Look, if you told me five years ago that my favorite genre of movies was the kind where Don Lee (the human equivalent of a refrigerator with feelings) suplexes a nine-tailed fox spirit through a convenience store kimchi display, I’d have called you a shaman. Demon Hunters is that movie. It’s Train to Busan on... Continue Reading →
Riddick-ulous: How Vin Diesel Outruns Physics, Bioraptors, and Good Writing
When the World Ends, At Least We Won’t Have Emails (Or Good Acting). The Therapeutic Allure of Apocalyptic Cinema In an era where daily life often feels like an endless cycle of trivial obligations—commutes, emails, and fleeting distractions—apocalyptic films offer a peculiar form of solace. Philosophers of modern psyche have noted that imagining total collapse... Continue Reading →
The Eurasian Hoopoe: Hammer-Headed Keymaster
The Eurasian Hoopoe is my Proustian madeleine. I do not see enough Hoopoes nowadays, that whenever I spot one, I am taken back to childhood sunny gardens, chasing them away on aimless afternoons. Their fleeting presence evokes a warm nostalgia, stirring an innocent joy that’s hard to recapture. Mike Unwin, in his evocative book "Around... Continue Reading →
Soapstone Secrets: The Chalukyan Marvel of Itagi
In the eminently watchable movie The Mummy, dashing adventurers Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) go in search of the mythical Egyptian City of the Dead, Hamunaptra. They journey across the arid Sahara, reaching the location, but they still cannot locate the town. "It is here," reassures Rick, even as the posse waits in... Continue Reading →
Airavateswara’s Whisper: Chola Artistry in Granite
The Airavateswara Temple in Darasuram, the final stop in my journey through the three UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples, left an indelible mark on my soul. Having earlier marveled at the grandeur of the Periya Koil in Tanjavur and the Brihadeesvara Temple in Gangai Konda Cholapuram, I found Darasuram to be a distinct yet equally... Continue Reading →
The Shikra: Nature’s GTI For Viewing Pleasures
"Twenty-five thousand rupees, sir," the voice on the phone announced. "Actually, twenty-five thousand nine hundred, but I’ve given you a discount." The bill was for my Baleno, my trusty maroon hatchback, now seven years old. Just last month, I took it on a longish drive. It climbed the steep hairpin bends of the Dhimmam ghats... Continue Reading →
Climbing the Steps of Time: Sithannavasal’s Jain Heritage
Sithannavasal was not on my list when I started out from Mysore. My plan had been to spend as much time as possible in the three Chola Temples at Tanjavur. Mira wanted to spend time at the farm with her grandparents. Neha was travelling for business. I realised I had 4 days to myself. Usually,... Continue Reading →
Beneath the Bodhi Tree: Anuradhapura’s Enduring Spirit
Anuradhapura. The Ancient Buddhist City The first thing that struck me in Anuradhapura - Sri Lanka’s ancient capital (4th century BCE–11th century CE) - was the lotus-covered ponds flanking the roads. Lilies and lotuses bobbed gently in the still waters, their delicate petals a vivid contrast to the earthy surroundings. In Theravada Buddhism, the lotus... Continue Reading →
From Grandeur to Apathy: The Decline of Indian Architecture
The decline of Indian architecture over recent centuries demands scrutiny. Bangalore, for instance, is plagued by uninspired, poorly executed buildings crammed into chaotic urban landscapes. Even well-funded government projects in prime locations often result in contractor-driven monstrosities. The recently opened Terminal 2 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport shows glimmers of ambition with its vaulted ceilings,... Continue Reading →
Guardians of Time: Reflections at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Rajendra Cholan’s 11th-century masterpiece. Its stone guardians and shadowed sanctum evoke a millennium’s weight, humbling all who enter. This temple, woven of stone and time, endures eternally.
You must be logged in to post a comment.