyond her prose and poetry, Annie Zaidi has made notable contributions to theatre. Her play "Untitled-1" secured The Hindu Playwright Award in 2018. She has had several plays staged at Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre, including "Jaal" and "So Many Socks." Her radio play "Jam" achieved success as the regional winner for South Asia in the BBC's International Playwriting Competition in 2011. Zaidi also ventured into filmmaking, directing the short film "Decibel" in 2016 as part of an omnibus project, under the mentorship of filmmaker Sriram Raghavan. Her novella "Gulab" was published in 2014, further diversifying her literary portfolio.

“The stories on dalits in the Punjab easily rank amongst the best done on the subject”

“Above all, it is the quality of the story-telling that grips you. A beautifully written book”

“haunting evocation of belonging and dislocation in contemporary India”