Q & A With The Writer of FARZI
Meet Suman Kumar, a talented writer, comedian, and chess enthusiast from Bangalore, India. With an impressive list of accolades including Filmfare, Asian Academy, and Critics Guild awards, Suman has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his unique blend of humor and storytelling skills. He is the creator of the popular solo show, Mr. Mommy, and has co-written two hit Amazon Prime shows, Family Man and Farzi. In this interview, we explore Suman's creative process, as well as his deep love for the game of chess.
Recently, Suman Kumar sparked my curiosity with his inquiry about the connection between Farzi and chess through a tweet. It was then that I discovered Suman's passion for chess, and I reached out to him for an interview. Thankfully, Suman graciously agreed to share his insights on his creative process, inspirations, and challenges, as well as his deep love for the game of chess.
What is the Chess reference that features in #farzi? Hint: Riga
— Suman Kumar (@sumank) February 13, 2023
Cc @chesscom_in @rajndk @MenonSita
Niranjan: How would you describe yourself in three words?
Suman Kumar: The day dreamer.
What inspired your interest in chess, and how has it influenced you?
Growing up in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, my friends were passionate about chess, and one of them even went on to compete at the National Juniors level. Seeing their love for the game, I couldn't help but become interested in it myself. As a result, it rubbed off on me.
Who is your favorite chess player?
Bobby Fischer.
Which is your favorite chess opening?
I am a coffeehouse amateur. I do not possess the in-depth knowledge of chess openings. But, Ruy Lopez and Caro-Kann are my favourites.
Could you share the details of how you received a man of the match award in a chess tournament?
It's a crazy story. The tournament took place in Penumur, near Chittoor, in either 1990 or 1991. The top three players were to receive prizes, and I was fortunate enough to secure the third position. However, instead of simply referring to it as "3rd place," the organizer had a moment of magical epiphany and decided to call it "Man of the Match.
Have you explored any chess literature, and if so, do you have any personal favorites or recommendations?
Right now, I don’t but I used to subscribe to the Chess Mate magazine. [Chess Mate is a chess magazine run by IM Manuel Aaron and Arvind Aaron].
Have you supported a chess player in your life?
Yes. I have donated to help a chess player travel abroad.
Which specific tactical theme in chess do you find the most fascinating or enjoyable?
Sacrifice of material. No other sport or game embraces the concept of sacrifice like Chess does. And of course, Zugzwang!
Who are your preferred chess content creators on YouTube and other streaming platforms?
Agadmator and Gothamchess.
As a writer for film and series, when did you begin writing and what is your writing process like?
I have been writing stories since I was 15. My writing process is one word at a time (smiles).
Congratulations on your work on Farzi! Could you walk us through how you integrated chess elements into the series, such as the use of decoy and the character named "Tal”?
(Note: Farzi (transl. Fake) is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language black comedy crime thriller television series about counterfeit money created, produced and directed by Raj & DK, who also co-wrote the series with Sita Menon and Suman Kumar. It stars Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna and Bhuvan Arora. The series shares continuity with Raj & DK's spy series The Family Man. Source: Wikipedia)
I always like to plant Easter eggs in my stories, often using the names of friends. In Farzi, we decided to feature Russian characters and I wanted to pay tribute to the legendary Tal.
How was the chess set selected for the scene featuring Jitu Kaka with a chess board in Farzi, and who deserves credit for its inclusion?
Credit goes to our Production Designer Parichit Paralkar and his team.
Can we expect to see any chess-related themes or subtle nods in the upcoming season of The Family Man?
If there is an opportunity to plug Chess, of course I will.
Will the character "Chellam sir" be making future appearances and is he also a chess enthusiast?
Nobody knows when or how Chellam sir will appear.
calling chellam sir to help us with how we feel after the game 😢 pic.twitter.com/NFRXvE3YjY
— prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) June 23, 2021
Do you play on Chesscom and if yes, what's your rating/level?
I do, but only with bots. Don’t remember my rating. Must be around 1200 in rapid.
Do you play Chess with the co-stars on the sets?
Yes, once in a while. And disappoint them when I foil their grand plans to checkmate me with Scholar’s mate.
Do you have any plans to do an only chess themed show/movie (something like Queen's Gambit!)?
Yes. I have an idea for a rooted, desi Chess story.
Special thanks to Suman Kumar for doing a quick interview! We wish him the best in all his endeavors.
[Grateful to Rakesh Kulkarni and Abhishek Jha for helping with the interview]
Currently work as a community manager for Chess.com India.
I have a GM norm and 3 IM norms. Became a FIDE Trainer in 2020. Coached two Indian Teams for the Olympiad for PWD. Apart from playing and teaching chess, I dabble in writing and reading. Can speak in English, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Marathi. I recently wrote a short story titled 'Over a Cup of Chai' that's available on amazon. My last novel 'The Lively Library & An Unlikely Romance' is a story of a library where books come to life at night.
My username was Geborgenheit previously.
Geborgenheit is a german word which is hard to explain. It can only be experienced; It could also be inner peace of your soul. Google says 'security' but it is more than that!
I do stream sometimes!