DSIR Autumn 2016

DECEMBER 2016

---

issue no. 39

A tribute to Leonard Cohen A Tale of Two Cities Escape to Victory Iron Maiden

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Chief-of-Production Editors Associate Editors Senior Correspondents

Contributors

Special thanks Cover Design

Faculty Advisor

Photo Credits: Rishi Shrishrimal

Dhruv M. Johri Sasyak Pattnaik Chaitanya Kediyal Gatik Gupta Madhav Singhal Arjun Singh Aryan Chhabra

Aayush Chowdhry Armaan Verma Kushagra Kar Zoraver Mehta

Ms. Priyanka Bhattacharya Arya Khanal Atrey Bhargava Rithik Hingorani Karan Sampath Karan Singh (Ex 551-J, ‘13) Leonardo Paimei

Ms. Anamika Ghose

Editorial At the DSIR, we aim to impress. This has been our one and only policy over the years and as I write my final Editorial this policy comes back to me. Now as a musician, who grew up wandering down Highway 61, often singing to my self ‘Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Life goes on’, joining the Doon School Information Review was a brilliant moment.

While planning out this issue, I reflected back on the past years of planning. About two years ago we were debating a potential ‘Electronic Revolution’ about popular culture. Was there a revolution then? Teenagers today have moved away from the likes of Tiesto and Avici. Yes now people are listening to Kendrick Lamar and ASAP Rocky. However such musical movements are mere phases of a much longer cycle that is Popular Music.

But then they are only phases in Popular Culture. My argument, or rather my perspective, is that revolution as a concept is often exaggerated to the level of something rebellious. Yes, genres such as protest movies do often reflect on issues of social awareness, however brandishing them forces divisions into place within different domains of society. The fact is that groups like Iron Maiden have played an immense role in expressing and influenceing the voices of a rebelious youth, however so did NWA to the United States of America.

For this edition of the DSIR, the 39th, we have put historical context to each of our articles. Articles apart from providing a review, reflect on the historical and contextual understandings of the text. Furthermore, while designing the issue, we decided to use the advantage of historical events by chronologically arranging the articles. The back cover of the issue, is our own tribute to Bob Dylan, following award of the Nobel Prize for Literature, for having ‘created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition’.

I would thank my entire team, past board members included. In particular I would thank Armaan Imam for initially getting me involved with this publication, Abhayraj Jain for constantly running to my aid whenever I was in need of an expert designer. Sasyak Pattnaik, Chaitanya Kediyal, Madhav Singhal and Gatik Gupta for all their help over the past year.

To conclude I would say that we are a generation with our own individual quirks. These quirks often influence our tastes. As a community we should embrace these quirks, as together they are an amalgamation of expression. I end with a few lines from Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times they are-a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers Throughout the land And don’t criticize What you can’t understand Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command Your old road is rapidly agin’ Please get out of the new one If you can’t lend your hand For the times they are a-changin’ -Dhruv M. Johri

CONTENTS

8

Peaky Blinders

Armaan Verma reviews the hit TV Show, ‘Peaky Blinders’ while bringing out the perfection with which the show is presented.

Valkyrie

10

Rithik Hingorani reviews ‘Valkyrie’, a movie on the Operation Valkyrie and the plot to assassinate Hitler

Escape to Victory

11

Arjun Singh evaluates the popular spor ts-feature film set during war time.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

12

Karan Sampath highlights the main features of the World War 2 based movie.

American Sniper

21

Kushagra Kar reviews the biopic ‘American Sniper’, contrasting its flaws with its fineries.

Captain Phillips

Pink

23

Atrey Bhargava scrutinizes the hidden message behind the Bollywood thriller.

22

Gatik Gupta makes a connection between life at sea and its turmoils while appreciating Tom Hank’s ‘Captain Phillips’.

MOVIES

Pink Floyd

13

Woodstock Music Festival

14

The Strains of Soviet Dissolution

15

Iron Maiden

18

Reprint DSIR Spring Term Issue 2013 Karan Singh (Ex 551-J, ‘13)

Ms Priyanka Bhattacharya

A Tribute to Leonard Cohen Zoraver Mehta

N.W.A.

16 20

Zoraver Mehta throws light upon the connection of music and culture with the end of the cold war.

Arya Khanal covers the rise of the historic band.

Sasyak Pattnaik revolves around the life of the N.W.A. while telling us about the origins of ‘gangsta’ rap.

BOOKS

MUSIC A Tale of Two Cities

6

Democrats and Dissenters

24

Armaan Verma reviews the book ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, talking about the various notions it addresses.

Lord of the Flies

7

Aryan Chhabra makes a connection between ‘Lord of the Flies’ and our routine lives while reviewing it.

Arjun Singh reviews Ramchandra Guha’s latest book.

DSI R ‘ 16

A Tale

of

Two Cities

Armaan Verma First published in 1859, Charles Dickens’ second historical fiction novel, A Tale of Two Cities, has been recognized as one of the greatest classics of all time. Set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, it portrays the hardships of the French peasantry and the conceit of the French aristocracy. Alongside that, it casts aside the watery barrier of the English Channel and reveals the social parallels of England in 1775.

The first few chapters of the book beautifully weave two very different, yet in some ways, very similar images of the two countries.

For example, there is an instance in Paris where townsmen crowd around to drink spilt wine on bare cobblestone, all the while making merry, which depicts a certain acclimation to misery. Meanwhile, in England, highwaymen run rampant, which becomes pitifully clear when London’s mayor is robbed at gunpoint while addressing a gathering in broad daylight. Such instances in the novel are narrated with a tinge of humor that is unique to Charles Dickens’ writing. Several characters in A Tale of Two Cities

6

Books

T he F rench R evolution 1775

paint their own picture on the much larger tapestry of the French Revolution while coping with the misfortunes of their own lives.

As a series of events unfold, Dickens blends love and longing with human faults such as envy and revenge in the chaotic whirlwind of the Reign of Terror. He seems to be calling into question the ultimate consequence of the French Revolution by expanding on his initial sympathy for the rebels and deeming their actions justified, but later condemning their escalation as excessively violent, unjust and facets of mob justice. Similarities are drawn between the aristocrats’ apathy to the starving peasants and the revolutionaries’ coldness to the unwarranted massacres of

the aristocrats during the Reign of Terror. The novel also seems to be presaging a similar fate for the English aristocracy if their arrogance too is not abated.

Charles Dickens describes the swirling mass of rebels that’s storms the Bastille Prison as ‘a sea’, which is fitting because they acted as a harmoniously functioning unit that feasts on the pain inflicted on its former oppressors. The first main theme that the book deals with is resurrection, in the sense that several characters initially vanish and are declared dead and then resurface. Other characters also have a hand in bringing out this theme such as Jerry Cruncher, a part-time “resurrection man”. The second theme is recurrence; specifically of how the initial oppressors—the French nobility—are replaced by newer, more vindictive ones, who care little if one is guilty or innocent as long as they manage to feed the Guillotine.

The book ends with a sentimental statement that invokes the idea of a better, more beautiful place— heaven—that waits for individuals after the storm has passed. All in all, not only is A Tale of Two Cities a brilliant, well-woven, and touching story, but also, a story that poses important questions of balance, morality, and philosophy.

D SI R ‘16

Lord

of the

Flies

W orld W ar II

Aryan Chhabra After numerous reads, each more pleasant than the last, I can confidently say that no other novel catches the fight between civilization ( i.e. the instinct to live by the rules, uphold peace and follow one’s morals) and our innate savagery as vividly and interestingly as Lord of the Flies. It is a gripping allegorical story that captures the beastly characteristics of humans. Through the course of the following article, in addition to reviewing the primary features of the book, I shall be arguing as to why this work has more in common with our day to day life than one chooses to admit.

The novel begins with a group of schoolboys who find themselves trapped in a deserted island in the middle of nowhere after an airplane crash. After the survivors come to terms with their situation, they revel in their newfound freedom and autonomy. However, after a few days, the challenges of survival dawn on them and give way to a struggle for power between Ralph and Jack, two lead characters in the book. Later, with the occurrence of multiple deaths, we are introduced to a beast that is on the loose. This beast is actually the inner demon present in every child on the island. Consequently, the desire to dominate and control eventually leads to the emergence of ‘Lord of the Flies’. It is a name given to the sow’s head impaled by Jack’s gang as an offering to the ‘Beast’. It symbolizes primordial instincts of power and cruelty that take control of Jack’s gang after his rise to power. What makes this novel different from any other you have read is its dystopian nature. Unlike any other novel you have read, Lord of the Flies talks of the loss of innocence visible among the children as the novel progresses. At a time when the bookstores were filled with typical teenage fantasy novels, William Golding created a masterpiece that stood the test of time and remains one of the most widely read novels.

