"Till heads pile up in our hands, printed crisp and clean on our newspaper stands and blend smoothly into our morning routine."
"Chrring bloody scenes into bold, blank ink, chrring headlines that make you glug glug your drink."
"Beasts of poverty, beasts on a shopping spree."
[Watch The Printing Machine here.]
"Values that depend on what others think of you."
"Ladies can't fight seriously in lingerie, so hurra, hurra, let's throw her a bikini every time she raises her head defiantly, see God forbids multiplicity for women in our society."
Having been vocal about her own experience with sexual abuse in the past, advocating for women's rights and thrashing rape culture mind sets in the Indian society, as in AIB's 'It's your fault' video, Kalki has channeled her celebrity voice towards feminist dialogue in the past. While this poem focuses on media sensationalism, it's largely through the lens she understands and wears best--one that identifies women's issues more quickly than most--she nods at cultural and social domination over women, an undertone through the entire delivery too.
"Chrring bitterness to mothers like slow venom seeping into future generations."
As perhaps the most important piece of commentary coming out of Koechlin's poem, she questions the impact of irresponsible reportage with juicy headlines on society at large. With readers consuming 'infotainment' like vultures feeding on other people's misfortunes, are we as a society now completely morally bankrupt? Has the moral compass of society as a whole been warped by such sensationalism, and apathy been transferred like the plague from black ink on paper to the minds of readers?
Complete with beautiful imagery, powerful use of sound mechanisms and a seamless production, this poem is definitely a milestone as far as Koechlin's writing abilities and general artistry are concerned. But it's also an important commentary on the media and its coverage of women's issues, one that holds up a mirror to readers asking them to question the news we have to come to consume so blindly.
Words: Rhea Almeida