Kahini Iyer, Author at Arré

From Bollywood’s Boldest Star to Big Mouth: What Do We Do About Kangana Ranaut?

Kangana Ranaut’s latest release Panga stands overshadowed by the theatrics on display during her film promotion on Thursday. Ranaut said that senior lawyer Indiria Jaising should be thrown in jail along with the 2012 Delhi gang rape convicts for suggesting that they be pardoned. For an actor who has carefully pitched herself as the champion of feminism, her comments against Jaising are deeply misogynistic.

Kahini Iyer June 14, 2016

Pop Culture

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Review: Why Grindelwald is a Lot Like Today’s Politicians

Gellert Grindelwald’s tactics of demonising muggles, as a convenient “other”, can be seen in the divisive politics of the US, much of Europe, Brazil, and even in our India. Like a steadily growing number of our world leaders, Grindelwald understands the politics of fear, fake news, and populism.

Kahini Iyer June 12, 2016

Gender

Dear Rakhi Sawant, You’ve Gone Too Far with Your #SheToo Drama

At a recent press conference, Rakhi Sawant claimed that Tanushree Dutta raped her and muddied the waters of the #MeToo movement by calling it a publicity stunt. Because if anyone knows anything about cheap publicity stunts, it is Rakhi Sawant. It is fine to issue wedding proposals from your commode, but dismissing a movement for solidarity is going too far.

Kahini Iyer June 12, 2016

Pop Culture

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: Sam Wilson is Not Steve Rogers’ Substitute. He’s the New Black Captain America

In the tradition of Captain America, Sam Wilson is pure and optimistic. Unlike Steve Rogers, however, his hopefulness is not borne of a rose-tinted view of a better time, when right was right and wrong was wrong. People are complex, he acknowledges, and flawed. But they are also equal.

Kahini Iyer June 11, 2016

Pop Culture

15 Years After Britney Sang About It, Why “Toxic” is Oxford’s Word of the Year

Fifteen years ago, Britney Spears made a frothy pop song about a toxic relationship. Today, in the era of #MeToo, the word has a very different connotation. It was so much in vogue over the last year that Oxford English Dictionary anointed it 2018’s Word of the Year.

Kahini Iyer June 8, 2016

POV

Sabarimala vs Triple Talaq: Dear PM, There’s No Choice Between Hindu & Islamic Oppression of Women

In a rare interview, PM Modi stated that banning triple talaq has helped secure gender equality, but the Sabarimala ban on women is a tradition that has nothing to do with discrimination. But if treating women’s bodies as sacrilege isn’t blatant discrimination, what is?

Kahini Iyer June 7, 2016

Features

Stop Obsessing over Your Weekend if You Want to Enjoy It

After an entire week in a cramped office, weekends are the rare and sacred times when we begin to live out our dreams. But in trying to eke out every last drop of entertainment from those two days, we’re forgetting how to have spontaneous fun.

Kahini Iyer June 6, 2016

POV

Dear Fellow South Indians, Sexism isn’t Just North India’s Problem

Have South Indians really earned the right to claim the moral high ground when it comes to sexism? For starters, comparing stats on women’s rights in developed states to the rural cowbelt, is like lauding India for having a stronger record on human rights than Saudi Arabia.

Kahini Iyer June 3, 2016

POV

Sabarimala Protests: Are You a “True Devotee” If You Continue to Attack Women?

A mob protesting against women entering the Sabarimala Temple attacked a cameraperson who was covering the story. In the past too, stones have been pelted at women. Who are these “real devotees” of Ayyappa, who believe in their religious rights without considering the constitutional rights of others?

Kahini Iyer June 3, 2016

Sports

What Your IPL Team Says About You

The 2020 IPL kicks off tonight with CSK taking on MI. If you are still part of the Whistle Podu Parishad, you are a loyalist who doesn’t switch allegiances no matter what. And you are a true Royal Challenger, if you believe in the power of Anushka Sharma’s birthday.

Kahini Iyer June 3, 2016