Interdependence is necessary – Bee Movie

For centuries, man has been living alongside nature until the modern era. The advent of industrialisation has conformed us to be less dependent on nature creating a rift, thus resulting in a sense of disconnection. Most of us fail to realise that all species are interdependent on one another and contribute to the web of life. Nothing in this world can survive alone. Even the microscopic single-celled bacteria has a part to play in the survival of the highest evolved species, man. This is the underlying theme in the 2007 movie Bee Movie.

In this movie, when the protagonist, a bee named Barry B. Benson graduates from college, he finds that he will have only one job in the hive for his entire life. Absolutely disappointed in facing a life of monotony, he wishes to see what lies outside the hive. The only way out is by joining a team, conveniently called pollen jocks, responsible in honey collection and pollination of flowers. This results in him venturing the city of New York, where (after some incidents) he is saved by the florist Vanessa from her ill-tempered boyfriend and he breaks the bee law (never to talk to humans) in order to thank Vanessa.

**Barry and Vanessa**
Source – Google images

Barry and Vanessa become friends. The plot of the story further develops when Barry discovers that humans exploit bees to sell the honey that the bees collect with utmost hardship.

Bee Movie at first seems to illustrate a real need for bifurcation, with any interaction between humans and nature—in this case bees—not only advised against but outlawed. Jane Lamacraft notes that “the contrast between the hive, humming with contented collaborative endeavor, and the competitive, stressed-out human world, makes you agree with Barry: “No wonder we’re not supposed to talk to them. They’re insane!”. And Barry’s interaction with humans reveals a shocking revelation: humans are stealing honey from bees for a profit, so Barry takes them to court, suing the human race for their exploitation of all bees. Bee Movie asserts that bees and humans have an interdependant relationship to survive, either individually as represented by Barry’s relationship with Vanessa, or collectively, as illustrated by the drastic loss of plant life when bees go on strike, refusing to pollinate and thus regenerate flowers and other plants around the world.

**Plants and trees begin to die without the bees**
Source – Google images

There is no doubt that bee populations are decreasing rapidly and that their annihilation would have a devastating effect on agriculture. According to Diana Cox-Foster and Dennis vanEnglesdorp’s March 31, 2009 article in Scientific American, in 2007, due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), “a fourth of U.S. beekeepers had suffered … losses and … more than 30 percent of all colonies had died. The next winter the die-off resumed and expanded, hitting 36 percent of U.S. beekeepers. Reports of large losses also surfaced from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe and other regions.” These losses may be catastrophic for farmers, Cox-Foster and VanEnglesdorp explain, “Because one third of the world’s agricultural production depends on the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, the kind universally adopted by beekeepers in Western countries.” Loss of bees, then, would deplete agricultural products that benefit humans. But because these bees also pollinate other plant species, their depletion could have widespread effects on a biotic community, destroying whole species of flora.

**Cox-Foster and VanEnglesdorp**
Source – Pennstatenews.com

Researchers see human factors contributing to this loss of bees. Cox-Foster and VanEnglesdorp cite poor nutrition, pesticide exposure, stress-related viruses, and fungicides as factors influencing colony collapse. In order to slow the collapse of bee colonies and ensure agricultural pollination, Cox-Foster and VanEnglesdorp assert that beekeepers need to act quickly to minimize disease and ensure good nutrition and less exposure to pesticides for their bee colonies. Farmers too should decrease their use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, so bees can survive and help maintain a food supply for both humans and bees.

Bee Movie illustrates just a glimpse of what the lack of pollination might cause, not because bee colonies have been destroyed by human farming techniques but because bees go on strike. By elucidating this connection between bees and humans, the film also reinforces the need for interdependent relationships between humans and bees, relationships that draw on both organismic and chaotic approaches to ecology. The film tells this tale of interconnection between human and non-human nature through the eyes of Barry.