The novel has certain biblical parallels which serve as a motif in the novel and add emphasis to the main idea of the book. For example, the island itself has a lot of similarities with the Garden of Eden; both of them are originally pristine places, which are later corrupted by the onset of evil. Moreover, critics have often compared Simon and Jesus, since Simon was murdered after learning the truth about the ‘Beast’, much like the way Jesus was killed while spreading his moral philosophy. Also, the confrontations between Simon and Lord of the Flies, in a way, are parallel to those between the devil and Christ. So, looking at the previous example, the Lord of the Flies can be compared to the devil, as we see that its main motive is to promote evil in the island. However, while the biblical parallels enhance the themes of this novel, there are limits to these parallels and they are in no way key to interpreting the story.

The current happenings around us today are reason to believe the similarities between the novel and our society.

Be it the Middle East or Russia, the realpolitik and the use of Machiavellian techniques to get power is something that has existed since time immemorial. In Russia, it is well known that Vladimir Putin’s power is absolute. Anyone who opposes it or criticizes it is crushed, much like what happens when someone crosses Jack’s tribe. In the United States, the use of racial and insensitive language to lure supporters by Trump has resulted in the formation of a community that has resorted to violence in the past and may do so in the future too. Now, these might seem like individual instances that can be counted as exceptions rather than the trend. However, that is not true. In different parts of the world, the struggle for power has led to radical movements, such as the ISIS or the vote bank politics played by politicians in order to gain votes and consolidate their power.

The author has used this book as a warning against man’s inner savageness and the problem that arises when man discards logic and reason for his innate turbulence. His depiction of the sight that is created when humans are unwilling to cooperate and live in harmony is disconcerting to say the least.

Personally, the part of the book that appealed to me the most was the ending. Upon finding a navy officer who had come to rescue them, Ralph’s reaction is captured in what are probably the most poignant lines I have ever come across. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.”

And by the time you finish this novel, so will you.

Books

7

DSI R ‘ 16

Peaky Blinders

P rohibition E r a

Armaan Verma “Whiskey’s good proofing water. It tells you who’s real and who isn’t.”

-Thomas Shelby, Peaky Blinders (2013)

8

At the dawn of the Roaring Twenties, the West Midlands of England witness the ascent of the bookmaking Shelby family with Thomas Shelby at its head; a British gangster with an unparalleled ambition and a fearsome, cold-hearted conduct to match. He has returned from The Great War wiser but haunted and, along with his two brothers, is prepared to battle the most powerful men in the nation to establish his hold in the horseracing industry. Peaky Blinders is a BBC television crime drama based in the said circumstances, starring Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Annabelle Wallis, and Tom Hardy.

Birmingham in 1919 - with its billowing factory smoke and dingy back alleys - was home to petty criminals, explosive pubs, and conspiring communists. Against a backdrop of betrayal and intricate yet deadly plotting, all sorts of hardships unravel at every corner and at the center of it all is Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), waging his war in the streets.

Some would call the show slow in some instances but I think it merely emphasizes the emotional weight that the consequences of a leader’s decision carry. In post-WW1 Birmingham, the Shelby family is the law.

With “coppers” on their payroll and races fixed in their favor, they appear unstoppable on their path to supremacy. Peaky Blinders showcases how Thomas—better known as Tommy—as family head, is forced to balance his business as well as the ties between his family members. At the same time, Tommy reluctantly faces his own demons. Yet, he faces off every one of his opponents with the same cold and calculating gaze that I feel does a great deal to titivate the already dark atmosphere that enshrouds the television show. It seems that the show is trying to show a certain repetition of attitudes and personalities throughout history.

The Peaky Blinders are no different from the Mafiosi of the 1960s or the transnational syndicates that operate today.

Movies & TV Shows

The show apparently exposes the similarities between human beings in the same contexts but in different time periods.

The rate at which the Peaky Blinders steadily climb the ladder of success and criminal dominance is at times staggering. The first season of the show is starkly different from the second and the latter is extremely contrasting with the third season.

This is, in part, due to Tommy’s relentless brutality and shamelessly pragmatic approach to every situation. One of the reasons that the Peaky Blinders is so appealing to its audience is not only because of the unpredictable outcomes of every episode but also the classy and erudite air that accompanies it.

The show is a massive hit and is widely recognized as one of the most intriguing on television, believed to portray British urban racketeering at its height, albeit accompanied by a few historical inaccuracies. For instance, the show obviously aims to capture the Blinders’ bravado and blasé attitude towards violence and blackmail; but this is applicable to organized crime in Britain as a whole. The Peaky Blinders were just a drop in an ocean of Interwar-period organized crime.

Visibly, the first few episodes wish to display the raw authority that the Shelby family commands.

From the very introduction of its members, it is clear that they already enjoy the respect of the ordinary citizens of Birmingham.

Cillian Murphy plays Thomas Shelby flawlessly and gives the role of a gangster an unprecedented style, be it in the way he walks or the manner in which he hides the violent past that haunts him.

D SI R ‘16

The show gives him every feel of a formidable crime boss, whether it is from the curt salutes he receives from passing policemen or his indifference to the run-of-the-mill affairs of people. For example, when once asked how much he had paid for the suit he wore, he retorted, quite matter-of-factly, “My suits are on the house. Or the house burns down.”

Aside from this, Peaky Blinders also captures the practices and idiosyncrasies of people of that era. It covers the slow but steady recovery of post-WW1 Europe.

The topic of the war arises several times in many episodes and practically every male character in the show is led to recall his time of service in France. The Industrial Revolution is in full swing and has made its mark world-over, which is evident in the show. Factory strikes and shipment robberies are as commonplace as communist bombings and the Peaky Blinders are quick to exploit the rampant unemployment of the time to suit their needs of manpower and intimidation.

Funnily enough, the original

Peaky Blinders, also known as “The Sloggers”, who infested the streets of 1920s Birmingham, were much less respected or feared by society as portrayed in the TV show. In fact, the name came from the peaked caps that gang members often wore, accompanied with jackets and bell-bottomed trousers, giving them a distinctive clothing style. Their caps often had razor blades stitched onto them, which they used in close combat.

The Peaky Blinders are known to be one of the many urban youth gangs of the time. The criminals of Small Heath, an extremely poor slum of the city, were known less for smuggling and bookmaking and more for kicking drunkards senseless into gutters. Hence, the characters in the show glorify the real gangsters of Birmingham, in reality a band of wild teenagers who found satisfaction in revolvers for toys.

But back to the TV show, one captivating and tremendously portrayed character is that of Alfie Solomons, played by Tom Hardy, a Jewish gang leader who is frequently seen in his bakery, which

serves as a cover for his distillery and illegal shipments. Hardy’s role is breathtakingly electrifying; Alfie Solomons is a man with little to love but and even less to lose. Intelligent and shrewd, yet violent and unpredictable, he uses his passive-aggressive mannerisms and technique of deal-or-death to manipulate and subdue his foes.

Solomons also has a peculiar habit of turning any arid or explosive conversation into an awkward one. For example, he once asked a group of young men he was blackmailing if they had to “go and use the little men’s room or something”. Alfie Solomons is by far the most erratic and exemplary character I have ever come across on television, and I simply cannot decide if it is due to his darkly facetious methods of negotiation or his quips on anti-Semitism in England.

Armed with revolvers, razors, and rancor, the Peaky Blinders are not only set out to conquer Birmingham but also the fascination of the audience of modern-day television.

9

DSI R ‘ 16

Valkyrie

W orld W ar II

Rithik Hingorani “We have to kill Hitler”- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. The death of Hitler seems rather a capricious way to start off, but this is what Valkyrie is all about. In essence this movie is actually about the assassination of Hitler through the infamous Operation Valkyrie.

It depicts the 20 July plot to take control over the country. Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, Valkyrie was directed by Bryan Singer and this movie features Tom Cruise as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, the Wehrmacht colonel who took upon the load of making his goal of saving the fatherland come true. Cruise is one of the key plotters, and also for those who aren’t familiar with the film surely will remember a version of Cruise in which he sports an eye patch. Moreover, the history based thriller was released on December 25, 2008.

