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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across...

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across the entire nation. The recent electoral outcomes have fundamentally rewritten the established rules of Indian democracy. From a massive anti-incumbency wave overturning fifteen years of rule in Bengal, to a political novice shattering a six-decade Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress-led alliance successfully dislodging the incumbent Left in Kerala, the electorate has delivered a highly decisive mandate. Alongside sweeping consolidations of power in Assam and Puducherry, these results collectively disrupt historical traditions and reshape the national political landscape for years to come. Titan Toppled In West Bengal, the call for Poribartan finally resonated with enough force to bring down a formidable political fortress. A relentless anti-incumbency wave has overturned Mamata Banerjee’s fifteen-year rule. For a decade and a half, the Trinamool Congress maintained an iron grip on the state’s narrative, having previously ousted the Left Front on the very same promise of sweeping change. The defeat of the incumbent government signifies a monumental shift in the political psychology of Bengal. The electorate, driven by an urgent desire for a new direction, has dismantled a deeply entrenched political machine. This result forces a complete recalibration of power dynamics in eastern India, leaving a massive political vacuum that victorious forces will now rush to fill, fundamentally altering the governance trajectory of the state. Duopoly Shattered Equally seismic is the political earthquake that has struck Tamil Nadu. For six decades, the state’s political arena was fiercely guarded by a seemingly unbreakable Dravidian duopoly, with power alternating predictably between established giants. However, the emergence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by cinema icon Thalapathy Vijay, has dismantled this historical dominance. By emerging as the single-largest party in the assembly count, the TVK has achieved what generations of politicians deemed impossible. This is not merely a change in government but a profound cultural and political revolution. The voters of Tamil Nadu have overwhelmingly opted for a fresh narrative, proving that star power coupled with an untested political promise can still upend deeply rooted ideological empires, ushering in an entirely new era of leadership. Absolute Dominance Meanwhile, the political landscape in the Northeast has witnessed a different kind of decisive mandate. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not only retained power but has emerged significantly stronger, securing a third consecutive term. This victory effectively cements an aggressive regional hegemony and signals the near-total ouster of the Congress party from Assam’s mainstream politics. The result brings an ironclad continuity to the state, allowing the incumbent administration to push forward its agenda without any formidable legislative friction, while leaving the state’s oldest party desperately searching for political relevance. Pendulum Swings In Kerala, the electorate has delivered a decisive blow to the incumbent Left Democratic Front. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has successfully dislodged the government, claiming a vital victory in a state renowned for its fiercely contested, oscillating elections. This resurgence of the UDF injects critical new life into the state’s Congress machinery, drastically altering the governance model in Kerala. The outcome firmly proves that the traditional pendulum of Kerala politics still possesses the momentum to swing back fiercely against the incumbent, denying the Left a continued and uninterrupted grip on power. Comfortable Continuity Further down the coast in Puducherry, the mandate favored stability within a rapidly changing national map. The National Democratic Alliance government, led by the AINRC, comfortably secured its return to power. This victory ensures that the NDA maintains a crucial administrative foothold in the southern union territory, providing a steady anchor for its regional allies amid the broader national churn. When viewed collectively, these independent state results weave a complex tapestry that will inevitably reshape national politics. The fall of towering regional satraps in West Bengal and the disruption of the historic Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu indicate a national electorate that is deeply restless and entirely unafraid to discard legacy systems. For the national opposition, the revival in Kerala offers a much-needed glimmer of hope, though it is heavily overshadowed by the existential crisis they face in Assam. The spectacular rise of new regional entities introduces a fresh, highly unpredictable variable into the national coalition arithmetic ahead of future general elections. Ultimately, the political center of gravity has fundamentally shifted, proving that “Poribartan” is no longer just a localized slogan, but the defining new reality of the country.

When Celebs Praise a Project, Run for the Hills

Is Adolescence an amazing web series or just an overhyped dud sold by celebrities with agendas?

