A Stale Fruit

Recently, I was asked a few questions by a very concerned company. One of which really struck me and I thought maybe I should share my response with the world.

They asked me if I think there is a great big company presently in the world which I believe can go down as happened with other major super corporations like Kodak, Nokia or Blackberry. Naturally, no company out there could have a prolonged lifespan unless they keep on changing with times. And I mean change in a big way. Let's first recall the devastating story of Kodak.

Kodak is a tragic story of a company being successfully leading the market for more than a century. What brought their demise was the very thing which made them great- their unwavering faith in their products, customer loyalty and tenacity. Sadly, they were in an industry which almost ceased to exist as the march of time led us all into a future where their products were no longer relevant. Being a player with over 90% share in the market would certainly have meant death for Kodak which eventually did happen. What they could’ve done is taken a revolutionary stance from early on when they perceived there could be such phenomenal changes in the industry. Even before their deterioration began, they should’ve jumped ship into segments where atleast survival was ensured, if not success. Their beloved photofilm category of products was something they could not let go of, while the rest of the world did away with traditional photofilm. Even their biggest competitor at a time- Fujifilm is diversified into development, production, sale and servicing of business document solutions, medical imaging and diagnostics equipment, cosmetics, regenerative medicine, stem cells, biologics manufacturing, optical films for flat panel displays, optical devices, photocopiers and printers, digital cameras, color film, color paper, photofinishing equipment, photofinishing chemicals, graphic arts equipment and materials.

As we move far and far into the future, the life of any company seems to become shorter and shorter. Today’s giants become almost extinct from public eyes in a matter of months. In such an era, any company which seems like they’re doing pretty well can go down like Blackberry and Nokia. The two company once synonymous with the most prominent and specific mobile devices in the market but eventually faded into oblivion.

My take on this could encompass many companies which we feel relevant today but won’t be so much tomorrow. On an ordinary day, I would’ve said Facebook as the users are declining rapidly and active users even more so. There is no area left to expand and no more innovations to integrate in. But, today, I’d like to highlight someone else. Yes, a company which is almost a living entity in itself. One of the world’s most valuable companies and the third largest tech company in the world. Yes, you’ve guessed it right- Apple inc. The company some find to be the most innovative and ground-breaking one. The company shows absolutely no signs of slowdown even when it steps into the next decade. Yet, I feel it can go down like the titanic. Why? Let’s find out:

• Apple products are too expensive with very limited utility- Their approach of providing most simplistic and stylistic products have become obsolete with advancing times. Now they’re a manufacturer known for making expensive stuff.

• No new products- Ever since the Ipod and Ipad came out, apple seems to have forgotten how to make a well liked trendsetting product. The new apple TV is useless and too expensive along with all other accessories they’ve come up with.

• Time’s up for Iphone- Iphone used to be a device which was worth the high price. With its cool slim design, seamless interface and quality camera, it gave users the joy of feeing superior over other users. Now, it’s just a matter of time before the consumers all over the world realise that their device is nothing more than an overpriced piece of obsolete tech. In this way, I doubt they can save themselves. As history repeats itself, the ghost of Nokia and Blackberry will catch up with Iphone too. With every new Iphone, Apple basically sells the same device every year with a better camera (which have recently become an ugly symbol) at a higher price. Iphone’s battery is an issue they haven’t been able to resolve since forever.

• Incompetency of the Mac OS and Mac computer- Let’s be fair, it was the Macintosh which made Apple what it is today. Ipod and Iphone were just things which lifted it to newer heights. Macintosh was a computer which courageously challenged Microsoft- a gigantic computer company with almost no competition in the market whatsoever. Macintosh was the renegade staring it right in the face. Simplicity and precision of work like never before, this is what overtook nerds all over the world and opened Microsoft’s eyes to something entirely different yet as capable as them. However, the years have not been kind to the Mac. With limited usability and operating in a niche market, it’s nowhere near Microsoft’s Windows OS in terms of software availability and customisability. Ease of use is forgotten and its chic interface is a thing of past.

• Lack of integration with other companies' products- Apple is a player which operates as a lone wolf. It does not allow products, subproducts and complementary products of any other manufacturer to be paired with its own. For a Mac OS, you have to buy a Mac computer. For an Iphone, you have to buy Apple earphones. Your music will only be shared in your other apple devices. Combine this with Apple’s annoying habit of selling paired products individually. Most recently seen in the Apple TV where the TV stand was sold exclusively and yes they were charging exclusively (exorbitantly!) for it too.

• Ignorance to sustainability- Apple products and company policies took some time to come to terms with the fact that they cannot continue if they don’t work in the favour of planet. Now named one of the most environment friendly tech companies by Greenpeace, Apple claims to only use recycled materials for manufacturing their products. But the problem stems from their premature obsolescence of the products. Apple products can’t be held onto for long or repaired. New Iphones make the older ones seem reduced to waste overnight and consumers have no choice but to discard their old phones and buy new ones.

The list can go on forever. However, if Apple keeps such policies and practices up, then unfortunately they won’t go on forever.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle By Haruki Murakami: Review

I must say, Wind-up Bird is a quirky affair. The only thing unsurprising about this book is that being a Murakami novel, I already knew what I might be getting into and I was prepared for it. A strange fact about this book is that you cannot explain the plot in short to anybody. While looking online for a synopsis before buying this book, I came across many inconsistent storylines. Some said the book is about a missing cat, or a missing wife, some said it was about a mysterious hotel. Well, after reading 607 pages of this book, I can say, none of them is entirely wrong. Welcome, everyone, welcome to the reality where I’m reviewing this book. As a tribute to the bizarre style of this book and questionable nature of the protagonist and actual events, I’m not going to follow my usual system of reviewing, instead I’ll just let it flow however it goes.

