musings

The age old man- nature conflict is realistically captured in this Vidya Balan starrer directed by Amit Masurkar. Vidya Vincent as a forest officer faces the same old political interferences, patriarchal cliches and glaring hypocrisy in her line of duty. It is disheartening to see how the hard work of a group of well-intentioned people is thwarted by those elements.  The job of guarding forest and people is not easy and it is much easier to " pick your battles" as a celebrated offficer tells Vidya. But, Vidya is not someone to fight only the convenient battles. Though there is neither much acts of heroism nor long passionate dialogues, DFO Vidya Vincent is a real heroine. I loved Vidya for her subtle remarks against patriarchy and her retraction from the verge of quitting the job and her decision to fight from within the system with whatever resources that are available.  All actors did well. But, Vidya Balan carries "Sherni" on her shoulders through a  ...

Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky When exactly does punishment happen for a crime? Is it when one is booked and held in prison? Or when one repents his action of crime?  Punishment starts  at the very moment of conception of the crime. Fear, anxiety, paranoia and relentless vigilance in every single moment cause immense mental as well as physical distress for the criminal. "Crime and Punishment" opens the mind of Raskolnikov with its intricate thought patterns  right from the moment of conception of his crime of a twin murder. The reader feels the burden of his mind, the turbulence of boiling concoctions of emotions and his mental as well as physical distress from the conception through planning, execution and the aftermath.. When each strand of thought in the mind of Raskolnikov is distinctly laid out, the reader is in an advantageous position to analyse his thoughts and actions. When Raskolnikov tries to colour his actions and cover up his guilt in some...