smiling colours

friday find : a cup of coffee and a smiley

2011-05-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, I have Tea in the mornings.

But today I preferred a cup of Coffee.

Look ... what was in store for me.

A cute little smiley formed just when I was about to sip the coffee.

SMILE ... It helps one stay cheerful and happy !

Bi,don't be afraid @ Cine Quest 21

2011-03-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

A beautifully shot, slow paced portrayal of a dysfunctional family living in shabby quarters of Hanoi in Vietnam; is all about this film.

Bi, naturally curious six year old boy lives with his parents, a caring aunt and his sick grandfather who recently returned from abroad. While the adults of the family are struggling with their mundane issues and desires, Bi is actively discovering the world around him.

His days are spent playing in an ice factory, exploring the riverside, collecting leaves and flowers, eating apples and watermelons. He is more attached to his aunt than his own mother. Though short lived, Bi and his grandfather strike a bond with each other.

Bi's father is soaked in distress and lethargy, avoids any communication with his visiting father and has hardly any communication with the rest of the family either. Instead he escapes from his troubles by spending time with masseuse and drinking all night.

Bi's mother is frustrated, but is silent. The aunt has her own set of problems to take care of; an unwanted setup with a cousin to nurturing a secret desire towards her young student.

The debut film of young director Dang Di Phan, tries to explore the dynamics of strained relationships, emotional disconnections with overtones of sexuality and escapades. But sadly it becomes a shallow documentation of realities. The film remains uninvolved with its characters. Too much is unsaid and left open, leaving the viewer uninterested.

The recurring motif of ice relates to each of the character their own secrets and solace, is wonderfully captured. The child and the rest of the actors put a rather convincing performance, but that does not hold the film together.

Seen through the eyes of a child, the film provides a mysterious point of view ; juxtaposition of innocent colourful childhood and routine lifeless lives of adults. It is interesting to bring these face to face but the lack of a strong narrative, is what the film suffers from.

Mamma Gogo @ Cine Quest 21

2011-03-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Mamma Gogo, is a heartfelt story of a mother and son, whose lives change in ways they were least aware of. The master director of Iceland, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson brings together memories from his life and of his ailing mother into this semi-autobiographical film.

The film opens when a debut filmmaker introduces his film 'Children of Nature' to the audience. The film is dedicated to his mother and his homeland. Subsequently, the movie fails to score well with the audience, and the film maker's finances are at stake.

Meanwhile, his affectionate witty mother Gogo has started to behave rather erratically, and is later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The filmmaker desperately wanting to refuel his career, looks at various possibilities; TV rights, Oscar awards and stock investments.

Things go out of control, when mother Gogo gatecrashes a funeral. She forgets things, leaves a boiling pot on cook top, almost floods the house. Gradually sinking into the disease, her memory is lost.

Son has to make a decision much against his wish to leave his mother in a nursing home. Very little can he do to save her and at the same time convince his nagging wife.

Fridrikson presents an honest portrayal of mother-son relationship, contrasting humour of forgetfulness with the stark realities of old age. He poignantly weaves a world of dementia, hallucinations and a hopeless attempt back to life.

The striking visuals of ice capped picturesque locations of Iceland, befits the withering sense of the central character. Sharply satirical about the film industry and current Icelandic society, references are drawn to the director's earlier films, artists from Iceland and the director's favourite ghost motifs.

Kristbjörg Kjeld puts an act completely convincing, with her nuanced performance as strong willed aging mother, Gogo.

Very interesting to note that some of the flashback montage clippings used in Mamma Gogo are from Kjeld's first film Girl Gogo and her first co-actor, Gunnar Eyjólfsson plays Gogo's deceased husband in this film. As Mamma Gogo's good son, Hilmir Snær Guðnason is composed and believable.

An emotionally moving film, Mamma Gogo leaves you somber and depressed !

The director speaks:http://www.kinocaviar.com/mamma-gogo.php

an accidental friday find: ignacio pinerio; salsa and amor !

2011-03-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through my mails as usual and found something interesting.
An invite to Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro de Cuba concert, to be held in Montalvo Arts Center in April. It will cost me big to attend the concert though, the music band drew my attention.

I found my self listening to the legendary Ignacio Pinerio and his classics.
And later my findings took me to a French-Spanish movie with Cuban music and dance in its heart.
That is an accidental find for Friday.

The Man and the Musica :
The Cuban musician Ignacio Pineiro founded the music band Septeto Nacional in late 1920's. The band still continues to play and has been successful in representing the authentic Cuban music.