This is a funky, peculiar and weird book about naked women, lost animals and engulfing darkness. An endearing dog with the personality of a despicable human being but somehow becomes endearing when he’s a dog with massive testicles. This book is by no means is an easy read. There was violence in the most graphic sense explained to the point not only the characters wanted it to stop but the readers as well. And then the sexual encounters which were there to convey something not entirely sexual but displayed it in a rather erotic sense. And then the sexual events which I’m not sure were sexual or not. There were multiple moments in the book when certain people lick the face of somebody but why, no one knows. Whether that's some sort of fetish thing or was it related to some sort of hidden connection between things, we can only wonder.

As I mentioned earlier, the plot of the book is hard to explain like most Murakami novels and isn’t anywhere written in the most absolute sense. I had earlier decided to try to put it here in the most appropriate way possible but I have now decided otherwise. If the mystery surrounding the story is concealed that way then I will let it stay buried. The story is about a guy trying to find a missing cat. The cat comes back after a long time but without ageing a day, like it never went anywhere. But by this time, the protagonist’s wife has left him. Without a word or indication, she just left. He tries to find her in an imaginary hotel. On parallel, a soldier narrates his experiences through the Russian-Japanese conflicts during war days. There is a whole slew of other funky characters around- A psychic sister duo, a crazy teenager, a very handsome but taciturn man and many other fun characters coming up after every few chapters. The wind-up bird is much about symbolism and contrast amongst its own recurring characters and the similar experiences they undergo and how their different actions shape up very different realities for them. Similar animate and inanimate objects keep popping up in the series of events in different countries and time periods.

Murakami has given detailed descriptions of every little thing in this novel almost to the point where it seems like he’s got no interest in continuing the main story. It seems the author’s intention is to make the reader go round and round so much that they feel so engrossed with the perspective of the narrator to the point where they can experience his tractability and care less about the outcome of events and their anticipation matters much less than the strange events which led up to them. What is the mainstream story and what is a digression is a question the reader shouldn’t ask for their own good. One thing I noticed about this book was the protagonist’s obsession with noticing the appearance of people. Even almost till the very last page of the book, the man cannot keep himself from describing every single thing which was worn by everyone in any particular scene and then his opinion about it. For a character as passive as Toru Okada (the main character), if things had not been happening at the course as they did, he couldn’t have done anything at all. In his own words, he tries his best to avoid public or experiences which require an act of will. As in contrast, the characters very much mirror each other too. In a certain case, two very important characters, look exactly the same beneath the neck. And they both become sexual interests of Toru Okada. Toru Okada is particularly notable for having no notable quality. Had he been a food, he’d be cheese. If he was a music genre, he’d be elevator music.

The book starts with much anticipation into the unknown but ends up giving something very visible and believable. I like this book because of how much it actually goes into the elements of fantastic surrealism, entering into a world full of creatures rather creatively made up with characteristics beyond the bounds of rationality and yet at the same time makes it all seem tiny in front of the reality of things. Maybe that’s what true surrealism is like; when you aren’t able to distinguish it from reality. And then the consequences incurred upon reality by those mystical events are very much palpable and comprehensible.

The true power of this book lies in its portrayal of each event leading into the next. It flows almost exactly like a well-made TV series. With cliff-hangers and cleverly thought out scenes, wild characters and colourful scenarios; it would be an utter waste of effort if the reader isn’t capable enough to imagine everything right in front of them. In this sense, again the book isn’t an easy read. If you cannot think about the music scores mentioned in the book or the historical events, then you feel like you’re missing out on part fun.
After a while, it becomes more and more unclear to the characters which is real and which is not but just then the readers become vividly aware of the fact from dreams sequences.

The novel is as much wrapped in mystery itself as the absolute darkness which engulfs the characters from time to time. From beginning till the end, it’s almost as if we never move from one place but get to observe widespread dimensions of fascinating far away places. Murakami rightly captured the essence of any epic yet personal adventure which takes us to places new and supernatural yet continuously being connected to the emotions of the characters involved. Nothing moves or changes unless there is a strong sentiment behind it. And on the other side, if there is a feeling of any sort regarding something then great big actions will happen almost by chance. Fate is as much a character in this story as any other. It’s presence is like a breeze in an open plain with no leaves to move; just the icy cool feeling touching your skin every once in a while and making you desire a more warmer outfit.

At the end, I'd like to say, that reading it was a total delight and the book is worth every inked page. If you want something quite unlike anything, this is your book.

Two of my favourite quotes from the book:-

“What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get in the habit of thinking, this is the world, but that’s not true at all. The real world is a much darker and deeper place than this, and much of it is occupied by jellyfish and things.”

“Nothing so consumes a person as meaningless exertion”

"The author feels he writes only for himself and no one else"

-Anurag Singh

“You don’t need to be an actual celeb with millions of fans to feel like one.”

- the revered author himself 

"The author has changed his insta username to match one of the characters is really liked in the novel."

Calcutta Kiss

I was a kid raised in a very sheltered environment. Most of my life I’ve spent indoors caught up in my very cosy hobbies. Travelling wasn’t ever of much interest to me. But I suppose, at different times in our lives, we are moved towards different things. Just like people and ideas. What we once believed was impossible for us, somehow seems to have found a way inside our lives in a manner much akin to a freshwater fish moving on to the big sea through the natural flow of a river.

At age 23, I took my first ever solo trip to a place entirely unknown to me. In a city, completely unfamiliar to me. With no relatives or friends or contacts of any kind, I embarked on a journey to Kolkata (West Bengal) almost entirely on a whim. I had no idea about the local language or culture or the localities except the knowledge obtained from the internet. I wasn’t a seasoned traveller but just a regular nerdy guy who hardly knew how to pack and unpack bags. It was always a struggle to know what to take and what not to because I had no idea what all things I might need. The thought did not cross my mind that if I need something I don’t have, then I would have nobody to turn to. All for the better, I suppose, spared me the stress. And just like that, I prepared to go to the city of Byomkesh Bakshi.

