Arbitrary Obsessions. Cities. History. Music. Feminism. Maami-isms. Patterns. Halwa. Identities. Free Verse. The Internets.

Poem: Sitting in a Theatre

Sitting in a theatre, mostly empty.
Perhaps this is how I like films.
From the front row. The screen
eating me. No commentary.
But not silent.
Exactly how life should be perhaps.
Front row, clean, with space.
But not empty enough to be creepy.
And perhaps a warm (even if clammy)
hand. To hold. Tighter when it’s time.
And Exit signs clearly marked.
Even in [...]

Film: Kaminey

I haven’t felt like this after watching a film in a long time. Actually, there are a few films in the last two years that have really made me happy – Manorma – Six Feet Under, Gulaal, Dev D, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and now – Kaminey.
There are some films that you know – [...]

Poem: A Holy River

At the holy river, by the ghats,
Mother sheds her usual shame.
She wears her black petticoat.
Her numerous sins. And little else.
The little one is asked to join.
For even at six, one has aleady -
stolen, lied, kissed and cheated.
Her father guards the clothes.
Dirt sticks to her tiny feet.
But she is told that this is holy.
The river, the [...]

Media and women

While I appreciate the sentiments in this post, I am troubled by the perceived black and whites. She writes for instance –
A very recent example would be an Indian website called Savita Bhabhi where a middle aged Indian housewife is seduced by everyone from the door-to-door salesman to her young neighbours. This works at [...]

Film: Love Aaj Kal

I had such high hopes of Love Aaj Kal. Despite knowing that Deepika Padukone can’t act. I mean if Farah could get her to emote, anything can happen. And this is Imtiaz Ali. Of Jab We Met. And even better, Socha Na Tha.

This is not a bad film – but Ali departs from his [...]

Cricket, poems and wickets

I’d stopped following cricket during the madness that followed the match fixing scandal. But somewhere over the last few years – I’ve been drawn back to the game. I can’t help but root for England in the Ashes. As such I will root for any team playing against the Aussies.
Around the workplace – the [...]