This music is akin to that of Konkani (from Goa and Mangalore) and Baila (from Sri Lanka ), takes me back to my hometown Mangalore.

The Movie :

Salsa and Amor, directed by Joyce Sherman Bunuel.

Nothing great about this movie, but for Salsa and Dance. If you enjoy the Caribbean sounds and like Spanish feel, this one is for you.

Remi Bonnet, a young French pianist who secretly desires to play for Salsa, is a clear misfit in the Caribbean music circles. He has to find ways to sing Spanish. How does he do that is spiced up with some brilliant Salsa and a romantic love story.

Movie link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_GzGxvfXVU

... ... some more movies coming my way : this weekend at Cine Quest Film Festival

fusion at its best : Coke Studio !

2011-02-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Absolutely amazing music ...

these tracks are in repeat mode all through our weekends.

Coke Studio, is fusion at its best, bringing together some of the best voices in folk, classical and contemporary popular music from various genres and regions of Pakistan.

It is a Pakistani television series, live performed by well known artistes as well as upcoming talented singers. The presentation has a sheen of modernness yet the songs retain their original quality.

Season I artists : Ustad Hussain Baksh Gullo, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Strings, Ali Azmat, Ali Zafar, Tufail Ahmed, Saba and Selina, Sajid and Zeeshan

Play List of 23 songs : Click here to listen

~ Best of the First Season ~

Allah Hu : by Tufail Ahmed and Ali Zafar

Balaman : by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Azmat

Season II artists : Ustad Riaz Ali Khan, Shafaqat Amanat Ali, Saeen Zahoor, Javed Bashir, Noori, Strings, Josh, Zeb and Haniya, Arieb Azhar, Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar

Play list of 25 songs : Click here to listen

~ Our favourites from the Second Season ~

Chal Diye : by Zeb, Haniya and Javed Bashir

Bulleya : by Ustad Riaz Ali Khan

Aik Alif : by Saeen Zahoor and Noori

Season III artists : Abida Parveen, Fakir Juman Shah, Arif Lohar, Noori, Rizwan and Muazzam, Tina Sani, Meesha Shafi, Amanat Ali, Arieb Azhar, Sanam Marvi, Zeb and Haniya, Karavan, Entity Paradigm and Aunty Disco Project

Play list of 25 songs : Click here to listen

~ Our favourites from the Third Season ~

Alif Allah Jugni : by Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi

Hor Vi Neevan Ho : by Noori

Bibi Sanam Jaanam : by Zeb and Haniya

Ramooz-e-Ishq : by Abida Parvin

Na Raindee Hai : by Arieb Azhar

Moomal Rano : by Fakir Juman Shah

Yei Nawai Ney : by Tina Sani

... Now for some Moral of the story : Listen only to the Music and do not drink Coke !

wiki page : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_Studio

official website : http://www.cokestudio.com.pk/

dhobi ghat : a refreshed perspective!

2011-01-27T16:00:00.000-08:00

I am filled with mixed feelings after watching debutant film maker Kiran Rao's film 'Dhobi Ghat'. This slow paced movie scores high on the sensibility but falls flat on emotional intensity. It is a quiet personal film which refuses to unfold itself easily. Yet, the film has a refreshed perspective.

The plot and the characters :

Munna, an immigrant from Bihar, works part-time as dhobi and part-time as a rat killer. Like many who land in Mumbai with dreams of cinema and stardom, he too is nurturing a dream to be an actor.

Shai, an investment banker from New York is in the city to catch up with her passion for photography, bumps into Arun in a painting exhibition. They share a night together but part on some uncomfortable notes, the next morning.

Arun is a reclusive painter, shifts into a new rental place, finds a set of video tapes left there by the previous tenant, Yasmin.

Yasmin, a recently married girl from Uttar Pradesh, is curious about her new found city, Mumbai. She records herself and the city around in a handy cam.

Munna happens to meet Shai and something like friendship begins between them. Shai treats Munna in a very friendly way, but she is baffled by the treatment he gets from others around. Munna starts a liking for Shai while she is intrigued by Arun and his persona.

Meanwhile upon finding the video tapes, Arun watches Yasmin's life unfolding in front of him. Drawn into her enigmatic presence, Arun starts a new painting.

These four people from different backgrounds run into each other's lives and nothing remains the same thereafter. They are on their journey to catch the mirage of dreams. But their hopes and desires look distant and impossible. Binding them together is a city of dreams and desires, as they journey through love and loss, longing and loneliness.

