The Observer
An IIJNM publication
With police not checking vehicular emission, owners of vehicles don’t get PUC renewed | P 2
Vol 19, Issue 18
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Aarthi N
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ransgenders who were promised shelter homes by BBMP in 2019 are still waiting for them. The result: They continue to live on streets. Swetha, a transgender in Shivajinagar, informed The Observer: “Shelter homes will be helpful for people like me who do not have a place to stay. Too many transgenders are on the road with no job. We beg every day. If shelter homes provide us with basic facilities, we will feel more secure and happy. They can make arrangements for us to learn skills like tailoring which will help us start our own businesses.” Deepika (name changed), another transgender, said: “I heard from my friends that we would be provided homes near
Around the city
•Living
Philosophy course, New Acropolis at East Bengaluru, 31 Jan, 7.30 pm-8.30 pm •Seminar on Stock market investing and trading, 31 January, 6.30 pm-8.30 pm •“Fun at Cubbon”- Open mic to promote Stand up comedy, Cubbon park, 2 February, 8.30 am- 10.30 am •Pravega’20, Indian Institute of Science (IISC), 31 January, 9.00 am •Urban Bazaar, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Seshadripuram, Jan 24, 2020 - Feb 02, 2020 •Free photography workshop at Tattvasrishti studios, 1 February, 10 am-1.30 pm •Dance World Cup - India Qualifiers, Phoenix Market City, 8 February, 8.00 am •Movie Nights at Dialogues JP Nagar, Dialogues Cafe, JP Nagar, January 31 - January 10, 6:30 pm
Credit: Kavitha R
Bannerghatta Road. But recently they informed us that the plan has been cancelled. These government shelter homes will provide us basic facilities and security,” she said. Though shelter homes are a good plan according to transgenders, not all are fully convinced about it. Another transgender Priyanka (name changed), who stays
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Prices change people’s consumption, shoppers buy less potatoes & onions: Retailers | P 3
Shelter homes only on paper, transgenders live on streets Want government to teach them vocational skills
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“First, we will construct one home in the Majestic area as we have confirmed a plot there. Depending on the number of transgenders and the usage of the homes, we wil increase the number of shelters.” – BBMP assistant commissioner (welfare) Somappa Kadakol with Deepika, said: “I don’t know how safe these homes would be. Every day we live in fear. These homes should make us feel safe.” Complaining about the government’s promises, she said: “They have promised us a lot of things including individual homes outside the city but none of us has got them.” Agreeing with her, Deepika
said: “When more than ten transgenders stay together, there will be problems. Also, we are people who keep moving from one place to another in search of job and safety. They should think about these factors and then decide about accommodation.” About the construction of shelter homes not having begun, BBMP assistant commissioner (welfare) Somappa Kadakol said the process is being followed and that the. work would be completed soon. “First, we will construct one home in the Majestic area as we have confirmed a plot there. Depending on the number of transgenders and the usage of the homes, we will increase the number of shelters.” About the facilities planned, Somappa Kadakol said: “We have planned fifteen accommodations in the per shelter. All kinds of facilities including water, toilets, and beds will be provided free of cost to help them.” Centre to open shelter homes soon, p 3
News Briefs
Curative petition of Nirbhaya case convict dismissed The Supreme Court has dismissed the curative petition of Akshay Kumar Singh, one of the convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case. He and three other convicts are scheduled to be hanged at 6am on Feb 1. 42 of 50 Metro trains now have six coaches The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited said on January 30 that 42 of the 50 metro trains have been running with 6 coaches since January 27. The remaining eight trains are in the process of conversion. Dewan CMD siphoned off Rs 12, 773 crore, says ED The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that former Dewan Housing Finance Ltd CMD Kapil Wadhawan siphoned off Rs 12,773 crore from banks with the help of 79 shadow entities and one lakh fictitious customers. Drugstore fined 3 million yuan A drug store in Beijing was fined 3 million yuan for hiking the price of face masks by almost six times the online price amid the coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak.
