This November, although I was physically in Delhi, I spent most of the month mentally wandering the streets of Naples. I was immersed in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, and I’m still not sure how to fully describe the experience. The four books, spanning 1700 odd pages was one of the most powerful literary encounters I’ve … Continue reading Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet
Shame: Steve McQueen’s Shame - a deep dive into the psyche of a sex addict had Micheal Fassbender pull off a great effort. The inability to get aroused with romantic partners, the porn-addiction and his eventual spiral towards a violent climax was a gripping watch. Hunger: The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of … Continue reading What I Watched – November 2025
In his lecture on Othello, the critic Harold Bloom has this memorable line: “Shakespeare was the greatest theorist of sexual jealousy the world had ever seen before the advent of Freud and Proust”. While ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ had jealousy as one of its themes, it is in Othello that Shakespeare explores this in all … Continue reading Othello
I’ve never been to Goa. If I had to travel all the way from Delhi to visit a state that has lush greenery, beaches, Portuguese monuments, good food and a rich history, I’d rather go home to Kozhikode and spend time with my parents. Goa is now a ‘destination’, a ‘vibe’, a ‘lifestyle’ and a … Continue reading I’m yet to visit Goa
My little one recently represented her school in an inter-school quiz competition. True to form, she got eliminated in the first round itself. On reaching home, she tested my knowledge of the questions that tripped her. Authoritatively, I was informed that Pani-Puri was discovered by Draupadi. For someone who has read the whole of the … Continue reading Draupadi and Pani Puri
A. Kanyakumari performed at the Kerala School, RK Puram this evening. The two and a half hour violin recital was lively and the 74-year old Kanyakumari kept engaging with the audience. Vatapi Ganapathim, Hamsadhwani, Muttusamy Diskshitar composition Endaro Mahanubavulu, Sri Ragam, Thyagaraja's Pancharatna krithi Janani Ninuvina, Reetigowla, Shyama Shastri composition Composition in Ragam Ganga which … Continue reading A. Kanyakumari at Kerala School, RK Puram
Last week I spent three days in Nashik and managed to get a glimpse of certain aspects of this fine city. Nashik has many claims to fame — from being India’s largest onion producer to its robust industrial base, currency press, artillery training center, pleasant climate, iconic Misal Paav, and of course, its well-earned reputation … Continue reading Nashik Notes
I got to hear Vivek Moozhikulam live for the first time this evening. He sang for two and a half hours at the Subh Siddhi Vinayaka Mandir in Mayur Vihar. I liked his voice and he justified his tag of a rising star of Carnatic Music. Sudhha Dhanyasi. (couldnt recognise the krithi he sang) Ganapathiye … Continue reading Vivek Moozhikulam at the Siddhi Vinayaka Mandir
At 1100 pages, Bleak House was my second 1000+ work that I tackled this year (the previous one being War and Peace). Bleak House is not Dickens’ most popular work but it’s a novel that’s been cited as his best by numerous critics. Its also his longest. I haven’t read Marx’s appreciation of Dickens but … Continue reading Dickens’ ‘Bleak House’
With great difficulty, Sruthi and I managed to reach the venue on time. The choice of organizing this in Dwarka was quite perplexing. Anyways, the Prince, with his typical wit, charm and humour took time to explain each piece. He sang for two hours accompanied by S.R. Vinu on the violin, B. Harikumar on the … Continue reading Prince Rama Varma at CCRT Auditorium Dwarka
