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WELCOME THE EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR WRITERS TV SUPERHEROES CRIME OF PASSION 3
who the hell? Who the hell are we anyway? Those bossy people who think they can write anything about anything? Well, ladies and gentemen, finally, after eight months of boring into your brains (and hopefully your hearts), we wish to present “US”. This issue is dedicated to helping you know us better, so there’s not much else in here except for the regular series. Towards the end of our first year, we wish to give you all a grand new reappearance. Coz we are not just any feathers, we are the Feathers of the Phoenix. Happy reading!
ENTS
EDITOR IN CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR COVER PHOTO
AR MUTHU KUMAR SGA THOMAS AKASH L
WRITERS NIRMAL, SHRIKANTH, SARU, SOMA
EDITORIAL 03
Welcome to US. We have written. We have written for the past eight months. We have written on TV heroes, shortfilmmakers, the Russian president and what not? But we have never written about something - us! We would like to formally extend a hand out to you - to the world. Hello world. #TenthEveryMonth
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let there be light...
AR MUTHU KUMAR | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
And there was light. I am Muthu Kumar, the editor-inchief of OutFocus. It has been a prestigious position for me to hold for the past eight months. Let me assure you, it did not start this way. I was born in a middle class family in Tuticorin, the far far away from Chennai. I see Chennaites walk around with a pride that is incident with living in the capital city and I think, “what food does Caesar eat that has made him so great?” (Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar Act 1: Scene 2: Page 7) It was in my mid teens when I found my true calling - I wanted to write, film, create and appreciate. I understand if it sounds weird for the citizens of Chennai but this was something I’ve heard a lot growing up, “you’re not from Chennai, how will you film?” Mind you this is not the trendy Shortfilm generation of today but the mind-set of people half a dozen years back. And then suddenly there was the cosmic boom and filmmakers and media people rained down from mars. A great historian once defined that a generation is 30 years and that history changes course every generation. Well history is over - today a generation is a couple years. If I took a time machine from now to March 2017, I would find myself in the wrong era - totally. Hence in my life since the 2000s, I’ve seen almost 6 generations of technology, of maturity, and of minds. Sometimes it is positive, and some times it is negative. “...it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair... in short, the period was so far like the present period...” Dickens, Charles. A tale of Two Cities, Book 1: Chapter 1.
FOCUS 07
the BOOM factor
GANESH M | ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Having passive participants as your audience might suit you, but for me they need to be active. All you need is a BOOM. I am Ganesh. M, writing this in the middle of my MARX Class Assignment.
films, and sleeping. I have done a few short films in the past and is currently working in two short films.(Type Ganesh Gans M in Youtube Search for more details) So what did I write at OutFocus? TV Spotlight, Couple of Cover stories and Research Articles, LAST Short Fiction Series and the informative series Shanmu uncle.
Ganesh M? Who the hell is this new guy? Haven’t seen him in OutFocus. Okay, Let’s end this minidrama. I work at OutFocus under the pseudonym Sga Thomas. Remember LAST? About Feathers and OutFocus? More than myself, I value them. I So anyway, let’s come to the still consider them as brothers at point. An Intro? An idiot - the start of their childhood. What one who scribbles in all of his I could see is not only an aspiring text notebooks (including his future, but the tremendous path cupboard). Hobbies are scribbling, both have to face. So get ready for film making, stamp collecting, a blast, WE ARE, YET TO DELIVER reading novels, watching films - OUR BEST! and most importantly - sleeping. So, UGBST BKM EPKLR Phew! Let’s put that in a better way. 20-18-1-14-11-19 6-15-18 18-51-4-9-14-7 I am Ganesh M working under the pseudonym Sga Thomas at 21-14-17-4 26-14-22 5-10-13-5 OutFocus as Associate Editor. I am 19-9-8-20 14-15-4 currently pursueing B. Tech CSE at Shiv Nadar University, I keep The BOOM FACTOR ;) myself busy with scribbling, film making, reading novels, watching (Aftermath of Digital Fortress)
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man in the mirror
NIRMAL HENRY | WRITER
While some people can rant on about themselves for hours boring or exciting the other person to death, it has been a recurrently challenging task to me. But here it goes for my friend, the Editor-in-chief of the monthly e-magazine OutFocus, Muthu Kumar.
from an irresistible urge for recognition and adulation.
A tiny part of that doing includes reading and writing which are now almost dormant thanks to my technological companions. Sometimes my inner self is awakened into pursuing these things and Basically I am a nobody one such moment is when who wants to be somebody. my friend asks me to write I haven’t yet figured out something for OutFocus. my life yet except for the burning desire to be happy. Honestly, I haven’t been a For a considerable time of big contributor or support my life, I am either sleeping to OutFocus but I have or thinking. Now the subject always felt it was underrated. of my thinking is mostly Delivering quality content art, food and philosophy. on a variety of topics every A sizeable slice of that art month with a small but gifted belongs to films. What I am team is nothing short of an trying to tell is that I am accomplishment. Hopefully, basically a film nut. For a very I overcome my nemesis negligible time of my life, I am laziness and write more for doing and not thinking. The this wonderful magazine in drive to do in my case stems the future.