And so, I booked a one way ticket to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for a flight on the first day of my week long vacations. Then I reached the Airport in New Delhi and realised I’ve missed my flight. Yes, I missed my flight by several hours because I had not looked at the tickets properly enough and mistaken the time. So, big setback. I had started to question whether to go at all or not. Infact, on my way back home, I even cancelled my hotel booking. Now, I was thinking it’s probably not worth it anymore. But the urge inside me was strong. I couldn’t help it and booked another flight for the very next day. And also booked a different hotel. This time, I was on time. All this time, I was full of doubts and my spirits were all but crushed due to missing my earlier flight and shifting from the hotel of my choice. But the moment I set foot in Calcutta at Dum Dum, I knew, that this is going to be a fun adventure even if nothing goes as I want it to.

I proceeded to my hotel in early afternoon and realised the new hotel was a bit far from my residence of choice and right opposite a cemetery. It was the final day of Puja- Vijay Dashmi. At this point, I was so tired, I just checked in, took my clothes off and slept for as long as I could without even unpacking my luggage. I hadn’t slept at all, the previous night. When I woke up, it was around 8 or 9 in the night. Now I felt like doing something. I wanted to go out for dinner. But being new to the city, I had no idea where to go at this time of the night. It wasn’t that late but being raised in a place like Delhi, I had learned to exercise caution. Still, I always felt safer in my own city. Kolkata however, was new to me. So, instead to trying to go to some street to relish local food, I decided to go to a very public place. I googled for the nearest mall, booked a cab, and literally just ate at a KFC. The place was public, very very public. So much crowd that I could not get one place to sit. I roamed the mall for a while after eating. Checked out all the lovely Pujo decorations, and then roamed the nearby areas a bit. I saw the famous Park Street and roamed alone near the flyovers, tram pathways and walkways. This was when I started feeling a bit secure. Now I had let go of my fear of a new place and felt a bit settled in.

Although I was still not very much sold on the whole experience of the city. I was now lost in Park Street. I could not find the famous restaurants or the bustling nightlife. One thing that did impress me by then, was the old world charm the city carried with itself. Those tram roads, the colourful fences and dinghy buildings glimmering in the night were nothing short of a spectacle. This was the feel we always saw from the movies and shows about Kolkata. The dark colours shining in night, noises from everywhere and the strange fragrance spread through the entire city. Now I was beginning to feel that coming here maybe wasn’t such a bad decision afterall.

From my first half day there, I had learnt a lot about Bengalis. They were very sentimental about petty issues. And really argumentative. I just could not fathom the way they talked to each other. Even total strangers were so rude and screaming at each other in their language. I interpreted that maybe they’re quick to anger. Later on, a cab driver told me that that’s just how people talk in Bengal. People don’t listen unless you talk loudly in a slightly aggressive tone. I realised they aren’t actually angry and trying to beat each other but it’s just how they like talking. Bengalis, for good or for worse, don’t seem to have the concept of periphery like we do in our minds. A periphery which exists and contains our closed circles. People outside this periphery are treated by an almost fake courtesy. Bengalis were just similar with whomever they met. But despite all this, their hospitality towards tourists is rather commendable. I was given special treatment to whichever establishment I went, and the owners realised (quite apparently) that I’m new here. I came back to my hotel and slept while reading my book. In the morning, I noticed something which had been going on ever since I stepped into this place but I did not pay attention to it. There was some sort of music playing from an old radio/speaker at all times. The sound was everywhere I went. Just the songs changed.

Next day, which was my first day of exploring the city, I looked at the Kolkata maps and tourist itineraries I picked up from the airport and decided to go to Science City which was close, china town for lunch and then finally to Victoria Memorial. And also, this morning, the most wonderful thing happened to me. I somehow met a young lady whose kind words kept me company throughout. She also later on turned out to be a huge help during this trip and without her assistance, I probably wouldn’t have discovered some exceptional places.

Science city was a huge place. It had so many exhibits and museums that I could barely stand straight after I had roamed in all of them. It did rain pretty heavily too which soaked my clothes. I had also underestimated the place in terms of the time required to visit it. And then due to the rain, add a few extra hours and it cost me my entire day. Now I had seen some magnificent displays of human anatomy, evolution, ancient times and modern technology. I had also clicked pictures of some random people and in return they agreed to click mine. But by now, I was worn-out, famished and slightly wet due to the rain. I looked at google and decided to go to China Town for dinner. Which took a lot of effort and strenuous walking because of the waterlogged roads. So, eventually I decided to go back to Park Street soon. Now I googled properly to find the actual Park Street which had all these amazing places. This time I succeeded by finding out that all the happening places are near the Barbeque Nation. And I was so happy after reaching there that I went straight into it. There, I met the cute receptionist who, visibly surprised that I was alone and after finding out I was new to the city, very courteously led me to the table. She also made conversation with me for a while and told me what ‘Shubho Bijoya’ means. Although, after a while, I realised I was not in the mood to put in the effort of digging into the buffet. I had been through a lot, and I did not want to put effort into selecting and eating food as well. What I wanted was some good dish right in front of me with a few drinks. So, I exited the place. While looking for some old and authentic Bengali restaurants, I came across Moulin Rouge. The place was right out of an old Bollywood movie. The kind which used to have restaurants like this in them to provide a lavish feel.

Although from the eyes of 2019, it seemed way misplaced in time. And I quite liked that. To not risk being sick after a day of exhaustion and then eating a dish which might upset my stomach, I ordered a simple chicken and rice dish. Along with just a small drink. Before eating, I had already become a fan of the place due to their great hospitality and such a courteous treatment of a guest. Then the dish arrived. Honestly, I did not smell so good. Quite like many other things in Kolkata, it had that similar pungent smell. Nonetheless, I tried a spoonful of the rice and chicken. And that was when my taste buds experienced the true treasure of Bengal- it’s cooking. It was too hot but I could not stop eating. I ate to my heart’s content. My only regret was that because being a single eater I could not finish the whole quantity served to me. It tasted so good, I felt bad for not being able to finish it all even after eating much more than I usually do. This was one of those rare times and when I was actually satiated with my food. Otherwise, I refrain from eating till I’m 100% full for fitness reasons. But tonight I absolutely savoured my dinner and then my drink. Now I said farewell to my hosts and went out for exploring Park Street more as I still had a few hours before midnight. I came across some lovely places like Bingsha Shatabdi, a Bengal themed bookstore; the regular Oxford bookstore; bars like Hardrock Café Kolkata and Lords & Barons. Also many useful stores like Nature’s Basket and a Naturals Icecream. I bought an icecream and went back to my hotel.

