RIFLE RANGE BOY

Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai  (a.k.a. Bandaa; A Common Man, Hindi; 2023) Director: Apoorv Singh Karki It is not about being religious or anti-religious, especially when it comes to a crime committed by a godman. Just because one utters something in favour of the accused does not mean he condones the accused's actions. Conversely, saying something against the victim does not indicate victim-blaming.  This point becomes very relevant in the present-day context when we discuss the Hamas versus Israeli issue. Many join the increasing bandwagon and assert that if one does not condemn the Israeli retaliation (defence), one does not empathise with the Palestinian course but supports the Israeli killing of civilians and children. Never mind that Hamas is a terrorist group; they drew first blood (this time around) and used civilian human shields to defend themselves. Never mind that Israelites have to protect themselves, too. Life is not straightforward. The film is based on a true event. ...

The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984 (miniseries; 2023) Director: Shiv Rawail I have come to know of a few people who were working on the Malaysian Railway Lines (Keretapi Tanah Melayu, KTM). They were working at a time when owning a car was a luxury, and interstate travel meant travelling on the train. So much responsibility fell on the shoulders of the Station Master of a railway station. Much like the captain of a ship, the Station Master would take care of his station like a baby. The post carried such pride in the community that people would have forgotten his name. They would just address him as Station Master, much like how one would address a Doctor or Pastor, not by name. Amongst our family circle lived a distant relative who was the Station Master of the Bukit Mertajam Railway Station. The job was a prestigious one, and it carried much prestige. Bukit Mertajam was an essential and busy station. Even though his name was Jaganathan, everyone referred to his fami...

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Documentary, 2023) Director: Nathan Price Based on the book of the same name by Mark Manson (2016) I have seen this book staring with sad eyes at me numerous times, pleading to be picked up. I always gave it a pass. Firstly, with profanity flashed on its cover, I thought the target readers must be Gen-Ys or millennials. They may find a reason to seek a book on self-help or, perhaps, perfect the art of not giving a damn about anything or whatever. I, on the other hand, was beyond help. When a trailer bearing the same title appeared on Netflix, curiosity got the better of me. After going through the documentary, I find that the content is more profound than its low-brow title. There is much philosophy to learn, as narrated from the life and times of the author, Mark Manson, by himself.  He started his teenage years on the wrong footing. Caught with drugs in his locker, he got into the wrong side of the law. His parents divorced afterwards. He drif...

Under the guise of surveillance, imperial powers went to all four corners of the world. Their true intentions, as was eventually discovered by the locals, were reconnaissance work to ascertain terrains and landscapes for economic potentials and geopolitical purposes, not for the development of mankind. Neither was it to garner scientific facts to explore our civilisation. It was business. The icing on the cake was exploring how natives could eventually be 'civilised' via Western education and the introduction of The Book. From the 18th century onwards, the Western world was excited, discovering new exotic lands with wealth beyond belief. Pretty soon, no combative teams started scouting new lands in Africa, India, China and various other parts of Asia. Under the guise of doing land surveying, whites were seen around Afghanistan, Siberia, the Middle East and the Far East. When geopolitical turmoils embroiled in these regions, the armies of the imperial forces suddenly found their...

Sila ay Akin (They are Mine, Tagalog; 2023) Director: McArthur C. Alejandre Amongst the members of the lowest heap of the pecking order, it is said that the community self-regulates itself. These guidelines, called social mores or morality, are allegedly laid down to steer the community to a virtuous way of living. This would appease the Gods as it is the correct thing to do. Its payback can be experienced in the afterlife or the next birth. Paradoxically, the masters' perceptions of good and evil are different. In the eyes of the slaves, their aim in life was to usurp as much wealth as possible and immerse themselves in hedonistic activities. The slaves scorn their master's attitude towards acquiring wealth and their aissez-faire outlook to morality but justify their own fastidiousness as a decree from the divine forces. The unabashed desire for wealth is ostracised as greed. To yearn for the sumptuous spread of delicacies is labelled gluttony, and unsanctioned wanting of sexu...

The Vaccine War (Hindi, 2023) Written, Directed by Vivek Agnihotri This is a sort of victory lap, a valedictorian dance to celebrate their success, a pat on the back for a job well done. It is also a proud moment to have stayed resilient when no one had any confidence that India would survive the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives them the bragging rights to flaunt their success story in thumping the virus that took the world by storm. They persevered when the rest of the world shook their heads, disapproving and sneering at their moves. When everyone, including their own people, mocked their actions and shamed them via media and toolkits, they stood their ground.   Even though India had an excellent track record in the pharmaceutical industry, its experience in making vaccines was in its infancy at best. With the pressures of impending doom and possible annihilation of mankind, Big Pharma had all to lose by not selling its vaccines to the most populous country on the planet.   Maybe...