Why I Prefer Riding Solo

 

Lately I have started to understand the actual fun of riding. Not just solo rides but the very act of motorcycling. For years I was in a bubble. A mindset that this is how rides are supposed to be. Go with the group. Stick to the plan. Be part of the usual routine. Discuss the same stuff. But after doing a solo ride my perspective changed.

And yeah before anyone jumps to judge, no I have not done hundreds of solo rides. Just a few. But that is the thing. It is not about the number of rides but about the experience. The shift that happens inside your head when you ride alone even once.

To begin with, my contacts started expanding. In a group ride you stay in your corner. Same people. Same vibe. Same content. Again and again. Even if you want to step out of that circle and talk to someone new, you hesitate. And in rare cases when you try, you are made fun of or made to feel small. That is how group rides work for many. But in solo rides, you have the liberty to speak. To meet new people. Some become memories. Some become lessons. Some walk with you for a while, some just pass through. But you connect. And that is something.

Your memories grow wider and deeper. You stop where you want. You click a photo if the moment feels right. You halt just to enjoy the place or the vibe. You breathe it in. Unlike group rides where someone else decides the pace, the plan and the halt. The vibe is already fixed before you reach. But solo rides, they have an insane vibe of their own. Raw. Free. Heartfelt. One you can actually enjoy the ride.

Then comes the part nobody likes to talk about that is the blame game. In group rides it is always around. Even if you make no mistake, someone is ready to point fingers. Nobody wants to understand your side. They just assume. Always assume. But in solo rides there is no one else to assume or blame. You take your decision. If something goes wrong, you deal with it. You do not have to carry someone else’s blame or clean up after them.

Over time you stop blaming others too. You learn to take responsibility. You stop explaining yourself. You stop giving reasons for every small thing you do. Because now there is no judgment. No eyes watching your every move. You find peace. You solve problems with a calm mind. You learn to move forward.

Another thing about group rides is the constant need to adjust to different skill levels, speeds and comfort zones. You might want to push your limits or explore challenging routes, but the group pace often holds you back. Or sometimes the group moves too fast and continuous, making you feel rushed and tense. That constant compromise takes away the pure joy of riding at your own rhythm. Solo riding lets you discover what you are really capable of without pressure or hesitation. It is a chance to grow as a rider in your own time.

After reading all this, If you feel that you are stuck in the same bubble I was in, thinking this is how riding works. I urge you to try a solo ride. Just once. One ride. There is a whole different world out there. Waiting for you to explore. A world where the road belongs to you. The stops belong to you. The vibe belongs to you.

And You will never know it until you step out once. Not for a story. Not for a post. Not for proving a point. Just for yourself.

What a Solo Motorcycle Ride Teaches You

 

There is a certain wit only a solo ride can provide. It is just you, your machine and the long roads that does not speak but teaches. At first the solitude feels intimidating for instance the absence of a pillion or a fellow rider to talk to. But as the kilometers unfold so does something within you. You begin to listen, not to music, not to traffic but to your own thoughts. That is where the first lesson lies: clarity. When you ride alone the clutter of the world begins to fade and in that space, you find focus. 

Riding solo teaches you discipline. Not in a rulebook kind of way but in the way you learn to respect the road, the machine, the people and time. You start waking early, prepping your gear without reminders, eating healthy to stay alert and riding with a sense of structure. You are your own manager, timekeeper, navigator, mechanic and caretaker. There is no one else to blame if things go wrong and no one to fix it but you. Slowly you start owning your decisions, your delays and your detours. And that ownership starts teaching life beyond the throttle. 

But the road is not always kind. You face unpredictable weather, fatigue and sometimes even a puncture or a breakdown. A breakdown in the middle of nowhere or a wrong turn in an unfamiliar terrain can test your perseverance. It teaches you not just to hold on but to trust yourself when everything else seems uncertain. You begin solving problems with a sharper, more analytical mind. You stop panicking and start thinking about how to get help, how to fix a puncture or how to re route without losing your cool. These are more than just survival tactics, they are life skills covered in dust and grease. 

Surprisingly solo rides also bring out the social side of you. Strangers offer you water, share directions or help you fix a minor issue. Not because they have to but because you are just a lone rider on the road. And you respond to them with stories, gratitude and laughter. You learn to trust people without being naive, to observe their intentions and to communicate your needs without fear. These moments do not just help you ride better but they also teach you how to be vulnerable and strong at the same time. 

A solo motorcycle ride does not just show you the world instead it shows you yourself. You return with dust on your clothes and an empty wallet but a surprising clarity in your heart. You begin to feel change that may be subtle but certain. You become more grounded, more patient, more open. Riding solo is not about escaping others instead it is about meeting the person you are. And somewhere along the miles, you realize that you did not just ride through landscapes but you also rode through layers of your own becoming.

So if you have never ridden alone, do it once. Not to prove anything to the world but to finally hear the voice that matters most "your own".

