Where the wild things are
I lived for two weeks in a rainforest in the Western Ghats. Here’s what it was like.
Hindustan Times / May 2017 / Special Feature
Features writer, HT. Earlier: Features at DNA | UNFPA Laadli awardee | @dire_nair
I lived for two weeks in a rainforest in the Western Ghats. Here’s what it was like.
Hindustan Times / May 2017 / Special Feature
Stories from India’s fledgling, but impassioned community of self-professed UFO investigators
Hindustan Times / May 2017 / Subculture
From Meghalaya's 'World Cup' cicada to the dancing frogs of the Western Ghats, a deep dive into the wondrous world of animal courtship
Hindustan Times / February 2017 / Special Feature
For generations, a small group of migrants from Balochistan – in present-day Pakistan – have been serving as stuntmen in Indian films
Hindustan Times / December 2016 / Film
The birth, rise and fall of the great Indian gossip column
DNA / April 2015 / Film
The Indian Jewish population is five times lower than that of the Parsis. In their dwindling numbers, we find ourselves all the poorer of a rich (and underrated) culinary legacy
DNA / April 2016 / Food
A dive into the wacky, wonderful fan fiction universe pivoted on India's longest-running TV show
DNA / February 2016 / Subculture
What it takes to be a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease
DNA / July 2015 / Special Feature
A report on the travails of spot boys, the unsung heroes of the Hindi entertainment industry
DNA / July 2016 / Film
The unsung heroes and torchbearers of Sindhi cinema
DNA / April 2015 / Film
A profile of Abhirami, the first autonomous humanoid robot in India
DNA / December 2015 / Tech
A profile of Kate Lister, the woman behind @WhoresofYore
DNA / May 2016 / Profile
The recognition of transgender identities goes beyond the hijras and most importantly, the male-female binary. An examination of core issues affecting transgender Indians, with inputs from stakeholders across the spectrum
DNA / November 2015 / Special Feature
A profile of current CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani, tracing his journey from film distributor to Modi acolyte
DNA / August 2016 / Film
Honouring Khamisa, Bombay's oldest lingerie shop
DNA / May 2015 / Fashion/Lifestyle
How street art became Mumbai's tie that binds
DNA / December 2014 / Subculture
Random thrill rides for some but a serious pursuit for others, roller coasters fuel a billion dollar industry. A lowdown on the roller coaster subculture and its many fans
DNA / November 2015 / Subculture
A 1,752-strong collection of scale model cars, a fleet of Japanese robots, traditional Indian toys… inside the world of vintage collectibles, and the people who love them
DNA / August 2015 / Subculture
The weird and wonderful world of Mumbai's mannequin industry
DNA / March 2015 / Subculture
Head tonsuring at Tirumala Venkateswara, one of the world's most visited places of worship, is a turning point in the lives of millions. A look into the lives of its barbers, and their aspirations for the future
DNA / July 2015 / Special Feature
By imposing archaic dress codes and stringent conditions on women students, colleges are sending out a dangerous message by encouraging moral policing and rape culture
DNA / September 2016 / Special Feature
The provenance of a beloved south Indian staple, its many versions and diverse recipes
DNA / August 2015 / Food
What’s an award season without the burnished statuettes Bollywood loves and aspires for? Vijay Sonawane tells the story behind Filmfare and other trophies
DNA / July 2016 / Film
Examining the rise of anxiety disorders in our dystopian cities
DNA / September 2016 / Special Feature
That there are no prints available for Dr Madhurika, the 1935 film revolving around birth control, is a loss for cinematic heritage and feminist history
DNA / May 2016 / Film
An ode to the Madras check, one of India's greatest fabrics that weaves together the disparate worlds of Matunga and Manhattan
DNA / April 2015 / Fashion/Lifestyle
A paean to exemplary animal moms and the life lessons they impart
DNA / May 2016 / Special Feature
Playing the scheming saas or the golden-hearted matriarch with equal finesse, Lalita Pawar is one of Hindi cinema's unforgettables
DNA / April 2016 / Film
An estimated 70 million Indians suffer from rare disorders, the treatment of which can run into crores of rupees annually. Poor awareness and the absence of a national rare disease policy only adds to this burden
DNA / April 2016 / Special Feature
A pivotal part of any film unit, film caterers are little heard about and little thought of. A tribute to, and conversations with, old-timers who fed Bollywood for decades
DNA / May 2015 / Film
Was Kartikeya older or Ganesh? Was he more powerful than Shiva himself? And who was Ashokasundari? Discussions with historians, mythologists and other scholars help retell the story of a family of gods
