My Bai, the Cleaner of My Conscience
Posted inPeople

My Bai, the Cleaner of My Conscience

Even though it’s been years since I sat for an exam, the moment my maid rings the doorbell at 8 am, I break into the kind of cold sweat I’d experience before entering an examination hall. Each time she empties the ashtray into the bin, she gives me a judgey glance and every beer bottle elicits a standard response, “Itni daaru!”
When Has the Indian Press Truly Been Free?
Posted inPOV

When Has the Indian Press Truly Been Free?

There’s been a series of high-profile resignations at ABP News. The Indian media seems to be experiencing a dark period, as evidenced by our ranking on the Press Freedom Index. In these times, it’s important to hold on to the moments when the Indian media did display a backbone.
Posted inBooks

In Defence of Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Books’

For years I followed the dictum that rejecting Bhagat’s work was some sort of qualifier for a better, more intellectual palate. It is perhaps ‘woke’ to trash his books. But it took me years to realise that he may have done more for reading in this country, than any other author writing in his time.
Posted inPop Culture

Bollywood Romances Don’t Work the Way They Used To

On paper, Brahmastra had every right to think it would revive the larger-than-life romance. The fact that none of the Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt spark translates on screen says a lot about mainstream Hindi cinema’s dated ideas, and the modern viewer’s demand for nuance.