In our movies like in real life, we expect lovers to be young and restless. Indian psyche tutors us that men and women beyond 50 do not need a sexual dialogue or depiction. Aged people and their desires, as a Made in Heaven episode showed us, make us cringe.

There is the India that outrages over the Surf Excel ad and wonders how Yogi Adityanath maintains his mane. This is the India unperturbed by the brutalisation of women in “other India” that lives Pollachi, in Kathua, in Unnao. The general public, the news media, folks on social media, don’t hear of the other India.

How do you delegitimise a woman’s expectation of justice in a case of sexual assault and break her spirit? As Kerala MLA PC George showed us, label her a “prostitute”. Tell her that she “enjoyed it”. Tell her that she “invited it upon herself”.

When you are at the brink, caught between trudging on and ending it all, an understanding look or reassuring hand – or even the memory of a dead uncle – can make all the difference.

The reactions to actor Sri Reddy’s semi-nude protest at MAA have been described as “disgusting” and “embarrassing”. But the only thing viewers should be embarrassed about, are the predators Reddy has named and shamed.

In a 300-film career spanning more than 50 years, you’d be hard pressed to find an occasion when Sridevi has spoken off-screen. Whether in controversy, celebration, or grief, Sridevi remained quiet.

The actress that Malayalam superstar Dileep conspired to assault, had “transgressed” and had to be “punished” for it. But what happens when the victim rejects her victimhood?

“Bad touch” caught me by surprise in many different ways while I was growing up. Unwarranted proximity suffocated me. After one point, no one could touch me.