The following day, I decided to visit Victoria Memorial and the numerous places nearby. Now this was the experience, I realised at once when I reached there. A monument so huge and a true marvel of colonial architecture. This was the moment when I believed that my whole trip was worth it. The monument and its surroundings were nothing short of a spectacle. The building stood tall as a vast relic from a time when colonial powers were at their peak in the nation.

Then I visited Academy of Fine Arts which luckily had on display a great, one of its kind exhibition. The artist had made several tiny statues from the blister packaging of medicines. Then I saw the famous cinema- Rabindra Sadan. And also the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral where I reached just in time to have a view before it would be closed. Eventually, I also visited places like Princep Ghat, MP Birla Planetarium, St. John Church, Indian Museum, Metcalfe Hall, Calcutta High Court, Town Hall and the famous Eden Gardens ground.

That was the day when I realised how early the night dawns in Kolkata. Due to it’s eastward location and autumn season, at 5pm, it’s as dark as 9pm. But what’s peculiar from my perspective at 6/7pm wasn’t that how dark it was but how empty the roads were. Maybe I’m just so used to seeing the crowd everywhere all the time in Delhi that I mistook this lack of crowd as being deserted. People in Kolkata don’t roam around in the night on roads. They prefer going out and eating in restaurants or cafés or drink at bars. The roads are merely the pathways for them. Except in Delhi I was used to seeing people on roads moving all the time at least till midnight. So, in order to avoid getting mugged and killed, I quickly booked a cab and went back to a more secure and slightly happening area- Park Street.

On this day, I sat in Starbucks for a while to check my messages and phone calls. I took my coffee and also visited The Oxford Bookstore once again. I don’t remember how long I stayed there admiring the books. Now the young lady I mentioned earlier had recommended me Peter Cat and Mocambo for dinner. I went by both and decided to eat in Mocambo as it seemed less crowded. That again turned out to be fortuitously a rather good decision. Their service was top class. I ordered a Fish A La Diana. The dish seemed very simple at first. It was two big chunks of fish filled with shrimp meat and drowned in some sort of orange gravy along with mashed potatoes forming a wall which separated the peas and carrots from the fish. The dish looked like something you might get inside a prison. Something simple and tasteless. But when I took the first bite out of it, I realised how wrong I was. This was the best fish delicacy I’ve ever had in my life. That first bite isn’t comparable to anything else in the whole world. Infact the dish had such a unique taste that one could not eat it whole. Maybe it was all the meat which made so full so quick but I suspect it’s more about that weirdly awesome taste which somehow compels the eater to not consume a large quantity. With every bite the dish feels heavier and heavier but just as good. This was when I realised that almost all restaurants serve quality food in this city and how much Bengalis are concerned about the culinary arts. In the restaurant I could see faces all around me. Faces which were happy, smiling unlike any other place. I had never seen such happy Bengalis in large crowds before. I apologised to the fish for not being able to finish it completely despite the crazy pleasant taste and took my leave from the restaurant which was becoming so full of people gradually as the night grew darker that some had been waiting outside for their turn to get a table.

Now, I wasn’t hungry anymore but I wanted a dessert. I decided to buy a nice blueberry waffle from a shop nearby. On my way to the hotel, I also bought some snacks and some beverages for the night. Although, at the hotel I realised I had no bottle opener and then I tried all means at my disposal to open them. I succeeded to open the first bottle with my belt and a key I had.

Painfully enough, the second bottle turned out to be a real struggle and I ended up with a nasty bruise on my right thumb which was bleeding profusely. Fortunately, I had two Band-Aids in my wallet. I enquired with the room service but they did not have any band-aids either. So, I decided to buy a few on my journey to Eco Park the next day. This was when I realised that it takes real heart to travel alone and rely on just your own self. Sometimes, on solo trips, you might have nobody to turn to but your own wits. At such times, if you panic and think about being with people who could’ve helped you then maybe you’re not entirely ready for solo adventures. When my thumb was bleeding, I did not think of the assistance I required which I did not have but planned my next move.

And then after a great night of sleeping, I looked up Eco Park. Sleep was especially great in my room for some reason. Maybe it was the spirits from the nearby graveyard who cast us to such a carefree slumber. Anyway, Eco Park was a suggestion from my new lady friend. Otherwise, I had thought about going to Kalighat and Gariahat. By this day, I had already roamed in areas Gobra, Taltala, Ballygunge, Tiljala and Park Circus.

Eco- Park seemed like too little for a whole day at first but then I saw how many activities are possible there. She also asked me to see the Mother’s Wax Museum nearby. I visited the Wax Museum first. And not gonna lie, the experience was totally amazing. By the time I reached the final floor of the museum, I had been mesmerised by all its exhibits. They had everything from cartoon characters to superheroes to scientists to sports-persons and even some of the great actors in their most iconic roles. I loved the place. From the top floor of the building I saw where I was headed next. And I couldn’t control my smile. Eco Park was something out of a travel brochure of a small lake town. It looked magnificent from such a height. I felt really grateful to that girl for suggesting me this side of city to visit. New Town, a place I saw on my way here, was also a great scene. And all of it looked quite beautiful from up there. I wished that I should've booked a hotel here instead of where I was staying.




When I entered Eco-Park, the first thing I realised was how huge this whole place was. And it will undoubtedly take my whole day if I want to visit all its attractions. I proceeded to check out the area map and made a mental plan of how to visit this whole place. Firstly, I rented a two seated bicycle. Which felt kinda odd but then I’d faced lots of oddities like this on this solo trip. Like when I asked for a table at restaurants, the waiters did usually give me the somewhat surprised look and repeat ‘just one?’. Self-love and acceptance is a big part of any solo trip I suppose. You appreciate company whenever you get it but still enjoy your time whilst alone & dig into whatever is on offer- be it food or a sight or a ride. I cycled for around 45 minutes but was only able to explore half the whole park. There were numerous gardens and mini attractions in it. I decided to walk back to this side later on and also go to the other side of the park but this time, on foot. There were also lots of other fun options to explore the park like a carts which carried around 8 people; the bicycles and also there were miniature trains running on roads too.

