GQ India – August 2019

VIBE

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: YAWAN RAI (MOUNTAIN ECHOES)

I

n the upcoming synergetic action game Astral

Chain (for Nintendo Switch), you play a rookie

officer part of the Neuron, an elite force tasked

with saving the world from extradimensional invaders

called chimeras, using a sentient weapon called Legion.

Sounds good and serious so far? You’d also have to keep

an eye out for cats of all kinds and toilets (yes, toilets),

both hidden elements at every stage of the gameplay

• the discovery of which can lead to good things,
  according to its makers at PlatinumGames. August 30

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

All eyes are on Bhutan for the cultural party of the season

FESTIVAL

T

here are two kinds of people: those that brave JLF every year, and

those that want to but don’t (and watch sessions anyway on live videos).

If you belong to the latter category, the annual Mountain Echoes

festival in Thimphu might just be the ticket. Not only does it offer a reprieve

from the madness of the city and its festivals, it’s also got one of the more

eclectic, diverse lineups for a cultural festival in the region. This year, you’ve

got journalist Snigdha Poonam, actors Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak

Shah and Bhumi Pednekar and theatre evangelist Sanjna Kapoor flying in for

conversations with Bhutanese actor and director Chencho Dorji, playback

singer Chimi Wangmo, bee conservationist Karma Samdrup and more. Nature

enthusiasts, pencil in sessions with British conservationist Dave Goulson and

Vana Foundation’s Veer Singh; Yeti “experts”, listen to what Daniel C Taylor has

to say on the matter; find The Baby Boomers frontman Dawa Drakpa if you’re

in the mood to reminisce about The Beatles; art lovers, do not miss rock star

historian Neil MacGregor. Before you go, arm yourself with opinions about

the new Amitav Ghosh novel. And don’t forget to drop the phrase “once-in-a-

generation talent” when you hear the name Sally Rooney. August 23-25

STAR CADET

Trust the Japanese to keep things weird on a predictable save-the-planet story

GAMES

Her Majesty the Royal Queen Mother Ashi

Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck at the 2018 edition