Arts/Literature

The Grandeur of Kindness

Alone, down and dull, lost in my thoughts, at a chaotic airport I stood in a queueA raspy voice said, “after you”, my heart warmed, my eyes tearedIn a toxic…

Who Gets Remembered? Censoring ‘Phule’ and Bahujan Erasure in Hindi Cinema

Cinema has long stood as one of India's foremost socio-cultural conduits, both mirroring societal realities and collective imagination. However, when the bodies (CBFC) tasked with overseeing films become tools for…

Strongly Condemn the Delay of Phule Film

I saw this news on 10th April morning that this great film Phule, which was meant to be released on 11 April (today), has been stopped by the CBFC. The…

Inside the Mind of the Modern Incel: Understanding Teenage Boys in the Age of ‘Adolescence’

Netflix’s latest sensation 'Adolescence' may appear to be a gripping murder mystery on the surface, but beneath it lies a deep psychological exploration into the minds of today’s teenage boys.…

“To Love Somebody”: An Iconic Bee Gees Song about Unrequited Love

The heart itself has its own reason the reason itself cannot understand – Blaise Pascal There's a lightA certain kind of lightThat never shone on meI want my life to…

Caste in the Courtroom: A Review of Court

The 2025 movie “Court - State vs. A Nobody” is a Telugu courtroom drama centering around the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO)-2012 as a…

Children Of A Lesser God

More than a century ago, in 1918 to be precise, 400 Adivasis from Chotanagpur were taken as indentured laborers to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. For the most part, they…

Happening

Out of a seed in the groundcomes a flower. Miracle!Out on the branch of a treecome blossoms in spring.Out from the blossoms fruit growsdelighting senses.And an offering of food. Out…

Mama Miti

1 I made Sisters out of branch and leaf 2 I met the Earth and called it brother 3 The only prison is the denial of the Sun 4 I…

Why the movie L2: Empuraan needs to be watched?

Ever since the Malayalam film L2: Empuraan was released, it has been in the news. While it has been appreciated for its bold depiction of 2002 Gujarat riots and portrayal…

Empuraan: A reminder of preserving ravaged memories

The Malayalam film Empuraan has been embroiled in controversy due to its perceived depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Godhra train burning incident. The movie's portrayal of these…

‘Empuraan’: More than a film -A Political Reality Check

March 27th was one of the most anticipated days for movie buffs in Kerala, as it marked the release of Empuraan across India—the second part of Lucifer, which was released…

Losing Katie: How ‘Adolescence’ Erases the Victim While Examining the Incel Mind

As a mother of an eight-year-old, prepubescent daughter watching Adolescence was not easy. This Netflix 4 hour long, limited series has been praised for its impeccable acting, realistic shooting technique,…

Review of ‘Adolescence’: It matters to all!

While watching Adolescence, a four-part OTT series at Netflix, it could easily be related what nearly everyone in this world has gone through. Adolescence the pre-young age, which every man…

The Way of Community

1 There is only one border: Destiny 2 There is only one community: The Living 3 There is only one homeland: The Earth 4 A child is born: it is…

The Way of Doubt

1 What is greater a brother or a sister of the flesh or of the soul? 2 Put out a fire with another fire 3 Strength is the deepest knowledge…

The Parable of Food

There once was a little fish that swam happily in the sea. One day the little fish met a bigger fish. And the Big Fish said to the Little Fish:…

“Here Comes the Sun”

For glad spring has began,And to the ardent sunThe earth, long time so bleak,Turns a frost bitten cheek. – Celia Thaxter, American poet (1835-94) From Frank Sinatra to the Beatles,…

The Way of Eternity

1 It is speaking to you; ever speaking 2 Dip your hands inside the Waters: it is You. Breath in the Air: it is You. Eat: it is You. Love:…

Understanding Urdu poetry

Urdu poetry often has a literal, direct, superficial meaning, and an indirect, deeper, real meaning, which the poet conveys through metaphors, hints, suggestions, allegories and indications. So often one has…

Anora Film Review: Cinderella’s Flip Flop with No Prince Charming

The film Anora, as it opens, takes viewers for an unbridled voyeurism as a striptease bar is open where topless girls split their legs on silhouettes. Topless girls now are…

Kichhui To Holo Na – Nothing came of it

Composer: Rabindranath Tagore Singer: Vikram Singh Translation by Zeenat Khan Rabindranath Tagore Parjaay: Natya-geeti (14) Taal: Ara-Theka Raag: Mishra Jhinjhat Written on: 1881 Collection: Robichhaya Swarabitan: 35 Notation by:…

The Way of Art

1 Listen to the wind and dream 2 When creating always keep one eye on the Creation 3 Always ask: does my work serve Life? And if not, explain your…

No Other Land

Many years ago, there was a popular American song which one gustily sang at camps, picnics and other get-togethers. Thanks to its very catchy tune, it was always a hit.…

