Society

When I read that "The Cut" had been shortlisted for The Hindu Playwright award in 2016, I was keen on watching it; so off I went to watch the play, staged by Theatre Nisha, a Chennai-based group, on Saturday, 27th May 2017. I'd read two reviews of the play, by Karan Pillai for The New Indian Express, on Jan 27, 2017  by Parshathy J Nath for The Hindu, on 30 Jan, 2017   I was expecting the sepia tones referred to in one, and the brilliant performances mentioned in the other (see photo below, from an earlier performance.)   The…

BBMP has announced a Vanamahotsav walkathon tomorrow, Sunday May 21st, to encourage the public to plant 10 lakh saplings in the city in order to increase green cover. It is seeking active public participation to make the drive successful. Just as #CitizensForBengaluru object and protest when trees are sacrificed unnecessarily, we will support and participate tomorrow, when the BBMP wants to re-afforest and build a sustainable Bengaluru. Citizen participation is key to ensure that the public money (₹5Cr) is well utilized. It should be noted that such planting of saplings is not a substitute for existing trees. Due to the…

BBMP has announced a Vanamahotsav walkathon tomorrow, Sunday May 21st, to encourage the public to plant 10 lakh saplings in the city in order to increase green cover. It is seeking active public participation to make the drive successful. Just as #CitizensForBengaluru object and protest when trees are sacrificed unnecessarily, we will support and participate tomorrow, when the BBMP wants to re-afforest and build a sustainable Bengaluru. Citizen participation is key to ensure that the public money (₹5Cr) is well utilized. It should be noted that such planting of saplings is not a substitute for existing trees. Due to the…

I thirst...Not for love, money orEven happiness.I thirst for waterTo quench the parched earthTo bring green to the brownTo bring fresh hope to those Who raise crops and food for us.I need waterTo fill the potsOf each slum-dwellerWho puts her (it's never a he)Vessel in a long line of colours,Waiting to drink, wash and live.I have had enough of grishma ritu.I want varsha...not just the odd showerOr thunderstorm, but a steady,Cloudy, drumming seasonThat will replenish the depletedPlateau,that we live onAnd call home.

I thirst...Not for love, money orEven happiness.I thirst for waterTo quench the parched earthTo bring green to the brownTo bring fresh hope to those Who raise crops and food for us.I need waterTo fill the potsOf each slum-dwellerWho puts her (it's never a he)Vessel in a long line of colours,Waiting to drink, wash and live.I have had enough of grishma ritu.I want varsha...not just the odd showerOr thunderstorm, but a steady,Cloudy, drumming seasonThat will replenish the depletedPlateau,that we live onAnd call home.

Last February, Marvel destroyed all their carefully set precedents by making a movie that the fans actually wanted to see: Deadpool. Deadpool was one of those movies that you had to be 18 to watch but 16 to fully appreciate. It features, to quote the makers, "God's perfect idiot, A hot chick, A British villain, The comic relief, A moody teen, A CGI character, A gratuitous cameo," and, if I might add, absolutely zero reverence for anything at all, ever. Deadpool is one of those quintessential teenage flicks - those movies where the theaters are packed with 16-year-olds with popcorn…

Last February, Marvel destroyed all their carefully set precedents by making a movie that the fans actually wanted to see: Deadpool. Deadpool was one of those movies that you had to be 18 to watch but 16 to fully appreciate. It features, to quote the makers, "God's perfect idiot, A hot chick, A British villain, The comic relief, A moody teen, A CGI character, A gratuitous cameo," and, if I might add, absolutely zero reverence for anything at all, ever. Deadpool is one of those quintessential teenage flicks - those movies where the theaters are packed with 16-year-olds with popcorn…

Today's youngsters have many more job and career opportunities opening up, rather than the usual aspiration to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. But as they dream about the ways they will make their living, I wonder how people get into far less noticed jobs. Here are two young men I noticed today The first one, along with another young man of about the same age, was suspended from the terrace of a building, painting the outside walls. It was quite hot in the open sun, and I am sure the entire day was spent this way, with perhaps breaks…

Today's youngsters have many more job and career opportunities opening up, rather than the usual aspiration to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. But as they dream about the ways they will make their living, I wonder how people get into far less noticed jobs. Here are two young men I noticed today The first one, along with another young man of about the same age, was suspended from the terrace of a building, painting the outside walls. It was quite hot in the open sun, and I am sure the entire day was spent this way, with perhaps breaks…

One of the inequalities of life is that children may not be allowed for many theatre productions...but adults can certainly go and enjoy children’s theatre. The enjoyment is all the more, when one goes with one’s own child...or grandchildren, because there are then multiple layers to the experience. There was a fairly large audience of children, accompanied by their parents or relatives,  to watch “How Cow Now Cow” by the Sandbox Collective a group that has just crossed its second birthday.   I have not watched the work of this young theatre group before, and I am always interested in…