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The Observer An IIJNM publication
Vol 19, Issue 3
Yulu and Bounce cycles are parked in a haphazard manner on Bengaluru’s footpaths | P 2
Adilin Beatrice C
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estaurants, pubs and bars in Bengaluru have smoking areas without acquiring noobjection certificates (NOCs) from BBMP. “We have a smoking zone in our hotel in the entrance area. There is no restriction for people who smoke there. We have the smoking room without an NOC from BBMP. I don’t know why we didn’t get an NOC. It is like this for a very long time,” H. Lawson, manager of a well-known hotel on Church Street, informed The Observer. Another manager, who did not want to be named, said: “We have a trader’s licence. Isn’t that enough to have a smoking room? We don’t have an NOC.” The manager refused to show The Observer the smoking room, saying it is under renovation. A year ago, BBMP implemented rules under an antismoking law, but didn’t act against entities that have illegal smoking areas. Dr U.S. Vishal Rao, an oncologist and a member of Karnataka’s anti-tobacco cell, said: “BBMP didn’t deny the smoking rooms because they thought it was a complex issue. They don’t give much importance to it. Smoking rooms are mostly seen in restau-
Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in
Pump is out of order for a year, villagers have to travel 2 km every day to fetch water | P 3
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Despite government curbs, Ola and Uber ride sharing thrives
Smoking is banned in public places. Restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, offices, libraries, courts, post offices, markets, shopping malls, banquet malls, discotheques, coffee houses, auditoriums, cinemas, hospitals, aircraft, buses, trains, Metro trains, monorails, taxis, airports, bus stands and railway stations are public places according to the law. rants that have bars. Teens get addicted to it (tobacco). Tobacco is one of the biggest reasons for cancer. It is increasing.” Passive smokers are the worst affected; they are the first victims of people smoking in their vicinity. Some of Bengaluru’s restaurants have open smoking zones. Because of this, non-smokers inhale smoke emitted by smokers. Abith C., a non-smoker who recently shifted from Kerala to Bengaluru, said: “Smoking is not good. We are nonsmokers. Why should we inhale smoke and suffer?” On the other hand, Nikhil P, a smoker said: “You can’t tell a person not to smoke. It is an addiction. We need a place to smoke, so we do it in the smoking area. We don’t care if it is legal or illegal. The government found a way to make money out of it. So they
didn’t stop it.” The Observer tried to contact the BBMP officer concerned, but she did not answer. As per the anti-smoking law, which came into effect on October 2, 2008, smoking is banned in public places. Restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, offices, libraries, courts, post offices, markets, shopping malls, banquet malls, discotheques, coffee houses, auditoriums, cinemas, hospitals, aircraft, buses, trains, Metro trains, monorails, taxis, airports, bus stands and railway stations are public places according to the law. The law permits smokers to smoke on roads, in their homes and personal vehicles, and smoking rooms that are legal. BBMP issued a circular in August 2018 stating that all public places, including eateries and hotels, are smoke-free zones. Continued on page 3
Business Raod transport and higway minister Nitin Gadkari has said the government is looking into the matter and working on a vehicles strapping policy and will announce it shortly. Local 40,000 supporters hit the road to back DK Shivakumar, leave. Congress strongman DK Shivakumar on Wednesday caused massive. The worst hit was the route between National College Grounds.11.30 am it started. It did not take long to start chaos.