I visited Heliconia Garden, Tropical Tree Forest, Butterfly Garden, Bamboo Gardens, and some very nice showers tagged as ‘rainforest’. They really had just some high showers dribbling water on people going under it but it really served the purpose of mimicking the environment of a rainforest. I liked it. Then on the other side of the park, I got to see a Japanese Forest rendition complete with a cool restaurant and monastery. I loved the small budhhas which are rumoured to come alive at night. Then I proceeded to see the Eiffel Tower replica which may not be as gigantic as the real thing but was still quite amusing. I reached Ekante Restaurant which was on a mini island at the middle of the lake in the centre of the park.

It was night when I reached the garden area again on foot. I could not recall the time because despite it seeming like late at night, it must’ve been just 5 or 6 pm. On my way to Deer Park, I came upon a wonderful place, also inside Eco Park, which had the replicas of all Seven Wonders of the World. I realised they’ve spared no effort in creating this place as near copies of the real things as they could. The pyramids even had a mummy inside them. I saw all the tiny renditions of our favourite monuments of the world. The Taj, Great Wall of China, Christ The Redeemer, Roman Colosseum, Petra (complete with wall carvings), Egyptian Pyramids and Easter Island Statues. Yes, some of them aren’t really in the official list as the 7 wonders but they’re wonderful monuments nonetheless.

When I finally reached the exit of this place, I realised I spent my whole day here without thinking about anything else (not even food). This whole place was truly outstanding. My first thought was to thank the lady who recommended it to me. My next, very powerful thought which poked like a stabbing spike in my stomach was where to go for dinner. I was too far from Park Street and I wasn't in the mood to go there again after all these days. I had encountered the nice locality called New Town, on my way here, which looked rather hip, so I decided to eat there. Now the challenge was finding a good place. Just then I remembered about a college junior who texted me earlier in the day & who used to live here. He had told me about a few restaurants and bars in a place nearby called RDB Boulevard. So, I headed there.

I could not find a cab so I went there via UberMoto. It felt really good to travel by bike in the night as the weather was pleasant and I was in a place which was very well lit due to puja celebrations and the roads were clean and smooth. I felt the breeze on my body and enjoyed my ride to Sector V, Bidhannagar near Salt Lake City. I also was looking out for a chemist or pharmacy on my way as I still had to replace the band-aid I had put on in the morning. I could find none before I reached my destination.

My destination was quite reminiscent of Sector 29 in Gurgaon. A bit smaller in scope but this had the same vibe of the party capital for working people with offices situated nearby. I first of all went to a pharmacy, bought a pack of band-aids and chewingums and then headed towards the nearest café. I stumbled upon One Sports Bar and Lounge as recommended by my junior. The manager of the place was very accommodating and polite. I quickly made acquaintance with him. He also grasped at first glance that I’m not from around here. After that, I again got to experience the fine Bengal hospitality. This time, instead of ordering a main course as I knew I’m never able to properly complete those, I sticked to just diverse starters. After I gorged on them and had my fill, I left the property. On my way out, I talked a bit more with the manager and staff and they recommended me a few pubs nearby.

I looked at my watch. It was still just 8:30pm. It was my last night in this city and I still had time to have a few drinks before returning to my hotel. As per their recommendations, I headed towards a place called PourHouse. This place was extremely lavish and had a history of being featured in many notable articles and lists and some of the best places around. But the vibe today was rather dull so I headed out quick. As my new friends had told me earlier, this was probably too early for places to have decent crowds and parties. And given that the puja week was over, people were taking a rest from partying after splurging a lot for many days. Next I found, another tremendously gorgeous place called Refinery 091. I have to admit, this place had one of the best decors I’ve seen in any bar or lounge.

When I came out from there, I saw a strangely almost empty building in front of me. It also had a bar on the first floor but I could not read the name properly. I still just strolled in there. The place, I later found out was called 5MM (Five Mad Men). Wasn’t as fancy as the previous two places but a whole lot more fun. The place seemed like a typical spot for evening group outings of people on a regular basis. It was the perfect neighbourhood bar for a drink and joyful time with friends/colleagues after the work shift. It had some pool tables and a few foosball games too. There was a small smoking compartment upstairs with a carom board as well. The place had a real friendly environment of an everyday bar.

And the best thing about that night at 5MM, I just happened stumble on a live band performance! There was a Kolkata based band called ‘T.R.A.P’. I had never heard their music before but they were quite good. The whole place was utterly ignited because of their performance. This was the perfect way to spend my last night in the city, I thought. I attended their concert with a few drinks for as long as their performance went on. Not gonna lie, I loved the place. The ambiance was electric. And all the songs and tunes they played were so on point. They even played the game of thrones intro for a while. I also made some random drunk friends in the place I don’t remember now.

Now nearing midnight, after the performance was done, I went back to my hotel. And slept to wake up early next morning, do some shopping and then reach the airport for my afternoon flight. Ofcourse, I did not wake up early and had to hurry up and then barely made to the airport on time. And that, everyone, is how I left Kolkata. After recovering from the city some of the fondest memories of my life and an experience incomparable to anything I had ever done before.

Kolkata is a metropolitan city far too ancient than it's counterparts. The modern and the conventional atmosphere seem to collide there. They exist in sheer contrast with each other at a distance of a few miles. It's a place with its own unique brand of personality. There, it's a different way of thinking. No doubt about it, Kolkata is a place still reverberating with the footprints of British rule along with the strong presence of art and an ubiquitous bong culture. The city has its own soul, very separate from its monuments and inhabitants. Complete with a distinct fragrance common to everything there and streets like a beating heart. A culture which engulfs you in its quirkiness. I came back to Delhi, and it really hit me how much of that city I've absorbed in myself in such a short period. It's a place I won't recommend everyone to visit but for the valiant of heart out there who like to put in efforts into their escapades, you can have a go at this coruscating specimen of a city in the far east of our nation.