The bewitching nature of the movie is that the very notion of killing Hitler is in fact a childhood dream which is explained by Tom cruise himself. Further, “When I was a kid I always wanted to kill Hitler,” Tom cruise revealed with the guardian. “I hated that guy and all he stood for.” This in turn gives us the feeling that Cruise is probably just living the dream. Tom Cruise acts an enigmatic character which acts a whole lot of vigor to the movie. Valkyrie starts with Stauffenberg stationed in Tunisia and the camp at which Stauffenberg is stationed is attacked and hence leads to the iconic pirate patch as one may call it. But before that Stauffenberg is seen writing in his diary his plan and his motive. Singer has started the film with the motive of the character, who acts a game changer to the film, and showcasing the enigma, the disenchantment of the main character has now elevated the understanding of the film the viewers have.

In order to get the gist of the film, it is important how the Operation Valkyrie worked and how could it be used to destroy Nazism and ultimately Hitler. Operation Valkyrie was a World War II emergency continuity of government plan employed to the territorial reserve army of Germany in case of the civil disorder in the nation.

General Friedrich Olbricht played by Bill Nighy and Col. Claus von Stauffenberg played by Tom Cruise tried to modify the plan to take control of Germany, and demobilized the SS and destroy Nazi leadership by killing Hitler.

The reason why the assassination of Hitler was cardinal because by killing Hitler, the soldiers would then be free from the oath and in turn the loyalty to the Nazi regime. But obviously we know that the assassination of Hitler did not have as it is written in the books of History. Moreover the variety of characters make it seem like an aweinspiring experience of the 20th July plot.

Moreover, another sticking out feature of the film is the cacophony of accents displayed in the movie, so in a way one can believe it that the dialogue seems natural. The robust officers are played by British actors and the Nazi diehards are played by Germans. However there is a lot of criticism on Tom Cruise as it is believed the pure American accent trickles into his character but nonetheless, Cruise definitely pulls off his role well.

So ultimately this childhood dream remained a dream and all efforts failed but Hitler still made his way and still impediment to Cruise. Hitler 1; Cruise nil.

10

Movies & TV Shows

D SI R ‘16

Escape

to

Victory

W orld W ar II

Arjun Singh As the drums, trumpets and brass bands blare away to comic tunes, and the grainy images of planes flying or soldiers marching appear, one knows they’ve been taken to the setting of a 20th century post-WWII production.

Following the opening sequence, the camera enters in media res a conversation amongst (distinctively) British soldiers: drinks in hand, a game of cards round the table and palpable contentment all in the midst of war and captivity: letting you know that you’re in for a step back in time to a different perspective of the Second World War. The Escape to Victory is no different.

Directed by John Hudson, this 1980s-made 1940s war film amiably captures the better segments of the seven year conflict, with the underlying theme being that of sportsmanship and its unifying power. As Commandant of an Axis POW camp, Wehrmact Major Karl von Steiner (Max von Sydow) teams up with prisoner John Colby (Michael Caine) – both veteran footballers with careers interrupted by the war – to hold an unprecedented football match: a team of the camp’s prisoners versus the better-trained, well-equipped and practiced players of Germany. With the match to be held at Paris’s Colombes Stadium before a crowd of 50,000 spectators, and indeed the world, the story continues with Caine, ‘trainer’ Bob Hitch (Sylvester Stallone) and a glamorous cast – notably the legendary Pele, English stalwart Bobby Moore, and the Argentine midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles – struggling against all odds to teach and (amusingly) train a team of conscripts to world-class football standards, with the distant hope of striking their own defeat against the mighty German Reich.

A glance at the cast would tempt anyone to spare time and view the celebrity actors and sportspersons in a rare moment together on camera. Of them, film’s protagonists – Caine and Stallone

– are presented to the audience in manners different from their ‘post-retirement’ productions to which we’ve now been accustomed. Caine’s character, though bland at the start, manages to retain his characteristic gentlemanly personality that is jovial, empathetic and firm, but with very rushed development before the main plot begins to take shape. As expected, Stallone is the rebellious and egotistical American officer; whose constant desire to escape captivity is what grudgingly led him to the team. Here, he is more endomorphic and outgoing than his military portrayals in Rambo or (to the younger readers) the Expendables. The classic character clash between these two protagonists is certainly entertaining, and while Caine and Stallone do get off to a Rocky start, their relationship enters pleasant territory in the films latter moments. However, while the characters played by professional actors are well presented, the roles of reality players Pele and Bobby Moore are surprisingly limited, with few dialogues during the film’s run-time. Though they boast a different set of skills for the cameras, a bit more activity from these real-world icons would have been appreciated.

While watching the film, a silent observation one makes is the quality of the setting; for me, specifically regarding the condition of camps. As I discovered after the movie (much to my surprise), Nazi Germany did stand by the Geneva Convention and provide well-furnished and proper accommodations to allied prisoners as portrayed in the film (in some cases, even luxurious by boarding school standards!)

The settings are, albeit, quite small and confined (it’s a prison, after all) and for capturing the sometimes rapid movement of characters, the cinematographers do deserve credit - more so for impressively recording the film’s iconic action scenes on the football pitch. For its status as a ‘feel-good’ movie, and not an evocative production, the film’s few clichés can be brushed aside, though viewers may find its fast pace quite unusual as opposed to the three-hour-long screenings of the present generation. With such present trends, the development of the plot – like that of characters – does seem quite rushed. The audience is presented with a single, minor sub-plot, and with very little personal-sides of the characters on screen.

By the end, however, the film does satiate the viewer. In a final note, Jon Hudson and his screenwriters deserve credit for being able to provide a characteristic ‘British’ tint as mentioned before. Hudson and his team despite being overwhelmingly American, has been able to maintain that light and amiable mood; comparable to those in post-war British blockbusters Battle of Britain (starring Caine) and the Navarone series. This quality joins others in the film’s several positives, which are what makes this tryst of war and sports a treat for all its viewers.

Movies & TV Shows

11

DSI R ‘ 16

The Bridge

on the

River Kwai

W orld W ar II

Karan Sampath World War 2, a time when even the most good-willed, the most bravehearted falter in the face of peril. ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’, a true war film right to its core, has exquisitely shown the deep confusions, qualities and the influences in every soldier , and in truth, every person. Having received much acclaim for such an exhaustive direction and screenplay along with the late Alec Guinness winning many awards for his amazing portrayal of Colonel Henderson, this movie has truly made its mark on drama and the way people perceive others. After seeing Colonel Henderson (Alec Guinness)’s multitude of characteristics, good and bad, unfolding one by one, one can only wonder the layers of characteristics and traits to each individual’s personality, defining and shaping them as they take a step in life.

This complex epic sends a deep message across to the audience while also showing the condition of POWs (prisioners of war) at the time. It starts off with the story of captured British soldiers in the custody of the Japanese.

Immediately, tension starts to pervade the atmosphere of the film as Colonel Henderson refuses to build the bridge he was order to build under the Geneva Convention (states that POWs aren’t allowed to manual labour). This leads to an aura of danger around the Japanese colonel Saito, who threatens the prisoners but doesn’t lay a finger on them, instead condemning them to vigorous punishments, for example making them sit in a sweatbox, so that they would bear the brunt of the blistering tropical sun. One of the officers then escapes, although badly wounded from the bullets. Colonel Henderson refuses to work, putting pressure on the Japanese colonel, who would be obligated to commit suicide if the bridge wasn’t completed on time. It is here we witness a sudden change of events, a stark change in

12

Movies & TV Shows

Henderson’s personality, when the colonel decides to use British engineers, soldiers to design and build a bridge in a time frame when the Japanese found it impossible to do so. As this part of the story develops, another comes to life.

The British commandos are sending a team to sabotage the bridge, with the very prisioner who escaped being sent back in. The construction keeps on going, and, due to the supposed ‘ingenuity’ and ‘hardwork’ of the British, is done on time. The commandos, meanwhile, swim to the bridge in the night before it was to be inaugurated, and place explosives on it. The movie ends with the powerful last scene, as Colonel Henderson discovers the explosive and proceeds to remove it, resulting in a tussle between the commandos and him. In a final dramatic climax, the movie signs off with Colonel Henderson falling dead on the trigger, blowing up the bridge, serving as a fitting conclusion to a movie of such stature.

This movie, although it was shot in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), has grave differences with history. The bridge being destroyed, which served as the climax to the movie, never happened. There were two bridges, and both were destroyed

by Allied bombing. Another stark difference was that the actual condition of the prisoners’ of war was much worse than what was depicted in the movie.

These historical parallels, though giving the audience a certain idea as to what happened, were nowhere close to actually depicting the actual truth.

