The Genius and his Goddess

Summer is ushered in here by a sequence of flowering trees. It begins with towering scarlet cannon ball trees in full bloom and a little later with the beguiling charm of frangipani blossoms. It is quickly followed by a rash of orange gulmohar flowering tree tops and pink powder puff trees. I stick a bunch [...]

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Dasavatharam and the Art of Disguises

When I was 14, I received my first make-up box. It was a present from Appa, who had arrived from his first visit abroad. It was a flat purple plastic case. I flipped it open and the slight fragrance tickled my nose. It contained a compact rectangle, a tiny brush, a selection of creamy eye-shadows [...]

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The Search for Contemporary Indian Erotica

Indian erotica exists in the past.
Any debate or discussion about the erotic in Indian context is always in relation to history. Evidence of erotica in plastic arts, temple architecture or literature are in context to the past. Predominant examples of Indian erotica include the Khajuraho sculptures (9-12 Century BC); texts like the Kamasutra (2nd Century [...]

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Madras Maydam and the Chennai Check-Out Girls

Maami is passé. It’s Maydam these days.
Maydam is on summer vacation. She snorts as the white glare of a ruthless Chennai sun douses her homecoming in perspiration and skull-bursting heat.A summer storm torpedoes dust, grime and mineral to cake her face. She licks the salt on her dry lips as if to recall a [...]

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