Bengaluru has a high population; the number of vehicles is high. This is the major reason why carpooling is preferred. | Credit: Aarthi N Aarthi N
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hough the government of Karnataka has restricted ride sharing, cab aggregators Ola and Uber continue to allow people to book these. People prefer ride sharing because it is are cheaper than regular taxi or autorickshaw rides. They do not know pooling is restricted. They use it because it is available on the apps of cab aggregators. “Share rides are cheap. We needn’t spend a lot on travel. Also, traffic will reduce in the city if people going to nearby places use the same car,” Ramesh G, an area manager at a private firm, said.“An Ola Share ride depends on the driver. If we want to accept
Drivers don’t bother about the seatbelt rule
News briefs National Police detained Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh from taking out a ‘Chalo Atmakuru’ rally to protest against attack on TDP workers. International Meeting between Germany’s Foreign Minister Hong Kong’s Joshua Wong sent negative signals to the countries bilateral relations. Sports M C Mary Kom has been recommended for the prestigious Padma VIbhushan award,
Epaper:https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Illegal smoking rooms abound in Bengaluru BBMP has not cracked the whip on them
@theweeklyobserver
Entertainment Singer-turned-politician Hans Raj Hans has asked Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to impose a ban on the telecast of the television series "Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush" for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Valmiki community. Health US President Donald Trump has said his administration plans to ban flavoured e-cigarettes amid increasing concerns over the health risks posed by them to teenagers
hough it is compulsory for T drivers of four-wheelers to wear seatbelts, many do not
bother. They strap on only when they approach traffic signals, or when they see police, so that they can escape fines. P3 it, we do so. We accept only if the locations of people are near each other. People prefer Ola Share because the bill amount is less,” K R Lokesh, an Ola driver, informed The Observer.Cab drivers ask a passenger to cancel the ride if her location is not close to that of another passenger.
“Cab fares are usually high and share rides are 50% cheaper compared to regular rides. Even though it is a waste of time for a passenger to reach their destination after other passengers in the cab are dropped, at the end, cost is what matters. I take Ola Share only when I have a lot of time,” Varun B., a software engineer with a private firm, said. The Observer tried to contact Ola and Uber but couldn’t reach them. “These call taxi services are monitored by disaggregated unions that do not take responsibility for anything. There is no accountability, safety and security in carpooling. It depends on people’s interest; but as far as security and safety is concerned, this method is completely unsafe,” said M.N. Sreehari, adviser to the government of Karnataka for transport, traffic, transportation and infrastructure. An official in the transport commissioner’s office said: “The Karnataka government has not banned carpooling; we have only restricted it. We have asked for amendments to be made concerning the safety of the public, especially women and children. This was the major reason why carpooling was preferred. But when it comes to safety, we do not know who will be sharing the seat with us. ” Continued on page 3
CITY
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The Observer Thursday, September 12, 2019
App-based bikes are parked haphazardly on footpaths Make it tough for pedestrians to use sidewalks Aarthi N
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ulu and Bounce cycles are parked in a haphazard manner on Bengaluru’s footpaths, making it inconvenient for people to walk. Riders of these cycles park them incorrectly and leave. “Bangalore is already very chaotic. People don’t care.... It is wrong to park cycles like this. Pedestrians find it really difficult to walk on these footpaths,” said Learie, who was visiting the city to meet his friends.The app-based cycles, which have designated parking zones in a few areas of the city, occupy half the space on footpaths. The Observer saw these cycles parked randomly on the footpaths in MG Road, Baiyapanahalli, Shanthinagar and Marathahalli. Users do not follow the terms and conditions regarding parking. Yulu and Bounce charge riders a fine of Rs 50 to Rs 100 if they don’t park motorbikes in the respective zones. The penalties are realized from a rider on his/ her next ride. But for bicycles, no fine is levied. According to Bengaluru Traffic Police rules, “Every driver of a motor vehicle parking on any road shall park in such a way that it does not cause or is not likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience to other road users and it the manner or parking is indicated by any sign
Motor vehicle amendment bill It has been eleven days since motor vehicle act is implemented. We are getting news of people affected due to fine in other cities. But, why are we not getting news that contractors are penalised though there is provision of penalizing contractors for constructing bad quality roads. Why only common men have to suffer? Ranjan Kumar Jha In March this year, BBMP planned to provide parking space for 1,000 cycles. Though the tender has been approved by the council, it hasn’t been implemented yet. | Credit: Aarthi N board or markings on the road side, he shall park his vehicle in such manner.” “Today is the first time I’m using it. I guess using such cycles can cost very less. We just need to install the app. The charge is very basic. It can help us save money,” said Vasisht, who was trying out a Yulu cycle. In March this year, BBMP planned to provide parking space for 1,000 cycles. Though the tender has been approved by the council, it hasn’t been implemented yet. These cycles cost Rs 10 for half an hour. Riders can park in any
place and the next user from that locality is notified of the location of the parked cycle. “I am new to the city and don’t know how these cycles work. But they are definitely causing a lot of trouble for the public. There is no space on the footpaths to walk,” said Praveen M, a pedestrian. M.N. Sreehari, adviser to the Karnataka government on traffic, transportation and infrastructure, informed The Observer: “A footpath is meant for pedestrians to walk. Why are cycles parked there? Riders should be responsible enough to park them at right places.”
