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The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury is currently a senior and an Arts and Entertainment editor for El Estoque. In his free time, he likes updating his Letterboxd, driving his friends around and trying new food places in the Bay.

All content by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
Students in HAmLit watch "Us" to develop a deeper understanding of the social critiques within "The Great Gatsby".

MVHS students and staff review the use of film in class

Literature classes utilize film and media as supplementary learning resources for essential topics
Sania Nadkarni and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
December 2, 2024
The plot of “Red One” revolves around the kidnapping of winter demigod St. Nick and the attempt to rescue him just in time for Christmas. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures | Used with permission

‘Red One’ makes the naughty list of holiday films with charm

The star-studded movie takes a unique approach but fails to stand out from average Christmas cinema
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Benjamin Zhang
November 16, 2024
Tyler, the Creator poses on top of an airplane as he sings in the music video for "Thought I Was Dead".  Photo Courtesy of Columbia Records | Used with permission

‘CHROMAKOPIA’ is Tyler, the Creator’s most personal and vibrant record yet

Tyler's new album contains shades of maturity arranged into a colorful mosaic of life experiences
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Dylan Nguyen
November 7, 2024
Time Out! Ep. 27: Kiana Mark

Time Out! Ep. 27: Kiana Mark

Spiking Success: Kiana Mark’s experience with volleyball
Eshika Tiwari and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
November 3, 2024
The Showplace Icon Theatre in Valley Fair Mall, before it shut down in July of 2024. Photo courtesy of mapquest.com | Used with permission

The fall of movie theaters

Movie theater closures have led to a decline in movie theater customers
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Meghna Dixit
October 29, 2024
Don Toliver’s stage was emblazoned with violet and fuschia lighting as he performed the track “No Pole” from his previous album “Love Sick.” Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

The ‘PSYCHO’ tour introduces fans to a new era in Don Toliver’s career

Rapper Don Toliver brings both old and new hits to an exciting setlist complementing an even more exciting environment
Samika Bhatkar and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
October 24, 2024
Graphic by Isabelle Kok

Beginnings and ends: Student perspectives on Homecoming

Two seniors and two freshmen share their perspectives going into Homecoming season
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Elizabeth Yang
September 28, 2024
The theme of Homecoming 2024 is childhood TV, featuring "Teletubbies," "Spongebob," "Ninjago" and "Phineas and Ferb." | Illustration by Isabelle Kok

Homecoming from another lens

MVHS students and staff share experiences leading up to the 2024 Homecoming week
Senior and wing Eric Tang swings the ball in preparation to pass it to his teammate.

Boys Water Polo defeats Saratoga High School 12-9

The Matadors kick off the first home game of the season with a victory
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
September 16, 2024
Photo Illustration | Joseph Reed, Gage Skidmore and DonkeyHotey (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

The Project 2025 predicament

Three of the project education policies could affect FUHSD economically
The "Short n' Sweet" album cover features Carpenter posing with a kiss mark on her shoulder. Photo courtesy of The Revolver Club.

‘Short n’ Sweet’ is spicier than ever

Sabrina Carpenter rides her Billboard fame to deliver a raunchy, unique album
Tatiana Yoo (12) submitted "Started With A Box" to the NUMU Los Gatos ArtNow exhibition. Yoo responded to the prompt "In Transition" with a piece reflecting on childhood wonder.

Award-winning artists

Prestigious MVHS artists reflect on their journeys
Graphic by Leah Desai

Artistic ambitions

From self-expression to building community, MVHS students utilize art for many different purposes
The cast poses alongside the band and vocalists at the end of the show.

‘Cirque du Soleil: Kooza’ delivers a magical and heart-racing experience

World-renowned performance company Cirque du Soleil arrives in San Jose with a new vision
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
April 23, 2024
Photo illustration by Amberly Sun

Toxic Vista: Fixing our flaws

El Estoque's Opinion Section examines the factors and effects of a "toxic" school environment
Monta Vista students often feel pressured by the high academic standards the school holds.

Work to the top till you drop

Students need to find balance to live fulfilling high school lives
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Crystal Cheng
April 12, 2024
Kid, played by Patel, stands amongst a crowd in Yatana. Photo courtesy of Monkeypaw Productions

‘Monkey Man’ provides a visceral, modern take on Hindu mythology

Actor Dev Patel’s directorial debut is a monumental arc for cultural representation
Senior and Varsity 3 Boys Doubles player Saketh Korrada prepares to serve the birdie.

Varsity Badminton loses to Lynbrook High School 25-5

The Matadors fall to reigning league champions
Graphics by Amberly Sun

Fearing the inevitable

El Estoque's opinion section unpacks long-term fears in the lives of the Monta Vista community
College and Career Advisor Rogelio Calderon works during the school day. Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

A “major” decision

Students address their conflicts and questions regarding picking a life path
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Amberly Sun
March 9, 2024
Chani, played by Zendaya, embraces Paul, played by Timothée Chalamet. Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures

“Dune: Part Two” raises the bar for the sci-fi genre

Director Denis Villeneuve’s long awaited sequel innovates with breathtaking visuals
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
March 1, 2024
Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

The cost of fresh food

Small Cupertino businesses struggle to stay afloat amid high rent and cost of living
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Ethan Yang
January 29, 2024
Unfolding Cupertino City Limits

Unfolding Cupertino city limits

El Estoque's Opinion section examines how housing, entertainment and restaurants in the area affect the community
Senior and shooting guard Ruchir Banerjee defends an opponent in the paint.

Boys Basketball narrowly falls to Leland High School 58-50

The Matadors lose momentum as the game enters overtime
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
December 16, 2023
Senior Niku Sedarat prepares to pass the ball to a teammate.