Colonel Henderson, being an integral part of the movie, shows the audience how a person could change according to circumstances. His staunch refusal to build the bridge became a drive, a will to build it just to prove a point and build the morale of his men. It is his character which, in my opinion, defines the movie, with all its varying facets and parts. Directed by renowned film director David Lean, this movie has no hero or villain, which only adds to its grandeur and prestige. With its different intricately carved characters, from Commander Shears- the adept ‘con artist’ to Colonel Saito- the firm commandant, this movie seeks to portray a world where actions are the only true judge of a person.

Indeed, even in modern-day Japan, the movie is looked down upon, for it portrayed Japanese as less ‘capable’ than the British.

In my opinion, this movie can only be understood if one watches it, as through the graphic medium, a new form of understanding emerges. Through all of its complexities, The Bridge on the River Kwai illustrates a world where the influences affecting an individual define him, ending off with the immortalized words “Madness! ... Madness!”

D SI R ‘16

Pink Floyd

1960’ s -’70’ s

Karan Singh (Ex 551-J, ‘13) Every era in music is defined by a certain genre; there’s no doubt about that. The 60’s and 70’s are still considered to be that moment in music, where rock was at its very peak. While bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath became the pioneers of rock music, Pink Floyd made its entry into the business as the group that balanced out the ‘wild’ side of rock with their urbane quality of music. Talent is a different thing altogether; it’s the thought put behind every one of their compositions, which puts them in the spotlight for having a tender effect on one’s soul. A lot of people consider Pink Floyd’s music to be esoteric; I still believe that they defined unique in an entirely different way. While most artists during that period were breaking boundaries and creating a sound of their own, Floyd chose a completely different route to fame. Its tough to categorize them in a specific genre due to the various layers in their music that were eventually revealed, as each album left a mark of its own.

Initially, most people begin listening to their music with a few selective albums; most notably ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, which is a typical favourite.

‘The Pink Floyd Sound’ as we know it, is one that’s preserved in history as something that has never been heard of since the group parted ways. After listening to some of their earlier albums, which mainly revolved around the works of founding member Syd Barrett, it’s tough to tell weather it’s actually Pink Floyd or not; yet one can easily spot traces of what would later develope into that recognizable sound. Whereas their earlier years focused primarily on the psychedelic sound of the 60’s, Syd’s departure from the group eventually

gave way to a more sophisticated sound for the band to implement. Syd, just like Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, possessed the founding genes that led to the mainstream success of his own group, but eventually faded away due to a drug-induced breakdown. David Gilmore, who was his replacement on the guitar, approached the group with a completely different technique in mind, introducing a method of guitar that could be linked to the Blues. As their music slowly evolved, Richard Wright’s distinctive synthesizer became a significant part of their sound, supported proportionately by Nick Mason’s simple, yet rhythmic beats, which gave their tunes a calm pace. Vocals had never been a major part of the group; it was more about the individual effort put in by each band member that would synchronize so well into the other sounds that it would result in a dreamlike creation.

In the years to come, Floyd would amaze the music industry with every album, giving each of them an uncanny concept. The theory of giving their records a theme became one of their distinguishing qualities, which is why albums such as ‘Wish you were here’ are noted for their atmospheric effect.

Roger Waters and Gilmore had created a songwriting partnership that is said to be equivalent to that of Lennon-McCartney, with Richard Wright playing a recurring role as the ‘silent one’, just as George Harrison did for the Beatles. Moreover, they kept a secure grip on their unity, through their ups and downs, with the issue of each album. With the release of ‘The Wall’ in 1979,which is credited mostly to Waters, the world was exposed to an entirely unusual side of Pink Floyd. Alongside its live performances, which had its own theatrical outcome, the group had managed to maintain its original force, but in a slightly more dark and mysterious way.

Looking back at the decades of dominance over the music industry, there’s no question in saying that Floyd sustains the top rank as live performers. Being present at a Pink Floyd concert is said to be like none other, which clearly shows how well their music was carried out to support its respective theme.

People often have a different set of opinions on a group that chooses not to conform to the monotony of what everyone wanted to hear. Nevertheless, I believe that through the various stages of development, an essential spot for Pink Floyd still remains in rock history, as one of the few groups that stood for themselves, independently. After all, ‘The Pink Floyd Sound’ would still be unknown to us, had those five minds not been put together.

Music

13

DSI R ‘ 16

Woodstock Music Festival

1969

Ms Priyanka Bhattacharya In another century, I used to own a pair of denims that were rumoured to have attended The 1969 Woodstock Music Fest, attached to a wayward aunt, who had only queued up for the tickets, it emerged later. When I wore them, I felt thrilled to the bone, transported in spirit to that hallowed ground called Bethel Hill, an astonishing mecca to my smalltown imagination. To my adolescent mind, the very name “Woodstock” was like a talisman, connecting me magically with the gods I grew up with: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, The Who… Peace and Music, it was all about, apparently.

But I grew up in the days before Google, you see. No Wikipedia entries, no Huffpost articles telling me “13 things I did not know about Woodstock”, nothing much about the “facts”, except the utter romance of it all. I say to you, imagine, three days (later extended to four), 500,000 flower children, the oxymoronic “fences at Woodstock”, and of course, a music-marathon that can only be imagined, if you choose not to watch the documentary that was made later. No, I haven’t watched the documentary, still. Some things, should be left in the realm of myth and legend, I feel. Of course, the tyranny of YouTube ensures that clippings from the documentaries haunt my News Feed once in a while.

We live in difficult times. Google is a wet blanket, arriving at every party to spoil it. Now I know things about the Woodstock phenomenon I did not know back then, when I owned those hallowed denims. Thanks to Google, I now know, unfortunately, this advertisement that was placed in The New York Times to draw money to money: “Young men with unlimited capital looking for interesting, legitimate investment opportunities and business

14

Music

propositions”. So there were these four young men, the youngest only 27, who were out to get rich, bankrolled by their daddy’s dough. The original idea was to build a recording studio and a retreat for rock musicians up in Woodstock, New York (where the newly-minted Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan and other musicians already lived). The idea morphed into creating a two-day rock concert for 50,000 people with the hope that the concert would raise enough money to pay for the studio. I mean, it was just another business idea, with music thrown in for marketing. Ugh! (Look, as a poor schoolmaster, and more so, that most pathetic of all breeds, an English master, I’m allowed to take this pretentious stand, ok?)

Back to our desultory tale, now in present tense, because I’ve read up so much about it that I’m there in spirit again: the “start-up” heads into trouble when the town of Wallkill, the original intended venue, decides that it cannot have so many hippies descend upon them, and shuts its door firmly in the face of our music-preneurs. Barely 45 days to go, and our dudes are sweating it out because they’ve already sold out tickets, and folk are demanding refunds. Very luckily for them, one Max Yasgur offers his dairy farm and hayfields to them, and the organisers go into a tailspin setting up the stage (you NEED a stage!) and erecting ticket booths and the ill-fated gates and fences, and porta-toilets (you definitely NEED toilets!)

Our frenzied organizers have estimated that 50, 000 music lovers will turn up. No! Turns out, 500, 000 folk are lining up, clogging state highways, abandoning cars to be able to beat the jam and reach the venue and find tents and all.

More toilets! More food! More cash needed! Worst of all, no singer worth the name will perform unless

cash is coughed up to fill a mattress! After horrifying shenanigans with finance that I do not claim to understand, the performers get paid, and the music starts to roll. And Yay! It is impossible to erect ticket booths and gates and fences against this sea of humanity, so the event is now a FREE concert!

I’m off! In any case one million people are headed to Bethel. Who does not like a free concert? (Please google for yourself minor details like who sang on what day.)

By the time Jimi Hendrix ends the festival, history has already been made.

(I now know that the organizers paid Hendrix twice the money, lying to other performers that he would appear twice, while Hendrix’s iron clad contract ensured that he always closed a concert.)

Yes, the organizers run into 70- odd lawsuits, incur a million dollar debt (which they later clear somewhat, with the release of the legendary 4 hour documentary), three people get killed, military helicopters have to airdrop food supplies, the queues for the toilets are hour long, and, there are rains that turn the place entirely gruesome, with the porta-toilets, er, unable to contain themselves.

Told you that Google ruins everything.

Yes, it was about Peace and Music! It was!

D SI R ‘16

The Str ains Dissolution

of

Soviet

C old W ar

Zoravar Mehta While the factors leading to the fall of the Soviet Union are generally considered—by most history books like mine—to be reform policies or the great loss of Eastern Europe but in the following article I will explain another factor which is too often overlooked by IGCSE; music and culture.

