Srambican

 Movie Review  Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) "Call Me by Your Name" is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of traditional romance films. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and based on the novel by André Aciman, this coming-of-age story set in the sun-drenched landscapes of Italy is a breathtaking exploration of first love, self-discovery, and the fleeting beauty of a summer romance. Set in the early 1980s, the film follows the journey of Elio Perlman, an intelligent 17-year-old boy living with his family in a picturesque villa in northern Italy. His father, a professor, welcomes a charming and handsome graduate student named Oliver to assist him over the summer, and Elio's life takes an unexpected turn. The growing attraction between Elio and Oliver is palpable, but it's the gradual, subtle development of their relationship that makes this film so enchanting. "Call Me by Your Name" is a triumph in storytelling and cinematography. Italy's lush, sun-dre...

In the darkest hours of the night  Sitting beneath the moon I think about us and our times  For love and passion fill my every thought, In the silence of the night,  My heart beats fast, my soul takes flight, As thoughts of you consume my mind, A love so pure, so hard to find. My heart reminds me of the unsaid love  A passion fierce, a flame that's not yet fed,  It burns within me, bright as any star, Yet I keep it hidden deep in my heart  I long to tell you, but I cannot find the words,   To express the love that often hurts, For fear of what your reaction might be, Hoping to keep the secrets locked tight in my heart  So here we are, with love unspoken,  A heart full of words, but never spoken, A pain that lingers in the heart, And tears the soul apart                                            Srambican  

The Constitution bestows you with every other freedom but for the freedom to love. The movie Thattathin Marayathu discusses the profound love story between a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl and their unwillingness to give up. The film is a mesh of a college love story woven with threads of communal differences associated with prejudices and politics. It is about love not succumbing to faith and communal differences, yet one that never assumes a didactic tone. The movie talks about the importance of secularism in society. The movie, in a subtle manner, talks about the idea of secularism. From Vinod opening a Purdah shop to even the climax scene when Aisha asks if a room is available for her to do the prayers in a Hindu house, it shows that religion should not be a dividing force against love or humanity.  The movie also talks about the importance of consent in romantic relationships. Aisha is initially apprehensive about Vinod's advances, but she eventually reciprocates his feelings. He...

Hesychasm is a mystical and contemplative tradition within Eastern Orthodox Christianity that emphasizes the pursuit of inner stillness, direct experience of God, and union with the divine through prayer and meditation. Rooted in the rich history of Christian spirituality, Hesychasm has been a profound and transformative practice for many individuals seeking a deeper connection with the divine. This article explores the essence of Hesychasm, its historical development, key practices, and its enduring relevance in the modern world.  The term "Hesychasm" is derived from the Greek word "hesychia," which means "stillness" or "silence." The tradition has its roots in the early Christian desert asceticism of the 4th and 5th centuries, where hermits sought solitude and contemplation in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. The practice of hesychia was later developed and formalized as a distinct spiritual tradition in the Byzantine Empire, particu...

Conversation to Catholicism was a common phenomenon during the tyranny of the Portuguese, and it was usually the people who belonged to the lower caste of the system who took up the new faith of the Europeans. Many reasons are given to people of lower caste converted, from financial benefits to upward mobility in the caste ladder acted as catalysts. However, there was a Jesuit priest called Roberto de Nobili who used unprecedented methods for the promotion of faith among higher castes and to some extent converting them.  His method was becoming a Brahmin (This can be termed Braminization or Sanskritization, both terms coined by Prof. M.N Srinivas to explain social mobility). De Nobili started wearing Poonal, discarded using plates as it was too European and ate from leaves. Prevented a lower caste person from coming near him, enforcing untouchability. He ordered that a Brahmin could only cook his meal, and even went to the extent of creating a caste system within the European spher...

The question of whether a presidential form of government would be better for India is a matter of debate and opinion. India currently operates under a parliamentary system of government, which has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. I believe a mixture of both forms is best for a diverse and populous nation like that of India. But just considering the presidential system, I believe the presidential system can provide more excellent stability because the executive (the president) is elected independently of the legislature. In the book, Accidental Prime Minister, Sanjaya Baru exposes how the UPA-1 worked and the issues the PM had to face due to the coalition nature and the fact that he was dependent on the legislature. This can also lead to more accountability and reduce the likelihood of frequent changes in government. In the presidential system, the president is directly elected by the people, which can enhance their accountability to the electorate. Voters can hold the pres...

The naming system among the Syrian Christian families is actually interesting when we observe it. In Syrian Christian families,  the name of the eldest son would be that of his paternal grandfather, along with fathers name and the family name. For example: Fathers whose name is Pakalomattom George Varghese would name his son Pakalomattom Varghese George. Any of these could also be made surnames, for example PG Varghese( P stands for Pakalomattom which is his family name and G is his paternal grandfather and Varghese is the fathers name).   In the same manner all the names put are those of Saints and these names are Indianized, for example, Geeverghese, Varughese, Varghese, Verghese, Varkey, Varughis, and Vergis are Syriac–Malayalam variants of Syriac Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (Geroge in English)