Articles

“Paani Chala Gaya”: Why India Will Never Have its The Shape of Water

Would the creature from The Shape of Water, who needs to stay hydrated all the time, fall in love in India, staring at its own version of the water crisis? He might be an anti-hero instead, avenging the loss of his habitat from the worst of us.

Runa Mukherjee June 7, 2016

People

The Shoe-Keeper Who Donated ₹61 Lakh to Vrindavan’s Cows

Yashoda Dasi came to Mathura to seek refuge in Lord Krishna’s abode after she lost her family. Forty years on, she has earned the moniker of the protector of cows after she donated ₹61 lakh to a gaushala.

Saurabh Sharma June 7, 2016

Bollywood

Only 90s Kids will Remember: Sumeet Saigal, Avinash Wadhawan, and 50 Shades of Hamming from Forgotten Heroes

While watching Aayush Sharma in Loveyatri, I was reminded of the stock ’90s hero – someone who had the inherent talent of hamming and could champion patriarchy while celebrating matriarchy; could flex muscles as well as emotions; and become taller, sharper and stronger as the narrative progressed.

Sayantan Mondal June 7, 2016

Features

Bandish Bandits: Can A Couple With Nothing in Common Stay Together?

In Amazon Prime Video’s Bandish Bandits, we’re introduced to a young couple, who have very little in common, apart from their shared love for music. Despite their differences, however, they manage to persevere, which raises the question: Can a couple with nothing in common stay together?

Arré Bench June 7, 2016

Love and Sex

Dating Games: From Heathcliff to Harami No 1

Your average men with their average-sized members are dumping gorgeous women on whimsical grounds. Men are playing a game of musical chairs with gorgeous women available on Tinder.

The Dire June 7, 2016

Pop Culture

Valerian and the Slow Rise of Cli-Fi

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets isn’t a climate-change movie, but a healthy reminder of a collective anxiety artists feel about the future of the planet.

Parthshri Arora June 7, 2016

POV

Sabarimala vs Triple Talaq: Dear PM, There’s No Choice Between Hindu & Islamic Oppression of Women

In a rare interview, PM Modi stated that banning triple talaq has helped secure gender equality, but the Sabarimala ban on women is a tradition that has nothing to do with discrimination. But if treating women’s bodies as sacrilege isn’t blatant discrimination, what is?

Kahini Iyer June 7, 2016

Coronavirus

Why the Weight of 2021 Feels More than 2020

Lockdown 2.0 has opened the floodgates to remnant anxiety from last year. The past year, in spite of the challenges that we were confronted with, we revelled in the novelty of the work-from-home life and the liberty it donned on us to pursue other interests. This time around, it feels like there is no imminent end to misery.

Sahej Marwah June 7, 2016

Gender

How to Spot a Faux Feminist

The highly educated, the upper-middle-class millennial... no one is free from stereotyping gender. Best described as faux feminists, they are concentrated mostly in the metros. You’ll hear them say something completely “harmless”, for instance, “Girls LOVE shopping!” or “ Women CAN’T drive.”

Devrupa Rakshit June 7, 2016

POV

9/11 and the Upshot of Flashbulb Memory

The explanation for the HD recollection of 9/11 lies in "flashbulb memories". For me, they’re a welcome reminder that human beings are actually not dead inside.

Akhil Sood June 7, 2016