Category Archives: II – VIEWS AND OPINIONS
Ishti Kutum Episode 22-Apr-2013 A review
Post the Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards show the Ishti Kutum storyline is going a downward spiral. The story doesn’t progress, important characters are losing their basic characteristics, the story is shifting from its central plot and seems to be lost in the now irrelevant non-existent Archi-Mun-Baha Bermuda triangle. At times the episodes are just so […]
Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards 2013 – Ishti Kutum was a winner all the way
I dedicated the last 7-8 months of my television viewing to just one show, Ishti Kutum, a Bengali mega serial on Star Jalsha.My passion and indulgence is not unknown among friends and family, when I fall for something there is no looking back, or front or above or below, its just one deep dive I […]
Archisman Mukherjee of Ishti Kutum made a dent in the universe
Star Jalsha’s mega serial Ishti Kutum recently bagged several awards at the Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards 2013, including Best Show. A total of 9 out of 17 awards have been won in the mainstream award categories by the show. The leading pair Archi-Baha both got two awards each, which is a record of sorts, Archi […]
An open letter to Ankita Chakraborty, actor playing Kamalika Majumdar (Mun) on award winning Star Jalsha mega serial Ishti Kutum
Dear Madam, These days on Star Jalsha, promos of the forthcoming Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards 2013 have started making rounds. In that we see you and actor Ronita Das (the actor playing the lead character Baha) talking to, smiling at and hugging each other. On the papers also we saw both of you taking photos […]
My TEDxITMU talk – Have we survived the rape and violence?
TEDxITMU I was recently invited as a speaker at TEDxITMU, the TEDx event at the Institute of Technology and Management University, Gurgaon. I shared the stage with a range of very interesting speakers like, Actor Vipin Sharma (of Taare Zameen Par fame), Delhi FM station Hit 95′s popular RJ Suroshree Dasgupta, Jazz musician duo Adil […]
Shashi Tharoor is right – Reveal rape victim’s name – Kudos to girl’s family for agreeing
what is wrong in revealing real identity? And this question is not to media or public but the survivor herself, or the family members in case she is no more. Why do we hide our face and identity in shame in case of rape? We don’t hide in shame in case of murder, theft, robbery, cheating. Then why in case of rape? Shashi Tharoor was right in his tweet where he questioned, “what interest is served by hiding the name?” Really ever wondered what interest? Whose interest?
Ishti Kutum – Archi Mun’s divorce – Legal position of both marriages, validity of tribal marriage
How does a typical Indian middle class joint family deal with a divorce? With paranoia, hypocrisy double standards and melodrama. As exposed through the story of Ishti Kutum – the Mukherjee family is shattered on hearing the DIVORCE word from Archi. Broken marriage mean different thing for family’s sons and daughters. Ironically, the patriarch of Mukherjee family who is so concerned about Archi’s broken marriage and its effect on his family, have never uttered a single word regarding his own daughter’s estranged marriage. The legal position of both of Archi’s marriages, legal requirement of divorce and validity of Tribal marriage.
That’s it, she died – but did I survive the rape?
This morning when I woke up to the news of her death, suddenly I realized all my thoughts had stopped at me. I could be her, I could be dead. One evening I was there, and then I was dead, because I was a woman, because some men decided to have sex with me by force, because…whatever, point is I am dead.
So before my soul rests in peace, which I doubt is going to be anytime soon, let me ask a few questions to myself, and to all you girls out there
New Garia Halt Station at Panchasayar Garia – Inauguration by Sh Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Panchasayar, Garia, one of Asia’s largest housing societies, a cooperative society for the staff of Accounts and General West Bengal and Income Tax Department of West Bengal, is the place where I spent the first 7-8 years of my life. Once upon a time this place was a wet land with just shrubs and bushes […]
Countdown for celebration of love in palashboni has begun
The countdown has begun for celebration of love in Palashboni. Drum rolls are on, the air is filled with love. Ishti Kutum audience are eagerly waiting for the latest episode (8th October) of Ishti Kutum. But why is it so special? Because today is the opening day of a week long romance. When the last episode on Saturday, […]
Ishti Kutum Analysis – Satyakam’s patriarchal mindset and his mixed up personal-political vendetta
On returning to Kolkata, he wrote a heart wrenching piece on Satya the hero and raised a storm. The ordinary people were overwhelmed by the truth of Satya’s life. This man, Archisman Mukherjee today stands in front of a Satyakam who is determined to kill him. What happened, that after everything that Archi did for Satyakam this is how Satya pays back? – Ishti Kutum Analysis – Satya’s patriarchal mindset and mixed up personal and political vendetta.
