Pick your favourites

Book mark
Raghu Karnad
Favourite book: Unbound — 2000 Years of Indian Women’s Writing
I recently heard Annie Zaidi ask a hall full of college students to name pre-19th-century writers who were women. Besides Meera, they couldn’t name one — and neither could I. So I went to the anthology Zaidi has edited, Unbound: 2000 Years of Indian Women’s Writing. It’s a dazzlingly wide constellation of writings, each one reaching us from a different point in the past — some from antiquity, like the Buddhist verses of the Therigatha, some from just now, like the sci-fi by Manjula Padmanabhan. Seen all together, it shatters our dismal idea of what “women’s writing” is. The collection is sharp-edged, sometimes very funny, and as diverse as human experience — it’s also a reminder of how much we miss by reading with one eye closed.
Raghu is a writer

Tune in
Vipin Mishra
Favourite album: Kodaline, Coming Up For Air
I’ll stick with my favourite album of the week. Because it’s near impossible to come up with a list of even the 10 favourite albums of all times, so we can forget about the one favourite, in my case! This week the favourite album on my playlist belongs to Kodaline — Coming Up For Air. Strong classic melodies meet synth rock alternative arrangements, classic chordal progression and simple writing. It’s a must hear, for me... It’ll be my new favourite.
Vipin Mishra is a music director

Food talk
Rakesh Talwar
Favourite destination: Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur
There is a lane in Kuala Lumpur called Jalan Alor. I’m glad I don’t know the local language, because that’s what brought me to this restaurant called Sai Woo. I ordered Tilapia fish. What landed on my table was just heaven. The fish was fried with a sauce that had all the flavours of the universe in it, and to my surprise, had okra and some runner beans to add crunch and flash-tossed tomatoes and onions to add that oomph. How much better can this get — sweetness, spiciness and kaffir lime!
Rakesh is a chef

Reel in
Ritu Sarin
Favourite film: A Touch of Evil
The film takes the viewer into the underbelly of life in a dusty US town on the Mexican border as we follow its corrupt police chief, Quinlan. He is pitted against Vargas, a good Mexican cop who has just married a beautiful American played by Janet Leigh. When I first watched it in California as a student, I was transported to another world. The famous opening tracking shot is over three minutes long. The black and white cinematography is expressionistic and a visual treat. It’s a deeply original meditation on the oft-tackled theme of good versus evil. It’s a must watch film, one that improves with each viewing.
Ritu is a director

Telly Tattle
Sonu Kakkar
Favourite TV show: Homeland
Since my childhood days, I have been a huge fan of suspense and thriller shows. Homeland is one such show in recent years, and it's after a very long time I have seen such quality programming. I have loved Claire Danes, the protagonist, with each episode. I love to spend my lazy Sunday afternoon watching these episodes back to back. In fact, this is how I like my weekends — great food, good wine and binge-watching Homeland.
Sonu is a vocalist

Play time
Atul Kumar
Favourite play: The Gentlemen’s Club
Patchworks Ensemble’s The Gentlemen’s Club is the play I would like to recommend. It’s like a theatre cabaret. Women in the play essay all the characters as they talk about transgender issues. The play is very well researched and has a lot of rigour. I have seen it twice so far. The makers of the play did not fear to tread on dangerous lines with the topic considering the political scenario in the country. The play is thought provoking. I would recommend that everyone watch it.
Atul is a theatre director and actor