DNA / September 2015 / Special Feature
India's leading chefs on the craziest patron requests they've dealt with
DNA / November 2014 / Food
Unwieldy and smelly for some and a nutritious powerhouse for others, the humble jackfruit is a produce like no other
DNA / February 2016 / Food
Dinkache laadu in Maharashtra or gond ke laddoo in north India may be ‘pregnant women food’ for some and the epitome of uncool for others, but it is the ideal winter go-to sweet
DNA / December 2015 / Food
What matrimonial ads over the decades tell us about the paradoxical nature of Indian society
DNA / February 2015 / Special Feature
The incredible life and times of Malayalam cinema's "softcore superstar"
DNA / August 2015 / Profile
Whether it was the 1990 Gulf War or the Yemen crisis, Air India and erstwhile-Indian Airlines played a pivotal role in rescuing thousands from conflict zones. The national carrier's crew on what it's like to conduct an evacuation flight
DNA / April 2015 / Special Feature
If acting were a religion, the Roshan Taneja School of Acting would be the pulpit. A profile of the octogenarian acting guru who’s trained some of India’s finest thespians
DNA / March 2016 / Profile
A visit to a leprosy colony and rural development centre for rehabilitated patients reveals the many hurdles that lie ahead for the leprosy-afflicted
DNA / March 2015 / Special Feature
Asexuals not only forge new citizenships in largely sex-focused LGBTQIA spaces, but also redefine mainstream notions of love and sex
DNA / February 2016 / Special Feature
There are all kinds of love. And while the world may mock those who fall in love with inanimate objects, a lot more research is needed before we start to comprehend their amorous emotions
DNA / February 2016 / Special Feature
Millennials may bank on Evernote and Google Calendar, but these digital tools are no match for Kalnirnay — the Indian almanac that's a universe unto its own
DNA / July 2015 / Subculture
The little-known, but fascinating history of Scandinavian noir
DNA / January 2015 / Books
The announcement of Nancy Drew growing up to be a NYPD detective prompts one revisit childhood years, when the world seemed neatly divided along gender lines between the teen sleuth and, of course, Hardy Boys
DNA / November 2015 / Books
In which Cyrus Broacha and Kunal Vijayakar talk about everything from Donald Trump to being sued by J Jayalalithaa
DNA / May 2016 / Interview
India may not have Santa schools like in the US, but Santa Clauses here too hone their craft to the best of their abilities and given tools.
DNA / December 2015 / Special Feature
From cats and cattle to emus and horses, greater Mumbai's only animal hospital treats them all. The story of the man at its helm, Lt Col (Dr) Khanna, weaved in with tales of abandonment, lack of awareness and other challenges
DNA / January 2016 / Profile
What is it about Wibs bread that makes so many Mumbai sandwichwalas swear by it?
DNA / January 2015 / Food
The story of one of Mumbai's most iconic street foods
DNA / April 2015 / Food
There was once a brand of Indian butter far more popular than Amul. A recounting of my family's – and others' – love for the once-legendary Polson's butter
DNA / July 2015 / Food
From corporate espionage and family litigations to the occasional 'thrilling case', Mumbai's private detectives dabble in it all. But their world is quite removed from those of their fictional counterparts
DNA / July 2014 / Special Feature
Limca Book of Records' long-time editor Vijaya Ghose is committed to showcasing the eccentric, the wondrous and the perseverant. The 78-year-old judges without judgment, a profile of courage despite the many challenges in her life
DNA / May 2015 / Profile
The life and times of GV Iyer, India's first – and so far, only – Sanskrit film director
DNA / May 2015 / Film
Everybody deserves a good send-off is his mantra. Meet John Pinto, the world's only MBE undertaker for whom body preservation is both art and science
DNA / August 2014 / Profile
Probal Gupta's solo stree vesham routines in Kathakali take inspiration from paintings, folk tradition, other dance forms and Shakespeare too
DNA / May 2016 / Arts & Culture
Nandshankar Mehta’s Karan Ghelo, the first Gujarati novel, tests one's patience but remains a historical account whose importance cannot be undermined
DNA / June 2015 / Books
A fitting tribute to Mumbai's famed local trains and a must-read for both fans and critics of the country's oldest passenger rail network
DNA / March 2015 / Books
National Award-winning authors Aniruddha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal's 'Gaata Rahe Mera Dil', which whittles down almost six decades of Hindi film music into a mere 50 songs, is a labour of love – though not without fault
DNA / August 2015 / Books
Anand Ranganathan pens a love story, but it is his portrayal of the Mizo insurgency that wrenches at the heart.