Rani Mukherjee’s Aiyyaa – Preview – Comedy of a Woman’s carnal desires
Comedy of a Woman’s carnal desires. Breakaway from middle class India’s obsession with the fair skin. Meenakshi desires the dark.
Queer (LGBT) pride parade Hyderabad – Police denied permission
Hyderabad Police has denied permission to carry on LGBT Pride Parade in Hyderabad. Every citizen in a democracy has the right to peaceful protest, and here we are not even talking about a protest, this is a Pride March. That one needs permission to be proud of one’s identity is weird enough, to deny permission […]
Feminist Film review: ‘Fashion’ and other Bhandarkar flicks
Madhur Bhandarkar makes films for the dummies. In the wake of the release of yet another cliched film for the dummies, Heroine, I am republishing my feminist film review of Fashion and other Bhandarkar Films. I have not seen Heroine yet, but I can predict what’s is it about. Not only does he make films […]
Facebook’s Promoted Status Updates | Pay to promote brand ‘You’
“Promoted status updates! That’s the lowest Facebook have stooped.” If you haven’t already met someone online (I am assuming you no longer meet people offline), shrugging their virtual shoulders and typing those words on their social networking walls, doors and windows – you soon would. Because ever since Facebook introduced ‘Promoted Posts’ for individual users, […]
Ishti Kutum Star Jalsha megaseries – An in depth analysis Part 2 – The story so far
(Ishti Kutum is written and scripted by Leena Gangopadhay. The following is a narration of the story so far in order to set the context for my forthcoming analysis. Click here for Part 1 – Introduction to the Analysis) Archi, Baha and Mun – main protagonists Archisman Mukherjee (Archi), 29 is a renowned journalist, known for his honesty […]
Ishti Kutum, Star Jalsha mega serial – An in depth analysis – Part 1 Introduction
Latest episode marked a major shift in the story and the future of these lives and their relationships. It launched Ishti Kutum’s TRP driven ‘divide and rule’ policy by creating two major camps among its audience and inducing fierce rivalry between them – the Archi-Mun camp and the Archi-Baha camp. My idea is to defend Archi-Baha and Archi the revolutionary hero.
Let a woman sing
Why don’t we have many such songs or poems? Why is there no female version of a love song like “Chaundvi ka Chaand” or “Chandan sa badan?” In Abhigyaana Shankuntalam Kalidasa wrote verses after verses in praise of Shakuntala’s physical beauty, which included vivid description of her bossom, waist, bust and other body parts of […]
Slut Walk Delhi is now Besharmi Morcha: A desi name has less takers, said to be for illiterates and of low standard
Update: I have written an opinion column for In.com on the Slut Walk Delhi, titled ‘Slut Walk? We need a Tawaif Walk‘ I also recently joined The Global Voices as a writer. And the post on Slut Walk is my first post for GV. — I was quoted on today’s Mid-Day Mumbai Edition talking about […]
The Slut Walk comes to Delhi, what does it mean for Delhiites?
Update: 31st July 2011 The walk had postponed, and was scheduled to happen today. I have so far not recieved any confirmation whether it did happen or not, also didn’t see any photos or any reports online. I will keep updating this space with more info. — Twitter is my central portal for information related […]
Two new posts on my ‘This is my Mind’ blog
New posts on my This is my Mind blog. Its my political blog which I occasionally update. Its only when am very annoyed with the state of things and feel like ranting, when I know my thoughts wouldn’t be too coherent and logical that I post something on that blog. 1) Why Anna Hazaare did you sell out? 2) […]
Delhi to Puri – My backpacking trip to take Social Media Baithak to the participants of Bring Your Own Film Festival
If you didn’t get the whole picture from the title of the post, then you should read the event announcement on Samyukta Media website. I prefer not to repeat all about it here. I wanted to go to Puri, to attend the BYOFF for the last 5 years, ever since Swagat told me about it. […]
Gift economy – Why it cannot work with Indian mentality (In response to an Open Magazine article)
Gift economy – Why it cannot work with Indian mentality (In response to an Open Magazine article). Please share your thoughts and opinions as they will help me in figuring out how to price the services Samyukta Media offers.
Strange story of Lali (touching story of a stray dog)
Lali was born to a homeless mother on a fateful monsoon night in a small residential colony in Panchasayar, Garia, Kolkata. That night when she realized it was time, she, Lali’s mother silently crawled under the gate of that big mansion, she pulled herself through the green lawn in search of a secure place and […]
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