The relation between music and political affairs may be unclear and enigmatic for the obvious reason that music doesn’t describe things like words do, hence political ideas and concepts may not be easily identifiable through music. However, in this historical context, when strict censorship of the Soviet Union put a ban on all western ‘commodities’, music was—unfortunately though— considered as one of them.

In the U.S.S.R. music became politicised by the state to an astounding degree and this, in my opinion, was their most grave mistake: to stifle art and free expression of it. Joseph Stalin created a world in which artists and writers were disgraced, tortured and murdered. Dmitri Shostakovich, the renowned soviet composer allegedly kept a packed suitcase under his writing desk and wrote much of his music in an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and isolation. The Pravda, the official soviet newspaper labelled Shostakovich as a petty formalist whose stirring music was an apparent danger to Soviet people.

The youth of the USSR—nicknamed the ‘Deep Purple generation’— had started to grow a deep affection for the music of say Jimi Hendrix or The Animals and could connect with the lyrics of bands like The Beatles.

They desperately tried to get hold of these records by any means possible.

An average Russian did not have

access to this and it were only the rich who could travel abroad and enjoy the ‘forbidden music’. It was clandestinely copied onto cassettes and discarded X-Ray emulsion plates to be sold to the masses, creating a thriving underground black market.

Surely one can’t blame the Russians, for if listening to The Beatles is some devious crime with consequences of confinement under the charges of “spreading western propaganda”, it’s a fair bargain indeed.

The Beatles and their great ideals of peace and harmony alienated the youth against the leadership of the Soviet bloc governments. It is asserted that the Beatles’ appeal reached religious heights and many a Russian family tapped their feet to Here Comes the Sun under the cover of darkness—wouldn’t want to get caught spreading peace propaganda!

This fascination towards the unique form of music served to undermine K.G.B. authority by humanising the West in the eyes of the Soviet youth which ultimately sparked revolution. The stilyagi, meaning stylish in Russian, was the first youth counterculture movement in the USSR and emerged in the early 50’s. They listened to rock n’ roll and copied western fashion trends. This emerging 60’s culture of love, music and peace was of much appeal to the young Soviets. The elderly offices of leadership and bureaucrats described rock music as a form of infection and a virus which had ‘softened’ the youth towards the westerners. I would again like to highlight how the torchbearers of Soviet communism were swayed by the popular culture of the west, only leading to their states eventual demise. The aforementioned described one out

of the several instances when music and culture changed history and had a lasting effect for years to come.

Despite attempts to stifle this growing ‘rock movement’, the underground survived and managed to sustain their culture, rapidly gaining popularity.

This culture provided rest from the brick and mortar institutions of communism. The youngsters were less likely to view America as a threat and slowly lost their interest in boring Soviet dogmas and policies; as of consequence, they stopped thinking of an English-speaking person as an enemy. That is precisely how the Communists lost a complete generation of young people.

The linking between music and politics is very evident and consequential as seen through antiestablishment songs, anthems, antiwar songs, folk music etc. The Cold War was above all an ideological conflict, a challenge concerning two systems. It was either the stagnant lacklustre Soviet culture or the popular western one. Conclusively, the most daunting weapon in the hands of the United States wasn’t Ronald Reagan, but Michael Jackson!

Music

15

DSI R ‘ 16

A Tribute

to

Leonard Cohen

Zoraver Mehta Last month saw the death of prolific musician, poet, songwriter and novelist Leonard Cohen. At the age of eighty-two, Cohen was as much as a literary figure as a musical one. Modest chords on the guitar--which he wished he could play better--a truly golden voice and passionate lyrics, characterized his very emotional music.

Born in an affluent family in Montreal, Cohen began writing at an early age. After a few lessons on the guitar, he began trying to add music to accompany his words. His first novel, ‘Beautiful Losers’ won great acclaim and reviewers began to declare him with as the “modern day James Joyce.” Much like his contemporaries, the likes of Joab Baez and Bob Dylan, he sang about democracy, destruction, anticipating the future as road with jagged lightning edges, an unfair world in which Cohen, like a bird on the wire, tried to be free. His first album, ‘The songs of Leonard Cohen’ comprised of many songs like ‘Suzanne’ and ‘So long Marianne’ which would later prove to be main ingredients of his repertoire for the rest of his extensive career. Cohen’s early acoustic style was initially not very well received and he failed to produce any hit records. This led to small financial roadblocks as he contemplated whether or not he should continue writing songs rather than novels.

It was his audience, growing in the numbers of hundreds of thousands, who helped him pay his rent every day, in the Tower of Song.

His album I’m Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen’s turn to synthesized instruments and remains his most saleable album. The keynote work of this album was ‘Tower of Song’. Cohen said that he wanted to “make a definitive statement about the heroic enterprise of the craft” of song writing. For years, he had discarded the song, until one night in Montreal when he finished writing the lyrics. He immediately called an engineer and recorded the song in one take with a toy synthesizer. While this may seem instinctive, it was very deeply thought out. For instance in the song ‘Dance me to the end of Love’ Cohen deliberately uses the most synthesized strings sound. Hearing the lyrics; “Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin,” one might infer the record to be a straightforward love song. However, the words were actually inspired by the Holocaust where a string quartet was pressed into performance while Jews were being burnt and tortured. Such is the allegory of Leonard Cohen. Too often, people fail to acknowledge the melodic element in his songs, which in my opinion, along with his lyrics, were his most remarkable genius.

16

D SI R ‘16

Undoubtedly, we have lost one of music’s most profound and revered visionaries. For his stirring lyrics and uniquely ruminative image, Cohen makes for one of the greatest icons of our time. Unlike the more surrealist Bob Dylan, he contemplated and mulled over every word in his songs, which often led to great frustration.

In the end he had learned to accept that his songs, true to himself, could never be perfect. For Cohen rightly sings; there’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.

Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free.

And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water, And He spent a long time watching from His lonely wooden tower, And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see him, He said “all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them,” But He Himself was broken, long before the sky would open Forsaken, almost human, He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone.

-Leonard Cohen, Bird on a Wire 1969

17

DSI R ‘ 16

Iron Maiden

1975-P resent

Arya Khanal Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution: The survival of the fittest.

In order to survive you need to be able to evolve and adapt in the face of change. The world of music is very unforgiving. It’s not easy to get to the top, much less stay there.

When I go through my music collection, I see so many great artists and bands that weren’t able to survive: Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Rage Against the Machine, Fleetwood Mac and Guns N’ Roses just to name a few.

But at the very top of my collection, lies one band that has stood the test of time, Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden were formed on Christmas Day 1975, in Leyton (A city in England) by Steve Harris.

If you do the math, that was forty years ago. That’s more than an entire human generation. And if that wasn’t enough they’re still kicking it out on the Big Stage. After finishing their highly successful ‘Book of Souls tour’ commemorating their sixteenth studio album, they’re scheduled to hit the road again in the summer of 2017.

The Heavy Metal story began many more years ago, when Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin began to roll out their music, inspiring a plethora of bands to take the stage. But Metal failed to catch on, and it began to gravitate towards punk rock. But out of the ashes the phoenix emerged and the New Wave began. And with it, god’s greatest gift to man: Iron Maiden.

In 1978 Iron Maiden recorded the ‘Soundhouse Tapes’. The ‘Soundhouse Tapes’ spread like fire through the underground scene, prompting EMI to give Iron Maiden a contract. The Beast was born.

Iron Maiden releases their eponymous debut album in 1980,

18

Music

and revolutionized metal forever.

Steve Harris later admitted that he was disappointed at the production quality, but the Album still remains a classic. It contains one of Iron Maidens best songs – The Phantom of the Opera. A Seven-minute masterpiece, which retells the story from three different perspectives.

The album also gave birth to Iron Maidens Famous Mascot, and arguably one of the most famous mascots of all time, Eddie the Head.

A half-dead zombie like creature that graces all Iron Maiden products with his presence.

The next year marked a change for Iron Maiden, when guitarist Adrian Smith, who would later go on to become a major contributor of the band’s music, joined them to play alongside Dave Murray.

Maiden released their second album ‘Killers’ in 1981, giving birth to their signature twin guitar attack.

The intensity of the music on this album along with its technicality and appeal shook the world over. It inspired many on the other side of the world, and began the advent of Thrash Metal in the United states.

Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax all cite this album as the one that began it all.

The next year marked an even bigger change, and arguably the most important. Bruce Dickinson joined the band as vocalist, replacing Paul Di-Anno. Fun Fact: Bruce Dickinson has a vocal range of four octaves. After the release of Killers in 1981 it seemed that the only way for Iron Maiden to go was down.