Gaza by the Sea

My wife and I have never been gamblers (with the exception of childhood card games) and never looked for the easy way out. We worked hard all our lives and…

Film on a rebel professor who faces State terror

Thanks, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya. It was such a rare cinematic experience, the film "A Knock on the Door", directed by Ranjan Palit, shown last evening. As the title suggests, it…

Painter spurned money in his lifetime, now his paintings fetch crores of rupees

There was such a fine ambience on the lawns of the CVSM museum, formerly Prince of Wales museum in Colaba last week for the release of a book on India’s…

‘Conclave’: Slick Drama Of An Untold Truth

How a Pope is to be elected, is all its essence, in today’s world marred by anti-religion movements, agnosticism, atheism and what not, has been mainstreamed in the film 'Conclave',…

Justice with Urdu

Knowledge of literature is of great utility to a judge ( which I had been for 20 years in India) in writing judgments, as it embellishes a judgment, and makes…

The Way of Prayer

1 You have hands. The Universe has hands. Put them together 2 Flowers open. You open. Endless opening 3 Water flows. You flow. Endless flowing 4 The sun gives. You…

The Song of the Stormy Petrel

' The Song of the Stormy Petrel ' ( see online ) was a poem written in March 1901 by the great Russian writer Maxim Gorky, and became known as…

A POLITICAL ACT of MURDER

a few seconds an old man, in torn dirty clothes, cautiouslyemerges from the blown-out shellof a charred building he walks with a canestooped, his head loweredthe old man’s eyesight is…

The Way of Every Day

1 I say: the Way is the Sacredness of Life. And you ask: But what of this day? 2 You are sad? You are angry? You fear? Ask yourselves: how…

The Way of God

1 The quest for God is a holy one; the quest for Life even more so 2 And you shall ask; and ask again; All is Asking 3 And you…

Madhumokhika: A surreal play with real conflict

Artists at National School of Drama performed Hillol Kumar Pathak's Madhumokhika at the theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav. Madhumokhika, the play, isn't just about surrealism intrigued smoothly into the mundane…

Walls

I am stupid.We are all stupid.We worship the idolsof human stupidity.We build walls. The alternativeis intimate and easy. People everywhere are waiting…Individually, people everywhereare waiting. Not for the promiseof perfection…

The Way of Love

1 To love Life is logical. To love is logical. Understand this and thrive 2 Suppression of emotion is not the way. Rather understand and transcend 3 It has been…

A February Poem – Ekusher Kabita

Written By Al Mahmud Recitation: Abdur Rahman Translated by Zeenat Khan Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (known as Al Mahmud; (11 July 1936 – 15 February 2019) was a Bangladeshi poet,…

The Ninny

This is one of the most astonishing short stories in the history of world literature, written by the Russian author Anton Chekhov: Just a few days ago I invited Yulia…

The Way of Creation

1 What is greater than life? The Creation. What is greater than the creation? The Creator. Love life, understand Creation, and, then, and only then, see The Creator 2 The…

Feeling Very Fine: Picasso the Printmaker at the British Museum

This is Pablo Picasso the way he is rarely seen – at least in so far as the hundred or so pieces at the British Museum’s Picasso: Printmaker have been…

Logos

1 Logos is Life 2 Logos is the argument of the universe; its divine message to Man. 3 Logos is not speech; although God is talking 4 Logos is not…

Proem: Traumas & Scholasticide

We are closed in, and the key is turnedon our uncertainty…We had fed the heart on fantasies,the heart’s grown brutal from the fare,more substance in our enmitiesthan in our love;…

The Way of Wisdom

1 Stoicism is cowardice disguising itself with reason. It is not a belief, but a psychological tactic. It is the ultimate defeat handed to us by the philosophers. 2 A…

The Way

1 You say: I shall commit evil for no one shall see. Know this: All is Seen 2 You say: You are a false prophet for behold: I, king, do…

Nazrul’s Reply to Nargis

Jaare Haath Diye Mala Ditey Paaro Nai / Keno Mone Rakho Taare The one you have not adorned with a floral garland / Why hold that onein your inmost memory…

100 Theses of Faith

1 I do not ask you to believe in me. I do not ask you to love me. I do not command you to fear. I but ask you to…

The White Rose

The light of reasonAnd the Higher LightAnd there is sanity in the light The fire of passionAnd that is LoveThe flow of passionate life Believe in the River of Crossing…

Agra:Riveting and Ruthless story of our Indian daily life

When I started to review the film Agra, selected for Director’s Fortnight, premiered at Cannes-2023, a Yoodle film, released in France in April 2024, available on Dailymotion.com/in, I was stuck…

The Vanishing

behind the shadow of her nakednessthe vanishingbehind the vanishingsilencebehind the silencecowardicebehind cowardicethe maskbehind the maskthe shattered mirrorbehind broken realitythe drought of shallow tearsthe frothing spate of ragethe hating fleshbehind the…