The movie also demolishes the general notion that everything in this planet has been created for prioritized consumption by man. This is implied in the opening argument lines of the lawyer of the honey companies that “it is a man’s divine right to benefit from the bounty of nature God put before us”. This concept presupposes that creations other than man have only a passive role in the maintenance of equilibrium of life in nature. Vanessa stands as a contradiction to the lawyer when she tells her tennis friend, Ken “why does a bee’s life have less value than a human life?”. The reality is that mankind’s survival itself would be under threat if he remains oblivious to the contribution of other creatures in the maintenance of a harmonious ecological equilibrium. This point has been made crystal clear in this movie. No bees mean no pollination, no vegetables, no fruits and ultimately no food for living beings to consume and survive.

The movie is a great eye-opener to those who neglect the cycle of nature. Life on this earth can never be linear. Everything is a participant in the circle of life. In nature an unexpected action or behaviour of one species may lead to disastrous consequences for many other species. Nothing can stand alone. A loose and carelessly placed stone will result in the crumbling of the pyramid. We need each other for a harmonious co-existence.

June 22, 2023 0

A Nobel Prize Winning Initiative

“A girl child is a burden to the family” is a common phrase that one would hear come out of the mouths of backward minded people. In a growing world that is moving fast on technology and science, some people are still stuck with barbaric thoughts that don’t fit in today’s world, where education and awareness is available to everyone. Many people still believe that a girl child causes more harm than good. This belief is mainly prevalent in patriarchal countries like India, Pakistan, China, etc. The biggest reason for this belief is the dowry system. Dowry system in India and Pakistan is a system where the family of the bride pay huge amounts of money to the groom at the time of her marriage. This practice, which started out with good intention, is now a huge problem in this country and has led to a lot of social evil. Other factors that lead to female infanticide are poverty, lack of awareness, birth to unmarried women, birth of deformed children etc.

**Piplantri Village Sign**
Source : Google Images

In a country where female infanticide is still prevalent, a small village in Rajasthan celebrates the birth of the girl child. Piplantri is a village situated in the southern Rajasthan District of Rajsamand. In this village, the birth of a girl child is celebrated with the planting of 111 trees, which has greatly improved the quality of life in this small village. All this is possible due to one man, Shyam Sunder Paliwal.

Shyam Sunder Paliwal is a social campaigner and ex-sarpanch (head of the village) of Piplantri village, who envisioned a bright future for the girls. He started this initiative in the memory of his late daughter Kiran, who died in 2006 – a tragedy he marked by planting the burflower tree, as it symbolises sublime love. He went on to channel his grief into a remarkable mission.

“She meant so much to me. How could parents kill a baby girl in the womb?”

He knew what used to happen in Piplantri when a baby girl was born. A family member would push a hard, jagged grain into her mouth. That would generally be enough to start an infection that led to the baby’s death.

**Shyam Sunder Paliwal**
Source : Google Images

When in an interview he was asked about the inspiration for his noble cause, he said “August 21, 2006, was the saddest day of my life, when my daughter Kiran, 16, returned from school with stomach pain. Despite been taken to hospital, she could not be saved. It was a terrible loss. But I decided my daughter shall stay with me forever. I also decided that each person in the village shall feel the pride to be a parent of a daughter.”

He started ‘Kiran Nidhi Yojna’, according to which, whenever a girl child is born in the village, 111 trees are planted and financial aid is given to the family of the child. The parents of the newborn are made to sign a document and take a pledge of providing complete formal education to their daughter, and that they will not marry her off before she has attained the legal age of marriage. Under the policy, the family receives 2,500 rupees on her birth and the same amount on her first birthday. This is doubled to 5,000 rupees if she finishes class five and class eight. When girls finish class 12, they get 35,000 rupees, making an overall total of 50,000 rupees.

“It gives the family financial security. In return, they pledge to look after the trees, send her to school, and not marry her off before the legal age of 18,” says Paliwal.

The oath that the parents take and sign includes the following conditions:

No one from my family will be involved in foeticide.
The 111 trees planted on the birth, and the girl child will be raised with equal care.
I will not keep my daughter from getting educated.
I will not allow child marriage of my daughter under any condition.
I will spend this money on my daughter’s wedding and/or higher education.
The trees planted at birth will be the property of the village.