No CPC committees: Many schools take child protection policy lightly Adilin Beatrice C
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any schools in Bengaluru do not have Child Protection Committees (CPCs) as mandated by the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy. Ditto for suggestion and complaint boxes. Some schools initially followed the rules till 2018, but later gave up. Amruth Raj, principal of a school in Sampangi Rama Nagar, informed The Observer: “We don’t have a suggestion box now. But earlier we had on and received complaints. Usually, the complaints were like washroom doors with no locks and
According to the Policy every institution should have a Child Protection Committee (CPC), which should meet once in three months and review threats/risks discovered | Credit: Adilin Beatrice C class fights that caused trauma to students. But we have a special committee to counsel children. The committee has two fe-
male staff and one male staff.” Amruth Raj’s school is not the only one that has removed its complaint box.
Sri Rangashamaiah, headmaster of a school in Cubbonpet, said: “One year ago, we had a complaint box in our school. While clearing it, we found random letters written by students and empty white papers. So we uninstalled it. We don’t have a special committee.” But Jayalakshmi, headmistress of a school in Kengeri, is clueless about the policy. “We don’t have a suggestion box or a special committee to look after the students. In fact, I don’t even know such a thing exists. But if students feel disturbed, they reach out to us.” Friendly environment to students: KSCPCR, p 3
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CITY
The Observer Thursday, January 30, 2020
With police not asking, owners of vehicles don’t get PUC renewed Aarthi N
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espite Bengaluru having a high pollution level during peak hours, vehicular emissions have gone unchecked. Though it is mandatory, many owners of private vehicles have not renewed their pollution under control certificates. Saran K, a resident of Marathahalli, informed The Observer: “PUC (pollution under control) certificates are compulsory like insurance certificates, but not many have them because police do not ask for them.” G. Shiva, who has lived in the city for six years, said: “I haven’t renewed my PUC certificate yet. I purchased my bike three years ago and haven’t been to an emission testing centre this year. Until now, I didn’t know the police will ask for a PUC certificate.” An employee of an emission testing centre near Kothanur who did not give his name said the government was right in increasing the fine for not having a valid PUC certificate from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Interrupting him, M. Raghuram, who was there to have the tyres of his vehicle filled, said: “Police fine us only when our PUC is not up to date. Otherwise, there is no check on vehicular emissions.” According to the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019, any person driving a motor vehicle in any public place shall, on being so required by a police officer in uniform authorised by the state government, produce the certificate of insurance, certificate of registration, PUC certifi-
Transport sector emissions are responsible for a large proportion of urban air pollution. To protect ourselves, we should start using electric vehicles and public transport | Credit: Aarthi N cate, driving licence. The driver nagar, informed The Observer: of a transport vehicle must also “We do not get hold of vehicles have a fitness certificate, permit that have high emission. That’s and any certificate/authoriza- because we cannot determine tion of exemption that has been it. When we catch a driver for granted under the MV Act. over-speeding or driving withPUC, compulsory for all ve- out a helmet, we check their hicles, is valid for a period of licence and insurance and, at six months. If a person’s vehicle times, ask them for the emisfails the emission test, he/she sion certificate.” must get it serviced before takAn official at the Karnataka ing it for PUC checking again. State Pollution Control Board Though pollution emission said: “We work along with transshould be checked regularly by port department and police to the police and transport depart- keep a check on the air quality. ment, they fail to do so. With so many vehicles on the Satyanarayan R, a traffic road, pollution is also high. Viopolice constable near Shivaji- lating vehicles can be checked
Citizen’s Voice In support of dissent India requires more critical thinkers and blunt artists like Kunal Kamra who can generate a collective consciousness by creating an intellectual environment. The approach should be to organize. We need to form an entity which generates awareness among all sections. We need to form an entity that can question authority and can be the voice of the voiceless. Only
