"This is my wish for myself: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss my lips, sunsets to warm my heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for my eyes to see, friendships to brighten my being, faith so that I can believe, confidence for when I doubt, courage to know myself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete my life."
 

Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer, Miditech tells correspondent Nidhi Jain how a few small things sets up the entire beautiful world for him.

Initial days
Studied in Delhi at St Columbus till my 10th and then went onto DPS RK Puram for my 11th and 12th in Humanities. Did my Honors in History from St Stephens College, Delhi. Started working at Miditech in 2000 straight after college. First shows were as an assistant producer on Musafir Hoon Yaaron for Star Plus and Hospital on BBC World.
In 2003, went to the UK to do my MA in TV Journalism from Goldsmiths at the University of London and returned to Miditech and have been working non stop since. Have worked out of Miditech Delhi then Mumbai and now Bangalore. Most challenging time at work was directing the first season of MTV Hero Honda Roadies.

Strongly feels about
You've got to do what you've got to do. You only live life once so you may as well make the most of it. Feel very strongly about family and family always comes first. Though with the kind of work we do, it gets tough, but one has to make time.
Am a heart over head kind of person and often make decisions from the heart.

Crazy about
My daughter, Manini. Fatherhood is the most awesome feeling in the world, nothing comes close.
Also, love traveling and have been to almost every state in India and widely traveled across the world.

What rejuvenates you?
Nothing does it more than a good family holiday with nothing to do but eat, drink and sleep. Also, spend time watching movies and reading.

Love food
Totally love eating out and try all sorts of cuisine. Favourite Food - Greek and Chinese.

Movies
Love sitting at home and watching movies on DVD. Also, have almost 10 seasons of MASH, my favourite TV show which my wife, Meera and I watch most nights.

Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer (for Indian Idol-1&2/Fame Gurukul/Style on Star world/Milan Fashion Week on Star world/Ad world on BBC world) Director (MTV Hero Honda Roadies Season 1) at Miditech has been in companionship of books from the beginning but it nurtured during his college days at St.Stephens in Delhi where he was doing his BA Hons and onwards? in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

--Who introduced you to reading?
My father. I remember him reading through loads and loads of books when I was a kid.

--Kind of book collection you have
Have all sorts of books, from big picture books to current favorites. Have a lot of books from my grandfather's collection. He used to invest a lot in books and was always up to date on his reading. I have a lot of books on history, as I did my BA (Hons) in history; wish we had some of them in college though!! I also have a little book in which I keep a record of the books I have read!!! :-)

--On favorite authors and well written books
"RK Narayan" is my all time favorite author, have read all his books.
Another well written book is "The World is flat" by Thomas L. Friedman.

--Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read
Always look out for interesting stuff and underline it if I ever want to refer to it. Choose books by browsing in book shops, especially the Oxford Book Store in Mumbai and also airports. Also, read everything recommended by my elder brother, Niret.

--What do you think of self help books?
Not much. Somehow they all seem too complicated and take life too seriously and almost always convince you in the first chapter that "You're a loser, now read on".

--Money and time you spend on books
No problems on spending money on books, if they need to be read and are worth it. Always have the book I am reading in my bag, wherever I am.

--Your reading pace
Depends on how busy work gets. Sometimes I manage to finish very fast but sometimes a book drags on for a couple of months too!!

--Your first book
"The Children's Bible".

--Browsing and e-reading
Just news websites. An E-reading book somehow does not do it for me.

--Currently you are reading
"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle.

--Books that do not hold you
Usual American Fiction Stuff.