**The Girls of Piplantri**
Source : Google Images

Since 2006, 111 trees have been planted for each of the 65-70 baby girls born in the village every year. With this not only has the population of girl children gone up, but also the number of trees which has dramatically altered the biodiversity in the region. Piplantri lies on the semi-arid land of Rajsamand district in India’s Rajasthan state. This area was constantly plagued with drought, due to the extensive mining in this village which caused deforestation and turned this place into a desert with lack of water and vegetation. But all this has changed since the initiation of this scheme, which has now turned this village into an oasis.

**Products of Piplantri**
Source : Google Images

The trees are taken care of by the kith and kin of the girls and they also provide a source of revenue for the villagers. The villagers, in order to save the trees from termites, have planted over two millions plants of Aloe Vera. They later came to know that aloe vera has considerable value in the urban markets and now the women of the village produce and market aloe vera gel, juice and pickle. Some of these women earn up to Rs. 6,000 a month. These aloe vera plants, rose plants and many other such plants and fruits have helped in generating employment for the people of Piplantri.

What started off as planting a tree for his daughter and urging fellow villagers to celebrate their daughters, has now caused a chain reaction which has dramatically altered this tiny village.

“For me, everything is linked: the girl child, the land, water, animals, birds, trees. I seek immortality through these trees”, says Paliwal

The villagers’ mindset has undergone change. No longer are they afraid of giving birth to female children. The villagers are proud of, and cherish their daughters and believe that with proper education, a girl can do anything a boy can. There is now a sense of gender equality in the village. The women of the village also have their own financial independence through the products they manufacture and sell.

**Children of Piplantri tying Rakhis**
Source : Google Images

During Raksha Bandan, an annual Indian ceremony between siblings, the villagers tie threads or Rakhis around the trees and nurture them. The trees are a part of their family and they all take care of them. This village is a true symbol of eco-living where man and nature co-exist in beautiful harmony. Paliwal has also started other initiatives to preserve and conserve water and around 1800 check dams have been constructed in the village. He has also promoted ‘Open Defecation Free India’ project in his village.

The planting programme not only gave professional opportunities to many people, it also improved families’ conditions, and allowed the extraction of medicines. The perception of the female figure has positively changed, and now the village has an alcohol-free status and crimes have dropped. The socio-economical upliftment of Piplantri is the live testimony of how a cause can change the entire outlook of a society.

I honestly feel this is a Nobel prize winning initiative because it has not only dramatically changed the lives of the people of Piplantri, but it has also greatly affected the nature of this region. Shyam Sunder Paliwal and the people of the village have developed a thriving ecosystem and the methods adopted can be used in other parts around the globe. This model can be implemented to fight against deforestation, water scarcity and also the fight against extinction of species. Urbanisation has taken its toll on nature and that has a massive impact on all of us. If the small population of this village were able to create a great change, imagine how much can be done if the entire human population took similar steps to protect and sustain the environment. I feel Shyam Sunder Paliwal deserves a Nobel prize for this initiative and he is proof of how a small action can have a deep and lasting impact.

February 16, 2023 0

Trendy ways to die : Viral challenges

Trends – they come and go. While some of them are good and entertaining, majority of them leave you questioning the sanity of humanity. Before the advent of social media, trends were mostly confined to fashion or lifestyle. I’m not saying there weren’t challenges back then, but they weren’t as rampant as they are now. Now we see a surge of trends that cover anything and every aspect of life. Who even comes up with these trends and why? The rush to be a part of this culture is crazy. We see a lot of people feeling pressurized to take part in these trends or challenges, just for the sake of fitting in and not be left out from the “circle”. Why anyone would even want to partake in such challenges is beyond me.

We all know of the deadly Blue Whale Challenge that became a huge concern across the globe. In this article, I’m going to list out what I feel are a few dangerous challenges that have serious consequences. I’ve mainly included challenges that have resulted in serious injuries or death.