in the voice of dissent can true democracy thrive. Shakeb Zuber
only by the police. RTO check the amount of pollution generated during licence renewal.” According to WHO data, transport sector emissions are responsible for a large proportion of urban air pollution. They increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and adverse birth outcomes. Respiratory diseases such as asthma are common due to vehicular emissions. Dr Priya Ramachandran, a pulmonologist, said: “There are many known and unknown consequences of vehicle emissions beginning with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in babies and cancer.” To protect oneself from the pollution-related diseases, she added, “we should start using electric vehicles and public transport. Roads should be maintained well so that people can cycle to their respective places. One should always wear masks to escape pollution.” According to an India Today report dated June 6, 2019, more than one lakh children under the age of five in India every year are killed by air pollution. . It is responsible for 12.5 percent of all deaths in the country, according to the fourth edition of the State of India’s Environment Report, 2019. In 2013, India had pledged to phase out non-electric vehicles and achieve a target of 15-16 million hybrid and electric vehicles by 2020. Though Karnataka wanted to become India’s electric-vehicle capital, the goal still seems distant but government is working hard for this. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
Twitterati Talk
Kannan Gopinathan @naukarshah Failure of electoral politics to even ensure existential rights is exactly what led to the people led protests. Leadership is about taking a stand on issues conveying it to the cadre . @ShashiTharoor The obnoxious case against a school play shows what’s wrong with the sedition law. Despite the SC rulings since 1962 that sedition should only apply to incitement to violence, people are charged easily &suffer harassment for years before eventually being acquitted. Amend it! @NobelPrize Happy 91st birthday to the coinventor of LED, Isamu Akasaki. Illuminating our world by inventing a environment-friendly light source – the blue lightemitting diode LED – Akasaki shared the 2014 Physics Prize with Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura. @sardesairajdeep Suprabhatam! on the death anniversary of the greatest Indian of the 20th century.. remembering Bapu’s words:, ‘live life as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever!’ @aishe_ghosh FIR against HCUSU President Abhishek Nandan and other university students. These tactics never stopped us from fighting for the right. Comrade Abhishek has been in the forefront leading the movement. We stand with you Comrade! Whitefield rising @WFRising Words and actions have consequences. We are all part of this wonderful humanity. Let not words divide us.
DUTY CALLS: TRAFFIC POLICE BRAVE ODDS
Easy abortions help vulnerable women The new Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill proposes increasing the upper limit for termination of pregnancy from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. This will help victims of sexual violence. Shivani Mishra
Quiz Corner
1. How many bills were passed in Rajya Sabha in the winter session of Parliament? 2. The reservation for SC/STs in Lok Sabha, state assemblies has been extended by how much period? 3. Under which Article of the Constitution of India the President has the power of pardon or remission?
4. Who is the longest serving Chief Minister of any Indian state? 5. Who is the present speaker of Lok Sabha? 6. Which ministry launched the Mission Retro-Fitment recently? 7. The Union government will launch “SAMPADA Scheme” for which sector?
Traffic police kiosks across Bangalore have leaky roofs and broken facades. Policemen work in them without lights or fans. They are provided with umbrellas and raincoats to continue working when it rains, as the roofs of the kiosks leak. BBMP and Bangalore Traffic Police are jointly working on a scientific model of kiosks. The process of installation of the new kiosks is slow. A traffic police officer told The Observer, “A traffic police booth near Bangalore Traffic Management Centre is being reconstructed. It remains on the road for the past three days.” | Credit: Shalu Chowrasia
CITY
The Observer Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Price rise changes consumption pattern Shoby Krishna G