Choked at 4 places, it has garbage thrown by its side Chirag Dutta
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• Planetarium show Jawaharlal Nehru Bengaluru from 13th September to 29th September @ Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium ,Sri T. Sankey Road, High Grounds, Bengaluru 5.30am to 5.30pm • Salsa Endura! on 13th September @ ShArA - Salsa & Latin Dance Institute, South Bangalore, 4.00am to 6am • Micro Light - Fly as A Co-Pilot on September 14 @ Yelahanka Post, Bengaluru-560064, 6.30am to 6.30pm • Amit Trivedi Live In Concert on September 14 @ Pheonix Marketcity,Whitefield, Bengaluru
Citizen’s voice
Police and the cycle company must take action against the rider if he/ she parks a cycle in a random place inconveniencing people, he added. The Observer tried to contact Yulu and Bounce but couldn’t reach them. On installing the Yulu or Bounce app, a user can scan the barcode on the cycle he /she wants to use. When the app accepts the code, the cycle lock opens automatically. These cycles are popular among employees of IT companies and students as they are cost efficientand easy to travel. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
Clogged drain is a source of disease, suffering
clogged drain beside the Deccan Herald press in Kumbalgodu has made the area unhygienic. The drain is clogged at multiple places, leading to a foul smell. The drain, clogged with plastic wrappers, food packets and paper cups, has become a breeding place for mosquitoes. It is choked at four places over a 200-metre stretch from the gate of the press. Garbage is piled up beside the drain despite a sign that asks people not to do so. Dr V.C. Murthy, assistant medical officer of health, Kengeri Government Hospital, informed The Observer: “Three positive dengue
Around the city
Water stagnant accumulates and creates stink. | Credit: Chirag D cases have been registered from a nearby locality. This may be a result of improper sanitation. Pinpointing the source of dengue is a very difficult job for a given locality.Mosquitoes breed in favorable climatic conditions. It is not true that they breed only on stagnant water.” B.M. Manjunath, the BWSSB public relations officer, said: “The major problem created by dumping waste in drains is not just clogging. When it rains, the water
has nowhere to go; it overflows and covers the whole area. This is what causes sickness in the first place. Many people dump waste as they drive through the area. They bring garbage in large plastic bags…. Several awareness programs have been launched so far in almost every area, but none seems to have awakened the people.It is about personal hygiene and personal awareness.”” Hariharan P, who sells fish near the press, said: “Nobody
wants to buy items from such a filthy place, especially from me because I sell my products out in the open. I used to get customers earlier, but now people avoid buying fish from me.” Tea stall owner RudreshV said: “For the past 7-8 years, I have not seen the drain clean. Municipal workers used to spray anti-mosquito gas, but a long time has passed since it was stopped.” According to the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: “Chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or trade effluent or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water (whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a nuisance or render such water harmful or injurious to public health or safety, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses, or to the life and health of animals or plants or of aquatic organisms.” chirag.d@iijnm.org
Finding one's ideology To bridge the gap between the knowable and actable, we need an active public communication and art to connect people. Since different people have different interests, there will be a conflict to attain a particular ideology, in an individual and group level. So, we as a human need an ideology which appeals to all section of society. Shakeb Zuber
Tackling Slowdown Auto sales in August have seen a fall of 23.55%, which is the steepest in two decades. The Finance Minister in a recent statement said the millennial mindset of using Ola and Uber was a factor. However, the need of the hour is a stimulus package and a GST cut, not excuses. Niket Nishant
Assam Flood Internet and newspapers are filled with Mumbai floods. But, do we know that Neamati Ghat in Assam was measured 85.14 meters rainfall on 11th September? Just because Assam is not an economic capital, does it not deserve our support? Kshipra Petkar
Plastic Products Plastic products have dramatically altered commercial floriculture. Large scale use of plastic flowers has lowered demand for natural ones, forcing farmers to give up floriculture. Jagriti Parakh
WEATHER Forecast: Partly cloudy, scattered thunderstorms Minimum: 20 degree celsius Maximum: 28 degree celsius Humidity: 57% Precipitation: 60%
CITY
The Observer Thursday, September 12, 2019
