Journal entry | The only way out is through

I realize that most journal entries I make here are sad ones.  I don’t publish the happy ones because mostly they feel like blowing my own trumpet; but more importantly there isn’t much soul-searching content there. As much as I wish that the soul searching, healing and re-inventing happens on the happier plane of life,...

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai | A literary genius

‘The Inheritance of Loss’ is a story of 'Cho-Oyo' and it's surrounding homes created at the foot of Kanchenjunga in Darjeeling. Pulled forward by a handful of seemingly mundane characters, the story wriggles its way to conclusion at an unapologetically slow pace. Kiran Desai, daughter of the critically acclaimed author Anita Desai, follows her mother's...

The Hinduism agenda!

Thoughts on the Ram Mandir spectacle at Ayodhya The Prime Minister of the country inaugurating the Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi turned out to be a spectacle unlike any other in India on 22nd of January this year. Why it was unlike any is simply because a religious event was politicized beyond anyone’s control and...

Kantara: A giant leap of faith.

[This essay has been recognized with a 'Certificate of Merit' at the Chidananda Dasgupta Memorial Film Criticism competition organized by FIPRESCI-India. The essay has been published and owned by the same. Published version available here.] In a world where faith plays a role bigger than most tangible forces, a filmmaker subjects himself to hand burns...

Journal entry – carpe diem?

Its one of those times when my faith is tested to its limits, again. There’s a line in one of my favourite devotional songs from Bollywood that goes ‘Bhakti ko shakti do’, which means ‘give power to devotion’. It implies that if we pray hard enough, that could be our superpower. I have believed firmly...

Porphyria’s Lover | Full analysis

This post is the script of my YouTube video. The channel is created to channel my love for literature in video form. For the first episode, we’re discussing one of my most favourite poems; Porphyria’s Lover by Robert Browning. In terms of complexity, it’s a rather simple poem; but it is considered to be one...

How I’m Jain, and also Hindu

More than once I’ve been asked - why do I believe in and worship Hindu Gods being Jain? Jains aren’t Hindus apparently; that’s what we’re taught. You’ll meet a number of Jains in South India who are extremely guarded about worshipping Jain deities only. They don’t ever speak ill of polytheists, they’ll probably even visit...

Cruella | Disney Hotstar

Disney’s ‘Cruella’ is, as always, a signature Disney item. A unique girl (unique because she’s born with some strikingly uncommon hair) finds herself in circumstances that allow her a journey of self invention and reinvention. A dream for many, of course. But not in the way she has it – because Estella or Cruella, played...

Journal entry | Looking for hope

For the first time ever today, I felt like there’s a dangerous cache of unresolved anger within me that could surface at the most inconvenient time and make things difficult for myself. I’m usually one of those overly positive people – attempting to see the best in every situation, romanticising the littlest experiences, finding memories...

12th Fail | Now that’s how you tell stories.

The first movie of the year has been, I daresay, accomplishing to watch. ‘12th Fail’ on Disney Hotstar is a treat. There are two ways a biopic can be made – one complete with realism and another with transparent creative liberty; and 12th Fail is the best a filmmaker can do in the latter category....