RIFLE RANGE BOY

Elippathyam (Rat Trap, Malayalam; 1982) Story, Direction: Adoor Gopalakrishnan We are all caught in cages. The trouble is we do not know we are trapped and go around in circles with our daily chores. Like a  rat in her trap, the rat continues eating the bait left there. So here we are, caught in our comfort zones and contending with the status quo. We do not realise our fate is sealed, but we still carry on unperturbed, like an ostrich burying its head underground, hoping everything will disappear. We find this approach easier. Cracking our brains and thinking of the possibilities of things that may or may not go wrong is exhausting. May as well just go with the flow. The master moviemaker, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, came up with this simple story with symbolic reference to the changing times in Kerala, where feudalistic ways slowly evolved by revolution by the people. The feudal lords, who did not keep up with the change of the times, were just run over. Rat trap is a metaphor for life...

Serious Men (Hindi; 2020) Article 26 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises free education to all, at least in the elementary stages. It should be equally accessible to all, and parents have the right to choose the kind of education given to their children. Sounds nice on paper, but in reality, this is far from the truth. It is not a level playing field. How often have we heard of bright students missing opportunities because of their social class, race or simply not knowing the 'right people'? Conversely, so many are elevated way beyond their capabilities because of affirmative actions. Some scaled greater heights as their parents are capable of using their influence or wealth to beat the system or use backdoor means to achieve what they cannot possibly do in a fair game. The world is not fair. The democratisation of education is only a smokescreen. In reality, it is controlled by the elitist. Schools in the developed part of the countries have better facilities...

They are both from the rodent family but people's perception of both these furry animals are worlds apart. One receives awe of cuteness when seen roaming around the garden whilst the other received shrieks of panic. One has a fluffy springy tail whilst the other has a slim tapering tail. Both had their bodies evolve over generations to suit the environment they live and their need to survive. The squirrel's furry tail may aid in the balance as it jumps from branch to branch. The tapered rat tail helps escape through tight fissures. The bushy tail of the squirrel has its own added coincidental benefits. Being around flowering plants, the hairs on the tail aid in pollination. Certain internal traits could have evolved over time as and when the environment demanded. Other incidental features, like the fuzzy tail, performs accidental purpose to the survival of other species. Who decides on this? Is there a higher power who plays the role of an intelligent designer who, f...