Legends - Series Review

Image copied from IMDB

There are plenty of movies and TV series centered around the drug trade, but Legends takes a refreshingly different approach.

Set during the final years of Margaret Thatcher's government in UK, the story focuses less on gunfights and violent confrontations and more on the intelligence, patience, and psychological challenges involved in undercover operations. Story is inspired by one of Britain's most remarkable undercover operations. If you're expecting a typical action-packed drug thriller, this isn't it — and that's exactly what makes it stand out.

Instead of the usual police or special forces, the story follows a small undercover team from the Customs Department that is tasked with infiltrating two major drug trafficking networks. Each officer adopts a carefully crafted identity — or legend — and must live that persona convincingly to gain the trust of dangerous criminals.

The series also explores the personal and professional challenges faced by the team. Differences of opinion, trust issues, and the emotional toll of living a double life add depth to the story and make the characters feel authentic.

Legends is a slow burning crime drama that relies on suspense, strong performances, and clever storytelling rather than excessive violence. If you're interested in undercover operations, crime investigations, and drug-related stories — but prefer a more realistic and character driven narrative; then this is definitely worth watching.

Series is created and written by Neil Forsyth (also known for acclaimed crime dramas The Gold, Guilt etc.). The episodes are directed by Brady Hood (known for Top Boy and Great Expectations etc.), along with Julian Holmes (known for directing episodes of Reacher and The Boys).  

Sajeev

The Sheep Detectives - Movie Review

Image copied from IMDB site

My wife often says, "It's always better to watch a movie that makes you laugh." The Sheep Detectives is one such films that blends humor, mystery, and heartfelt moments.

Movie explores the unique relationship between farm animals and humans. I must admit, I was a little disappointed when a major character dies right at the beginning. However, what follows is an engaging mystery that kept me glued to the screen until the very end. The film balances suspense, murder investigation with light-hearted comedy; making it enjoyable for both mystery lovers and those simply looking for a feel-good watch.

Beyond the mystery, the movie introduces a few thought-provoking ideas. One that stood out to me was the amusing conversation among the sheeps about the idea of God. Their innocent attempt to understand a human belief leads creates one of the funniest and most memorable scenes in the film.

The dialogue goes like this:

Lily: "Who's God?"

Sebastian: "It's a bit confusing. God is a shepherd."

Mopple: "So he could be our shepherd?"

Sebastian: "No. Because he's also a lamb."

Lily: "What?"

Sebastian: "And he's also invisible. And he's made of bread. And he damns things."

Lily: "Dams things? Like a beaver?"

Sebastian: "Yes."

Lily: "So God is a big invisible lamb beaver, made of... bread?"

Sebastian: "Yes. And they eat him on Sundays."

Mopple: "Poor God."

Another incident in the movies is how sheeps forget things.

Moments like these are what make The Sheep Detectives so charming. The humor is clever, the mystery is engaging, and the characters have a good story to tell.

The film is based on the German mystery novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. Set in the quiet English hamlet of Denbrook, it is directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin. If you're looking for a light-hearted mystery with plenty of laughs, memorable characters, and a few unexpectedly philosophical moments, The Sheep Detectives is well worth watching.

Sajeev

Mumbling Mainstreet: Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is out and India is rated below global average

"...index measures perceived levels of public sector corruption...India ranked 91st out of 182 countries and territories on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2025, with a score of 39, according to the latest report released by Transparency International on Tuesday."

Looking at the historical trend, India’s score has hovered between 36 and 41 from 2013 to 2025. In comparison, key developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region - Singapore (84), New Zealand (81), and Australia (76) - recorded the highest scores, ranking third, fourth, and 12th globally, respectively.

India seems to be standing still, showing little progress toward the less-corrupt end of the spectrum. Public sector employees are not extraterrestrials sent to work for us - they come from the same society as the rest of us. Which means, this ranking reflects a broader societal context. If we want meaningful change, the focus cannot be limited to government machinery alone. As a society, we need to introspect and ask ourselves: what can we do to reduce corruption in our everyday interactions. 

CPI is not just a score - it’s a mirror reflecting our collective responsibility.

Sajeev

References

1. Corruption Perception Index: India ranks 91st among 182 nations; scores 39 - BS

Shiny new projects: But are we taking care of what we already have?

Howrah-Mumbai route - A highly congested mainline with IR

The 508 km Mumbai–Ahmadabad bullet train project began with an estimated cost of around ₹1 lakh crore. Today, that figure has already crossed ₹2 lakh crore, and by the time the first train runs, it may go even higher. Does this mean India should avoid investing in bullet trains? Absolutely not. High-speed rail is important and should be welcomed.

In fact, Indian Railways has already begun viability studies for new high-speed corridors across the country. Recent reports suggest proposed routes spanning nearly 4,000 km, with an estimated cost of ₹16 trillion, including corridors such as Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, and Delhi-Varanasi. Ambition is clearly not lacking.

But ambition alone is not enough.

The real question is whether we are giving the same level of attention to existing railway assets.

Railways are modernizing stations and introducing new rolling stock like the Vande Bharat(VB) trains, including upcoming sleeper versions. Yet, despite their design capability, Vande Bharat trains are not running anywhere near their full potential speeds on most routes. Only a few short sections allow them to operate faster, while across the rest of the network, time savings compared to older trains are sometimes not enough to justify their fares.