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a girl’s page
Hey, this is Sarumathi, pursuing second year in Electronics and communications engineering. A girl with diversified interests. An avid reader... a nature lover... and above all, a passionate writer.. While I was so much involved in engineering and when started feeling carried away from my passion i.e., writing, OutFocus happened as a sweet shock.
SARU MATHI | WRITER
chief of OutFocus, is completely a beautiful bizarre came to life. The idea of making a magazine with so much variety is novel and neoteric. It has been a lovely platform for so many new aspiring artists to showcase their talents and skills. Right from first edition, it has a special touch of art and wonder in every possible form. And every edition had an array of nascent content and color that none can point any two editions to be same even by a shard of glass. The most amazing thing about OutFocus is not a single person of the core team is from literature or its related fields.
By then, I was all set to start a column and that’s how #A_Girl’s_ Page came to form. Basically simple observations from everyday life was spot-lighted with an optimistic outlook and usually ends with a motivational note. Each article was specially made with care and concern. About #OutFocus, the brainchild Totally, OutFocus - an Unique of Mr. Muthu Kumar, Editor-in- Creation!!!
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a bicycleless postman
SOMA SUNDARAM | WRITER
‘Our eye is a poor bicycleless postman, that can deliver only 1 in 600000 posts (frames of light) that it receives and that too with a delay seal on the post’s cover. Reading a delayed post! That means, we are in a paradoxical present and one knows how the present is!! What will happen if our nerves update its communication system similar to 3G cell phones?’ THE QUESTION MARK WITH A WORM HOLE TO IMAGINATION IS MY ADDRESS MOST OF THE TIME. I am Doing my 3rd year MBBS at Government Medical College, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram. Living with Gundu motta books is therefore cannot be left as a choice.
Hobbies between the Hypnotic books: A triad hobby pack with film, novel, travel. Forming an organisation like the Feathers with brains from different fields does worth a big KUDOS!! Friendship - bonded brains form the plus here at the Feathers. As there will be a ‘doodlebug’ in every Nolan’s life, this is our start for an interstellar travel. Happy to be a part in the crew! Outfocus: Some firsts in my life are memory protective. One among those is the ‘Outfocus’ magazine. It MADE my ink get published for the first time. Presently, I am working as a writer in Outfocus.
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bob odenkirk | TV
SUPERHEROES SGA THOMAS
He is the guy on your Smigel. speed dial right after your weed dealer. Odenkirk’s friendship with Ben Stiller, with whom he Guessed ? briefly shared an office at SNL, would lead to him YOU ! WILL ! ATONE! being hired for the cast Yes ! You are right ! BETTER of The Ben Stiller Show CALL SAUL. in 1992. Working as both a writer and actor on the One of the highest rated show, he created and debut series, BETTER CALL starred in the memorable SAUL might not possible sketch “Manson Lassie”, without Bob Odenkirk. and helped the show Robert John “Bob” win an Emmy Award for Odenkirk was born in writing. Berwyn, Illinois, to Barbara and Walter Odenkirk, who In mid 90s, he co-created worked in printing. His HBO comedy sketch ancestry includes German series Mr.Show along with and Irish. He grew up in David Cross. Co-Starring Naperville, the second of in the series, it ran over 33 seven children. He worked episodes (4 seasons). as a DJ for WIDB, his In the 2000’s he shifted college radio station at to more of a producer Southern Illinois University capacity on comedy Carbondale. Three credits shows including Tim and shy of graduation, he Eric Awesome Show, Great moved to Chicago. He Job! and Tom Goes to the also did open-mic stand- Mayor. up comedy for several years. After college Bob’s After Mr. Show with Bob pursuit of comedy led and David ended, Bob him to join The Players wrote Run Ronnie Run and Workshop of the Second directed three feature films City which eventually led Melvin Goes to Dinner, him to landing a writing Let’s Go to Prison and The job at Saturday Night Live Brothers Solomon. He had in 1987. This became dozens of small featuring possible because of his roles on TV shows, friend in Chicago Robert including Everybody
Loves Raymond, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Seinfeld, NewsRadio, Just Shoot Me!, Joey, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, Entourage, Weeds and How I Met Your Mother. In 2009, Odenkirk joined the cast of AMC’s Breaking Bad as corrupt lawyer Saul Goodman. He was a guest character in four episodes of Season 2 and was promoted to a member of the main cast for the final three seasons. Bob Odenkirk appears again in the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul. Odenkirk has said his strongest comedic influence was Monty Python’s Flying Circus, primarily due to its combination of cerebral and simple humor. He married Naomi Yomtov and has 2 children. His brother Bill Odenkirk is also a Comedy Writer.