Skin Deep Cinema ft. Retro

 

In "Retro" the character Rukmini played by Pooja Hegde appears noticeably dusky. It is clear that makeup has been used to alter her skin tone. At first glance this might seem like a creative choice to suit the setting of the character. But the decision to darken an actor's skin for a role raises serious questions. It is not just about this one film. It is about a pattern within the industry that shows something deep.

If the story truly required a dusky skinned woman then the director could have simply cast someone who naturally fits that look. There are many talented actors who are dusky. When such roles are instead given to others and their skin tone is modified, it shows a troubling mindset. This is not a question of performance or popularity. It is a question of intention and integrity.

Some may argue that casting decisions are made based on market value. That a familiar face helps the film reach more people. But should that matter when the message being sent is so flawed? When a filmmaker like Karthik Subbaraj who is known for raising voices for the oppressed, chooses to represent them through altered images rather than real people, it feels like a contradiction. He has spoken about the struggles of the working class and the Sri Lankan crisis. But when it comes to colour the representation is very wrong.

This is not the first time Tamil cinema has done this. Across films we have seen actors being made to look darker for roles that speak of marginalised communities. Instead of giving these roles to those who are naturally in that skin tone, the industry often chooses to paint it on others. It becomes a disguise rather than genuine representation. It is difficult to ignore this when it keeps repeating film after film.

Some may call this cinematic choice or artistic liberty. But cinema is not just art instead it is an influence. It tells people who deserves to be seen and how. When a film that claims to fight for justice chooses to alter skin tone instead of casting someone who lives that reality, it is no longer representation instead it is an erasure. It is easy to speak about oppression on screen but it takes courage to cast it truthfully. Until that courage shows up behind the camera, no message on screen can claim to be honest.

Retro Review

 

Retro directed by Karthik Subbaraj and features actors like Suriya, Pooja Hegde, Joju George and Nassar. With a cast this strong and music composed by Santhosh Narayanan, the film promised a lot. Karthik Subbaraj is known for his unique style, strong narratives and creative visual storytelling. However Retro turns out to be a film that fails all regards. From the very beginning the film struggles to establish a consistent tone and direction.

The plot is the weakest aspect of the film. A well written story usually progresses with each scene born from the previous one, creating a natural flow. In Retro every scene feels artificially placed. It is as if the director had specific moments in mind and built disconnected scenes just to reach them. The film heavily relies on coincidences. While one or two coincidences can be overlooked, the entire film moves forward based on random events and connections. This kind of writing makes the narrative feel unconvincing.

The performances are decent. Suriya portrays a character that reminds me of roles often seen in Selvaraghavan's films. His body language, emotional shifts and even certain shots feel directly influenced by Selvaraghavan's style. Joju George and the rest of the cast perform well within the limits of the script, but the writing does not give them enough space to explore their characters deeply.

Technically, the film is disappointing. The screenplay feels flat. Cinematography is below average and the visual tone is off. CGI effects are poorly done also the colour grading and exposure seem inconsistent throughout the film. Only one scene that was shot in a single take stands out for its execution. Otherwise the film struggles to maintain visual interest.

The music by Santhosh Narayanan is the only element that brings some life into the film. His background score and songs elevate a few scenes and keep the film from falling apart completely. However even his work could not rescue several weak moments. The ideological angle the film tries to convey has been repeated in the director's previous works and now feels more like a lecture than an organic part of the story. Retro is a film that lacks the essence of a true Karthik Subbaraj creation. 

Rating:5/10 ⭐️

Operation Sindhoor: Is Vengeance Really the Answer?

 

The Pahalgam attack took 26 lives of innocent people including tourists. For a few days we mourned for this loss. But this mourning does not last long in a country like ours. Before we could process grief the government launched a counter strike called "Operation Sindhoor". Mourning was replaced by collective cheer for the retaliation. And just like that we moved on.

This pattern is becoming all too familiar. An attack happens, we mourn briefly, then a retaliation follows. The visuals are shared, the applause rises and we forget the pain. Another cycle. Another headline. Another loss. But how long can we keep repeating this? When will we ask ourselves what we are actually achieving with this response?

If retaliation really ensured safety, why do these attacks keep recurring? We have had Balakot, Uri and now Sindhoor. Still the threat returns. The people we call enemies today were once part of us. Long before the borders were drawn, before politics divided us, these were people we lived with. But now in the name of nationalism, we call them terrorists and label them as the enemy, forgetting the history and bond we once had.

The ones in power who make the decisions do not talk. They do not sit down and try to find common ground. Instead they choose to strike back. They are too far removed from the suffering that results from their actions. Too high up to feel the pain, too secure to understand the cost of war. Why do not they take off their shackles and talk? Why do not they step down meet the people and seek understanding?.