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holesale Price Index (WPI) inflation, mostly driven by food items, went up from 1.17% in July 2019 to 2.59% in December 2019. Meanwhile, inflation in other categories, such as fuel and power and manufactured products, reduced in December 2019 as compared to that in July 2019. WPI inflation in primary articles rose from 5.54% in July 2019 to 11.46% in December. Primary articles include cereals, wheat, paddy, pulses, vegetables like onion and potatoes, milk and non-food items like minerals and crude petroleum. Nadeem Pasha, a retailer who sells onions at KR Market, informed The Observer said crowds at the market are thin on weekdays. “I buy onions in sacks of 50 kg. Generally, each of these sacks costs Rs 1,500. But when the prices rose last year, the price of each sack went up to Rs 4,000. Customers started buying less onions, reducing my purchase to only 15 sacks, less than the usual 1,000 kg that I buy.” Customers like Venugopal H.B. said they have reduced the quantity of vegetables they buy for their homes. “Though onion prices have come down as of today (January 28), the consump-
Centre to open shelter homes soon
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Continued from P 1 he founder of Dear India Ministries, an NGO for transgenders (who refused to share his name) said: “Shelter homes are not successful because these people do not stay in a place for a long time. Individual homes are better for them to stay. They lack safety and security and are considered only as sex workers. The government should look into all these basic amenities for their survival.” About how rehabilitation centres should transform and give utmost support to transgenders, he said: “The centres should teach them every basic thing and should encourage and guide them to do things they are good at and give confidence to them.” According to The New Indian Express dated November 8, 2019, the Centre has a proposal to open homes for transgenders to address their concerns. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
A commerce ministry press release dated January 14 shows that inflation was 2.59% in December 2019 compared to 3.46% in December 2018. But it shows that WPI for the same period in primary articles soared from 1.375 to 11.46%. | Infographic source: Office of Econmic advisor, commerce ministry tion pattern in my home has changed. In place of the 2 kg of onions that we used to buy, we buy just 1 kg. When onions were too pricey, I stopped buying them for some time. Prices of items like garlic and ginger have increased, too. The consumption used to be based on the seasonality of vegetables earlier. But since the second half of 2019, prices are dictating our diet.” Venugopal is not alone to complain about high onion and potato prices. Another consumer, Suryanarayana, said: “Onion prices have increased to such an unprecedented level that it has become unaffordable for most middle-class families. They soared to Rs 120 and have reduced to Rs 50. I expect the prices to re-
duce more.” Bhagyamma, a vegetable vendor, shared: “I’ve seen my regular customers buy less quantities because of the increase in price. Everyone has to buy vegetables as they are a necessity. But when prices rise, people buy only what they can afford. Hence, even necessities like onion and potatoes take a back seat.” Fahaad Basha, who sells potatoes at the KR Market, said: “Everyone is focusing only on onion prices. But potatoes also showed a significant spike in 2019. Potato prices almost doubled in the second half of 2019. Previously, I used to buy 15 50kg sacks of potatoes. Now, I buy only 10.” Primary articles comprise only 22.61% of the total WPI
weightage. The highest rise in primary articles was registered in onion and vegetables. A commerce ministry press release dated January 14 shows that inflation was 2.59% in December 2019 compared to 3.46% in December 2018. But a closer look shows that WPI for the same period in primary articles soared from 1.375 to 11.46%. The other two categories – manufactured products, and fuel and power – have a weightage of 64.23 % and 13.15% respectively in the index. The release also shows WPI inflation in manufactured products was 0.25 in July 2019. It fell to -0.25% in December 2019. WPI inflation in fuel and power was -3.64 in July 2019; it rose to -1.46% in December 2019. The categories that have
Policy envisages protection and friendly environment for students
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Continued from P 1 ccording to the Karnataka State Protection Policy, 2016, every institution should have a Child Protection Committee (CPC), which should meet once in three months and review threats/risks discovered, focus on complaints and suggestions received and seek external help. Institutions should have suggestion boxes to receive concerns, complaints and suggestions from students. The step was taken to provide protection to students as they spend significant time at school under their teachers’ surveillance. The policy aims to instil in students a sense of safety and well-being. It recommends action is taken against those indulging in misconduct or abuse, such as corporal punishment, discriminatory practices, bullying and other forms of verbal, emotional or sexual abuse, by teachers, other personnel and other students. But schools across the city seem indifferent towards the policy.