Shubho Bijoya, everyone.

This is the longest post the author has written in quite some time and thus at multiple moments, he abstained from digressing and discussing his own opinions in order to keep it short and almost entirely to the point. 

Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie: Review

This is the first Hercule Poirot mystery I’ve ever read by Agatha Christie and oddly enough it’s about a period when he’s already retired from active duty. Our detective may have given up on a life riddled with crime and corpses but they sure don’t seem to leave him alone. Even in his solace and monotonous country life, he’s called in to solve a murder which occurred nearby. And he gladly accepts, to break the humdrum schedule of his if nothing else.

As the title suggests, the story is apparently about the Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Who happens to benefit a whole lot of people by conveniently dying at the right moment. Every character we encounter in the novel is a suspect at some point or the other and some are till the very end. Yes, it’s true you won’t be able to guess who it is. But quite honestly, the reveal did not so much excite me as I wished to. The who, has taken a rather creative approach in this story which if I relate to the stories that came after it with the same element would spoil the surprise of my readers who are yet to read this novel.

As it always is, somebody soon feels the involvement of police to be inadequate and soon calls upon the detective, monsieur Poirot- a very bold yet sensitive detective who’s ruthless about finding out the truth at any cost but still thinks about the people involved and their best interests. Poirot, unlike Sherlock, isn’t a detective who notices so many multi-folds than the average person. Poirot is the detective who looks at every aspect of things and specializes in discovering inconsistencies.

“Précisément!”, as the detective exclaims quite so often soon as he’s come up with an idea which makes all the jumbled pieces appear to be in conjunction with one another.

Agatha Christie also specializes in something. Just like her detective. And that’s making the perfect build-up from one chapter to the other in the most straightforward fashion possible without the aid of delving deeper into the layers of the story or characters. She simply unfolds the untold stories which was in the gaps left by her earlier. She is the sort of writer who does not make the narrative more expansive or dense but just stretches it out to help us all see what was hidden earlier. Not in plain sight though, that would’ve been the characteristic of Sir Conan Doyle, but Agatha simple let’s her characters branch out their story-lines which in turn help the detective and the reader reach the apparent truth. And a lot of deductions are based on testimonies in King’s Abbot, which I find interesting as King’s Abbot is described as a place full of gossip-mongers.

The story unfolds with revelation after revelation. One by one all our characters come clean to Poirot one way or the other. The only thing that lefts to find out is who killed the rich man who left a lot of money and a lot less problems for a lot of people. Interestingly, aside from all the traditional yet intriguing storytelling, the author does something which I found unique and also a great way to hide the actual culprit. That is the USP of this book, I suppose. Nobody can guess who the actual killer is. Infact, the author’s done such a good job of hiding him/her that it feels somewhat dis-satisfactory when we actually find who it is. That person is so established as a ‘certainly not killer’, that it’s hard to accept them for who they are. That is probably the only reason why I did not like the ending of this particularly enjoyable murder mystery.

You'll practically memorize this map by the time the book is done

Hence, I’d recommend everyone to give this book atleast one read. And if you’re a Christie fan already then it’s a must read. Even though you think you might know her very well but she’ll succeed in fooling you. But after everything’s said and done, my favourite Christie still remains ‘And then there were none’. And there wasn’t even a detective in it to unravel the mystery. It all just was so satisfying to observe. Anyway, Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a very different sort of novel than that. More of a straightforward and ‘conventional’ detective mystery. But it’s a pleasant read nonetheless.

"Decisions taken in anger never lead to anything good."

                                           - The revered author himself

Book Review: Malice by Keigo Higashino

The book isn’t a murder mystery. Well, technically it is but it isn’t about finding who committed the murder. Infact the killer gives himself up quite soon. As correctly mentioned by Detective Kaga, the story is about establishing the perfect motive.

But why, why would somebody care more about the reason behind committing such a heinous crime instead of being spared from the consequences of the crime? This is where our mastermind killer comes in. He, who wanted to establish himself as a particular character in his own story and in the minds of the public. And he, who almost got away with it too. Almost.

The story is about two childhood friends- Kunihiko Hidaka and Osamu Nonoguchi. The story is also about two young teachers who taught at the same school- Osamu Nonoguchi and Kyiochiro Kaga. It’s also about two books. The childhood friends both grow up to become writers. One a famous novelist with multiple awards under his name and another, a far less recognised children’s author. One day, the famous author, Hidaka Kunihiko is killed at his own home. With no suspect in sight and both suspects having perfect alibi, it is up to detective Kaga to find the culprit. But it isn’t long before the actual murderer is caught. It happens at almost the very beginning. But then, what keeps the police awake at night and going round and round in circles? The absence of a motive. With the killer keeping it always under wraps and lying at every step, Detective Kaga struggles to uncover the truth. But, in a novel, gripping to the very last page, we ultimately do uncover the real truth and the actuality of the situation.

The book, Malice, is in no way about only finding the killer. But that’s what it makes it so well written. Even without the whodunit, we are kept curious till the very end. With developments one after the other, it’s hard to keep this book down without truly finding out what was the intention behind the murder. There are infact several plots in the single story which dealt with the theme.

Out of the numerous entangled themes, one which forms the basis of the eponymous malice is the human desire to see others suffer. Which is most commonly observed in little children bullying others for no reason at all. This is mentioned several times in the book with multiple sets of children. Infact, this theme is studied from various standpoints just to piece together as to why someone would do something like this to anyone. But to the utter dismay of both the reader and detective, the reason is ‘just because’. There are instances so horrible and torturous that it would upset anyone who reads about it, but we all know deep down how it gets with young children and no example mentioned here is too far-fetched to imagine. All those of us who’ve experienced bullying as kids in some form or the other may even sympathise with some of the characters. This ‘just because’ and the cruelty of humans is what’s shown by the author as the true malice in the human character which manifests itself from a young age. The murderer is somebody who just couldn’t get rid of this feeling and ultimately decides to commit a dreadful crime.

