2018 | Oil on canvas | 175.26 cm x 241.3 cm

At the premiere screening of Bandit Queen in Delhi, Shekhar Kapur introduced the film with these words: "I had a choice between Truth and Aesthetics. I chose Truth, because Truth is Pure." To insist that the film tells the Truth is of the utmost commercial (and critical) importance to him. Again and again, we are assured, in interviews, in reviews…

Kaira was sprawled across the bed. Faiz had been pushed to one corner, and his sister had somehow managed to turn a hundred-and-eighty degrees. Her feet smelled. He kicked her, softly at first and then a little harder. “Kaira, wake up. Wake up. It’s Saturday.” “Whaa-aat?” “Are you stupid? We have to go to the store, remember?” “But why?” “Don’t…