What Sachit Thinks

Regular readers of this blog (numbering to about one), may have noticed that I've started using the style of 'chapters'.  This is to indicate that this is part of the series of articles I've written about ' Getting around in Bangalore ' This time, I'm writing about my observations while travelling in 'Namma Metro'. It's a medium of transport that I use often, and like it too. So in no particular order, here are some observations, thoughts and facts: Once you enter the metro station, you are subjected to a security check. Which amounts to putting your bag through the scanner and going through a metal detector body search. While this is fine, what I find obnoxious is that many times, I've found the security personnel not even looking at their computer screens! What kind of screening is that? One can either purchase a token for the journey or a travel card (costing Rs. 50). I find the travel card easier to use, since it's just a tap ...

Update at 16:00 on 12th December 2019 The results are out for NIOS exams conducted in October-November 2019. Click on the link here  results.nios.ac.in  And all the best! Update at 14.50 on 11th December 2019 We are very close to getting the results of the NIOS exams held in October-November 2019. The update since 10th December 2019 is "Coming soon". Even if you hit the 'Check Result' button and try, you won't get any result. I will update as soon as the results are out.

In the 'Getting around in Bangalore' series, I wanted to mention how difficult it is for one to walk around. So today,  I took the bus to come to work. It's half a km walk from the bus stop. But just look at this photograph... This is right in front of the Traffic Police HQ. Where does the pedestrian go after crossing the road? And here's another one.. I mean, where is the place to walk?

Haven't I told y'all, that of late I've given up driving on weekdays? Yes, you heard that right. I've boycotted my car and therefore driving on working days. Why, you might ask, have I given up the pleasure of driving on weekdays? Not rocket science this. The answer is simple, it's the ever-boding, omnipresent Bangalore traffic, you see. Having driven to my current office location daily for the past 15 years, I'd had enough. I was at the precipice of going mad and driving everyone mad around me! This had to stop. Therefore, I had to make a decision and arrived at two options to choose from - a) boycott driving and figure alternative ways of reaching office or b) boycott work and figure alternative ways of earning money. Surprisingly, the choice was not easy to make! Grudgingly, I chose a), but b) did die fighting, I must report. In a city like Bangalore, contrary to popular notion, getting around is not such a daunting task. With the right amount of patie...

After Hyderabad and Kolkata: Why India Is Asking What Makes a Rapist After Hyderabad and Kolkata: What Makes a Rapist? With the rape and murder of the Hyderabad veterinarian still raw in public memory, and more recently the horrific incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, it feels like the country’s collective patience has snapped. Each case follows a depressingly familiar pattern: outrage, protests, demands for instant justice, and a brief political scramble—until the next atrocity replaces it. A Society on the Edge In the aftermath of these crimes, there are always reports of mobs attempting to lynch the accused, parading them, or demanding extrajudicial punishment. It is not difficult to understand the rage. When justice appears slow, abstract, or performative, people begin to believe that fear is the only deterrent left. If the state cannot enforce a punishment that the average offender genuinely fears, there is a real danger...

Knives Out (2019) Review: A Whodunit with Wit, Class, and Razor-Sharp Writing Knives Out (2019): A Whodunit with Wit, Class, and Razor-Sharp Writing It's been a while since I saw a good whodunit film. And this one is a brilliant classic. Harking back to the days of Christie and Hitchcock movies, Knives Out does it with elan and panache. In an era dominated by franchises, reboots, and superhero fatigue, Knives Out arrives like a well-timed invitation to an old-world dinner party — familiar, elegant, and unexpectedly sharp. Rian Johnson doesn’t merely imitate the Agatha Christie template; he reinvents it with confidence and mischief. From the opening sequence — two German Shepherds (or were they Alsatians?) charging toward the camera in slow motion — the film announces its tonal assurance. This is a mystery that knows exactly what it is doing, and more important...