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Carpooling should be Despite a stiffer fine, banned: Traffic expert Ola, Uber drivers do not wear seatbelts T Continued from page 1 he transport department has prohibited Ola and Uber from continuing their pool services. It has told the aggregators that their carpooling services are illegal as there is no provision in the transport rules for them. The companies violate the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019, for taxi aggregators which defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places that can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services). It is silent on ride sharing and it is this loophole which is being used by these cab aggregators to offer share rides to the passengers. Giving a possible solution, Sreehari said the transport department should amend such risky and unsafe rides and in order to do this. The Centre
They strap on only on seeing traffic police Ankita Mukherjee
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hough it is compulsory for drivers of four-wheelers to wear seatbelts, many do not bother. They strap on only when they approach traffic signals, or when they see police. “At night, police checking is light, so we don’t wear seatbelts. Otherwise, there is constant surveillance by traffic police,” Shivakumar Jai G, an Uber driver, informed The Observer. Channappa, an Uber driver who wore a seatbelt just before turning into 33rd Cross, Jayanagar, said: “Traffic checks are heavy till Saturday morning, so we have to be very cautious. If we don’t pay the fine, police seize our cars. If a driver is caught without wearing a seatbelt, he is charged Rs 1,000. The fine increased two months ago.” An Ola driver, Manikumar S, who was not wearing a seatbelt, said: “I don’t feel it is necessary unless I have to pay a fine.” Manjunath, a head constable at the Traffic Management Centre, said: “We fine every driver who doesn’t wear a seatbelt. The fine amount was Rs 100 but now the amount has revised up... from
An Uber driver is driving without wearing a seatbelt in Jayanagar 33rd cross road.| Credit: Ankita Mukherjee September 4. The Bengaluru Traffic Police website has updated the fine.” M.N. Sreehari, a traffic expert, said: “It is a crucial safety rule, but drivers still don’t follow it. What will happen if they crash and get injured fatally? It is a matter of individual awareness. The government has increased the fine to prevent the careless loss of lives further. This is for their safety but they are still negligent.” Bengaluru traffic police col-
lected Rs 2 crore as fine in 2018 and Rs 66 lakh up to June 2019 from drivers they found not wearing seatbelts. Between January and June 2019, traffic police booked 66,408 cases pertaining to drivers not wearing seatbelts, according to information shared by police. The Motor Vehicles Act (Amendment) Act, 2019, has increased the fine for not wearing seatbelt to Rs 1,000, up from Rs 100. ankita.m@iijnm.org
Tobacco kills almost 10m in India every year: WHO Continued from page 1 moking is allowed in restricted areas after obtaining a NOC. NOCs are issued to pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars and hotels that have a seating of more than 30 guests. The action was taken as per the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-smokers Act and Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act to protect the rights of the nonsmokers and check the ill effects of passive smoking.
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Villagers travel 2 km every day to fetch water Pump is out of order for 1 year, no action taken Aman Bhardwaj
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he residents of Kenchanapalya, a village in southwest Bengaluru, have to trudge to Golahalli, 2 km away, to get drinking water. The groundwater pump in the village is out of order for one year. The people have complained to the gram panchayat president twice about this, but seen no action. Golahalli gram panchayat president Mahesh K.M informed The Observer: “We don’t have enough funds for maintenance and to arrange RO water for the villagers of Kenchanapalya. We are trying to make some arrangement because water is the basic need of an individual.” He promised to approach higher authorities and arrange funds for a
A villager carrying jar to fetch drinking water from Golahalli village. |Credit: Aman Bhardwaj solution. for paid purified water, but so far Kenchanapalya’s over 100 fam- they have not set up the mailies use rainwater for their chines. Every time they come up household needs and for their an- with the excuse of insufficient imals. They store rainwater in a fund. The gram panchayat can’t 5,000-litre tank. But for their do anything to solve this problem. drinking and cooking needs, they Some families use rainwater or have to walk, or take a bus, to Go- stored water for drinking, causlahalli to fetch RO purified ing health issues.” water. Krishanappa, another villager, Jayashankar K.B., a resident of said: “I spend Rs 20 a day to get the village said: “Two years ago, water from Golahalli... or have to the government identified a place contribute money for fuel.”
