Seshadri's Musings

More web-series reviews… Love Storiyaan – Came out in 2024.  Love Storiyaan is a captivating series showcasing the remarkable journeys of six couples from diverse backgrounds, highlighting the strength of love to triumph over differences and challenges. Through their unique narratives, the show celebrates the unifying force of love, illustrating its ability to conquer obstacles and foster enduring togetherness. A review from IMDB... Dropped appropriately on February 14, Valentine's Day. Though every day would be a celebration of love. Love Storiyaan is a celebration. No big stars or celebrities. But with something bigger - real people with their love stories; eventually triumphing against all odds. Like the TV series Modern Love, it's about relationships, love and human connections. But I found it more lovable and delightful. 6 episodes. 6 stories. Each one handled brilliantly by some of the finest directors - Hardi...

More web-series reviews… Candy – Came out in 2022.  Texas in 1980 and based on the true story of killer Candy Montgomery and her victim, Betty Gore. Jessica Biel plays Montgomery, who seemingly had it all - a loving husband with a good job, a daughter and a son, a nice house in the brand new suburbs - so why did she kill her friend from church with an axe? Same story as Love and Death series. A review from IMDB... There is an epidemic of streaming crime docudramas, they are inexpensive to make - a prewritten relatable narrative, a preexisting cadre of voyeurs and prebaked external tension. Often these preordained advantages breed laziness and produce sloppy television. This, though, is a strong setup, introducing the key characters and quietly building Hitchcockian suspense towards the revelation of this heinous murder. The cast is strong and Jessica Biel is fabulous, leading the line as the eponymous character. Candy i...

More web-series reviews… Back to Life – 2 seasons from 2019 to 2021. After 18 years behind bars, Miri Matteson returns home and stumbles back into adult life in the claustrophobic coastal town she once knew in this half-hour comedy series. Miri attempts to rekindle old relationships, make new ones, look for work and readjust to life outside, while desperately waiting for the world to forget about what happened on that fateful night. A review from IMDB... "Back to Life" (2019 release from the UK; 6 episodes of 30 min. each) brings the story of Miri, a woman in her late thirties who tries to adjust "back to life" after serving an 18 yr. prison term. As Episode 1 opens, we shift back and forth between a job interview Miri is doing (and trying to explain--or avoid to explain--the 18 year gap in her resume), and her release from prison, moving back home with her parents in the most awkward of ways (mom hurriedl...

More web-series reviews… True Detective – Night Country – 4th season came in 2024.  Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law. A review from IMDB... Anthology series' can be some of the greatest television you will ever watch. There aren't many in existence, but what a fantastic idea when they are executed with excellence. Fargo is the best of the best, and I believe True Detective belongs next on the list. Nic Pizzolatto created a prolific series that has a knack for attracting the perfect actors for the particular projects and writing fantastic material for them. These are not "whodunit" mysteries, and in fact most of the time, we don't even meet the killer until well into the season, so if you are looking for a Doyle or Christie type of mystery, this isn't for you. What you will be treated to are e...

More web-series reviews… Catch Me A Killer – Came in 2024.  Based on the book of the same name, CATCH ME A KILLER tells the harrowing story of former journalist-turned-psychologist MICKI PISTORIUS - South Africa's first serial killer profiler. A review from IMDB... Solid, well-paced and stripped-down crime for compulsive viewing As a long-time fan of UK crime dramas, Scandi noir, Korean revenge films and series, this one piqued my attention. I'm nearly done with it and it's only been a couple days, so that's a good sign. The series opens with a bit of a reference to Cracker (UK), and throughout there are touches of UK forensic psychology dramas like Wire in the Blood and Touch of Evil, as well as Prime Suspect for the resistance local police departments put up to psychological profiling and detective work. The stories are all true. Most are just one episode, which is unfortunate insofar as there's le...

I was in Delhi last week and my cousin Sriram mentioned about the Khatu Shyam temple near Sonipat. I put it in the back of my mind for some future visits.   It seems Jayashree then went to the internet to explore what the temple was and its background.   We had some free time in Sonipat and she told me the story behind the temple, part of the Mahabharata puranas, and suggested that we go and visit the temple. I checked out the temple on internet and found that it was only about 10kms from where we were staying in Sonipat.  Unfortunately, no cabs were available.  We walked to the main road and got hold of a share auto.  At first, he said he is not going in that direction.  Then he said he will take Rs 100 if has to take us. We agreed and went with him.  There were 2 more passengers in the auto and they got down on the way.  He dropped us at the temple. I asked him if he could wait for half and hour and then he can drop us back at the place where ...

  Again, Jayashree found about this temple in Hyderabad and said we should visit this.   Off the 5 of us went to see this temple one fine evening.   The details of the temple are as below from a blog by Mr Gowri Shanker, a journalist… Tucked in the hustle and bustle of concrete IT jungle in Rangbagh, Nanakramguda is the over 400-year old Ranganath Swamy Temple, one of the cleanest temples in Hyderabad and Telangana State with architectural beauty. It’s no surprise the ancient temple bagged INTACH Heritage award long back (2002) for preserving the heritage structures and the premises spic and span. Compared to a couple of years ago, locating temple itself is now a difficult task as huge commercial complexes and residential apartments camouflage the temple and its precincts.  But once you find it and enter the sprawling temple complex near Wipro circle, one is floored by the beauty of the Gopurams, the temple entrance, cleanliness and the serene environment. The te...