DNA / August 2015 / Books
A handy list of copyright-free resources across genres – poetry, essays, comics, drama scripts, history, and philosophy – for those hungry for information, but didn't know where to look
DNA / October 2015 / Books
Where does patriotism end and jingoism begin? Is standing for the national anthem mere conditioned behaviour? And how do nationality and identity get synced?
DNA / August 2015 / Special Feature
India’s only wildlife taxidermist Dr Santosh Gaikwad on the joys, rigours and importance of his profession
DNA / August 2014 / Profile
There's Something Special about Cheap Jack. A visit to the quintessentially-Bandra institution for bits and bobs that make up Christmas – and a little bit of nostalgia
DNA / December 2015 / Fashion/Lifestyle
Why the Hermes 3000 typewriter was the machine that defined my childhood
DNA / August 2015 / Fashion/Lifestyle
Where I recount the time I queued for the famed and patented Tirupati or Sri Vari Laddu
DNA / July 2015 / Food
The one and only Margaret Atwood on superheroes, hate mail, book blurbs and what's next for her
DNA / January 2016 / Interview
The world's first legally-recognised cyborg on the untapped potential of cybernetics and the need to make technology intrinsic
DNA / October 2014 / Interview
On his childhood, BBC Sherlock's female characters, and the portrayal of LGBT characters on TV
DNA / December 2014 / Interview
An exhaustive tête-à-tête with one of the world's best producer-DJs
DNA / December 2014 / Interview
Bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, one of the star attractions Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2016, talks about his different worlds, from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to 44 Scotland Street, and his kind of gentle, 'positive realism'
DNA / January 2016 / Interview
The surgeon, public health researcher and bestselling author on why we need to shift focus from just good health and survival to general well-being
DNA / December 2014 / Interview
Journalist, author and lecturer Mona Eltahawy talks about her first book, the need for a common ground between secular and religious feminists, and the revolutions she wants to see in west Asia and North Africa
DNA / November 2015 / Interview
Every strong woman is a witch, says India’s most fabled Wiccan
DNA / November 2014 / Interview
About theatre, her love for travel, the most challenging roles she's essayed, and haywire connotations of the terms 'bold' and 'feminist' in India
DNA / August 2015 / Interview
Mumbai's once-plentiful Mangalore stores are slowly being relegated to the shadows
DNA / October 2014 / Subculture
Meet the self-anointed gatekeepers of Indian morality
Motherland / May 2014 / Film
The unsung wig makers of Bollywood
The Caravan / July 2014 / Film
India is a leading e-waste importer and the world's fifth highest e-waste generator. Where does it all go? Given the hazardous nature of the business, what are the safeguards taken by recyclers and the humble kabadiwala?
DNA / May 2015 / Tech
A chronicle of India's dysfunctional relationship with sex
DNA / February 2015 / Fashion/Lifestyle
With 50,000 exhibits in 29 theme rooms, Stuttgart's SchweineMuseum is a labour of porcine love, headed by a remarkable owner-curator
DNA / October 2015 / Profile
The quest for Mumbai's best falooda, bhurji and guava cheese
DNA / December 2014 / Food
Indians across the corners of our geography have been locking lips since time immemorial
DNA / December 2014 / Special Feature
Australian cartoonist Gavin Aung Than, whose Zen Pencils is one of the most popular web comics, on his art and a connect that goes beyond the web comic fan space
DNA / December 2015 / Profile
Consumed by their passion for antique furniture and objets d'art, three men are taking forward the legacy of antique restorer Mahendra Doshi
DNA / September 2014 / Profile
'Too short' or 'too tall', these people don't fit society's definition of 'normal' and often find themselves on the margins of mainstream life. But they have taken on the challenge imposed by their height to forge their own identities.