Girls Soccer defeats Prospect High School 4-3

The Matadors gain momentum in the second half to secure the game
Arjun Dhruv, Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, and Kaia Yuan
December 9, 2023
Monta Vista's library is an example of one of the many resources where a student can receive information on sex education.

Examining sex education

How students advocate for themselves to receive comprehensive sex ed
Hopeful Tendencies

Hopeful Tendencies

Examining the role that hope plays in the MVHS community
Sophomore and forward Sean Foo defends an opponent.

Boys Basketball falls to The King’s Academy 58-42

The Matadors lose the sportsmanship game
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
November 18, 2023
Time out! Ep. 9: Gracie Lee

Time out! Ep. 9: Gracie Lee

Following Gracie Lee's journey in dance
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Manas Kottakota
November 2, 2023
The "Larger than Life" album cover features a comic style depiction of a NUWO shoe, Faiyaz's clothing brand, destructing a city. Photo courtesy of ISO SUPREMACY.

‘Larger than Life’ is a disconnected mess larger than life

Faiyaz attempts to deliver the positive aspects of his previous discography but fails to produce a solid record
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
October 29, 2023
Junior Tvisha Jain attempts to gain possession of the ball from an opponent.

Field Hockey falls to Palo Alto High School 2-0

Despite putting up consistent effort, Field Hockey fails to win on senior night
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
October 28, 2023
What are you hopeful for?

What are you hopeful for?

Delving into the MVHS community's short-term and long-term hopes and goals
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Stephanie Zhang
October 25, 2023
Freshman and setter Kylee Mark sets the ball to junior and middle blocker Samantha Tong, who prepares to spike the ball.

Girls Volleyball beats Sequoia High School 3-1

Girls Volleyball starts off strong in the first two sets and regains momentum to win the fourth set
“For All the Dogs” album cover depicted a dog, drawn by Drake’s son, Adonis Graham, who is also featured on fifth track “Daylight.”

‘For All the Dogs’ seems to suffer an identity crisis

While Drake attempts to bark back with his latest album, he falls short with a redundant project
Samika Bhatkar and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
October 9, 2023
Select your passion

Select your passion

Exploring the niche passions of MVHS
Cafeteria Crackdown 2

Cafeteria Crackdown 2

El Estoque’s Arts & Entertainment section assesses school brunches
Miriam Law poses in KCDC's performance in the Korean American Student Association showcase at Cupertino High School. Photo courtesy of Miriam Law | Used with permission

The Law of fashion

Learning about senior Miriam Law’s passion for all things fashion and style
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Staff Writer
September 15, 2023
Rathore flaunts one of the many looks he sports in the film. Photo courtesy of Red Chillies Entertainment | Used with permission.

‘Jawan’ points out flaws in India’s government system with a powerful message

With stunning visuals and a diverse cast, Jawan tells a compelling story
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
September 10, 2023
Junior Tvisha Jain dribbles past her opponent in the first quarter. Photo by Manas Kottakota

Field Hockey falls to Branham High School 5-1

Field Hockey continues to prepare for the regular season, but fails to maintain its positive momentum
Manas Kottakota and Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
September 4, 2023
MV Bhangra jumps in unison during their performance in the show “Spotlite on India.” Photo by Krish Dev

Style on stage

Exploring how MVHS sports teams utilize clothing in their performances
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Lily Jiang
May 10, 2023
Junior and setter Henry Hu sets the ball to the middle hitter. Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

Boys Volleyball falls to The Harker School 3-0 on its senior night

Matadors narrowly lost two final sets 22-25 and 23-25
A few of the memoirs from the movies my dad and I watched in theaters together. Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

A cinematic connection

Examining how movies brought my dad and I closer
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
April 27, 2023
I think you should...

I think you should…

Exploring the MVHS community's opinions on giving and receiving advice
Chang with her grandma and grandpa. Photo sed with permission by Kayla Chang.

Who inspires you?

Delving into MVHS students’ biggest inspirations and role models
History teacher Robyn Brostowicz with her two children. | Photo by Robyn Brostowicz

The peaks and pitfalls of parental advice

Exploring MVHS student and staff opinions on receiving advice from their parents
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
March 28, 2023
Ramachandran watches the Tamil film "Ponniyin Selvan: I"
Photo by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury

Art: a universal language

Exploring MVHS’s connection with art in their foreign language
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury
March 28, 2023
Behind the Scenes: Singing Valentines

Behind the Scenes: Singing Valentines

Exploring the process behind putting together Singing Valentines
Kwon's graphic designs for SVYCA

Activism in Art

Uncovering how the Cupertino community advocates for issues through their artwork
Senior Varshini Peddinti shields the ball from a PHS defender as she dribbles down the court.

Girls Basketball defeats Prospect High School 49-27

Matadors maintain a strong lead to take home their eighth win of the season
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Sarah Liu, and Alyssa Yang
December 18, 2022
From farm to table

From farm to table

Exploring the processes and people behind the food we eat at MVHS
50 Questions with Michael Lordan

50 Questions with Michael Lordan

In the 21st installment of the recurring series, El Estoque asks Michael Lordan 50 questions
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Eshika Tiwari
November 12, 2022

Cafeteria Crackdown

El Estoque’s Arts & Entertainment section assesses school lunches
General Nanisca gets ready to charge in the battlefield. Picture used with permission from TriStar Pictures

‘The Woman King’ delivers both action and heart in a solid Hollywood Blockbuster

The story of a historical all-woman battalion entertains
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Staff Writer
September 19, 2022
CHS senior Rohan Tirumala went to UC Davis Young Scholars Program to learn more about medicine. Photo courtesy of Rohan Tirumala.

“The grind never stops”

FUHSD students continue their learning at summer programs
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