Shot on real locations in sync sound and in multiple formats like mini DV and 16 mm, 'Dhobi Ghat' is one of the rare 'bollywood' films which categorically fits into 'Indie' films, may as well appeal to an international audience.

What I liked is the kind of realistic approach taken to portray the bustling city, Mumbai; it makes one stop, mellow down and take a look at things otherwise overlooked at. Shai's black and white photographic images, Yasmin's naive video recordings and Arun's paintings create a montage like pattern of the city with a touch of melancholy.

Story telling is multi-linear in style, quite interesting to explore on screen. However, the design of time and space is not managed well. The film fails to look beyond the surface. It takes an outsider's point of view. The temperament of the film feels more urbane and polished.

What seems missing is the in-depth characterization of the main four actors. Their personalities are not explored enough. This may be partly due to the pace and chosen length of the movie (95 minutes). By the time the actors settle down in their respective parts, the movie ends.

The actors :

Kriti Malhotra as Yasmin gives a naive performance. We never see her other than the video diaries. Kriti brings subtle nuances into the character. Her soliloquies appear instinctive and raw.

Pratiek is his mother, Smitha Patil written all over him in terms of looks and smiles. He proves to be a bundle of talent waiting to be explored. As Munna, his act was fresh and fine.

Monica Dogra as Shai was natural, but her role needed some supportive traits.

Aamir Khan plays a tough act as Arun. He tries hard to get the techniques right. It becomes difficult to read his emotions at times; moody, reclusive, introvert, rude or simply indifferent.

Dainsh Hussain as Munna's friend, Kittu Gidwani as Arun's agent and a host of other actors help the story take to shape.

The music, the camera and the director :

A very interesting combination; Gustavo Santaolalla's soul soothing music and Mumbai's noisy sounds. Background music is perfectly in sync with the mood of the film. It is not too loud; it elevates and flows in harmony with the scenes and the characters.

Santaolalla blends the classical sounds of veena and bansuri along with Charango, a South American string instrument he distinctively uses. Gustavo Santaolalla, is known for his music from Brokeback Mountain, Babel and Motorcycle Diaries.

Trying to get to the underbelly of the city, cinematographer Tushar Kanti Ray does not shift base from melancholy and solitude, gives a somber tone to the film.

Kiran Rao is promising as a first time director. Her efforts are appreciated but, she needs to refine her direction skills. 'Dhobi Ghat' isn't the best in its genre. Still it is a different kind of cinema to come out of a mainstream production house.

Official website : http://www.dhobighatfilm.com/

Listen to the music of Gustavo Santaolalla

Much Awaited Hindi movies for 2011

2010-12-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

...............................................................
Dhobi Ghat [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhobi_Ghaat ]
releasing on January 21st 2011

what to look for :
Prateik Smith Babbar
Music of Gustavo Santaolalla
Monica Dogra and Kriti Malhotra
Kiran Rao's first film as a director

website : http://www.dhobighatfilm.com/

...............................................................
Yeh Saali Zindagi [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeh_Saali_Zindagi ]
releasing in February 2011

what to look for :
it's a Sudhir Mishra Film
Chitrangada Singh
Irfan Khan

...............................................................
7 Khoon Maaf [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Khoon_Maaf ]
releasing on February 18th 2011

what to look for :

it's a Vishal Bharadwaj Film

Priyanka Chopra's femme fatale act

screen adaptation of Ruskin Bond story

...............................................................

a reason good enough not to forget what we are!

2010-11-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

What defines India's cultural identity? Is it ... Unity in Diversity!
I wonder was this ever been a strength of our country?
We continue to remain a nation so diversified, yet have failed to internalize the essence of being multi-cultural and multilingual. It has become a weakness rather than a strength.

More than sixty years of 'free'dom and a Democracy Lost ... in the making!
Scars and wounds are visible all over so deep, that would take long to heal. It is sad, as a society we never learnt what it takes to build a Nation.

Is there an alternative to Democracy, I am afraid there isn't any.

For now, I am left with a conflicting ... more confusing ... state of mind.
What is it that 'We The People' of this country need?
What is that we need to make our People live in Peace and Harmony?
Why are we still struggling to address our socio-economic problems ... !??!!
Who is to blame? ... Is it me? ... Is it the people I elect? ... Is it the 'good old system' ?
Why is it so pathetic and difficult to find solutions ... answers...???

In a country where every single movement of People is been labeled as anti-nation and suppressed to a silence, what amazes me that the Hope is still there. Irom Chanu Sharmila ...
It is a decade long individual protest against the 'system' with courage and determination. A reason good enough not to forget what we are!

