Articles

How Do We Make Mumbai Actually Liveable? Pretend We’re in Manhattan

Mumbai, with its crumbling infrastructure and open gutters, has become a nightmare. The truth is that Indian cities can be so infuriating at times that we’ve created our own special way of dealing with them – we pretend the problems don’t exist.

Mudra May 2, 2016

POV

It Takes Just One Teacher To Change Your Life

When my parents expected me to pursue medicine, my tuition teacher pointed out to my mother that I had a flair for English. Today, I find myself in this beautiful place in life where I tell stories for a living. It’s true: All it takes is one person to believe in you.

Karima Khan May 2, 2016

Love and Sex

My Adventures in BDSM Wonderland

Until I discovered BDSM, I used to be a coy lover. For me, the real joy was that I could act out my fantasies – a storyline where I was slapping and fake-throttling someone.

Rukmini M May 2, 2016

Bollywood

Mumbai Gangster Movies Ka King Kaun? Satya

Long before RGV Ki Aag and Guns and Thighs, Ram Gopal Varma gave us a masterful Mumbai gangster movie like Satya. Crime films need characters, not caricatures – they need real grime, not artistically recreated versions of it. They don’t make films like Satya anymore.

Damian D'souza May 2, 2016

Features

Lights, Camera, Action! Channel Your Inner Imtiaz Ali & Create Magic with OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G

You don’t need fancy equipment, hundreds of cameras, a huge crew, and big bucks to create good content anymore. All you need is OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. Even director Imtiaz Ali swears by it.

Aditya Bhalla May 2, 2016

Sports

What Dutee Chand’s Coming Out Means for Indian Womanhood

Dutee Chand has come a long way: She’s won a fight against the sexist, transphobic practices of the International Olympic Committee. And now, she has come out as being in a same-sex relationship. The small-town athlete continues to challenge outdated notions of womanhood, just by being herself.

Kahini Iyer May 2, 2016

Bollywood

Vivek Oberoi: The Man Who Could Have Been a Superstar

While the first half of Vivek Oberoi’s career remains a lesson in how not to mess with Bollywood heavyweights, the second half is a case study in how sometimes it’s best to keep one’s trap shut. Is it any wonder then that in 2020, Vivek Oberoi is known more for his political affiliation and a questionable taste in memes than his acting prowess?

Jackie Thakkar May 2, 2016

Gender

“Ban the Burqa, No Ripped Jeans”: When Will We Stop Telling Women What They Can or Cannot Wear?

If you support the ban of a piece of clothing – a burqa, ghunghat, or a skirt – you’re still supporting the idea that women’s bodies, and what they put on them, can and should be subjected to regulation. Why should the world decide whether a woman should be behind a veil or cover her legs?

Sonali Kokra May 2, 2016

Gender

Priya Ramani’s Victory Has Given Us Hope, But How Long Will Women Be Forced to Prove Their Innocence?

Priya Ramani’s victory has given us all hopes, but I cannot shake the feeling that she succeeded in proving herself innocent and the man who assaulted her still is free. So it seems there will be other times when women will be forced to prove their innocence.

Manjiri Indurkar May 2, 2016

Pop Culture

Olivia Colman’s Best Actress Speech is the Realest Oscars Moment in Years

At a time when award ceremonies – especially the Academy Awards – are proving to be woefully predictable while striving only for political correctness, the unrehearsed-ness of Olivia Colman’s winning moment felt a little too precious. The Oscars still continue to appeal because they promise us surprising moments like these.

Poulomi Das May 2, 2016