Dk doodles

Meta gaze: A New Term I have long been fascinated by Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory , first introduced in her 1975 essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema . This fascination encouraged me to write my first article, which I presented at Madras Christian College. Building on that experience, I was fortunate to receive another opportunity this month to present a paper at Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women , where the central theme was gender and cinema . For the conference, I submitted my paper titled “Beyond the Screen: Has the Male Gaze Lost Its Power in Modern Tamil Cinema and Society?” Presenting at a new institution was both enriching and enjoyable. As my professor, Dr. Samuel Rufus , often reminds us, academic work can also become memorable journeys, and this day truly proved it. Alongside my friends— Harish, Prakalya, Nivedha, Amy Christina, Amy Davinia, and Sivasankari—I  turned the occasion into a lively one-day trip. Since it was planned in advance, we made t...

WHITE KOLUKATTAI – EXISTENTIALISM Today is Vinayagar Chaturthi, a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm across India. In North India, the streets are often packed with crowds dancing and praying in front of massive Vinayagar statues, making it difficult to step outside. Compared to the South, North Indians tend to celebrate this day with more public grandeur. Vinayagar Chaturthi, also called Ganesh Chaturthi, honours the birth of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom, prosperity, and the remover of obstacles. According to legend, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha, and after an encounter with Lord Shiva, he received an elephant’s head and was blessed as the lord of new beginnings. Symbolically, the festival represents removing negativity, seeking success, and balancing spiritual wisdom with material prosperity. Popularised by Bal Gangadhar Tilak during India’s freedom struggle, it also encourages community unity. Devotees worship clay idols, prepare sweets, and later immerse them in...

MOVIE TIME WITH CM – MARXIST LITERARY THEORY The Coolie movie has been the centre of attention this month since its release on August 14th. Its very title suggests the story of a protagonist who dedicates his life to fellow labourers. The film appears to celebrate and honour their struggles. Yet, outside the world of cinema, the real labourers of our society, particularly sanitary workers, were neglected at the moment they needed solidarity the most. In early August 2025, sanitary workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation, especially from zones 5 and 6 (Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar), launched a protest at the iconic Ribbon Building. Over 2,000 workers gathered to demand justice, after their zones were handed over to private contractors. This move slashed their salaries by nearly half and created fear of job losses. If the Coolie movie symbolised respect for workers, one would expect the state’s leaders to meet the real “coolies” of the city that is the sanitary labourers. Instead...

COOLIE – READER RESPONSE THEORY Last night, I watched " Coolie " with my senior Anna. The expectations for this film were sky-high, even though it had been clearly stated beforehand that it was a standalone project and not part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. In the weeks leading up to its release, fan-made theories filled social media, speculating on how Rajinikanth’s role might connect to Lokesh’s larger world-building. This built a massive sense of anticipation. However, even before stepping into the theatre, I was already influenced by negative reviews from my brother and online discussions. Unfortunately, my own viewing experience aligned with those opinions. The film didn’t feel like a true Lokesh Kanagaraj product. The screenplay dragged in several places, and despite Rajini’s commanding presence, the movie failed to deliver the thrill and intensity I had hoped for. This entire journey, from the excitement before the screening, to the letdown afterward, and the influ...

Utilitarianism – Relatable I grew up believing that a good deed brings good fortune, a lesson from my school textbooks. But this week challenged that belief. It was a week full of surprises: my roommate Anna was appointed as a professor, I bought a T-shirt that received compliments, I relished chicken biryani with chicken pepper fry after a long time, and most memorably, I donated blood for the first time. Donating blood had been on my bucket list since my UG days, and I finally got the chance on Tuesday (05.08.2025) during a Red Ribbon Club camp at college. I wasn’t afraid, even when the nurses used a large needle, something my friends teased looked like an animal injection! They drew 350 ml, and I felt genuinely happy to have helped someone. But that happiness didn’t last. When I told my roommate Annas, they criticized me, saying donation camps often sell blood instead of offering it freely to those in need, and that I should have gone directly to a hospital. I was stunned. I had d...

Daily Dose of Motivation When you have an elder brother who achieves something significant, it naturally inspires the younger ones. His success doesn’t just bring joy but it gives hope and confidence that we, too, can achieve great things. I’ve experienced this feeling many times in my life, and today was one of those moments. Thiru Johny Tom Varghese IAS, is well-known among MCCians. For those who don’t know, he once served as the Collector of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. He secured the 8th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2013 at the age of 27, and later became the Director of Children Welfare and Special Services. During the third hour today, my professor Dr. Samuel Rufus asked us to attend a speech by Mr. Johny Tom Varghese. At first, I was confused that why was he visiting our college? What was the topic of his talk? My friend Amy then read it out: “How I Was Shaped as a Leader in Madras Christian College.” Being someone who enjoys listening to leaders ...