A film on Irom Sharmila by Kavita Joshi :

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Sharmila in NDTV :

melody ... melancholy and more ?!??!!

2010-10-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

After the much debacle 'Saawariya' three years ago, the stage is set again for some magic. So, here is Sanjay Leela Bhansali ready with his latest magnum opus, Guzaarish.
The movie is set for a November release. This time, donning the hat of the music director himself, Bhansali has composed some maverick melodies, i na style he is always known for.
The music album has been released on 15th Oct, Friday. It has 10 tracks, mainly evoking the blues and the melancholic moods.

1. Title track, Bus Itni Si Tumse Guzaarish Hei ..., begins with sounds of rain drops. KK's soothing soulful voice, sets the ambiance to mellow and melancholy.
Penned by A M Turaz, this song of request continues with some confrontational voices interspersed and slight hints of Shail Hada singing at the background.
Ignore the shades of old melodies coming to you as you listen on, for a first time composer this is a good start.

2. Sau Gram Zindagi ..., is on a missed note from the very beginning, falls flat as Kunal Ganjawala tries to sing in a genre unknown to him.
The style very much reminds me of Kumar Sanu of the 90's. The lyrics written by Vibhu Puri is philosophical but fails to make an impression.

3. Tera Zikr Hei..., is a surprise and a surprise ... one of the best in the album. Shail Hada excellently renders the song, well supported by Rakesh Pandit.
Bhansali is certainly striking the right note in this composition. Lyrics by A M Turaz compliments the song, which is romantic, poetic, joyful, spiritual, and endearing all at the same time.

4. Another beautiful track, Mazo Saiba ..., is a mix of good music, orchestration and the quality singing. Latino, Goan beats and tunes are thrown in to give a true Konkani (read as Portuguese) feel.
Lyrics is by Vibhu Puri, sung wonderfully by the new comer Vibhavari Joshi takes this melody to another level.

5. Jaane Kiska Khwaab ..., is repetitive in the feel and sounds like a reprise of the title track, yet sounds beautiful in KK's voice. Lyrics is by A M Turaz.
The track is similar to many of the similar genre haunting melodies, but glad that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has got his inspirations right !

6. Here comes the one and only dance number of the album, Udi ..., is a peppy listening with its Middle Eastern tunes. Sunidhi Chauhan flawlessly fits into the vibrant vocals. Lyrics is by A M Turaz.

7. Shail Hada, is the voice to listen to. In Keh Na Sakoon ..., he creates an ambiance so soothing and nostalgic.
Some of his nuances are like S P Balasubrahmanyam's and Roop Kumar Rathod's, but has a distinct flavour to his rendition. Lyrics is by Vibhu Puri. Composition is not exceptional but makes for a good listen.

8. Chaand Ki Katori Hei ..., is a wonderful composition and sung exceptionally well by Harshadeep Kaur. Her voice is the strength of the song, which has freshness and a raw texture in it.
Lyrics by Vibhu Puri reminds Gulzar's style of writing, again a good inspiration to take on !

9. KK again, sings Daayein Baayein ..., melodiously, but neither the composition nor the lyrics (A M Turaz) help him to make an impact.

10. Shankar Mahadevan is at ease to sing Dhundli Dhundli ..., song of yearning and longing, along with chirping of the birds.
Lyrics is by A M Turaz. Sounding deliberately sluggish, the track has inspiration R D Burman (mainly, 1942 a love story) written all over it.
It is justified, given the fact that Bhansali has had worked with the Boss himself for that film.
The songs are situational and not meant to be taken out individually, unlike any mainstream movie chart buster. Tracks are in compliance with the film, more like an extension of the monologues and conversations of the characters, hint at the dark undertone of the film.

The album is a balanced mixture of some good numbers and some average ones. The team of singers have contributed a great vocal quality to the album.
What I am listening to :
Bus Itni Si Tumse Guzaarish Hei
Tera Zikr Hei
Mazo Saiba
Udi
Keh Na Sakoon

Chaand Ki Katori Hei

Not sure how the album, Guzaarish may score in the music market, but for sure Bhansali has proved that his passions are true towards the music.

a living fossil : ginkgo biloba

2010-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ginkgo Biloba tree has a history to claim, which dates back to Permian period, 299 - 251 million years ago.

Originating from China, Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree species ; is a Living Fossil, that has not changed during its very long lifetime.

Ginkgo trees may live longer than 3,000 years.

