Squid Game - A Review

"I am not a horse; I am a human."

Amidst the brutality and violence, Squid Game, at its core, is a social commentary on human beings' ethical and moral ambiguity. It makes us question our existence. Who are we? What values do we stand for during our lowest points? 

The theme of Squid Game is not new—we have seen such dystopian themes in films like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, or 13 Tzameti. But the compelling, diverse, and relatable characters—and the tenderness of their bond—will make you root for them. 

A group of desperate individuals, in dire financial straits, are manipulated into participating in children's games with a cash prize of roughly $40M. But, they leave out one tiny detail—the games have deadly consequences. The commentary on the class divide and the perils of capitalism are apparent throughout the series. 

After the horrors of Red Light, Green Light, the participants unanimously quit. Not only they're compelled to return but are made to believe they did it voluntarily. 

During the course of the series, Seong Gi-hun, a gambling addict in serious debt, tries hard to be honest and self-righteous in a place of continuous moral decadence. 

Oh Il-nam, as Player 001, is delightful. During the initial few episodes, he was my favourite character, and I wished to have his zest for life despite suffering from a terminal ailment. 

Kang Sae-byeok is the most enigmatic character among the main characters. She begins to open up during the latter half of the season after she is paired with another girl with a tragic past, Ji-yeong, who helps her open up. 

Cho Sang-woo is a selfish person who will descend to any depth to survive and win the game. On the other hand, Abdul Ali is a kind-hearted, easily manipulated, but physically powerful immigrant. 

Episode 6, Gganbu, is one of the finest hours in the history of television. This episode wrecked me and moved me to tears. The set-up of Game 4 reminds Il-nam of his childhood home and is disinterested in playing the marble game, but Gi-hun eventually convinces him to play. With Il-nam on the verge of winning, Gi-hun takes advantage of the former's dementia to cheat, even though he feels guilty about it. The scene—where Il-nam reveals he was aware of Gi-hun's betrayal but allows him to win anyway—is absolutely gut-wrenching. 

Meanwhile, Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok discuss their lives before playing the marble game. After their poignant interaction, Ji-yeong loses the game on purpose and makes the ultimate sacrifice as she believes Sae-byeok deserves to live more than her. 

Ali, who unwittingly gets the upper hand in the game, is made to believe by Sang-woo that both can survive the game. He deceives Ali into giving up his marbles. Sadly, Ali's innocence eventually leads to his downfall. 

I loved the tug-of-war episode too, which had one of the best cliffhangers. Despite lacking physical strength, Gi-hun's team comes out on top—thanks to Il-nam's experience and Sang-woo's quick thinking. 

After the sixth episode, the quality of the series dipped a tad due to the introduction of VIPs. Acted horribly, the VIPs sounded like poorly dubbed American characters in old Chinese movies where the dialogues were written by someone with Chinese sensibilities. In this instance, the dialogues of the VIPs were written in English with Korean sensibilities. And, that's why they sounded more like caricatures instead of normal people. Also, the actors playing these characters were horrible, and that didn't help either. 

That twist, in the end, involving Il-nam was unexpected and it ruined that wonderful moment in Gganbu to a certain extent. Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was my first K-Drama, and I had a wonderful experience. 

My Rating: 9/10

A Journey of 1,000 Days

March 5, 2021

June 30, 2018, marked the beginning of the 10K streak—a journey culminating in a significant milestone: completing 1,000 consecutive days on March 25, 2021.

During this period, I logged an impressive tally of steps and kilometres, totalling 11,101,932 steps and covering 8,605.5 kilometres.

Several months before initiating the streak, I grappled with the challenges of Avascular Necrosis for over six years. My hips were a constant source of discomfort, with a clicking sound accompanying every step, signalling the inevitable collapse of my hip joints. Concurrently, my knees endured immense pressure, overshadowing the pain in my hips.

On March 24, 2018, a minor car accident exacerbated the condition in my knees, intensifying my discomfort. Rather than succumb to despair, I opted for a radical approach—active walking. Starting with a modest 1,000 steps daily, I swiftly progressed to consistently achieving over 8,000 steps within months, undergoing a profound lifestyle transformation from a sedentary existence.

By the conclusion of June 2018, I routinely achieved 10,000 steps, prompting me to challenge myself to maintain this benchmark throughout July of that year. With unwavering determination, I surpassed this initial hurdle and sustained the streak month after month thereafter.

Walking amidst persistent pain became my norm for nearly a decade, but the strain I imposed on my legs during the streak far exceeded prior thresholds. In the initial stages, my body struggled to acclimate to this rigorous physical regimen, resulting in inflammation in the heel tissue and agonizing bouts of Plantar Fasciitis. Despite these adversities, I persisted.

By October 2018, not only had I consistently attained 10,000 daily steps, but I also began to derive enjoyment from my walks. Engaging in weekly 5 km GPS challenges injected a competitive edge into my routine, facilitating my progress from an 11-minute kilometre pace in July 2018 to under 9 minutes by January 2019.

Around the 200-day mark, a pinched nerve in my left foot presented yet another hurdle, compelling me to persevere through weeks of discomfort. Overcoming these obstacles bolstered my resolve, ultimately enabling me to partake in the TCS World 10K race on May 19, 2019, where I earned my inaugural medal in the Majja 5K Run category. Brisk-walking and briefly running amidst a sea of people is an experience I will never forget.

