Manjiri Prabhu

Manjiri Prabhu (born 30 September) is an Indian author, TV producer and filmmaker. She has been hailed as the 'Desi Agatha Christie' (Indian Agatha Christie) by the media and is acknowledged as being the first woman writer of mystery fiction in India.

Early life
Manjiri Atmaram Prabhu was born in Pune to Atmaram Prabhu, a businessman and Shobha Prabhu, a prominent astrologer in a family of five siblings. Manjiri started experimenting with novels at a young age and acknowledges Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie as her early inspiration. She attended St. Joseph's High School and did her graduation and Masters in French from Ferguson College and Pune University. Manjiri then completed her post graduate diploma in Social Communication Media from Sophia College, Mumbai. and PhD in Communication Science from Pune University.

Career
Manjiri joined the State Institute of Educational Technology (Balchitravani) as a TV producer where she directed more than 200 infotainment programs aimed at children and young adults. During this time, her unpublished novel was adapted into a Hindi feature film titled Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha for the National Film Development Corporation of India and she wrote the script and dialogues for the same. She also produced short drama films for Filmaka and directed travelogues. Manjiri is also the founder-director of the Pune International Literary Festival and International Festival of Spiritual India.

Awards and recognition

 * The Astral Alibi honored as 'Notable Fiction' in Kiriyama Prize (2007)
 * The Cavansite Conspiracy awarded 'Best Mystery' by BTB Awards (2012)
 * The Rampur Raza Mystery (A Sassy Library Thriller) NBT (2023) was launched by the Hon. President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmuji
 * ‘Global Woman Leader By The 10th World Women Leadership Congress Awards’ (2023)
 * 'Excellence in Service for Humanity' from the Rotary Club of Pune, Kalyani Nagar, (2022)
 * 'Inspirational Women of Maharashtra -Excellence in the field of Writing’ (2017)
 * ‘Most Admired Leader of Maharashtra' by ERTC Global Herald (2017)
 * ‘The Rex Karmaveer Gold Medal Award’ instituted by iCONGO and the UN (2016)