Ginkgo is also a widely planted street tree in North America and Europe.

There is one Ginkgo in our house block, standing quietly at the corner.

Ginkgo is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives, has been classified into a single division, class, order and family of its own.

Ginkgo leaves are one of the most popular medicinal herbs.

Extract of these leaves are highly effective for mental ability.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds of the Ginkgo tree are used.

The tree is regarded as the 'bearer of hope' in Japan.
Six Ginkgo trees survived the bombings in 1945 and are alive to this day.
Some trees living in temple grounds of China and Japan are 3,000-2,000 years old.
In China, the oldest Ginkgo tree is about 3,500 years old.

The leaves of Ginkgo tree turn golden yellow in Autumn, and is considered as one of the most beautiful trees of the world.

Photo courtesy :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kewgardens/915271773/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sasakei/1840610729/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmac09/4105697687/

Ginkgo info :

http://imaginatorium.org/sano/ginkgo.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kwanten/hiroshima.htm

from the land of the Tajiks ...

2010-09-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

Music transcends all boundaries !

This weekend found ...

... a lovely song from Tajikistan !

Yori Man Bargard ... by Tajik folk singer Nigina Amonqulova.

I think this is in Farsi language ( Zaboni Forsi / Zaboni Tojiki ).

Some of the words I could comprehend :

... mohabbat, guftgu, humsafar, judaai ...

~ Enjoy !

I almost visited Istanbul ??!!!??

2010-06-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Not having been a voracious reader, I get attracted to books only when I feel like reading.
If hooked on to a book by its content, plot, narrative or simply by structure I keep it on going.

I am a picky reader and sluggish at times.
Some books do not fascinate me after a few pages of reading, simply because I get bored. Well, that is a sign of a bad reader !!!

Of late, this book caught on my interest ...

Istanbul : the collected traveler
an inspired companion guide
- edited by Barrie Kerper
is a compilation of articles on Istanbul, the most mysterious city on earth.

Excellently edited with some of the best possible collection of writings from expert writers and thinkers.

The book is a traveler's guide to - Turkey in general, Istanbul in particular ...
to its people, psyche, monuments and culture.

Swim through the pages, and you will emerge satisfying your ears with whispers of Byzantium to the echoes of Ottoman states.

It is unbelievable how a city has withstood its tumultuous history, and kept on the passion for survival going, despite a deep scar on its people and culture.

The book is successful in introducing the traverse from 6th century to 20th century ...

Quite amazingly one encounters the city of Istanbul, its culturally prosperous people - Greeks, Ottoman Turks, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Arabs, Syrians, Seljukians, Jews, ... ... all intertwined in their culture and heritage ... ...

its vast geography from Anatolia to Mesopotamia - Kurdish people who are nowhere in world's map ; Armenians, who migrated to the rest of world as refugees ... ...

its marvelous monuments and places -
Hagia Sophia (Ayia Sophia) ; earlier a church, then a mosque, now a museum !
Topkapi palace, its harem, its courtyards, the Janissary ...
Sultan Ahmed Mosque or the Blue Mosque, as it is famously known as.
Strait of Bosphorus, nestling between two continents, Asia and Europe.
Old city of Bursa, once home to world's flourishing silk industry.
Gallipoli, infamous for the I world war campaign !

its Tulips, and more than twenty native variety of Roses !!!
its mosaic art, kilims, carpets and rugs !!!
and its whirling dervishes of Mevlevi Sufi order !!!!

... Humanity has suffered the most in this part of the world.

Once Constantinople ... then Istanbul ... it still lurks in terror and the mysterious terrain joins in support.
But the beauty of life is that the region has outlived the chaos and turmoil.

... People who visited Istanbul have found themselves coming back to the city now and again.
The lure of the land is such that it leaves one and all, a native or a visitor, with the same magic.

... I stumbled upon some incredible souls like John Freely, Maureen Freely, Ara Guler, Yashar Kemal, Orhan Pamuk, Nazim Hikmet ... ... and many many more.

The book is the ultimate guide featuring expansive information about each and everything that is Turkish :
Notes on Turkish cuisine,
Interviews with visitors and residents,
unusual Q & A,
recommendations for related reading,
photographs of people and places,
quotes from earlier literary works related to Turkey,
personal anecdotes from the editor ... ... make this book a fascinating read !

Istanbul, the city and its accounts leave you enticed and mystified much like its original essence.
I wonder, if reading has this kind of impact, what will be in store if I visit Istanbul !!!???