The summer of 2019 witnessed another milestone when a routine indoor walking session transitioned into a full-fledged running session. I ran for an hour without a break, achieving my highest step count in an hour (close to 8,800) and likely covering 10 kilometres in under an hour—an accomplishment unimaginable a year prior.

The year 2019 proved monumental, with statistics reflecting over 3,000 kilometres walked and 4 million steps taken, setting a remarkable benchmark.

Despite the onset of the global pandemic, which necessitated lockdowns and confinement, my walking streak persisted. The challenges posed by the pandemic failed to deter my determination, and for the second consecutive year, I surpassed the milestones of 3,000 kilometres and 4 million steps.

On March 5, 2021, commemorating the ninth anniversary of my Core Decompression procedure, I embarked on a new challenge—walking 10 kilometres in a single GPS session, a feat I had yet to attempt outdoors. Reflecting on the events preceding my surgery imbued this endeavour with profound significance, evoking a torrent of emotions upon completion.

Embarking on such a journey requires not only courage, motivation, and determination but also an unwavering commitment to consistency. I am immensely proud of my mental and physical fortitude, having endured pain and overcome formidable odds throughout this remarkable 1,000-day journey.

600 Days

TCS World 10K - May 19, 2019

Eight years ago, on the 8th of March, I was discharged from the hospital. As I was wheeled out, a rush of emotions engulfed me - I felt profoundly insecure and helpless.

The following four years proved to be the toughest of my life. I grappled with anxiety, chronic depression, and loneliness and battled countless inner demons.

However, a turning point arrived four years ago when I made a pivotal decision - to fight back. Determined not to let depression dictate my life any longer, I embarked on a journey of self-restoration.

Despite facing a setback in 2018 due to a car accident, I refused to succumb to despair. I was not willing to forfeit four precious years of progress.

Thus, I devised a simple yet radical solution - to walk more every day. Counting my steps became a beacon of hope and a symbol of resilience.

With steady determination, I gradually increased my daily steps until I consistently achieved 10,000 steps. This commitment led to an astonishing milestone - 600 consecutive days of meeting this goal.

The impact on my physical, emotional, and psychological well-being has been profound. I find myself happier and more content than ever before. Where once there was despair, now there is hope - a testament to the unpredictable nature of life.

My journey serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope. By embracing resilience and perseverance, we can overcome even the most formidable challenges.

I am immensely grateful for the transformation I've experienced and am determined to continue walking, fighting, and inspiring others along the way.

Revisiting Independence: A Critical Examination of Freedom and Tolerance in India

Image Courtesy: Google

Seventy-five years ago, we urged the British to Quit India. Now, seven decades since we attained absolute independence, it's essential to reflect on whether we've truly achieved freedom. Do we enjoy the liberty to express our views openly, especially on sensitive topics like religion, superstitions, and certain violent traditional practices, without the looming fear of arrest or worse, violence? Regrettably, the answer to that question seems painfully clear.

Women’s Safety

"The day a woman can walk freely at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence."

~Mahatma Gandhi

Tragically, Gandhiji's dream remains distant. Shocking statistics reveal that a woman falls victim to rape in India every 20 minutes. Ensuring the safety of our women should be a top priority, yet not enough is being done by our governments and law enforcement agencies to protect them. From college girls to single mothers, women across all strata of society face harassment, molestation, rape, and even murder under the pretext of family honour. Moreover, incidents of acid attacks, human trafficking, domestic violence, and domestic rapes add to the grim reality.

Will we ever realise Gandhiji's dream of making India a safe haven for its women?

Attack on Rationalists

In recent years, particularly since the ascension of the new government in 2014, there has been a concerning surge in attacks on free speech in India. Those daring to challenge such practices have been systematically silenced.

In 2015, M.M. Kalburgi was fatally shot on his doorstep for his longstanding criticism of idol worship among Hindus. Similarly, rationalists like Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar met similar fates for questioning religious superstitions prevalent in India.

Secularism lies at the heart of India's greatness, differentiating it from its neighbours. However, these attacks pose a serious threat to India's secular fabric, marking a dangerous trend.

Cow-related Violence and Jallikattu

I have been a lifelong vegetarian and proud animal lover, yet I have never imposed my beliefs on others. Every law-abiding citizen should have the freedom to follow their dietary preferences without scrutiny. While cow vigilantes claim to protect cows and prevent their slaughter, the reality tells a different story. The alarming number of Muslims and Dalits targeted and killed under the guise of cow vigilantism speaks volumes. The 2015 Dadri mob lynching exemplifies this, where a Muslim man was lynched based on a mere rumour of storing beef.

Respecting each individual's religious, cultural, and traditional beliefs is vital. However, harming and exploiting animals in the name of tradition is unacceptable. We must advocate for the voiceless and refrain from exploiting them to perpetuate personal superstitions.

Censorship in India

Censorship, particularly in the realm of film and television, has taken a concerning turn in recent years. While the role of the Censor Board is to certify movies based on their content, the intrusion of religious and political biases by its leadership threatens freedom of expression. Numerous instances underscore this troubling trend.

Parting Thoughts

India can truly progress towards independence and prosperity if:

- Women are treated as equals and provided equal opportunities.

- Everyone enjoys the freedom to express their beliefs without fear of backlash.

- Personal choices regarding love, attire, and life partners are respected.

- Individuals are treated with kindness and dignity regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or caste.

Seventy-five years ago, we demanded the British to Quit India. Now, it's time to proclaim, "Intolerance, Quit India," and strive for a more inclusive and tolerant society.