But in 1982 they came out with the definitive and most revolutionary heavy metal album of all time: The Number of the Beast.

The sheer intensity of the music, the ways the drums fit in, the twin guitar attack and harmonies, the operatic vocals, and the way the bass holds everything together, it’s hard to find a fault in this album. It contains the famous definitive metal song ‘Hallowed be thy Name’, along with a plethora of classics (seven to be precise). This album was sheer brilliance, and with their mascot in a new avatar, the band began to transform into a different beast. It did garner some controversy because mindless Christians began to

D SI R ‘16 advocate that the album was satanic (hard not to see why), but if they gave it a listen, they would realize that it was anything but satanic. But to be fair, it gave them a fair amount of publicity, and they only got more and more famous.

The coming of 1983, marked another line-up change, this time drummer Nicko McBrain came in to complete what is considered the classic line-up. The band was now made of Steve Harris (bass), Adrian Smith, Dave Murray (guitars), Bruce Dickinson (vocals) and Nicko McBrain (drums). Again, no one thought they could top it up, much less match up with their previous album, but guess what? They did it again.

Piece of Mind, released in 1983, is another classic Iron Maiden album.

It contains the ever so classic: ‘The Trooper’ based on the charge of the Light Brigade; Flight of Icarus, about the myth of Icarus; and ‘To Tame a Land’ based on the sci-fi novel Dune.

The twin guitar attack evolved, and Nicko McBrain’s drumming gave way for another highly acclaimed Heavy Metal album.

Then we come to 1984. Iron Maiden released ‘Powerslave’. It really doesn’t get any better than this. There isn’t a single bad song on this album, and it really redefines what heavy metal is. Iron Maiden were at their intellectual best when writing this album. It starts off with the classic anthem ‘Aces High’, which is about a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, followed by 2 Minutes to Midnight, which is about Nuclear War. Two legendary songs, and that’s just the first two.

The real gems of the album lie in the closing tracks. The title track, second from last on the album, is another deeply philosophical song, about a pharaoh who cannot come to terms with his own death, the same song also happens to contain the best guitar solos that I have ever heard

(yes there are three of them).

Then comes the closer. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Based on the famous Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, this thirteen-minute epic never fails to mesmerize. Cinematic storytelling at its finest.

After the release of this album, Iron maiden went on one of the longest tours in music history. The world slavery tour of 1984/1985 lasted over a year. After the tour the band members demanded a break, and they went on hiatus until 1986.

The albums of 1982-1984 (Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind and Powerslave) form what is widely considered the holy trinity of heavy metal.

Now we enter 1986. The previous year, 1985, was a big year for metal, the American scene exploded, and hundreds of new bands (all inspired

by Iron Maiden) surfaced. There was heavy metal everywhere. Now in 1986, Maiden had to make a decision. There was no way that they could top off their previous album, and there was so much good stuff coming about.

Now enter 1986. Iron Maiden release ‘Somewhere in Time’, this one was Adrian’s album. This marked Iron Maiden’s departure from heavy metal, into the realm of progressive music. Iron Maiden experimented with synth guitars and sci-fi and mythical song topics.

The result, another perfect album, which belongs right at the top of the music pyramid.

The album starts off with one of the best album openers of all time, the title track. Followed up by song after song after song. But the real gem hides in the final track: ‘Alexander the Great’. It retells the life of the legendary Alexander. You could pass it off as a history assignment and still get an A+. I really don’t know how

to describe this song, forget about describing the album. Everything fits in perfectly, and the production is out of this world. Iron Maiden experimented, and it worked like a charm. So many bands have suffered because they couldn’t change, but Iron Maiden passed the Great Filter, inspiring the progressive rock music across the world. Several progressive bands such as Dream Theatre maintain that Iron Maiden was their inspiration.

This amazing album has the great misfortune of chronologically being placed in between two of the greatest metal albums of all time: Powerslave and their magnum opus ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ Iron Maiden released ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ in 1988. It’s a concept album loosely based on Scott Orson Card’s book of the same name. Just like the previous two albums, this one is nothing short of perfection, and marked a departure from their previous styles.

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is a really mystical album, in both terms of lyrical content and music.

It was like nothing the world had seen before. Iron Maiden had reached their peak, and changed metal forever, once again.

And that’s just Seven albums over the course of a good part of a decade, that is 1980-1988 The Golden Era of Iron Maiden.

Long Live the Beast!

19

DSI R ‘ 16

N.W.A.

1986-’91

Sasyak Pattnaik “I think to me, reality is better than being fake.”

DJ Yella. MC Ren. Eazy-E. Ice Cube. Dr. Dre. These are the names that brought to light the genre of ‘gangsta rap’ - a highly controversial form of music typically associated to everything black. Started in 1986, N.W.A is known as one of the most influential hip-hop groups to have come out of America. Influence however, has negative and positive connotations to it - both of which N.W.A glorified during its period of fame. The group was initially assembled by Compton based Eazy-E. He did so by bailing out Dr. Dre who was facing charges for not paying his debts. Ironically, Dr. Dre is the industry’s largest and wealthiest producer today, heading Interscope Records. Dre and DJ Yella were a part of an electro group World Class Wrecking Cru - known best for its contributions to early rap. While, Eazy-E was a teenage drug-dealer looking for a way to get into the music business. Along with Ice-Cube, their new style of expressive and upbeat music landed them their big shot at fame in 1989.

Straight Outta Compton.

The multi-platinum album had traces of the playful melodies original to the group’s early days, along with new material that aptly matched faces and sounds to the then-untold struggles of Californian inner-city youth during the rise of the crack outbreak. In a lyrical perspective, N.W.A expressed themselves in an uncompromising and insensitive manner, which most definitely was a result of the community the group hailed from - the black community was not exactly going through its best phases, and faced racial discrimination across the nation. In a way, they were a band

20

Music

of documentarians, portraying and popularising the plight of a class of disenfranchised and angry Americans.

The album and its possible success was hugely doubted by everyone, including the producers, at the time of recording. The producers, as confident as they were of the artists, were speculative about the new type of mix Dr. Dre and DJ Yella were making. The genre of “gangsta rap” had begun quite some time before N.W.A. with the likes of groups such as Boogie Down Productions, Ice-T and Schoolly D. However, this new form of the above genre saw Dre trying to mix the thenpopular rhythms and beats with loops lifted straight off the funk and soul music of the older generations.

This transition, from the hard-edged funk beats to the smoother territories is evident across the album, and Dr. Dre’s music in general.

That was the album - one of the many reasons why N.W.A made it to the big books. N.W.A, when first started, was subject to series of controversies. In words, they had a terrible image in the eyes of the law.

At that point of time, any sort of controversial hip-hop was directly met with political and community backlash in various forms. However, despite this repute, the band broke the barrier, and landed major deals which others people in the same genre had never seen, such as receiving the support of “Yo! MTV

Raps” which extended their reach across the whole nation. The luck and unique way of representing themselves, along with the courage and confidence they brought with their music is perhaps what propelled their career.

N.W.A today is not remembered completely for its music. The band was much more than that. It represented the struggle of a section of the society that lacked proper representation in any field at that point; a section that was not allowed to express themselves as freely as the rest. N.W.A gave this section a voice, and moreover, an opportunity at expressing themselves. They provided the required break through for hip-hop. At the same time, the band brought to light the many struggles the black community faced. Songs such as “F**k tha police” and “Quiet on tha set” were testimony to the racism being thrown at the community.

There were many groups and individuals who came after N.W.A. But only a few rode the axis between the political and profane, between the ruthlessness and the outrage, between the street grit and the pop banter, as successfully as Niggaz Wit Attitudes did with “Straight Outta Compton”. Perhaps, this is why, 27 years down the line, the members of the platinum label band are still celebrated as the individuals who changed the face of an entire genre of music.

D SI R ‘16

American Sniper Kushagra Kar

Imagine being faced with a moral dilemma that places the lives of a child and his mother against the lives of a hundred of your men.

Imagine knowing that if you kill an innocent child, you will go to jail, and if you don’t, many more people may die. Imagine being faced with these questions everyday of your life. Chris Kyle, US Navy SEAL and author, did.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, ‘American Sniper’ covers the life of the most lethal sniper in American history from the day he enrolls in the US Navy to his death. The film is based on Chris Kyle’s autobiography, which is called American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. As the title suggests it narrates some of his most challenging assignments in great detail. As a biopic, the film does its job. It gives the viewer ample knowledge regarding the titular character and the many facets of his life. If taken as a film on its own, we have an entirely different story.