[ photo courtesy : wikipedia.org ]

green thumb, this season !

2010-05-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

This season, in mid Spring, I thought suddenly to green my thumb !
Search begins for the plants which I wish to bring home.
What works best for this part of the world ?

Ah ! Wikipedia !!! gives me some thousand names of plants for my zone. Many of which I hear for the first time.

I subscribe for gardening newsletters ;
visit library and bring loads of garden related books.
My partner goes crazy, as I drive myself in to a frenzy !!!

Annuals or Perennials ; Ground covers or Shrubs ; Foliage or Flowers ...

Confused or Disoriented !!!???!!!

One round to a nearby nursery ...
My partner follows me faithfully !
I fall in love with every single plant, flower I see ...

Another week of research is on and then a Spring sale !
Finally ... we bring 'Sweet broom' Lilac Time
and another flower plant, not knowing its name.

I transfer the plants to big ceramic pots.
Challenge to face !!!
worms in the soil. Now what are these ... Good ones or Bad ???

We go to a garden supply shop and learn, they are centipedes.
Americana centipede !!!
Heh hey ! we were not able to recognize them !!!
No remedy required ... I am relived !

Another hurdle !
The flower plant with no name, How am I to take care of it ?
How much water ? needs full sun or shade ? ...

I leave a Question in some web forum, someone quickly replies.
It is ... ... a Weigela shrub ... !!!
Googled and yes, they are those hardy shrubs with burgundy foliage and crimson-pink flowers.

Now, 4 pots sit in our balcony !
a Sweet broom,
a Weigela,
a Fleurette mums plant
which we have since this February, will bloom in Autumn,
and a Ficus (Fig) patio tree, a package gift along with the house !

This weekend, a guest arrives for a short stroll !
a white winged Dove !!!

It is now over a week, and suddenly the sweet broom has started to wilt.
I understand it is over-watered.

I give it some time.
Hope it makes a comeback.

those five days of the month : documented !

2010-04-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

the moon inside you.

is a profound documentation

of being a woman

naturally ... !

Inspiring in many ways, THE MOON INSIDE YOU, captures the deeper understanding of what it feels like to bleed every month, three, four or five days ; It discusses why a natural event like Menstruation, still a '(universal) taboo' topic not to be spoken in public.

The Documentary film is about the monthly menstrual cycle of women ; its psychological, social, cultural, political realms put together with personal anecdotes and expert references by the Director Diana Fabianova.

Starting off with a candid confession like note - it has been painting my life red five days a month, the film moves on to gather normal perceptions of men and women, girls and boys ; on how they perceive, what they know about menstruation.

The film talks from a western viewpoint, nevertheless it applies to all women in the world.

It was more like a liberating experience to watch this film,

This is undoubtedly a RADICAL, FRANK, FEMINIST account.

Watching this may help many of us to perceive feminine sexuality in a better way.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

[ Video courtesy : You Tube / Culture Unplugged.com ]

Spring forward ! Fall back !

2010-03-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

ಇವತ್ತು ರಾತ್ರಿ, ಅಂದರೆ 14ರ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಹೊತ್ತು ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಮಾಯವಾಗಿಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಗಡಿಯಾರದಲ್ಲಿ 1.59.59 ಆದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಗಂಟೆಯು 3.00.00ಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾರುತ್ತದೆ.

ನಡುವಿನ 2.00.00ರಿಂದ 2.59.59ರ ವರೆಗಿನ ಸಮಯ ಗುಳುಂ .

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ... ಅಮೆರಿಕಾದಲ್ಲಿ . . . DST - day light saving time, ''ದಿನ ಬೆಳಕು ಉಳಿಸುವ ಸಮಯ'' ನಾಳೆಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭ. ನವೆಂಬರ್ 7ರ ವರೆಗೆ.
ನವೆಂಬರ್ 7ರ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಗಡಿಯಾರದಲ್ಲಿ 1.59.59 ಆದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಗಂಟೆಯು ಹಿಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಓಡಿ ಮತ್ತೆ 1.00.00ರಿಂದ ಶುರುವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Spring (ವಸಂತ ಋತು) ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದೋಡಿದ ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ Fall (ಶರದ್ ಋತು) ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಎಳೆಯುವ ಸರ್ಕಸ್ !
ಇದೇ spring forward ... fall back ...!!!