The Joker (2019) — Movie Review by Sachit Murthy The Joker (2019) — Movie Review It's not often that I come out of a theater in a trance. The last time I remember was when I saw The Green Mile . This was one such 'trance' event. The moment you leave the auditorium, the image of Joaquin Phoenix's Joker lingers like a haunting melody. Joaquin Phoenix: A Performance for the Ages Joaquin Phoenix has taken the art of acting to another stratosphere. Every movement, every laugh, every flicker of emotion is intensely precise. Even when he runs, it is the authentic Joker way of running. And when he laughs, the sound pierces you — simultaneously unnerving and tragic, eliciting both horror and empathy. Story, Themes, and Social Commentary At first glance, The Joker might seem like an 'against all odds' story. But the film runs far deeper than that. It is a profound exp...

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review: Tarantino’s Love Letter to an Era Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: A Song That Slowly Grows on You Like many people, I too have been a fan of Quentin Tarantino over the years. His cinema has always had a certain swagger — loud, unapologetic, bursting with pop culture references and stylised violence. So when I went for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , without having seen a single trailer, I genuinely didn’t know what to expect. What I didn’t expect was to be lulled. Because this is not Tarantino firing on all cylinders from the word go. This is Tarantino letting you settle into a rhythm. Letting you soak in a world. Letting you breathe. And then, almost without realising it, you’re hooked. This film is like a song that grows slowly on you. At first, you’re listening politely. Then you begin to notice the melody. And suddenly, somewhere near the end, you realise you’ve been humming along for ...

An Idea for National Integration: Twinning Indian States An Idea for National Integration: Twinning Indian States Now that Article 370 has effectively been rendered toothless, and all states and Union Territories are—at least constitutionally—on equal footing, it might be time to think beyond symbolism and explore new ways of strengthening national integration. Here’s an idea. The Concept: Twinning States Across the world, cities are often “twinned” with counterparts in other countries. In practice, these arrangements tend to be ceremonial—plaques, delegations, and little else. What if we borrowed the concept but gave it real substance? Instead of cities, we twin Indian states and Union Territories—with tangible, measurable benefits. How Twinning Could Work Tourism incentives: Tourists traveling between twin states could receive discounts, vouchers, or priority access to state-run facilities. Employment mobili...

Kashmir: A Two-Point Solution No One Wants to Try Kashmir: A Two-Point Solution No One Wants to Try Over the last two decades, there has been so much violence in Kashmir that it has become unbearable to watch, hear, or even read about. The tragedy feels endless, locked in a cycle of grief involving the familiar triumvirate: India, Pakistan, and the Kashmiris themselves (excluding Jammu and Leh–Ladakh here). There seems to be no end in sight to this cauldron of strife. An Impasse That Refuses to Move I do not know if this impasse will ever be resolved. Decades of diplomacy, militarisation, outrage, and mourning have produced remarkably little movement. But I believe there is a way forward. Just two points, really. 1. Hold the Plebiscite Having been promised since 1947, a referendum to decide the future of the region should finally be held. Ask Kashmiris—on both sides—what they want: Join India Join Pakistan Remain indepe...

URI: The Surgical Strike Review – When Nationalism Overpowers Cinema URI: The Surgical Strike — When Noise Replaces Nuance I’m writing this a bit late. I saw URI: The Surgical Strike with my wife on Valentine’s Day, 2019. As the credits rolled, my first reaction — and the first thing I told her — was simple: “Revenge begets revenge.” A couple of days later, Pulwama happened. The timing was chilling. That sentence — which felt philosophical inside a movie hall — suddenly felt prophetic. And it also made me reflect more deeply on what the film was trying to do, and more importantly, how it was doing it. Expectation vs Experience Truth be told, URI turned out exactly the way I expected it to be. Loud. Aggressive. Steeped in nationalistic jingoism. The emotional pitch was permanently set at “maaro saalon ko” — beat the bloody buggers — with little room left for pause, reflection, or complexity. Now, let me be clear. I h...