should ban carpooling in every state. “This will help the state to ban such rides in the city which will ensure the safety of the people,” he added. Car sharing, introduced in foreign countries years ago, came to India recently. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
Women of the village have to leave their household chores and get water. “It takes me 30 minutes to reach, because there are no regular buses between these villages,” Urmila Gowda said. They have to travel twice a day – between 7am and 10am and 5pm and 8pm – to fetch water from the Golahalli gram panchayat office. If they miss these timings, they do not get water for the whole day. Former panchayat member K.M. Bhaswa Raj said: “The body is not working properly and not taking any initiative to find a solution. The Centre has allotted funds for water to every gram panchayat, but the residents of Kenchanapalya are not getting water for the past one year.” The villagers went to MLA B. Nagendra and requested him to solve the problem. He promised them he would forward their complaint to higher authorities and try to solve the problem as soon as possible. The Observer tried to contact B. Nagendra, but he didn’t respond. aman.b@iijnm.org
Karnataka urban development and housing minister U.T. Khader had warned last year that violation of the rule under Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Nonsmokers Act, 2001, will result in the cancellation of licence of the establishment. According to WHO data, India has a total of 12% smokers in the world. Tobacco kills almost 10 million people in India every year. adilin.b@iijnm.com
Twitterati talk @NASAHubble, for the first time has found water vapor in the atmosphere of a habitable-zone exoplanet. @RamNanthKobind, President Kovind announced that teaching of Hindi language at the University of Iceland will begin shortly. All formalities for commencement of India supported Hindi Chair at the University have also been completed. @DeccanHerald, Water Crisis: Everyone cries politics, but no one wants to be named. @IRCTCofficial, No tatkal, free insurance of Rs 25 lakh: IRCTC's many firsts for Tejas
Team Observer Editor: Adilin Beatrice C Copy editors: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Ankita Mukherjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta. Reporters: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Ankita Mukherjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta. Photo editor: Adilin Beatrice C. Supplements: Chirag Dutta, Riya Sharma.
Arts & Culture
The Observer Thursday, September 12, 2019
SUPPLEMENT
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Tarantula Tamed There’s little menace in Tarantino’s latest film but it bears all the hallmarks of his cinematic genius, writes Riya Sharma
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nce Upon a Time in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino's ninth and penultimate movie before he retires from making feature films. It brilliantly showcases his comprehensive knowledge of cinema and serves as a loving ode to the pop culture that informs his particular sensibilities as an artist. The movie is set over three days in Hollywood circa 1969 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the washed-up actor Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt as Rick's best pal and former stunt-double turned flunkey, Cliff Booth, as they try to stay relevant in a fading Hollywood golden age. Dalton is an action hero who gained fame and popularity starring in a 1950s television Western but is now struggling to keep up with the ways of Hollywood and finding meaningful work. Margot Robbie plays Rick's next-door neighbour, Sharon Tate, actor and model, who is a star on the rise, quite contrary to Rick’s situation.
Tarantino has once again assembled a stellar ensemble cast that includes several veterans of his past movies like Kurt Russell, along with some new additions who deliver stimulating performances. Mike Moh plays an egotistical Bruce Lee, Margaret Qualley is the quintessential hippie chick and Manson groupie, while Julia Butters plays a precocious child actor, who inspires Rick in a potential comeback role, with great conviction. This movie portrays a more sentimental side of the Kill Bill filmmaker but, at the same time, it incorporates many facets of Tarantino's signature style, namely, dark wit, explosive violence and an exceptional vintage soundtrack. The movie has Tarantino’s very laid-back, chill vibe where people just kind of hang out and talk, much like his 1997 movie, Jackie Brown. The movie doesn't always feel like it has a narrative structure but that’s precisely one of the things that
IMDb
makes Tarantino so different. His movies do not follow the rules of classic movie story telling. An example is the scene where Rick and Cliff are just drinking and watching an
episode of a TV show that they worked on together and the entire shot is just the TV playing the show with their conversation in the background. There is also a five minutes sequence in the movie involving a fight scene that is almost entirely built around a joke that’s yet to be told. The film gives Pitt so many hilarious moments and in turn, incredible scenes with most of the best lines.Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is not Tarantino's best work but it is still better than what many filmmakers would struggle to achieve. There are some points in the film that sag. Although Robbie plays Sharon Tate with a lot of spirit, her character isn’t well developed and is not integral to the movie. One must not expect to be constantly riveted by a tense narrative. While going in to watch the movie. This is a comedy. There’s also a lack of tension which is unexpected from a Tarantino movie. While
it lacks the tautness and audacity of Pulp Fiction, it reflects his preoccupation with the counter factual (the Manson murders go hilariously wrong) that we saw in Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained.