The cereal challenge

This is a popular challenge that has been making its way around Tik Tok and Instagram. To complete the challenge, you must successfully pour cereal and milk into someone’s mouth and then eat it with a spoon. I mean, why? Why would anyone even want to eat cereal from someone else’s mouth? This is totally pointless and it’s a risky challenge that can choke you to death. Imagine this epitaph on your tombstone ‘Died by choking on cereal’. This is a truly dramatic death by drowning and choking in a bid to become TikTok famous. What a way to go!

The nutmeg challenge:

Some people have been making bets on whether they can complete the nutmeg challenge. For the popular nutmeg challenge, TikTok users drink a mix of two to four tablespoons of nutmeg with milk or water and document their reactions, as large amounts of the spice can lead to intoxication. But the high that comes from the spice is actually pretty dangerous. Side effects of nutmeg consumption include hallucinations, drowsiness, hypothermia, dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, seizures and in some cases, coma and death. If you are thinking of doing this challenge, just please don’t.

The outlet challenge:

It involves slipping a penny between a partly-dislodged phone charger and the wall outlet and watching the sparks fly. This challenge is extremely dangerous and moronic as it can lead to injury and fire accidents. Has your science teacher never told you not to mess with electricity?

The skull-breaker challenge:

This challenge is exactly as it sounds. It involves two people kicking the legs from under a third, making them fall over backwards and hit the ground, sometimes head first. And the fact that it doesn’t involve the consent of the unsuspecting individual who is being tripped, amounts to bullying. The free fall can result in head injuries, fractures in the joint, and can even break your skull — literally. There have been many reports of kids severely hurting themselves and being rushed to the hospital.

Salt and ice challenge:

This is a challenge where people put salt and ice on their skin, and see how long they can withstand the pain. Because the salt lowers the temperature of the ice, the participants end up feeling frostbite like pain. Side effects of this challenge include second and third degree burns, scarring, and even lasting nerve damage.

Concussion challenge:

In this challenge, a group of people stand around in a circle and throw a basketball or baseball in the air. The challenge is that no one should move out of the way of the falling object, thus ending up with a concussion. People took a stupid step further by throwing tricycles and luggage in the air. This reminds me of those old cartoons where a piano falls on the character’s head. Hope that heavy baggage knocks some sense into them.

Cinnamon challenge:

This appeared years before the nutmeg challenge. The cinnamon challenge is a popular video stunt where people shovel a spoonful of ground cinnamon into their mouth in 60 seconds without drinking any liquid. It sounds pretty harmless, but it’s more dangerous than it appears. People end up coughing, choking, poisoned and in some cases long-lasting lung problems. Some teenagers have suffered collapsed lungs and ended up on ventilators. C’mon guys, use cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices for baking instead.

Fire challenge:

This is one of the most extreme challenges. In this, participants douse a portion of their body with a flammable liquid. Then they light it up and record the effects, which often lead to first or second degree burns. The challenge is as foolish as it sounds and has burned and put many teenagers in the emergency ward. Didn’t our parents teach us not to play with fire?

The taser challenge:

Remember how tasers were initially invented for self-defense? Well, now tasers are being used for an entirely different purpose. This game involves someone putting a metal object in their mouth and tasing the object with a taser or just randomly tasing their friends. Why would anyone actually want to do this?

Vodka eyeballing challenge:

This trend prevalent among college kids in USA and UK is to take a shot of vodka, not by mouth, but by eye. You read that right. They pour vodka into their eyes in order to get drunk, which is actually not possible. Vodka has corrosive effects on the eye and causes corneal abrasions, scarring, loss of vision and increase risk of ocular infection. I would rather just stick to the traditional way of drinking – through my mouth.

Tide pod challenge:

It involves biting down on a brightly colored laundry detergent packet of any brand and spitting out or ingesting its contents. Consuming a laundry detergent pod can cause organ damage, burns in the esophagus, loss of consciousness, and even death. This is when brushing your teeth with toothpaste isn’t enough.