So When legal forces have you cornered, BETTER CALL SAUL! It’s never too late for Justice, BETTER CALL SAUL!
SPOTLIGHT: TV SUPERHEROES 17
CRIME OF PASSION
-SHRIKANTH VEERAVALLI
Anand rechecked his honor killings legally. perfection. After all you list. The D Day was After all who else but a don’t get to kill every approaching and he was betrayed husband can day. Not everyone is a not yet ready. He was get retribution? How gangster. And gangsters nervous, not about what does it all matter to these days use guns. he was about to do, but the man who wears the Anand had thought of because of the anxiety British age legal gown? gun as a choice. But of pulling it through. The For him, it is a job. He guns were difficult to worry was not about a is a custodian of the procure and they are not perfect kill, but about law written 150 years personal. Though the task the perfect escape. He back, many of which are was unfinished business, has read that the first obsolete. But what should the act is personal. His suspect in any homicide not become obsolete like dear wife Irene cannot is the next of kin. People this one has become one die without knowing why who stand to gain the too. Second reason was she was dying. maximum! He didn’t want giving an extended lease Anand first wanted to set to become another point of life to Vijay. He can’t an alibi. That will keep of that statistics. He is allow that. him from the scene of not going to get caught. So escaping is very crime atleast on theory. If he did get caught important in the plan. And he was clear that the job would be half Whenever he reads the he is not going to be done. Vijay will get off. newspapers where the the first one to report If he managed a smart perpetrators call up the the murder. Then he lawyer and convince police to inform of the will become one of the judge that it was a death and spend buckets those stupid newspaper crime of passion (once of tears for 2 days only husbands. The shame again an irony) and not a to get caught in the 3rd of getting caught would premeditated one, then day, Anand would laugh kill him sooner than he may get away with at them. To kill it not killing itself. So logged life-imprisonment. With only takes courage but into the IRCTC website remission, good conduct tremendous intelligence and booked him a return and all birth centenaries also. And some skill too! ticket in Lalbagh express that would fall in his time, To make a masterful cut on 14th afternoon and he should just do 7 years in the vein that would return on 16th morning. time. But even that was take some time to realize He used his credit card not acceptable to Anand. that it had been cut and for booking and marked One because of what almost hesitatingly push that his PAN Card will he is going to do is not out blood and then to be the document for a crime but a rightful burst out in torrents, it identification. He has told retribution. Maybe even takes skill. One should Irene that he was having today in some societies mentally play this out a Day Out with his team they would allow such plenty of times to achieve at Guhanthara resort
CRIME OF PASSION: CHAPTER 3 19
on 15th and then he would be back on 16th afternoon. His plan was to reach Bangalore by 08.30 pm and check into the hotel. And slowly slip out at 9.00 pm, come up to Hosur and hire a cab for Vellore and from there another cab to Chennai. It would take him 5 hours at the outer limit and he would reach his home at Adyar by 2 am. The job should take maximum of 30 minutes. He is going to let himself in by his spare key and Irene should be sleeping peacefully. He was not sure whether he would just slash the knife while she was sleeping or wake her up and let her know what was coming at her. He preferred the second. But he still didn’t expect a big fight. She would be scared to react. The moment she realizes that her bluff is called the guilt will weaken her and she will have no strength to fight. Anand would have loved to stay back
for a while and bid her He had shopped for farewell. But when it is his tools over the past a choice of her dying month in different cities. and his living, he would He made a grand tour choose the latter. plan in July visiting He should leave his house atleast 6 branches and by 3 am max and be back each item was bought at his hotel at Bangalore in a different city. Unless before 8 am. There were there was a massive a couple of risks involved manhunt made with his in this plan. One is the face plastered all over delay in any leg of the the TV the chances that travel because he really all the purchases would had arranged for the getbe connected is remote. together at Guhanthara Secondly if at all there with the team and that is a manhunt, his photo will be the strongest would not be used as he alibi when the message is the grieving husband. comes. He had asked It would take a very nosy the team to assemble detective to connect the at his hotel by 8.30 am. dots. That too without Second is the possibility even knowing what is of she being found out the murder weapon etc. earlier and a call comes These things happen only searching for him. Then in novels. There is no he may have to do a lot Harry Bosch is Chennai of explanations. But that’s police. Irene is also not not likely to happen. On a a VIP to bring the case holiday like that even the to definite closure. If the servant maid would be plan goes well, then Irene later than usual and that will become one more means it would be 10 am unsolved entry in a dull when the call comes. He brown police register. would be in midst of the revelry. There is no way anyone can suspect. (to be continued...)
“His dear wife Irene cannot die without knowing why she was dying...”
CRIME OF PASSION: CHAPTER 3 21
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