The Blue Studio

On His Blindness - a recital

John Milton ranks as one the greatest English poets. He stands alongside Shakespeare in impact and fame. He is famous for composing the epic poem “Paradise Lost” in which he dramatizes the original sin – man’s first act of disobedience. But Paradise lost is about 10,000 lines long, and that is not what I’ll present now. Instead, I would like to present a lovely sonnet called “On his blindness”. At the age of 48, while still in his prime, Milton lost his eyesight. For a wordsmith this was ak...

The sublime Saki - a discussion on his short stories

H. H. Munro, writing under the pen name "Saki" is an acclaimed master of the short stories. He is known for his sharp wit, great command over the language and fondness for themes that are dark, macabre and satirical. He was the inspiration for later writers like P.G. Wodehouse.  In this episode, Kavya and Koushik discuss the writers works, what makes him special and a few passages from some of his famous stories. 

Human and virus

It is May 2021. A little over a year since Covid hit us. Thousands have lost their lives, struggling for something as basic as oxygen. It is also a little over a year, George Floyd died, struggling for oxygen…. And I can’t help seeing the connection. This 2 min poem is my attempt to connect the twin horrors of racism and a rampant epidemic Many a man was hit by the virus,  Many a black was hurt in the US.  Poison spread like smokey wreath Many a man gasped, “I can’t breathe”! Here’s a sto...

To a mouse - Robert Burns

“The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”. This line from a Robert Burns poem, is one of the most popular quotes in the English language. In this poem, Burns describes a situation where he accidentally destroys the nest of a farm mouse while ploughing his land. He is greatly saddened by this act and feels repentant. He realizes the mouse had built the nest to survive the harsh winter. He then muses “the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”. The poem is rich with moral...

Bazaars of Hyderabad - a poem recital

Bazaars of Hyderabad is a poem composed by Sarojini Naidu. She was one of the early Indian writers in the English language. She was an active member of the Indian freedom struggle. She was rightly called the “Nightingale of India because of voice and her lyrical poems. In this poem she captures the vibrance, color, sounds and sights of a bazaar in Hyderabad!

The Owl and the Pussycat - poem recited by Kanishk

Not all poems are sad or serious. They can be funny and nonsensical too! They could have animals come to life.

Consecration on the birth of India.

Exactly 73 years ago, on 14th August 1947, two new nations were born. India and Pakistan. The cities of Delhi, Lahore and Bombay were abuzz with preparations on this momentous occasion. Leaders were readying speeches and people celebrated on the streets. But in the city of Calcutta, the air was heavy with dread. The community was on edge. It was the 1st anniversary of Direct -action-Day, one of the bloodiest communal clashes in the country which left more than 5,000 people dead. And this is...

Poetry - a discussion

Kavya interviews Koushik on what he thinks about poetry and it’s place in society. They cover form, nature, and the future of poetry. Koushik shares some tips on how to write poetry and his poetic journey.

“All the worlds a stage!”.

The phrase “All the world’s a stage” and the monologue that follows about the seven ages of man is well known. They are from Shakespeare’s pastoral romance, “As you like it”. When you hear it, you’ll say, “Wow, Shakespeare puts it so well!”. He was indeed clever. But not original. “All the world’s a stage” was a concept that predated Shakespeare by a comfortable 1,700 years. It was first popularised by the Roman poet Juvenal. Since then many people have made the reference. In fact, Shakespea...

The Road not Taken - a narration

Standing at the crossroads is both good and difficult. Life gives us a choice, but it forces us to stop, think and decide. We have all been there, haven’t we? What course of study should I pick, should I marry A, or do I love B more, vanilla or butterscotch? Even if it looks hazy, we try to see down one road for clues. We speak with people who made that choice before us and walked that road. We listen to our hearts. Of course, we can’t stand at the crossroads forever, so we pick one road over...

Hope is the thing with feathers - a recital

Emily Dickinson was an American poet of great repute. Her poems had abstract themes. She was influenced by Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In this poem, she uses a bird as a metaphor for Hope. It is a lyrical ballad which is childlike in its...

