Some of the most satisfying works of fiction often defy any attempt at categorization. These stories that tell the truth about us by telling us lies about people that never existed (Stephen King’s definition, not mine!) are as ambitious about the diverse categories of...
“We were used to partial stories” Nathaniel, the protagonist of Michael Ondaatje’s seventh novel ‘Warlight’, tells us in the opening pages of this remarkable novel that is part spy novel in the low-key John Le Carre tradition, part coming-of-age story in the post war...
Stephen King wrote in Danse Macabre that “the horror tale manages to consistently satisfy even when it’s only good. When it’s great, it can deliver a megaton of wallop that other forms of literature can rarely equal”. As a lifelong genre fan, I agree whole-heartedly....
An old Hindi song from my childhood had the following memorable lyrics- अमन के दुश्मन जंग के बेटे भूल गये अब चाल ऍटम बॉम्ब से जा टकराया वीर जवाहरलाल (enemies of peace, sons of war have all forgotten their moves. The Brave Jawaharal went and took atom bomb head-on)....
Vinayak Damodar or “Swatantryaveer” Savarkar, has been subject to some of the most bitter exchanges in today’s social discourse. With the Congress led left propogandists often dismiss him as a coward who pleaded for clemency. However, outside social media and...
In a South Indian film I had seen in my childhood (most probably Shankarabharanam but I am not sure), there is a telling scene where some young kids fooling around with modern musical instruments get into an argument and subsequent bet with a classical Carnatic...