The pass out challenge:

In the Pass out Challenge (choking game), participants temporarily cut the flow of blood and oxygen to their brain. This causes users to temporarily pass out, with a moment of lightheadedness as breathing recommences. This is a very dangerous challenge. Low oxygen to the brain for over three minutes can result in brain damage and low oxygen to the brain for over five minutes could result in death. A similar challenge plagued the 1990s long before Instagram and TikTok which resulted in the death of over 80 kids in the US.

Social media can be a powerful tool for world change. But unfortunately it is being used for the most trivial purposes. Is there anything people won’t do for likes on social media? I don’t know what’s wrong with people nowadays that they lose all sense when it comes to such stuff. We’ve started living such virtual lives that we have let reality slip away from us. It’s sad to see total disregard for safety in the name of trends.

May 17, 2020 0

Colours in chaos.

**My interpretation of the Inktober word ‘Tranquil’**

I drew this back in 2018 when I was taking part in the Inktober challenge. For those of you who aren’t aware of the Inktober challenge, it’s a challenge for artists, created by Jake Parker to promote and develop positive drawing habits. Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month.

The word on the day I drew this was ‘Tranquil’ and I was thinking of a lot of symbolic images that would define this word. Tranquil means free from disturbance and something that brings peace or calm. We all have our own moments of peace where we go to get away from the real world. And while I was thinking this, I was wondering about what peace meant to a person living in a war-torn country or living in situations with no chance of escape. And finally this was the image that came to mind.

The word tranquil would normally immediately conjure up an image of utmost peace. So you might be wondering why I’ve drawn a war related drawing rather than something peaceful. Peace made me think about the children in war-torn countries who might never have experienced true freedom and happiness. These kids are always living in terror. In my drawing, the girl is surrounded by war and destruction. In this scenario she uses her imagination to find peace. She imagines the rubble filled streets to be a beautiful garden where she can sit and be happy. The darkness around her is muted while she is in her own world. This is her escape from her reality and she finds peace in it. My purpose for adding colour only to the area around her is to show the stark contrast between her imagination and her real life surrounding, where everything is dark, gloomy and colourless.

I want to remind the reader that situations can be worse than they are. We worry about the most trivial inconsequential things that diverts our attention from the things that truly matter. We are often blinded by media and trends, when instead we should be focusing on ways to make this world a better place. So remember to be grateful for what you have when so many people have nothing. Let’s all try to make a difference.

January 31, 2020 0

Stephen King’s Horror Mansion Retreat.

Stephen King needs no introduction. But for those people who are oblivious to this name, he is a best-selling author of several horror books that have been adapted into movies and series. So, would you like to stay in the house of this horror fiction king? Well, now you have a chance. Stephen King and his wife Tabitha King have decided to open their Bangor house in Maine to the public.

Stephen King’s Victorian style house with its iconic wrought iron gate is one of the most photographed celebrity homes in America. The Kings’ bought this house in 1980. This red Victorian mansion, which is clearly visible from the street, is where King wrote some of his famous novels. In spite of fame and fortune, the Kings lived in Bangor, Maine – King’s birth state.

**Stephen King in front of his new house (November 1982)**
Source – Bangor Daily News Photo by Carroll Hall

Bangor has been the setting for much of his novels and the creepy look of the town would transport the visitor to a King’s novel. One might be able to feel King’s stories come to life while taking a stroll down this tiny town. Countless fans have taken pictures in front of the houses’ small black gate which is decorated with spiders, dragons and gargoyles, creating an eerie feel on its own. King regrets putting up the creepy fence because of the large number of tourists it attracts. Certain times, King likes to entertain his fans by playing certain tricks; in 2017, just before the release of the new It movie, a red balloon popped up in one of the windows of the house. People who have seen the movie would know why this is creepy.

