Articles

CAA Did What I Could Not – Convinced My Grandparents to Question the BJP Government

Ever since 2013, my grandparents have been on a mission to Modi-fy me. A barrage of fake news greeted me on WhatsApp every morning, until it abruptly stopped. Shortly after the nationwide protests against CAA and NRC, my grandparents started to see reason. They started questioning the BJP’s policies.

Tanvi Khemani March 17, 2016

Gender

Zero GST Has Made Sanitary Napkins Cheaper But Are They Safer?

For most women who find it difficult to imagine their periods without sanitary pads, cost and features remain the top priority. The GST exemption too aims to serve this mentality. But we should be focusing on, is whether the pad you use for five days a month is harming your body.

Priyanjana Roy March 17, 2016

Modern Family

Mission: Doobie with Daddy

One fine day, I discovered that my Kishore Kumar-loving dad and I have a lot more in common than I thought. He loves Mary J as much as I do.

Blazin' Ace March 17, 2016

Gender

House Work is Real Work: Indian Women Deserve to Be Paid for Running Their Households

On the campaign trail in northern Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Kamal Hassan assured payment to homemakers for housework if his party MNM was voted to power, recognising it as unmonetised labour. But the debate around housework in India isn’t new.

Arré Bench March 17, 2016

Bollywood

Namaste England Review: 2007 Called, Even They Don’t Want this Film Back

In Namaste England, Parineeti Chopra plays a UK-sexual. She abandons her husband, an expressionless Arjun Kapoor, to leave for London with a random man who can provide her citizenship. Nobody has said “Fuck it, I’m off to London” in such a rush since Vijay Mallya.

Jackie Thakkar March 17, 2016

POV

Everything is Fair in Water and War: How I Beat 10-year-olds at Swimming

I never learned to swim as a child; my landlocked family believed that Maths tuition was a more pressing investment. So at 25, when I signed up for classes at Very Maharashtrian Sports ComplexTM, I was in the company of only 10-year-olds. Suddenly, the moustache I grew over the summer felt like a terrible idea.

Pulkit Arora March 17, 2016

Sports

Sorry Novak Djokovic, it’s Impossible to Defend you this time

After his deportation from Australia, the world’s best tennis player, Novak Djokovic looks set to also miss the French Open. The Serb has not always been likeable, but in flouting Covid rules, and endangering others he has crossed a line from where his legend now seems irredeemable.

Rupha Ramani March 17, 2016

Love and Sex

Congratulations Millennials, You’ve Now Killed The Wedding Proposal

A long-forgotten classmate announces he’s getting hitched, and from that point on, it’s likes, camera, action. Social media has turned the simple proposal into an affair more elaborate than the Royal Wedding and Modiji’s inauguration ceremony put together.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 17, 2016

Love and Sex

My Tinder Bio: Not Here to Mother 20-Somethings

As a single Indian woman in my late 30s on Tinder, I’m a rare breed. I recognise “u up” as the millennial mating call. But I draw the line at “I’m really into older women” because that’s Indian guyspeak for “Please be my substitute momma.”

Ramya Pandyan March 17, 2016

Features

It’s a Wrap. And the India Film Project Awards Go To…

With 1721 films made across 18 countries, India Film Project’s 50-Hour Filmmaking Challenge wrapped up this year’s virtual content festival with 15 winning films. Have a look at the short films here.

Arré Bench March 17, 2016