1098 is the child helpline number which should be displayed in the campus| Credit: Adilin Beatrice B Peer Mohammed, state coordinator of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), said: “The Act was implemented to give protection, safety and a friendly environment to students.... We continuously conduct meetings with education officers to sensitize the importance of the policy. They are working on implementing the policy throughout the state, but
it is a tough job as officers can’t go to every school and check. An official in the department takes care of six districts in Karnataka. When we go to the district concerned, we check for the implementation of the policy in schools.” The government rule also states that 1098, the child helpline number should be displayed in all the campus, visible to students. The Observer did not find the number displayed in any of the schools. “If a school do not follow the policy, they will be notified with a caution notice,” he added. Vasudeva Sharma, trustee of Child Rights Trust, an NGO, said: “There is a lot of violence against schoolchildren which goes unnoticed. School administration should take the matter seriously and implement the policy as soon as possible. The policy will also assure all parents that their children are getting educated in a secure, safe and friendly environment.” adilin.b@iijnm.org
shown a decline in inflation in December 2019 over July 2019 in primary articles are cereals (from 8.67 to 7.74), pulses (20.00 to 13.11) and fruits (15.38 to 3.51). Asked why the common man should know about WPI, Venkatesh Athreya, a retired economics professor of Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, informed The Observer: “The consumer is not worried if it is retail inflation or wholesale inflation. But he understands price rise. Hence, looking at inflation rates would help the common man understand the price rise in the commodities they buy.” “WPI generally tends to understate the extent of inflation for the retail consumer mostly. Depending on the specifics of each market, a rise in WPI represents inadequately the actual rise in price for the consumer. There are a lot of methodological issues in WPI calculation as well,” he added. The New Indian Express on January 15, reported: “Economists have already warned of the economy slipping into stagflation, which indicates low growth and high inflation.” The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), also known as headline inflation, reflects the prices of commodities at wholesale levels to retailers. Also, Wholesale Price Index which is released by Ministry of Commerce and industry does not include services. From April 2017, the base year used to calculate WPI was made 2011-12. shoby.k@iijnm.org
Weather
Maximum Temperature: 25 degree Celsius Minimum Temperature: 17 degree Celsius Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 59% Wind: 8 km/h
QUIZ Answers
1. 15 2. 10 years 3. Article 72 4. Pawan Kumar Chamling 5. Om birla 6. Food processing
We are buying less potatoes, onions:Retailers
Team Observer
Editor: Shoby Krishna G Copy editors: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Aman Bhardwaj, Shoby Krishna G Reporters: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Shoby Krishna Page Layout: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Aman Bhardwaj Supplements: Meghna Das Chowdhury, Ankita Mukherjee Supplement page layout: Nissim Jacob, Meghna Das Chowdhury
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Arts and Culture An Acid Test for India
The Observer Thursaday, January 30, 2020
SUPPLEMENT
Chhapaak is a story of how sexual violence disfigures our lives, writes Ankita Mukherjee
nhone meri surat badli hain, mera mann nahi” (He ruined my face, not my spirit). That in essence sums up the ethos behind Meghna Gulzar’s latest film Chhapaak,a story about acid-attack survivors who find the courage to fight, leaving their fear and shame behind.The story is about an ordinary girl,Malti (played by Deepika Padukone) who gets attacked by a much older man Basheer Shaikh aka Babboo (Vishal Dahiya) whose offer of marriage she spurns. That detail is quite incidental and is revealed at the very end because the film isn’t so much about the plight of one individual as much as that of every woman whose life can be turned upside down by the cruelty and callousness of others. The movie, based on the real life story of an acid-attack victim Laxmi Agarwal, unfolds slowly through Malti’s struggles, the seven surgeries she undergoes but yet can’trestore her face, how they would have financially ruined her family but for the help of a guard-
Chhapaak draws attention towards the intolerance and violence in our society | Credit : FilmSpell ian angel, Shiraz Aunty (Payal Nair), who helped them and her lawyer Archana (Madhurjeet Sarghi) who, at one of the court proceedings makes the film’s most trenchant critique of our society, saying“Attacks unhi ladkiyon pe hota hain jo padhna chahti ho ya aage badhna
chahti ho” (It’s girls who want to study and get ahead who get attacked). She finds a job when she happens to meet Amol (Vikrant Massey) who works in a NGO (Chhaya) for acid attack survivors. Many Indian households store acid bottles, usedfor cleaning
bathrooms or kitchens, and they are so cheap and so readily available. So Malti decides to file a public interest litigation (PIL) to ban the retail sale of acid. As she says, “Kitna accha hota agar acid bikta hi nahi, milta hi nahi toh fekta bhi nahi” (If only acid wasn’t sold, wasn’t available it couldn’t be thrown). After a seven-years battle, she partially succeeds. While she is unable to make a case for a complete ban, the court instructs the government to more tightly regulate the sale of acid and ensure its end use is bonafide. After multiple cases of acid attacks, a new amendment was made to section 335 of the Indian Penal Code to deal specifically to grievous injuries caused by horrendous crimes like acid attacks. ‘Chhapaak’ marks Padukone’s debut as a producer and Gulzar’s third film after ‘Talwar’ and ‘Raazi’ in five years. Padukone slips effortlesslyinto Laxmi’s skin as Malti and embraces her suffering and struggle as her very own. Though she looksless disfigured in the film
than manyacid attack survivors, the suffering she conveys feels incredibly real. The movie doesn’t over dramatize its dialogues and barring a few light, romantic scenes between Malti and Amol, stays true to its message. Vikrant as Amol plays a very supportive role throughout the movie.