**The Red Balloon**
Source – Google Images

The 3.27 acres is now being converted into an archive and a writers’ retreat. There are two houses within the property – one will be used as a retreat where a maximum of 5 writers can stay and work, and the other house will be used as an archive, maintained by Stephen and Tabitha king Foundation. According to Stephen King,

“We are in the very beginning of planning the writers’ retreat at the house next door, providing housing for up to five writers in residence at a time. The zoning change getting press coverage was the first step. We are one to two years away from an operating retreat. The archives formerly held at the University of Maine will be accessible for restricted visits by appointment only. There will not be a museum and nothing will be open to the public, but the archives will be available to researchers and scholars.”

A Bangor planning officer said,

“They did not want the house to become a Dollywood or some kind of tourist attraction. That would bring all sorts of people to the neighborhood, and they have other neighbors that live there.”

**King’s Bangor House**
Source – Google Images

For people who are interested in staying/visiting the town, should also explore it, for this town is teeming with ghost stories and legends. For all the aspiring horror story writers, this town might inspire you and you might even be the next best-seller. Whether you are a fan or a writer, this town is a must-see for horror fanatics.

November 28, 2019 0

A Look into the Series ‘Under the Dome’

This is my personal take on the series, Under the Dome. You are free to agree or disagree with me. Let me know in the comment section below.
Warning – Spoiler alerts for those who are yet to watch this show. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Under The Dome, the Netflix drama series based on the bestselling Stephen King novel of the same name, is a must-watch for anyone interested in Sci-fi shows. With only three Seasons, the show has managed to capture the attention of viewers, who have mixed reactions about it. The show was only meant to run for one season, but later extends up to three. Although it is a short series, compared to the other shows, it nevertheless manages to pack a lot of action and mystery. You can either hate it or love it, but you cannot stop watching this show without seeking answers for several mysteries and questions this show poses.

As the name suggests, the fictional town of Chester’s Mill is one day trapped under an invisible dome, which cuts them off from the rest of the world. No one can get in and no one can get out of this dome. The dome cuts houses in half, downs power lines, crushes cars that can’t see it, and most effectively and gruesomely, cuts a cow completely in half. The dome’s presence is known only when you touch it, which gives off a slight electric shock – enough to warn you but not to kill you.

**A few of the lead characters touching the dome**
Source : Google Images

The reason behind the dome is unknown and the citizens of the town are left stranded, with food, water and other resources running low. The citizens of the dome fend for themselves, with little to no help from the outside world.

As the show progresses, we see chaos happening within the dome. It turns into a dystopian society where violence, crime and other vices begin to rear their ugly heads. Certain characters try to bring about a sense of order, but it usually ends in vain.

The government approaches the dome’s citizens, looking for a mysterious egg, with very little concern about the people trapped under the dome. This egg later becomes the centre of the story and it is the catalyst for a lot of the action. The plot thickens and unravels as the show progresses, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

The characters are well-written and they all have their own past and role in the storyline. We see the lives of the characters interconnect into a tangled web and it is interesting to watch their development. The character of Julia Shumway, magnificently portrayed by Rachelle Lefevre, is a strong woman character that stands out from the rest.

**The citizens of Chester’s Mill.**
Source : Google Images

The show has all the characters that are required in a good story – a Villain (Big Jim), a smart kid (Joe McAlister), a rebel (Norrie), a waitress who wants to see the world (Angie), a goody man with a dark past (Barbie), a never back down kind of a woman (Julia), a gay couple (Carolyn and Dr. Alice), a drunk with dark secrets (Sam), the kid with family issues (Junior), random high school kids, sheriff, and every other kind of character you can think of. It is an interesting mix and each character contributes something to the main storyline. The show focuses on the tales of the interconnected lives of a large cast of everyday small-town Americans. The show is shot beautifully, with great care given to the details in the setting and angles. The effects are stellar, and never fail to draw the viewer in and leave us on the edge of our seat.

The thought that ran through my mind when I first started watching this show, I’m sure most of you would agree with me, was to immediately think of The Simpsons Movie where the citizens of Springfield are all stuck under a similar dome.