DNA / June 2015 / Special Feature
Assyriologist, philologist, and board game expert Irving Finkel is that rare historian who makes you want to trash the future in favour of the past
DNA / January 2016 / Profile
Body shaming is the refuge of the insecure. But so ingrained is the desire for slenderness that anyone with some girth is considered flawed
DNA / September 2014 / Special Feature
An end-of-season quest for Mumbai’s best sitaphal or custard apple ice cream
DNA / February 2015 / Food
The tendency to center our sexual abuse discourse on the male perpetrator-female survivor prototype is a threat to the well-being of those who don't fall in this category
DNA / November 2014 / Special Feature
The hunt for Bombay's best white wine sangrias
DNA / May 2015 / Food
Conflict reportage may no longer be a male-only territory but challenges remain, with many female journalists still battling stereotypes
DNA / March 2015 / Special Feature
The seamy underbelly of film certification in India
DNA / January 2015 / Film
Sanjay Khatri talks about the trials and tribulations of being India's first male ballet dancer
DNA / October 2014 / Profile
Why Mudassar and Kainat Khatri, whose seven-year-old son Raheesh is the world's youngest drag racer, are exemplars for parents everywhere
DNA / February 2015 / Profile
Indian Paranormal Society CEO and founder Gaurav Tiwari on UFO sightings, places that fail to live up to their haunted reputations and his most hair-raising experience as an investigator
DNA / November 2014 / Interview
About the many ethical issues plaguing India's multimillion dollar surrogacy business
DNA / August 2014 / Special Feature
One half of the Midival Punditz duo on their latest album, why genres should be done away with, and more
DNA / April 2015 / Interview
There's no such thing as 'the typical Mensan' – apparently
DNA / September 2014 / Profile
The most reputed manufacturers of cuckoo clocks have been family-owned for generations and so is Mumbai's Well Known Watch House, one of India's only two cuckoo clock service stations
DNA / October 2015 / Arts & Culture
French violinist and conductor Augustin Dumay is on a mission is to make classical music more accessible to people
DNA / September 2014 / Arts & Culture
The wonder that is Kunqu opera
DNA / December 2014 / Arts & Culture
How a pan-Asian rendition of the Mahabharata threw new light on India's greatest epic.
DNA / January 2015 / Arts & Culture
What it's like to be a professional clown
DNA / November 2014 / Subculture
Can a teeming Mumbai resolve the conflict between citizen convenience, hawker rights and open spaces?
DNA / April 2015 / Special Feature
Germaine Greer's views may not always resonate with contemporary feminists, but her importance in the women's liberation movement can't be undermined
DNA / November 2015 / Profile
Real life vignettes of what it's like to live with elderly parents
DNA / May 2015 / Special Feature
Dinesh 'Maximouth' Upadhyaya has 176 records to his credit, mostly for stuffing his mouth with grapes, pencils, tennis balls, and what have you
DNA / July 2014 / Profile
The term ‘champ’ is sometimes thrown around loosely, but not when it comes to WNBA star Tamika Catchings
DNA / February 2015 / Profile
About Devika Rani and a certain Najmul Hasan – the man who almost brought Bombay Talkies to a standstill.
TBIP / October 2013 / Film
Brooklyn-based Maximón Monihan, Sheena Matheiken, and Janeva Zentz on their acclaimed debut feature 'Voice of the Voiceless' and subaltern influences: magical realism, skateboarding and Malcolm X.
TBIP / January 2014 / Film
Chronicling the life of one of India’s best known film festivals, through all its ups and downs.
TBIP / October 2013 / Film
Afghan auteur Siddiq Barmak on his award-winning film 'Osama', Irani cinema influences, and his favourite Indian filmmakers
TBIP / November 2013 / Film
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