Petals!

"Manjummel Boys is the movie I want to watch," Adi, my son, told me on the day his last exams got over. Seriously, the only time Adi likes to watch Malayalam movies in theatres is if its a Fahadh Faasil film or a film directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. When it came to Manjummel Boys, he wanted to see the film before I did. We didn't like the trailer though. Surprised as we were when we began watching the film, I have to say the story packed in more surprises for us. Directed by Chidambaram and inspired by a real life incident, the film shows what happens when few young men embark on an adventure trip to Kodaikanal and how they deal with an unexpected situation when one falls into a pit. The scenic beauty of Kodaikanal is almost ethereal; brilliant cinematography and melodious music blend in a compelling, masterful effect to this film. [Source: Manjummel Boys on Facebook] Indeed, Manjummel Boys has taken Malayalam cinema by storm, as it ...

When I began to read Mehak Daleh's debut novel, "And the Roses Bled", I could feel a chill around me, as though the dark narrative is casting its shadows while the characters came to life, particularly the little girls. I found myself looking behind my shoulders. I also liked the subtle ways through which the novel's gripping narrative turns many cliches about crime thrillers upside down. For latest book reviews, subscribe to  Svara's Newsletter ! " Kids know things....they do. But sometimes they refuse to accept or acknowledge what they feel uncomfortable with. They refuse to see it. It is survival. The child has to survive. So, they block things. "  The story revolves around a catastrophe that strikes the lives of two little girls. The twins, Nina and Alisha, are happy little girls until one goes missing. What the other twin goes through is nothing less than a nightmare. You feel deeply for every emotion that Alisha is going through. She...