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adukone has recently been in the news after she attended the protests at JNU with right wing critics claiming it was a publicity stunt to promote her movie. People called for the boycott of the movie as they were angered by her expressing solidarity with the protestors. But the movie is very much of the same ethos as the protests, in that it seeks to draw public attention to the acceptance of intolerance and violence in our society. If a woman who stands up for her herself and her right to live her life as she chooses can be so brutally disfigured, it’s time we looked at ourselves in the mirror and see what we have become.
The Pitfalls of Obsessive Love You on Netflix is a compelling watch although the story is completely implausible, says Meghna Das Chowdhury
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ow far can one go for the person they love? What sacrifices would a person be willing to bear to be with that person? You, the new Netflix psychological crime thriller, is not your average boy meets girl and falls in love. Adapted from the book by Caroline Kepnes, You, is the story of a psychotic stalker who leaves no stone unturned to get what he wants. This story is told from the stalker’s point of view. Penn Badgley plays the stalker Joe Goldberg. Creators Greg Berlanti and Sara Gamble pay special attention to the cinematography narrate the tale from Joe’s perspective. The series, now two seasons old, them portrays Joe’s obsession with a girl and the lengths he goes to win her. Sometimes he kills to be with the girl and sometimes he kills to do the ‘right’ thing, because “murder has a way of following you,” as he puts it. In season one he plays the role of a bookstore manager who falls in love
Penn Badgley effortlessly plays the character of Joe Goldberg who is not your average boyfriend. | Credit : Netflix with Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) within five minutes after she walks into the bookstore. Using social media, Joe stalks Beck and discovers where she lives. This is one of the most compelling elements of the story, where he can find so much
about the object of his desire just by going through her social media feed. The obsession grows and in times he lands in a situation where he finds himself committing murders just to secure a future with Beck.
Season two startswith a promising comeback. It is set in Los Angeles which Joe calls his least favourite city where he decides to hide here under a new identity. Now Joe finds a new obsession. Love, played by Victoria Pedretti is a very different person from Beck. Love and Joe’s relationship feels so real. Here Joe wants to be the good guy (only to cover up his frightening past) and decides to help his neighbour who is under danger. This again lands him in another mess. Joe and Love make you feel that they are a perfect couple till you realize Joe is an obsessive killer. Both seasons have a number of secondary characters like Beck and Love’s friends, Joe neighbours and guys from work. Even though some of them are so poorly written and often the dialogues are cringeworthy, all of them have important parts to play. ‘You’ employs a unique storytelling method of giving you the stalker’s point of view even as
it throws light on the risks we expose ourselves to on social media. But there are elements in the story that often unrealistic. Beck, for example, lives in a house with huge windows that have no curtains but seems oblivious to the fact that she has no privacy whatsoever. Often, both Love and Beck do not notice Joe although he is just 30 meters away from them, standing and watching them.
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enn Badgley does a good job of playing the dual character of being both a nice guy and a dangerous, cold-blooded murderer. You will soon become addicted to it because every episode has new plot twists and a shocking new revelations. A lot of it is highly implausible and there’s little explanation for Joe getting away with everything he does. But You is a completely engrossing serial which keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what awaits you.