The truth is those in power benefit from these cycles. Every time there is an attack national anger rises. Political narratives tighten their grip. Questions about unemployment, inflation and corruption disappear from headlines. The focus shifts. Emotions get channelled turned to votes and Patriotism is reignited, but for whose benefit? When security becomes a spectacle people end up watching a performance while the system avoids real reform.

Let us also not ignore what this cycle does to us. We become numb. We stop questioning. The media packages grief and glory into a two minute reel. A life lost becomes just another number.

And what if this time it escalates? What if the next attack leads to something much larger, something beyond borders, beyond control? We live in a world where nuclear weapons are no longer just threats but real dangers in the wrong hands. One wrong move and everything could change. With the kind of destructive power we hold today, a single mistake could lead to the end of nations. Is that really the price of this cycle we have come to accept?

We have to ask ourselves. what are we doing? Are we really seeking justice or are we just stuck in a pattern that has no real end? Every time we respond with violence, we push the door to peace further away. Every time we applaud a strike, we forget that strength lies in building something better and not destroying what little we have left.

So here we are again. Mourning briefly, then applauding another strike and waiting for the next. This is not justice. It is just repetition. And if we do not stop to think. 

One day we may not have a voice left to raise.

Tourist Family Review

 

It has been a while since I found a film that blended satire, family and message driven storytelling this smoothly. "Tourist family" is a film directed by Abishan Jeevinth and starring Sasikumar, Simran and a strong supporting cast. It manages to carry a message without ever getting preachy and it does so while keeping the humour light and accessible.

The tone of the film is what sets it apart. It is a family friendly satire with no dark humour, no crude jokes. Every character carries a natural sense of humour that surfaces even in serious scenes, making the tension dissolve. It is one of those films where laughter does not come from punchlines but from the characters just being themselves.

Performance wise the cast delivers beautifully. Sasikumar and Simran bring warmth and realism, but the little boy who plays the youngest son is an absolute scene stealer. There is a softness in how each actor approaches their role which is subtle, controlled and also genuine. No one tries to outshine the other and that balance adds depth to even the simplest scenes.

Sean Roldan’s music is another major plus. The background score is immersive which is perfectly put into the film’s rhythm. It elevates the emotions and gently supports the satire. The songs too blend in with the story never feeling like detours, but rather extensions of the film’s tone.

The plot itself is short and simple and not necessarily packed with dramatic turns. But that is the point, it is not here to push a story forward. It is here to hold up an idea and it does that well. Whether it is about borders, identity or basic humanity, the film raises subtle questions. For a debut director, Abishan shows a lot of promise by daring to say something meaningful in such a grounded way. It might feel like a film built to carry thoughts but it is one that keeps you watching with a smile and leaves you with so much humanity.

Rating: 7.5/10⭐️

Thudarum Review

 

Hello people! It’s been a while since I wrote something but here we are. 

"Thudarum" is a film directed by Tharun Moorthy Casting Mohanlal, Shobana, Prakash varma and others. From the posters and initial impressions the film seemed like a family drama, but it quickly turned into something much more. What I ended up watching was a well crafted thriller that keeps you guessing similar to the way "Drishyam" does. The film cleverly deceives the audience with its seemingly simple premise, pulling you into a suspense that is throughout.

The casting is spot on with Mohanlal playing the protagonist. His performance is restrained but impactful. Then there is Prakash Varma, the antagonist who manages to stay in your head for a long time. His portrayal is exactly what the movie needed irritating, sinister and effective in creating tension against the strength of Mohanlal's character.

The suspense element in "Thudarum" is another strong point. Throughout the film, I found myself constantly asking "What?" "Who?" and "Why?"questions. The movie keeps you on your toes by never giving too much away too soon and that is what makes it so engaging.

The music in "Thudarum" also plays a key role in enhancing the mood. The background score is subtle yet effective that builds tension without overshadowing the story. The songs fit perfectly within the narrative that adds emotional depth where needed and complementing the film’s suspenseful atmosphere.

There is also a nice touch of satire in between which gives you small moments of relief in an otherwise tense narrative. Those moments do not feel out of place instead they make the film breathe a little by offering space between the intensity.

Spoilers ahead:

Now coming to the flaws. There are a few. One particular scene where the body is taken out of the trunk feels clumsy. Earlier shots show the trunk opened to sit and chill and suddenly the body appears later which feels like a continuity error. Possibly a cut paste issue in post production. And then there is the motive, while honor killings do exist, the way it is presented here feels weak. There is also a confusing bit where a guy ends up in the police station without explanation and another character goes missing with no follow up.

The second half leans a little too much into commercial territory. The tension and pace gets slow as it tries to mix in familiar mass elements. The director also seems unsure of how to close the story, which leads to an ending that relies on a commercial fight scene instead of a more fitting conclusion. Still with all that said "Thudarum" is a well made thriller with good performances. Definitely worth a watch.

Rating: 7/10 ⭐️