Books that changed my perception

Thanks to Baradwaj Rangan (BR) for giving the idea for this blog post!! BR had a query to his readers on Books that changed you. I did call out the list of books that influenced me in his comments section. Here I am giving an elaborated version for your reading pleasure 😀 I grew up reading all kinds of magazines and books. During my school years, we got pretty much

 

When They See Us – Horrors of Injustice

Official Trailer: When They See Us Netflix series explores the human side of wrong conviction by justice system, suffering through jail term, not able to get a job and have a life after the release, and how the stigma continues to haunt them. Series is based on famous Central Park Five event that rocked USA in 1989. While the event happened in US, functioning of justice system, and social prejudices

 

Chernobyl – the Cost of Lies, Deception, and Suppression of Dissent

Official Trailer: What is the cost of lies is the central question Chernobyl asks in HBO miniseries (5 episodes). What sets this series apart is that it keeps the narration to human-centric, how the scientists, firemen, miners, soldiers, and physicians sacrificed their life, not all of them knew what they are getting in to, to contain the damage and saved lives. Director does show and nail how the political establishment

 

Fast Cuts – Lucifer and Intimate Strangers

Lucifer – movie starts with a promise and premise but loses steam as it progresses. Movie takes the time to introduce the characters, few characters are well etched, like Bobby, but most of the characters don’t realize their potential. Focus seems to be on style than substance. Mohanlal has a role which he could do in his sleep. Most of the movie he walks in slo-mo, we get repeated shots

 

In-flight Entertainment – Saviour in the skies

International flights are like marriage. First time, there is that thrill and excitement. Newness, freshness. New experience. As you keep flying more often, excitement wears off. With marriage, other commitments, and life changing events kick-in that keeps the marital relationship interesting. But with long duration flights, where it takes 20+ hours, it becomes an ordeal. As a person who has been taking international long-haul flights regularly, post few initial flights,

 

30 years of Apoorva Sagodharargal – one of the best masala entertainers where Appu steals the heart

[SPOILERS AHEAD…] When the movie came out 30 years back, it became talk of the town. It felt like magic, should I say circus trick, to see a tall and dwarf Kamal in the same shot. Yes, we have seen two Rajni, Sivaji, MGR, Kamal earlier but none like this. How did they pull it off? It may look easy now with current CGI techniques but this was before CGI

 

Super Deluxe – A Director’s cut that is a wholesome cinematic experience

[SPOILERS AHEAD…] Official Trailer: First things first, this kind of movie is a first for Kollywood. Last few years we have got new crop of promising directors like Manikandan, Lenin Bharathi, Karthik Subbaraj, Mysskin, Prem Kumar, Maari Selvaraj, Vijay Kumar, Nalan K, Lokesh (and few more) who have brought in new blood to Kollywood with their interesting stories and narrative style. Thiagarajan Kumararaja (TK) has raised the bar with his

 

Musings – Jacinda Ardern, Sapiens

Listening to the news last 10+ days, I am of the opinion that we should add Jacinda Ardern to our PM choice list 😄 Jacinda Ardern’s response post Christchurch killings came as a ray of hope when the rest of the world political leadership is crumbling. What we usually hear from our political leadership, including ours, post an attack similar to this, is one of war rhetoric. We will hunt

 

Run up to Election 2019 – Answering the Wrong Question

Part 1              Part 2 Seven phase election expected to kick start April 11. Most to all will be engaged in heated discussions, whom to vote, which party, why or why not, and how to vote. Depending on who you are or who you are talking to invariably discussion comes to the critical juncture with the question, who will you choose between Modi Vs Rahul? Huh!! If it had been TN