This is not a new problem. Even before Vande Bharat, India had trains capable of higher speeds. The Gatimaan Express, introduced in 2016, was rated for 160 kph, but it could sustain this speed only on the Delhi-Agra section. The Tejas Express, launched in 2017 and also rated for 160 kph, usually runs at around 130 kph and that too not across its entire route. Shatabdi trains, introduced back in 1988, can reach 150 kph only on select stretches. Rajdhani and Duronto services face similar limitations.

These examples point to a clear issue: the constraint is not trains, but infrastructure.

Upgrading existing tracks, signalling systems, fencing, and maintenance standards requires sustained investment and execution. Without this, new trains and new projects will continue to underperform.

The same pattern is visible beyond passenger services. The Dedicated Freight Corridors(DFC) were announced in 2005, yet while the Eastern DFC is operational, the Western DFC is still expected only by 2026 - nearly two decades later. Meanwhile, Vizhinjam International Seaport has already become functional, but its dedicated rail link is incomplete. Cochin Port, operational even before Independence and strategically located near international shipping lanes, has weak rail connectivity, with only about 25–27% of cargo moved by rail.

Because inland waterways and coastal shipping remain underdeveloped in India, this shortfall pushes even larger share of long-distance hinterland freight onto already congested roads. Again, the issue is not the absence of new projects, but the underutilisation of existing ones.

There is also a softer, but equally important, aspect-civic sense. Modern trains like Vande Bharat often become unclean by the end of a single journey. Infrastructure investment alone cannot solve this. Civic responsibility must be treated as seriously as technical education, starting at the school level.

India’s railways undoubtedly need new lines, faster trains, and ambitious projects. But progress cannot come only from what is new and visible. Reducing general and sleeper coaches while increasing AC coaches may improve revenue figures, but it will not automatically improve mobility or logistics efficiency.

True modernisation lies in balancing new investments with systematic upgrades of what we already have. Without that balance, even the most glamorous projects will fall short of their promise.

Sajeev

References

1. Railways begins viability assessment for 7 new bullet train corridors - BS

Siddis of India: A Cultural Evening at NGMA Bangalore

Panel Discussion at NGMA-B

When I got the invite from NGMA-B (National Gallery of Modern Art – Bangalore) for a cultural program related to Siddis, the first thing that came to my mind was whether it was on a weekday or a weekend. Many of their earlier programs had fallen on weekdays, and I was not able to attend. Fortunately, this one was on a Saturday. I made a note in my mind and closed the email invite.

Siddis are an ethnic community of African origin. They are descendants of Bantu people from East Africa, who were brought to India as slaves, soldiers, and mercenaries for the Deccan Sultanates, and as seafarers who later became settlers. Perhaps the most famous Siddi in India is Malik Ambar.

I first came across the word Siddi when I read about Malik Ambar long back. Born in 1548 in Ethiopia, Malik Ambar came to India as a slave and became a soldier in the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. He quickly rose through the ranks and became regent (administrator) of Sultanate. He is remembered for successfully resisting the expansion of Mughal Empire into the Deccan during the reign of Jehangir. Malik Ambar founded a city called Kadki, which his son Fateh Khan renamed Fatehnagar. Later, when Aurangzeb conquered the area, he renamed it Aurangabad. Since the recent governments are on a renaming spree, I checked whether there was any plan to rename Aurangabad. Looks like government already did it in 2023; new name of the city is - Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The city Malik Amber founded is the largest city in Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

Siddi's Dance at NGMA-B

Again, I came across Siddis again while reading about famous Murud-Janjira Fort (off the coast of Raigad district in Maharashtra). This was one of the most powerful forts in India. Siddis rebuilt the original wooden fort built by fishermen here using stone in early 1100s. They Siddis controlled it for next eight and a half centuries, withstanding repeated attacks by powerful Marathas. They retained control until India’s independence.

So, it was very exciting to attend NGMA-B program about Siddis. Unfortunately, due to notorious Bangalore traffic, we missed the first session on a film about them. Instead, we started with snacks they had prepared. Among them was a special pakoda made using a small leaf and a couple of other items. I asked about the leaf, and they told me the name, but I cannot recall it while writing this article. Online searches bring up many images and names of different leaves, but not this exact one.

After snacks came a panel discussion, where two leaders from the Siddi community, along with others involved in the Damami initiative, shared their thoughts. Damami is a women-led homestay project in Lingadabailu village, Yellapur taluka (Uttara Kannada, Karnataka), located in Western Ghats. The word Damami comes from a traditional Siddi musical instrument of same name.

The Siddis today are mostly located along the coastal areas of Western Gujarat, Karnataka (Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, and Belagavi districts), Goa, and the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. They also have a small presence in Hyderabad as well. Siddhi's religious affiliations are mixed – depending on the region, they follow Hinduism, Islam, or Christianity. In Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa, they are recognized as Scheduled Tribes. In Karnataka, they are additionally classified as a PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group).

Contrary to their powerful past with Murud-Janjira, Siddis today face significant challenges. Living in rural and forested areas, they struggle with poverty, economic hardships, and social marginalization. Their population size is also declining. Even though the panel discussion was short, the passionate answers and statements by Mohan Ganapati Siddi highlighted the multiple issues faced by the community.

The program concluded with vibrant dance performances by the Siddi community. As I left the auditorium, I thought about staying in one of the homestays operated by the Siddis under the guidance of  Sanjeevani Rural Livelihood Mission. It would be an opportunity to experience life up close with an ethnic group of African origin, to see how they have assimilated into Indian culture, and to witness the traditions – dance, music, and instruments – that they still carry in their hearts from the other side of the Arabian Sea.

Sajeev

You can see recording of full program by NGMA-B here -> 'DAMMAI- Dreams, Drums & Roots | NGMA-B'