The book is a great read for anyone looking for realistic detective action with a palpable but incredible twist. The book is a must for fans of the genre and a highly recommended read for anyone else. The killer, which arguably is always the most important character in a thriller, is a brilliant one. Although by the time we discover the killer’s true intentions and the genuine persona who’s plotted the murder, the novel nears its conclusion. So we are not given too much insight into the persona from the killer’s own perspective, hence is almost feels a waste at the end to have such a person being discovered but not being able to hear his own take on it. Nevertheless, maybe that’s intentional, so that the image we’ve formed throughout the novel of the murderer stays with us and the shock of the twist is even more profound. The book really holds you down till the very end. Even when you think everything is over and all threads have been closed, the writer introduces elements which give the exceptionality to this story which made it such a big hit worldwide.

"The author's obsession with always engaging himself has now led him to the world of murder mysteries and he isn't going to stop anytime soon."

 

"Shades without a beard is barely half the look"

                                                                  -the revered author himself 

 

Invisible Man: Review

Another sci-fi classic by the famed author who practically defined the genre. The book is fairly simple in its setting by today’s standards when the invisibility trope has been depicted so many times through various media. But this novel was perhaps the one which gave birth to a scientifically elaborate story about a guy who turns himself invisible.

The story is probably already etched in everybody’s mind but it still deserves a recap for some of our oblivious readers. It’s about Griffin, a scientist who has devoted himself to research into optics and invents a way to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light and thus becomes invisible. He successfully carries out this procedure on himself, but fails in his attempt to reverse it. The story is horror fiction and circles around the people who encounter Griffin and his eventual descent into madness and immorality.

I always saw the story about a person who was misunderstood. Ofcourse, Griffin was also in himself an enthusiast of random and irresponsible violence but his descent into a full blown megalomaniac could’ve been avoided. He tried approaching his old colleague, Dr. Kemp for help in trying to find a way to reverse his condition but to no avail. The townspeople all turned against him and tried to incarcerate or kill him.

The story was written masterfully by HG Wells, and one could truly visualise everything which was happening in the story. Which is kind of ironic considering it’s about a person who cannot be seen. HG Wells introduces a sense of mystical awe in his stories while still trying to keep them grounded to the real thing. He introduces scientific theories and explanations to impossible phenomenon so that they don’t look totally ridiculous. But as any good author, the real sense of danger and sentiments come from the events which are fully possible and almost mirror the actual world. He showcases the tendencies of real humans in extraordinary situations. How some overcome it and how some are consumed by it.

Griffin is the prime example of how a power can corrupt even the most intelligent of men. It isn’t directly implied that the painful procedure he underwent while trying to become invisible would’ve also altered his psyche. That would’ve made him more prone to engage in violence as means to achieve his objectives and eventually enjoying the violence itself.

The book may not be as engaging as other works of HG Wells but is most certainly a bonafide read for all the fans of the author or the genre out there. What I believe the book lacked was a resolution. The end was appropriate what would’ve happened given the situation but not something which could’ve happened had the stakes been higher in the story and how grand a character of Griffin was. Maybe I’m a bit biased for the bad guys but I expected Griffin to either become a normal sane human being again or become a real evil incarnate with far greater reaching consequences of his actions.

Anyway, this book would be recommended by me to any sci-fi horror fan who would like to experience how innumerable iconic characters from pop culture came into being from a snow ridden small town which had a man covered in bandages disrupt local peace. 

Shazam! (2019): Review

Finally, a DC movie which does not take itself as seriously as the rest of them. A movie which totally embraces the comic roots and the purpose of it all- entertainment. Shazam! is probably the most light hearted DC movie with almost no gore and disturbing violence but still manages to be a fun watch and enthrall the audience with heart-warming ideas of childhood and what it means to be a hero when you’re not a mature adult with a brooding persona.

The story

The movie is about young teen Billy Batson who tries to find his birth mother while running away from foster home to foster home. His search is hopeless but he seems to be the only person who doesn’t seem to realise it. The movie is also an origin story for the villain Dr. Sivana who undergoes the same experience as Billy while being chosen as the next champion to inherit the powers of Shazam. But gets rejected and does not take this rejection well, to say the least. And also suffering a domineering brother and father who belittle him at every chance they get, he does kinda turn out to be a pretty evil person. Although it is regrettable that this story wasn’t used to its full potential even though it could’ve been used as a great cliffhanger. Actually that’s the only bother with the movie. It opens new horizons, introduces great characters but does not let them develop which makes everything amalgamate into the storyline rather prematurely. But that could also be viewed as the plot’s intention of keeping it light and inducing humour.

The Characters

The film showcases numerous characters but builds mostly on the pair of pubescent boys Billy Batson who inherits the powers of Shazam and Freddy Freeman who is his crippled sidekick. The movie is also filled with various other characters with less screen time but almost equal significance. The much self-criticising foster parents who finally give Bill a place he can call home, his birth-mother who wants to avoid Billy as much as she can and abandoned him when he was a little kid, the foster home kids, each unique and interesting- Darla, Mary, Eugene and Pedro. And also the typical British villain who seemed to have a great start this time but could not grow into a memorable character. The film does a great job of bringing all these charming characters together in a touchy realisation of selflessness and family relations.

The Music

By Benjamin Wallfisch (Dunkirk and Blade Runner 2049), the music dissolves well with the narrative but doesn’t stand out much. Except a few songs which were supposed to grab attention and they do it well like Eye of the Tiger, Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and My Name Is by Eminem. There are others too but all this gives the movie a sense of superficiality like a trailer but on some level it works rather well.

The Presentation

The movie had some standard action scenes and enough entertaining sequences to support the superhero extravagance. But what it really excelled at was displaying the childishness of it all. It may be liked by some people, some may find it senseless but either way, it’s unique. The movie doesn’t shy away from making fun of itself like Deadpool but keeps it grounded given the protagonist is still just a child. And a very regular child with powers. Shazam does almost exactly what any other regular kid would do with powers. The movie as a whole, keeps its own immaturity in mind and doesn’t mess with forces which may disturb its rhythm. It even builds up to a twist ending in a certain manner but it all is rather underwhelming in the end if you’re expecting too much from it.