The 2 minute economist - Matri-money

In this podcast, Kavya explores the connection between marriage and money. Is it a coincidence that Marriage and money both begin with M? Is it only emotion or also economics ? Economic well being is one of the unseen effects of marriage. Combined...

The miller of the Dee

Kanishk narrates the popular Welsh poem - The miller of the Dee. It is about the simple yet content life that a miller leads by the River Dee. He sings the wonderful refrain, " I envy nobody, no, not I, Nobody envies me" !He is noticed by the local king...

The 2 minute economist - Inflation

Welcome to this new segment on Blue Studio - The minute Economist. Get smart in three minutes.In the year 1946 Hungary experienced a situation of extreme price rise. The daily inflation rate was 200 %. Which meant that on Monday if a car cost 200...

Ode to Autumn - a recital

Is there a perfect poem? Has anyone composed one that comes close to perfection? Ode to Autumn, by John Keats is widely regarded as the perfect short poem in the English language. The reason it is special is because while every other poet celebrates Spring, Keats sees beauty in Autumn. Through rich imagery and apt personification, he brings to life the sights and sounds of Autumn. In 3 stanzas of eleven lines each, he describes the progression of the season from the ripening of crops to harve...

Ode to Autumn - a recital

Is there a perfect poem? Has anyone composed one that comes close to perfection?  Ode to Autumn, by John Keats is widely regarded as the perfect short poem in the English language. The reason it is special is because while every other poet celebrates...

Song of the Brook - a recital

This poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a firm favorite among children and adults alike. It narrates the journey of a brook from from its origin to the end where it joins a larger river. The poem has rhythm, movement and cadence which makes it beautiful to recite and hear. This poem has been chosen by scholars as being culturally important.

Song of the brook

This poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a firm favorite among children and adults alike. It narrates the journey of a brook from from its origin to the end where it joins a larger river. The poem has rhythm, movement and cadence which makes it beautiful to...

From a railway carriage - a recital

From a railway carriage is a poem by the famous Scottish poet and writer Robert Louis Stevenson. He is well known for the adventure story, Treasure Island. He composed this poem in 1885 and it was published in his anthology, A Child's garden of verses....

Charge of the Light Brigade - a recital

The charge of the Light Brigade, by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This poem was written in response to the Crimean war. In this battle, a British cavalry unit  was ordered to charge against a Russian artillery unit. This order was suicidal. This poem talks...

Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening - a recital

Although i have never walked in the woods of New Hampshire, I am sure i would have been captivated by the mesmerising beauty of nature. Perhaps this is what happened to Robert Frost, the great American poet, who was born and raised there. Surrounded by...

The daffodils - a recital

The daffodils is a poem by the famous English poet, William Wordsworth. Though it was composed more than 200 years ago, it is kept alive in school textbooks and various poetry recital competitions. While walking along a lake in Ullsworth, with his...

The listeners - a poem reading

The listeners by Walter de La Mare. An English poet acclaimed for his subtle psychological stories, the listeners is one of his popular poems. Beautiful in its simplicity, this poems tells the story of a lone traveler knocking at a decrepit house on a...

Ozymandias - poem reading

Hi friends, I am here with a wonderful sonnet, called Ozymandiaz. This was composed by the 18th century, English poet, Percy Shelley. In this poem, a traveller from the exotic lands, tells us the about the grand, but ruined statue of Ozymandias, in the...

Casino Royale - the 1st James Bond story

Casino Royale - the 1st James Bond story

Rang De Basanti - A movie review

Kavya and I engage in a wide ranging discussion on the 2006 indian movie, Rang de Basanti. We cover a lot of ground - Indian history, cinema, Rakesh Mehras storytelling, how the movie is still relevant etc.

A movie review and discussion - The Client

Movie review - The Client (1994)

The Wonderful Words - a reading by Kanishk Krishnan

A recital of the poem, "The Wonderful Words".

Mercy by William Shakespeare - a reading

Mercy by William Shakespeare - a reading

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