Let’s start with the positives.

The film featured Bradley Cooper in its lead, and his performance must be commended. His devotion to the role can very evidently be seen through his physical condition and manner of speech in the film. Much of his acting in the film is done solely through facial expressions, silence being of great importance

T he I r aq W ar 2003

while sniping, and his ability to capture every emotion possible with the simple twitch of an eyebrow is a feat only Cooper is capable of doing. Acting opposite him was Sienna Miller, playing Chris’s wife, who fell short of her true potential in the film. She managed to play a convincing ‘single mother raising two kids’ though she contributed in a very miniscule manner otherwise through her acting. If the character had not been as developed as it was due to the script, she would have been irrelevant.

Clint Eastwood’s directing was the highlight of the film. He masterfully crafted each scene to perfection. The solo scenes featuring Cooper while he primed himself for a shot brought out the essence of what it means to be in war: all is quiet until the shot is fired. He managed to develop each character, ensuring their relevance in the story, without wasting too much time on them. Although, after walking out of the theatre, many of the supporting characters weren’t memorable in any way. That includes Biggles.

The plot itself drags on for much of the film. Although it takes its time to establish the various crises faced

by Chris, the audience tends to get disconnected during scenes between Cooper and Miller. After a certain point, I was essentially saying, “we get his marriage is under great

contention, let’s go back to Iraq!”

Heartless as that may sound, even while looking at this film from a romantic point of view, the movie fails to really give the audience a reason to feel any sympathy for the couple. As a result, a considerable aspect of what keeps the plot moving becomes a burden for the viewers.

To a great extent, the film has stayed true to its source material. Obvious amounts of dramatization and fictionalization have been added to the film to bring more to the table.

Indeed it adds a dimension to the plot, being the rivalry between Chris and the Mustafa, and gives more to the film. Without it, the film would be even blander than it already is.

In conclusion, the movie wasn’t all that bad. It had its moments wherein the viewer would be absolutely engrossed. These moments are its saving grace. I would recommend it to anyone willing to get a new understanding of what it means to be in the heat of war. It brings out many of the tragedies faced by families and soldiers alike, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though I must warn you, it doesn’t put much else up for offer.

Movies & TV Shows

21

DSI R ‘ 16

Captain Phillips Gatik Gupta How many of you have thought about living along the waters? Think about the kind of lifestyle that would be present there. Many of you might think about the luxury that would be present, but nobody wants to flip the coin and notice the negative side of this lifestyle. This biopic is all about that side. ‘Captain Phillips’ revolves around the story of one man (Tom Hanks) and his struggle against the Somali pirates.

One of the most crucial elements in such films is authenticity. Since this movie is about recreating history, one has to make sure that everything seems realistic. Paul Greengrass, who is the director of the film, has managed to provide accurate details and has kept the story as fresh and juicy as possible. At the beginning of the film, Greengrass uses the chemistry between Phillips and his wife Andrea (Catherine Keener) to show the viewers the personal hardships and sacrifices that one makes when working in the merchant navy. Greengrass also makes it a point to add in certain technical aspects of a ship, this

22

Movies & TV Shows

M aersk H ijacking 2007

helps in engrossing the audience and making the movie more interesting.

He has not only shown drama, romance and the regular aspects of any film, but also included the ship as one of the main characters in the film. In addition to all this, Greengrass tries to be as creative as possible, since he tries to show two parallel universes.

Therefore, this becomes such a unique biopic: the telling of the story of two different individuals who come from completely different cultures with contrasting objectives.

Due to such a dual portrayal, credit has to be given to Greengrass for establishing the connection clearly.

In terms of casting, nobody could have pulled off a better Captain Phillips than Hanks. His acting as well as his physical appearance, both elevate the level of this $55 million production. He really captured the essence of being a captain, whether it is ordering his crew or making sure the ship was in a satisfactory condition. Especially, the scene wherein he initially checks the boat, projects the persona of any typical captain.

Although this biopic is about mainly Phillips, it wouldn’t have been such a success without the presence of Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi) and Najee (Faysal Ahmed). The sense of chaos and violence that these two individual bring to the table, invigorates the outlook of the entire film. Abdi convincingly plays the strategic Somali leader while Ahmed

plays the naïve yet deadly Somali kid. This deadly combination makes the audience glued to the screen.

The conflict between these two characters seems so compelling and surreal that the audience feels the tension in each and every scene.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention that the movie has its own fallbacks too. Even though this movie is adapted from a book, there still seem to be some inaccuracies, which can certainly disappoint members of the audience. In addition, the movie could have involved more of Phillip’s personal life. These aspects would tune in an emotional aspect in the film that would keep that audience further attached to the story. Personally, I love the ending scenes of this film. The way Hank is shown to be in shock and has no recollection of events, creates a sense of reality, which is very hard not to believe. Ultimately, this movie is a must watch, but I advise the viewers to watch this movie not for mere entertainment. One should watch it for the hero, who deserves recognition for his actions and ultimate sacrifices.

D SI R ‘16

Pink

2016

Atrey Bhargava The end of September brought back the best of Amitabh Bachchan and the Hindi directorial tribute by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury brought a pressing issue to the limelight. The growing rigour of laws against molestation and rape has garnered immense acrimony in the Indian patriarchal mindset where Indian men are often equating these laws as weapons against their sovereignty. There have been growing accusations where women have used their laws to their advantage and are thus misplacing the trust the system has given to them.

However, Pink serves as a reminder to the masses of the stigma attached to such rape and molestation, the unwillingness of women to bring such charges to the forefront, the use of political pressure and moreover the narrow mindedness of our contrived society. The story revolves around three women and their court struggle against three politically powerful young men who have levied against them the charge of attempt to murder. It stands as a testimony to the fact that it is not necessary to be uneducated or uncivilized(according to present norms of society) to indulge in such malpractices as rape and murder, but even the richest, the well educated and powerful can commit the mistake to bring upon harm to their own self and others.Human psyche works in myriad pervert ways!

From manoeuvring the police to creating new evidence, the boys leave no stone unturned to prove that it was not them who molested the girls but the girls themselves who were sex-workers who when refused money, threatened them with charges of rape if they did not accede to their demands. What, however, they miss is the craftsmanship of Mr. Bachchan (retired lawyer Deepak Sehgal) who brings to the forefront the appalling stereotypical notions of Indian society.

From girls wearing appropriate clothing so as to not hormonally excite the young men, to them not drinking or touching accidentally or even smiling/laughing at/ with men as the aforementioned can be equated with approval of sexual consent;, the story ensues a legal struggle where Amitabh, very satirically, goes to make up a safety girls manual where girls are prohibited to exist as equals for, ironically, their safety. The underlying message reveals in his concluding remarks, something I think all of us need to understand, that the word No is an entire sentence in itself and if a girl utters it, be a wife, girlfriend, or even a sex-worker a No is a No. Though I can say that it did take sometime in the first half of the movie to establish the plot, the second half brings down a chill in spines of anyone who can see the immense safety concerns Indian girls face. Moreover the ability to question whether someone is a virgin is a huge leap in Indian cinema where such uncomfortable truths are usually hidden.

The acting of all the three girls (Tapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang) is to be commended for they beautifully show the plight of women trying to establish themselves independently in a socially backward India where drinking or even going parties should be limited to men. Additionally, the negative music

by Shantanu Moitra with the slight shade of hope reflects very subtly the situation of these girls who against all odds are united together to fight for each other. The superficial nature of Indian society which judges girls for coming late at night or calls them unfit for marriage because they are not virgins reflects low on Indian society, where economic and political progress has not equated itself with social progress.

I realize that this is not true for most of our households, but the very fact that it

exists in India is a shame on citizens of this county. I can also comprehend that it is perhaps sounding like a feministic rant, but perhaps the beauty with which it connects with such a sensitive topic inspires you to think from such a perspective. Even in the end, the names of all three actresses come before Big B’s in the credit section and shows another instance where women should be given equal due.

This movie stands as a contrast to the romantic doze of Bollywood movies which we usually witness and shoves towards an era where directors are not hesitant to bring forth sensitive issues of our society and comment on not only our attitude towards the other sex but also our discrimination towards people from different parts of our nation. It mocks the polity which is so heavily judgemental and superficial that it fails to accord equality between men and women. The brilliant acting in the movie only helps in supplementing the message in the story and the picturesque Delhi mornings overshadow the gloomy pollution we usually witness.

My review, however, does not do justice to the beauty of the movie and it is hence my ardent request that each and every member of the school community gets a glimpse of this movie to not only re-create their own perspective but also become sensitive towards such issues.