There seems to be a trend in the past few years of Bollywood blatantly lying about the “perfection” and “admiration” of certain films, web series, and actors. Take, for instance, the recently released web series Adolescence, which seems to be the best thing on Netflix right now if one were to believe the likes of Anurag Kashyap and Alia Bhatt.


I’ve seen the web series, and believe me when I say this, it is a snooze fest laced with good acting. It is so boring that one has to repeatedly remind oneself to stay awake to finish its torturous (one-take) four episodes.


Celebs lying through their teeth

Let’s go back a few weeks, when the disastrous Nadaaniyan, the debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan also starring Khushi Kapoor, was released (coincidentally on Netflix). On scrolling social media, one was flooded with reels promoting the film, but a particular one stood out to me. A certain actor Archana Puran Singh (who also has a brief appearance in the film) showered praises on its lead actors. All one could do was roll their eyes because what Archana was saying contradicted what the audiences and critics were feeling. Ibrahim and Khushi gave horrendous performances. A few days later, I came across a reel where Archana is asked about the plans for her sons; guess what she says? One of her boys is becoming an actor and is currently “auditioning”. This was where I added two and two together. It made me realise that almost every time a celebrity praises a film or web series or fellow actor, there has to be some hidden work connection or future project or offer tied to that “praise”.


The sad part is they just lie through their teeth. Alia praising Adolescence out of the blue might seem to contradict what I just said. However, it may be noteworthy to know that most of her recent films, including Heart of Stone and Darlings, were released on Netflix.


Anurag, while praising the show, blasted Netflix India, even though one of his biggest successes in the last few years, Sacred Games, has been a Netflix India product. His other ventures, like, The Lunchbox, Bombay Talkies, Lust Stories, etc., are also streaming on Netflix. He feels if a subject like Adolescence were to be pitched to Netflix India, they “most probably would have rejected it or turned it into a 90-minute film”. Oh Mr Kashyap, how I wish Adolescence was indeed rejected or turned into a 90-minute film instead of the painfully slow time-waster that it is.


My Problem with Adolescence

The length: This four-episode web series could have easily been just two episodes. Not only does it drag the story, but it also does a grave injustice to the precious time of the audience.


Unanswered questions: There are certain scenes in the show where I found myself having more questions than answers. The boy swears to his father that he didn’t kill the girl. Yet during police interrogation, the father-son are shown CCTV footage of the actual crime, and we as an audience don’t get to see it. So did he kill the girl or not? Why did the female doctor evaluating him tolerate his disturbing behaviour? The list goes on and on.


One take, no thank you: The thing that is being raved about is how all four episodes were shot in one take. As an audience, it was probably the worst thing to witness. I am reminded of a one take episode shot by the team of CID way back in 2004 and even that was far more entertaining than this “perfect web series”. Not undermining the hard work put in by the team, but how long can one tolerate a still camera and just one location, especially in episode three? It boasts excellent acting but an awful screenplay and direction. No wonder the director of the show (Stephen Graham) was shocked when he came to know about the show’s popularity among Indian celebs. He knows he has made a substandard series.


Episode 4: The absolute worst part of the whole series and something that could have easily been done away with. It shows how the killer boy’s parents and sister are trying to get back to normal. I found myself wondering what on earth the makers were thinking. A teen girl has been killed, and they want us to empathise with the family of the murderer? Also, it was the most boring episode despite there being movement by the characters in a minivan.


The real entertainers: Want a solid recommendation from me that will keep you on the edge of your seat despite knowing (or not knowing) everything about the case? Grab your favourite snacks and watch American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson on Netflix. This four-part docuseries based on the 1994 double homicide of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman is an excellent one, very well directed and not boring even for one second, unlike Adolescence. It is indeed the closest thing to “perfection” on Netflix at the moment.


Netflix also has a series (set in different countries) titled Criminal. If you want to watch the perpetrators being interrogated by cops and brought to justice, this one is highly recommended.

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