The Verdict

Shazam! is a movie about a kid who somehow becomes a full grown superhero on the outside but cannot fight with its own childish nature. Shazam is a DC movie far better suited for its younger fans than the grown up fan base. Nevertheless, it is still an enjoyable achievement for DC from its regular dark dystopian worlds. Shazam is by far the most jolly and humorous DC movie ever. It is, for the most part, quite entertaining as well. And by entertainment, I mean just that. Do not watch this movie seeking any sort of depth or you’ll be dissatisfied. The movie is about ignoring the seriousness of life and embracing your inner carefree child and enjoy the movie just like that. Shazam! is a very light summertime action adventure for fans of the superhero genre. In my opinion, the movie is worth a watch.

"Zachary Levi's been playing a superhero since Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Change my mind" 

"The author was right on time for this movie. Although it was a very disconcerting experience due to"  

Gully Boy (2019): Review

The street rap scene’s never been in mainstream media much, although after going through Gully Boy’s trailer (and liking it), I decided to give street hip hop/rap music a shot. Must say, I heard some of those songs on repeat for days. And so, was quite excited to watch this movie ever since a dear friend asked me to. And after watching the movie, I’m even more convinced that these artists need to be heard by every music enthusiast out there. 

The movie starts with a cool long shot of a street hustler, Moeen, played by Vijay Varma, who proceeds to steal a car along with him taking Murad. This shows how easy it is in their world to be caught up in crime. All they did was follow their friend around and unintentionally became part of a grand theft auto. Necessity, coercion, survival. This is what their world is all about. This is the prison which holds them. Not physically but in unbreakable chains of responsibility and security for themselves and their families. Their dreams, their ambitions, their relationships, all revolve around survival with a shred of dignity.

Herein, enters Murad, played exceptionally well by Ranveer Singh; a guy who is not your regular featherless bird, just waiting to fly but a grounded young man of morals who wants to do something for his mother by graduating and getting a good job. Soon he discovers desi rap and his aspirations suddenly take a leap. Not knowing where this path will take him but realizing that this is exactly what he was meant to do. Did he do it? And did the film do this dream justice? Let’s find out.

The plot

The movie isn’t just about the street rap scene and the life of the poor kid from Murad to Gully Boy. It’s about the life in Mumbai slums and the everyday struggles people have to endure in order to earn an honest living. The movie is about emotions much more than it is about the streamlined story. The story which may fall short of an epic drama, does prove to be a compelling narrative of a turbulent life mottled with melodies of despair and gradual triumph. The movie entirely revolves around the relationships of Murad with his lover, his mother, his father and his dichotomous friend circles- one with whom he’s grown up with and those who occasionally indulge in crime; and those Murad discovered while pursuing his passion for rapping. Each character stands as a lamp on a passage that Murad walks, each providing a different light on distinct events and bringing their own shade behind them as their own life stories. All this comes together in the streets as music like never before.

The music

This brings us to our next aspect and probably what gave the movie an edge over any other biography is its close association with the art. One cannot make a movie about a successful artist, a pioneer in their genre, without having a kickass soundtrack and score. And for a movie like Gully Boy which is so emotionally charged, the music needs to be top notch as well. To my delight and so does everybody else’s, the music is as good and hard hitting as the struggles and sorrow from which it originates. Several great artists collaborated in the movie for multiple tracks- ishQ Bector, Karsh Kale, Divine, Raghu Dixit, Midival Punditz, Rishi Rich, Mikey McCleary, Jasleen Royal, Naezy, Emiway bantai, Kaam Bhaari, Ankur Tewari, Ace, Viveick Rajagopalan, Dub Sharma; and each one of them did a tremendous job with their inputs. My favourite standout tracks include- Doori and ofcourse, Apna Time Aayega. If you haven’t added Gully Boy to your playlist yet, do it now. And even more so, explore these artists if you’re new to the street rap scene.

The performances

The movie is pulled from just another coming of age rebellion story of a wannabe artist, to such proportional depths through its stellar performances. And not just the lead pair but everybody justifies their character, playing it so naturally that you hardly notice the actors there. Nobody is in limelight in the whole and that is what supports how significant each character was to the entire storyline instead of just being a complementary character to the protagonist. The innate rawness is kept intact of every character by every cast member; portraying even the minutest of events with clarity and concreteness. One cannot avoid feeling invested in the lives of the characters instead of anticipating where the story might go next. Hence, every new development unfolds, garnering as much concern as the previous one did.

The execution

The movie was a well-executed one, no doubt about that. The cinematography could’ve been better but the editing and pacing was entirely on point. The short duration wide shots and steady camera work really gave the movie a touch of reality. Although too many close-ups did kind of worked against that but were entirely unnoticeable if you’re more focused on the star casts' performances. Direction wise, there weren’t innovative or mesmerizing cuts or angles or scenes but Zoya Akhtar still did a great job of portraying this story the way it needed to be told. No complaint about the overall product. Probably the lack of signature styles worked in the favour of the whole movie. 

Yeah mah boi MC Sher made it all happen!

The verdict

Finally, the verdict. The movie is a great example of what biographies could be capable of, instead of traditional storytelling about the great deeds of celebrated personalities. It is worth noting that the movie was entirely about a guy only trying to make a living through bland honest means but discovers a talent which provides him a new platform and a voice in the crowd. From a certain perspective, Gully Boy is an inspirational movie. It’s about following your dreams and not letting obstacles undermine you. It successfully shows how a man with nothing at all can become what he chose to be. The movie is a reminder to nurture our inborn talent and not fall in the blend of everyday life. And nonetheless, the movie is an entertaining, emotionally moving, and musically charged piece of drama which deserves all the accolades it might get and certainly warrants a watch from the viewers. In other words, bhooot harddddd. 

The author was much earlier at the venue before the movie started this time. In a first, he finally reached for a movie on time. And his company was fun too. He hopes of meeting them again soon.