Anand Neelakantan's first book in the Bahubali trilogy traces the story of Queen Mother Sivagami's rise to power from the time she was 17. Sivagami is touted to be one of the most iconic and enigmatic characters in the story. Illustration/Uday Mohite

It's a sweltering afternoon in Bandra and we are seated in the cool confines of a cafe when a steel blue Mercedes halts right outside. Writer Anand Neelakantan, who is on the driver's seat, steps out and after a quick exchange of pleasantries, pushes forth a request: "Could we do the interview in the car, instead? It will save me towing trouble."