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ut the film’s power draws largely on one's fondness for the bygone era that Tarantino is honouring. You need some pop-cultural context to get all Tarantino’s references.As expected from Tarantino, this is one impeccably shot movie. The production design, the sets, the streets of Los Angeles, everything has been beautifully rendered to look like the 1960s and looks absolutely incredible. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is yet another masterpiece in Tarantino's collection and it does not feel like a product of today. It feels like a movie made in the sixties, just with better production values. They don’t make movies like this anymore.
To the Edge of Beyond W
Annihilation takes you on a journey that few science-fiction movies would even dare to, says Chirag Dutta
hat if human beings could be recreated after we are gone? What if every memory we have, every emotion that we feel, every biological and anatomical feature which makes us human could be replicated?The result would be an exact replica of ourselves, which would allow us to keep our memories and emotions intact even after we die, planted in an identical body. Cloning would be a poor way to describe such a process, as it’s nothing less than are creation of ourselves after death. Life would never end, andindividuals need never die. This masterful speculation into immense potential of DNA replication and the possibility of creating immortality is the inspiration for Alex Garland’scontrarily named movie Annihilation. Annihilation belongs to the class of movies that are designed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The movie uses the element of unpredictability as a device to draw viewers deeper into the labyrinthine plot and the serious scientific, moral, and psy-
Annhilation 2018
chological questions it raises. The story revolves around Lena (Natalie Portman), a scientist and an army wife, who has lost contact with her husband when he goes missing on a mission. The contradiction between psychological and scientific reasoning is laid bare when she along with four scientists decide to explore a radiation zone called the ‘shimmer’ which was created by a meteorite crash. As soon as they go beyond the restricted zone, the come across forcesthat defy conventional wisdom and redefine the very meaning and processes of life as we understand it.
Inexplicable phenomena, impossible biological features and even weirder explanations for all this rain down on them like god’s wrath. Devasted and mesmerized at the same time, they choose to explore further and look for answers. Soon they realise that some answers extract a heavy price from the people who seek them. They find a new process of life threading itself, the beginning of a new biology which will replace the existing one, to wit, a cancer which will recreate life on the planet. As Natalie Portman, with her extraordinary acting skills,
starts exploring these strange phenomena, the viewer is alternatively shocked,thrilled and left speechless. The movie, with its astonishing grasp of the complex sciences involved, leaves a deep psychological impact which not merely pulls viewers into the drama but makes one question their own existence.
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ennifer Jason Leigh with her signature style,playing a very crafty and peculiar role in the movie, along with an extraordinarily cast of character actors like Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson, and David
Gyasi, deliver a riveting performance. Coupled with a sensational script, a brilliant cinematic improvisation of the world-famous novel by Jeff VanderMeer, the movie since its release has been a topic of debate particularly among the young. The uncanny combination of the biological sciences and psychology creates a stimulatingand absolutelythrilling experience, and one that provokes a sense of deep scientific inquiry at the same time. The movie’s closing minutes are the most intense as they culminate in a most devastating yet beautiful ending, answering every critical question itraises, but nonetheless leaving viewers craving for more. The atmosphere the movie creates in the movie hall as much as in the minds of viewers is hard to describe. Suffice it to say it’s one of the most “must watch” sci-fi movies of all time. Cast: Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson,Gina Rodriguez, Oscar Isaac, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Benedict Wong, David Gyasi,Kristen McGarrity. Director: Alex Garland.23