The dome in *The Simpsons Movie* vs the dome in *Under the Dome*.
Source : Google Images

The book Under the Dome was published in 2009 and The Simpsons Movie was released in 2007. It may seem like Stephen King’s version is the copy, and he thwarts these rumours by saying, “I have never seen the movie,” King replies on his website, “and the similarity came as a complete surprise to me.” But it doesn’t matter, he argues, because unless there is outright plagiarism, “stories can no more be alike than snowflakes. The reason is simple: no two imaginations are exactly alike.”

**Stephen King’s book Under the Dome (2009)**
Source : Google Images

Although the storyline and a few elements may seem similar, there are a few contrasts between the two – mainly the origin of the dome. While the dome in ‘The Simpsons Movie’ is put down as quarantine by the USA government, the dome in ‘Under the Dome’ is caused by aliens.

Whether it is for its stellar cast, or your love for sci-fi disaster shows, Under the Dome is a show that deserves a spot on your watch-list. It can also be a fun watch, where you can compare between the series and the Simpsons movie. Whatever your reason may be, this show is definitely a must-watch for all those who are a fan of Stephen King and Sci-fi alike. With a stack of movies in his arsenal, Stephen King repeatedly enthrals his audience. And when has Stephen King ever truly disappointed us?

October 31, 2019 2

Netflix’s Typewriter : Hit or Flop?

This is my personal take on the Netflix series, Typewriter. You are free to agree or disagree with me. Let me know in the comment section below.
Warning – Spoiler alerts for those who are yet to watch this show. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Source – Google Images

Sujoy Ghosh’s first horror venture into Netflix with the much hyped series, Typewriter is a different tale from all the other horror series of India. Even though the series is categorized under the horror genre, it is not purely horror. It’s more like a mellow cross between horror and thriller that even kids wouldn’t have a problem watching.

The story is set in the quaint district of Bardez in Goa. Even though the show is only 5 episodes long, it packs a lot of details, back-stories and twists. The pilot begins in the 1980s when Madhav Matthews, a prolific ghost story writer is found dead in his house, Bardez Villa. Decades later, Jenny, Madhav Matthews’ granddaughter, moves into the villa with her husband and kids. Jenny has forgotten Bardez Villa’s occult past but the locals remember it.

**Bardez Villa**
*Source –* Google Images

A group of kids, who call themselves The Ghost Club, living in Goa are on a Ghost hunt. The four member group, including their dog, occasionally skip school to read The Ghost of Sultanpore by Madhav Matthews and discuss paranormal matters.

***The Ghost of Sultanpore*** **book**
*Source – Google Images*

They set their eyes upon the spooky looking Bardez Villa and befriend the new occupants of the house, Jenny and her family, so as to get closer to the mysterious house. The plot finds its centre in an old typewriter that the ghost now resides in. The story unfolds as the children find out the horrific details of the past and the present – spooky murders and a shape-shifting ghost living within the house.

The series has the classic horror elements like the blood moon, eerie apparitions, mysterious deaths, strange sounds at late hours – in this case the clickety-clack of the typewriter, nightmares etc., and doesn’t set this apart from the other shows of the genre, but it does carry its own beauty. Unlike most ghost stories where the ghost only shows up after dark, this shape-shifting ghost can move freely under the sun, which makes its presence unpredictable to a point where the viewer finds it difficult to differentiate between the real and fake Jenny. It is also interesting to know that the ghost can only take the form of Jenny and no one else.

For all the die-hard horror fans, this show might fail to send chills down your spine. But there are a few elements that put you on the edge. The pilot scene where Jenny complains to her grandfather about a person in her room is quite chilling. To see two Jenny’s – one on the bed and one under the bed is quite scary if you think about it. The series kicks off with a good spooky beginning, but it does get a bit predictable in its later episodes. Nevertheless there is never a dull moment in this show.

Every time the typewriter goes clickety-clack, it spells a sense of foreboding. When Jenny types “Bhoot is jhooth” (which translates as “Ghosts are lies”), it figures out a way to respond, on it’s own accord, with “Ghost is not fiction.”