Movies & TV Shows

23

DSI R ‘ 16

Democr ats

and

Dissenters

2016

Arjun Singh As one opens Ram Guha’s newest book, the contents list spurs both satisfaction and interest. For the first, a glance shows the reader they’re to read detailed and well-researched analyses.

For the other, the reader’s curiosity is met by some of the novel subjects that have previously gone un-discussed in writings on contemporary India.

Their very selection leaves the reader impressed even before the first page is turned.

Democrats and Dissenters is a twopart anthology of Guha’s essays on matters pressing the Indian polity, as well as his evaluations of prominent intellectuals and their works. In its first segment on ‘Politics and Society’, Guha presents his analysis and conclusions about the important issues part of the present national discussion: which include the political decline of the Congress (and a few suggestions for improvement), the threats to freedom of expression, the relationship between violence and democracy, and attitudes towards China and Pakistan.

The book offers clear and often witty viewpoints, backed by reason and bolstered by relatable examples – the lack of which often turns adolescents away from non-fiction. In the context

24

Books

of a school, Guha’s essays are apt for students interested to gain insight into Indian democracy and politics, and for those interested in making sense of the raging debates on the same.

The second segment presents evaluations of the lives and beliefs of thinkers who, by admission, influenced Guha’s own studies and research. The essays both appreciate these scholars where due and criticize them when necessary – providing a basic understanding of the scholar and their works. While few are linked to an Indian context, the essays are relevant in that the knowledge absorbed contributes to a person’s academic awareness. Thus, a reader is exposed to a criticism of Amartya Sen’s propositions in The Argumentative Indian, the social and Marxist writings of Eric Hobsbawm and E.P. Thompson, and a portrait of Irish scholar Benedict Anderson (to name a few). The essays are both informative and understandable - and serve as intellectual capital for growing minds (more crucially for my fellow debaters and IB students!).

Perhaps the most prominent essay in Guha’s anthology, which is also the most publically acclaimed, is his

analysis on the present-day dearth of conservative intellectuals in India.

In his most analytical piece, Guha lays out caveats by delving into what being ‘conservative’ really means, and the difference between ‘intellectuals’ (Arun Shourie) and mere ‘ideologues’ (Subramanian Swamy). He then, in several layers, moves in to answer the question – simultaneously discussing the decline of conservative thinkers since the freedom struggle, the predominance of liberal and left-wing views in academic circles, and role of India’s rightist parties in preventing their own ideologies’ scholarly growth.

Equally interesting is the essay titled ‘Which was our worst year ever?’ where he summarizes eight regrettable years of India since independence.

Both essays pique the reader’s interest.

In a final word, Democrats and Dissenters is a book that ought to be read (re-read), discussed, and debated upon. The themes it touches are ever-more relevant to India, and the summary of its political climate and civil society are quite apt. It would serve Doscos well to imbibe this understanding, if they truly are to fulfill our Founders’ visions and become the forerunners of India’s future.

D SI R ‘16

EDITOR’S PICKS Books

The Sellout by Paul Beatty Black and British: A Forgotten Story

by David Olusoga House of Lords and Commons by Ishion Hutchinson Incarnations: India in Fifty Lives by Sunil Khilnani The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead An Era of Darkness by Shashi Tharoor

Music Mozart lieder by Peter Schreier You Want it Darker by Leonard Cohen Hardwired… to Self Destruct by Metallica Street King Immortal by 50 Cent Blue & Lonesome by The Rolling Stones 24K Magic by Bruno Mars

25

DSI R ‘ 16

Movies and TV Shows Sherlock Season 4: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss Assassin’s Creed: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Colin Ferrel Beauty and the Beast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans Moana: Dwayne Johnson, Auli’i Cravalho, Alan Tudyk Kevin Hart: What Now?: Kevin Hart, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle True Memoirs of an International Assassin: Kevin James, Zulay Henao, Kelen Coleman Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen Collateral Beauty: Will Smith, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley Passengers: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen Dangal: Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sakhi Tanwar Raees: Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Allied: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Lizzy Caplan, Jared Harris

26

Image Sources: Page 7: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjUgfGZn8vQAhUBXrwKHTnjA1YQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter. com%2Fahluss&psig=AFQjCNERZWiIkDwQc8x5IdC2AViYXhT_AA&ust=1480415381612996 Page 8: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=peaky+blinders+tom+hardy&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSmQEJIdKNI0rh7isajQELEKjU2AQaBggACAMIQgwLELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKJEbjRmOGbcMhhueDtEO_1RiSG_1cYsC2yLcQksS3FJPIkw ; https://www.google.co.in/ url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiY75mfosvQAhXCEbwKHTQmD18QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffilmingcontent.com%2Farchivos%2Fgallery%2Fterminator-genisys-official-3&psig=AFQjCNFY5UKSqUmFntQ2Urn1XqzipX8Yow&ust=1480416193401338 Page 10: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FBrqgvLfmiWiFkz7fLex-4xYF648rpINW5cDREh7dHXgvsfGL57leCYgNstkuKBLBGAMXg=s151 ; https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjNqIeeo8vQAhWBjpQKHRi5AmIQjRwIBw&url=%2Furl%3Fsa%3Di%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dimages% Page 11: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wFve8d2Vl5KjZCZD48zRvysar66XgV84hpZ-dkBfzH28cOyQQqDcsVWz1mxl_4bYDN3HIw=s142 Page 12: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcinemaetc.co.uk%2F2016%2F07%2F18%2Fstar-wars-episode-viii-cinematic-reference-points%2F&psig=AFQjCNGBVZihkxQ9KpECbiRRjyZTDcGqhQ&ust=1480416263393953 Page 14: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kuUmSv11H2t8LgeTo1SjYiMKj-KNhhlDdbcA7Bt0bzpZ2IWEWcJWoNmicdZdBqCza1FVmg=s108 Page 15: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjN1pXbosvQAhWDkpQKHTw1AuoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. htconem8wallpaper.com%2F2014%2F04%2Ffunny-htc-one-m8-wallpaper-31.html&psig=AFQjCNFaMqxlbZ08wZUiJnp--eiZLJFRpQ&ust=1480416308624076 Page 16: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=leonard+cohen+a+thousand+kisses+deep&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSlwEJsjAY3r8xzEIaiwELEKjU2AQaBAgACAMMCxCwjKcIGmIKYAgDEii5GdkOuhmgBcwOtxngDt8OnASaBKYu-SzyLPcsyi3gKqUup ; https://user.vse42.ru/files/P_S1200x822q80/ Wnone/ui-582529efde6c92.03750695.jpeg ; https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flagazzettadf.com%2Fnoticia%2F2016%2F11%2F10%2Ffallece-musico-leonard-cohen%2F&psig=AFQjCNHoRkKCx9kmjuArSj5MuTloHi8hcA&ust=1480415923485715 ; https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-INPage 18: https://www. google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=best+bassist+in+metal&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSlwEJgYvCzQ_ 1JYjsaiwELEKjU2AQaBAgBCAkMCxCwjKcIGmIKYAgDEiiREI0RihG3DoUbhhuIG4sRhxuRF7AvyiSxL ; https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url Page 20: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=straight+outta+compton+cast&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSmQEJYFVHPBUniFYajQELEKjU2AQaBggACAMIQgwLELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKKQblQWKG8Efxh Page 21: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=american+sniper+movie+poster&tbm=isch&tbs ; https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wFve8d2Vl5KjZCZD48zRvysar66XgV84hpZ-dkBfzH28cOyQQqDcsVWz1mxl_4bYDN3HIw=s142 Page 22: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VtjpK52esZb_Qj9QmISG-LbMVUP3sfTNl3jDMrXBa_Mn4NwkHFgBgJ0zuDl0XrYtU3NXmw=s156 ; https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=movies+based+on+true+stories&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSmwEJI9Wn9obgYioajwELEKjU2AQaCAgACBcIPQhCDAsQsIynCBpiCmAIAxIokhu3H5Ebkx Page 23: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=pink+movie+quotes+amitabh&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSmQEJmratPkTAb8Qaj Page 24: https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&hl=en-IN&q=ramchandra+guha&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSlQEJwbYnOoUvnrsaiQELEKjU2AQaAgg9DAsQsIynCBpiCmAIAxIo2xrdGvkP3x-PHLka4hrzDtEQ3xuvLsYuwS7PPpo7zT7aLdA-

The DSIR is a subsidiary of The Doon School Weekly.

The Doon School is not associated with any other body with 'Doon' in its name.