**The Possessed Typewriter**
*Source – Google Images*

Another chilling scene is where the Fakeer collects spirits and keeps them in his house. The viewer must have thought the Fakeer was living with a group of people, up until it was revealed that the policewoman couldn’t see them because they were spirits and not real people. I should also include the scene where Sam sees, through her window, Jenny (the ghost version) waving at her and asking her to step out of the house. Sam backs away from the window in fear, only to find out that Jenny is behind her.

The Fakeer’s spirit living within the typewriter reminds me of this other horror movie called Mirrors, where the spirit moves into the object that is closest to it during it’s time of death. There is also a similarity between The Ghost Club and Enid Blyton’s Famous Five book series, where there are a group of kids and a dog who go on various adventures.

**Members of The Ghost Club**
*Source – Google Images*

Sujoy Ghosh did mention in one of his interviews that he has always been a fan of Enid Blyton’s works, and it isn’t surprising to see her writing style influencing his work.

The show is brilliantly shot for most part. A couple of jump scares actually have the impact they intend to create, often leaving you uncomfortable and at the edge of your seat. At no point in the show do you actually feel bored or disinterested. Sujoy Ghosh does a great job of adding just the right amount of darkness and mild humour. Each character has its own life and thought processes, which make the characters impressively believable. The performance of the actors must be applauded as well.

**Jenny played by Palomi Ghosh**
*Source – Google Images*

Jenny, played by Palomi Ghosh, stands out amongst the others and her role as a hateful, violent ghost as well as that of a confused young woman who is broken by the sadness of her past is excellent. Another actor who portrays her character well is Aarna Sharma (Sam), who manages to capture both the naive side of a kid and the logical brave side of a top detective. She is just as headstrong as her police dad, and refuses to give up until she uncovers the truth. Sam closely resembles the tomboyish Georgina from Famous Five. I also personally think the opening sequence of the series with the typewriter keys is gorgeously done.

Every action or detail beautifully interconnects and links in a chain that culminates in the following episodes. The only odd and unnecessary element in the series is Jenny’s husband who has debts and an extramarital affair. This adds no value or is in no way connected to the main story, and in fact we hardly see his character playing any major part in the story. If there is a chance of a season 2, the husband’s other life may come to light and we might get answers regarding the blood-stained shirt that he takes out of his bag. This one action might affect the life of the characters or the story in some way.

The series ends with a few loose ends like the reason why Jenny doesn’t remember about her past in Bardez Villa, will Sam ever see her mother, the Fakeer’s childhood, the Jenny who hugs her husband in the end vanishes into thin air – so does it mean that the Fakeer can still morph into Jenny, the writing and publishing of Ghost of Sultanpore, what does the bloody shirt that Jenny’s husband take out of his bag indicate? A lot of unanswered questions and the series ends with the typewriter getting fixed after Amit, the Fakeer’s son, offered his soul to the typewriter. So does it mean that the Fakeer will be back and who will be his next host body? It does look like the kids efforts to vanquish the ghost ends in vain. We might get answers to these questions if they decide to make a season 2 to this series or the series could just end with this cliffhanger. All we can do is wait and watch.

**The cast of Typewriter**
*Source – Google Images*

The horror genre in India still has a long way to go in terms of catching up with its Hollywood versions. Nevertheless, typewriter does stand out in its own way and it’s worth a watch. Call me weak-hearted, but personally, there were scenes which made me jump and made me feel uneasy for the next couple of days.

What are your theories regarding all the unanswered questions in this series? Comment below and let me know what you think of this series.

P.S There’s someone looking through your window, The Rambler

September 2, 2019 4

Hi There!

I’m a girl who loves to question, read and ponder on the various intricacies of life. I’ve always been a curious person and I love to know anything and everything about this universe. So I quench my thirst through reading, watching movies and also observing the world around me. I’m an over-thinker who rambles about topics with the ones I love. I thought I would give my family and friends’ ears a rest and let myself ramble on a digital platform instead. Join me as I explore various topics and I also hope to meet people who would be willing to partake in discussions that would help both parties to develop and see things differently.

August 4, 2019 0