ಭೂಮಧ್ಯ ರೇಖೆಯಿಂದ ಉತ್ತರಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ದಕ್ಷಿಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದಂತೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬೇಸಗೆ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಗಲು ಹೆಚ್ಚು, ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಹಗಲು. ಸೂರ್ಯೋದಯ ಸೂರ್ಯಾಸ್ತ ಸಮಯಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಕಾಣುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಈ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಭೂಮಧ್ಯ ರೇಖೆಯ ಹತ್ತಿರವಿರುವ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಾನಿರುವ ಊರು ಭೂಮಧ್ಯ ರೇಖೆಯಿಂದ 37° 20' ಉತ್ತರಕ್ಕಿದೆ.
ಬೇಸಗೆ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಸೂರ್ಯ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆಯ ವರೆಗೂ ಬೆಳಗುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅದೇ ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಂಜೆ ಐದಕ್ಕೇ ಟಾಟಾ ಹೇಳಿ ಹೊರಟು ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ಅದಕ್ಕೇ ... ಬೇಸಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಿಗುವ ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಶಾಖವನ್ನು ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಅವನಿಗೇ ಕನ್ಫ್ಯೂಶನ್ ಮಾಡಿ, ಗಂಟೆಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಓಡಿಸಿದರೆ, ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಲೇಟಾಗಿ ಆತ ಟಾಟಾ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾನಲ್ಲ !
ಸೂರ್ಯ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಯ ವರೆಗೂ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಾನೆ. ದಿನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಸಮಯ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಉರಿಯುವ ದೀಪ ಲೇಟಾಗಿ ಆನ್ ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ. ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಬಳಕೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ !!!

ಈ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಐಡಿಯಾ ಮೊದಲು ಹೊಳೆದದ್ದು Benjamin Franklinಗೆ.

ಅದೇ ಆ . . . ನೂರು ಡಾಲರ್ ನೋಟಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಪಾಟಾಗಿರುವ ಬಿಳಿ ಗುಂಗುರು ಕೂದಲಿನ ಅಜ್ಜ.
ಆತ 1784ರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಪ್ಯಾರಿಸ್ ಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳು ಬೇಸಗೆ ಕಾಲದ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ಉಪಯೋಗ ಮಾಡದೆ, ಸಾಯಂಕಾಲ ಕ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್ ದೀಪ ಉರಿಸಿ ಅನಗತ್ಯ ಖರ್ಚು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆದ. [ ಲೇಖನದ ಪೂರ್ಣ ಪಾಠ ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ > http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/franklin3.html ]

ಈ ಐಡಿಯಾವನ್ನು 1895ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೀಟತಜ್ಞ ಜಾರ್ಜ್ ಹಡ್ಸನ್ ತನ್ನ ಲೇಖನವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸಿದ. 1905ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಿಟನ್ ನ ವಿಲಿಯಮ್ ವಿಲ್ಲೆಟ್ ಕೂಡ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟ. ಆತ ಮುಂಜಾನೆ ವಾಕಿಂಗ್ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿ ಮನೆಯ ಕಿಟಿಕಿಗಳನ್ನು ತೆರೆಯದೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅದನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಆತ ಅಂದದ್ದು, 'what a waste of daylight' !

ದಿನ ಬೆಳಕು ಉಳಿಸುವ ಸಮಯದ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಬಂದದ್ದು ಮೊದಲ ವಿಶ್ವ ಯುದ್ಧದ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ.
ನಂತರದ ವರುಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ದೇಶಗಳು ತಮಗೊಪ್ಪಿಗೆಯಾಗುವ ರೀತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ದಿನದ ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿವೆ.
ಯುರೋಪ್ ಯುನಿಯನ್ ದೇಶಗಳು ಇದನ್ನು 'ಸಮ್ಮರ್ ಟೈಮ್' ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತವೆ.

DSTಯಿಂದ ಉಪಯೋಗ, ಉಳಿತಾಯ ಏನು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ, ಆದರೆ ಇದರ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಾದ - ವಿವಾದ, ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು ಇನ್ನೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಿದೆ.

ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜನಜೀವನ ಏರುಪೇರು ಆಗುವ ಪ್ರಸಂಗಗಳು ಈ ಸಮಯ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯಾಗುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತವೆ.
ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್-ನವೆಂಬರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲ ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹಿಂದೆ ಸರಿಯುವಾಗ, ಟೈಮ್ ಟೇಬಲ್ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಓಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ರೈಲುಗಳು 1.59.59ಕ್ಕೆ ಓಡುವುದನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆಯ ನಂತರ ಹೊರಡುತ್ತವೆ.

ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಯ ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಓಡುವಾಗ 2.00.00ರಿಂದ 2.59.59ರ ವರೆಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಯಾವ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಹುಟ್ಟುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದೇ ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹಿಂದೆ ಸರಿದಾಗ ಅವಳಿ ಜವಳಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳೇನಾದರೂ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಾಂತರ.
ನವೆಂಬರ್ 2007ರಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಮೆರಿಕಾದ ನಾರ್ತ್ ಕರೋಲಿನಾದ ಲಾರಾ ಸಿರಿಯೋಲಿ, ಪೀಟರ್ ಎನ್ನುವ ಗಂಡು ಮಗುವಿಗೆ ಜನ್ಮ ನೀಡಿದಳು. ಆತ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು 1.32 am.
ಮೂವತ್ತನಾಲ್ಕು ನಿಮಿಷದ ನಂತರ ಆಲಿಸನ್ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ.
ಆ ದಿನ DST ಸಮಯ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ಆಗುವ ದಿನವಾದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹಿಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಯಿತು.
ಆಲಿಸನ್ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು 1.06 am ಗೆ ದಾಖಲಾಯಿತು.

[photo courtesy : wikipedia and timeanddate.com ]

Phalke award for V. K. Murthy !

2010-01-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

Aptly called the 'Eye of Guru Dutt ' , V. K. Murthy is the ace Cinematographer of Indian films !

Through Murthy saab's magical lens, came alive, the beauty of black and white films.

Murthy saab and Guru Dutt, together have had created many of the memorable visual highs of Indian Cinema.

Now, the prestigious Phalke award has come in search of him !

Here are some of the magical moments captured by him :

........................................

Listen to V. K. Murthy in this candid interview by Kamla Bhatt.

part 1 :

http://kamlashow.com/podcast/2007/04/19/cinematographer-vk-murthy/

part 2 :

http://kamlashow.com/podcast/2007/04/29/cinematographer-vk-murthy-part-2/

part 3 :

http://kamlashow.com/podcast/2007/05/13/cinematographer-vk-murthy-part-3/

after a hiatus of four months ...

2010-01-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

i am back ... :)
after a hiatus of four months !

nothing in particular to share from my moments, but would wish to list out some of the visual treats i experienced last year.

i must have watched more than fifty films.
have lost the counts :)

there were some good films from Indian diaspora, but my most valuable and memorable cinematic experiences came from other parts of the world.

here they are ;

sonbahar [ turkey ]

this one is a season of a lifetime !
i can never get over with the experience i had watching this one.

you tube link to the movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OjhPLImZjQ&feature=related

i wish this you tube video link had the sub-titles, but i feel would make a wonderful viewing without them too !!!

write-up : http://smilingcolours.blogspot.com/2009/03/season-of-lifetime.html

spring, summer, fall, winter ... and spring [ south korea ]

life ... living ... nature ... seasons !!!
oh ... what a film !!!
and ...
i can not get enough of this exotic experience !
... the journey seems to be endless !

the way home [ south korea ]

cute little film, a must watch for all !

you tube link to the movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj52SMNgiO4&feature=related
[ no sub-titles again :( ]

in the mood for love [ hong kong ]

love at its extreme close-up !

turtles can fly [ iraq- iran / khurdish ]

one of the most poignant and heartfelt stories of human suffering. its terrific !!!

you tube link to the movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgrrR_f9JC8

the pope's toilet [ uruguay ]

very close to the soils and hearts of real people !

the song of sparrows [ iran ]

hilarious, awesome, spectacular, humane !!!

write - up : http://smilingcolours.blogspot.com/2009/07/majidi-new-song-song-of-sparrows_06.html

the violin [ mexico ]

nostalgic because of its colours; black and white,
this film is a silent but strong voice to the people's movement and is universal in its content.

you tube link to the movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ygwEzicYWI
[ no sub-titles :0 ]

roads to koktebel >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqpurk_vTQw

motorcycle diaries >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0U3dbVMHk

the scent of green papaya >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTca8foUsU

kite runner >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5e6AqrNF8

achchuvinte amma >
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achuvinte_Amma

magnolia >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwXDHSrNFbQ

notes from the underground >
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114005/

sin nombre >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-REjCK-VW6Y

the diving bell and the butterfly >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G69Zh7YIg8c

khadak >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBR78rYNMpo

half moon >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAQ087l-l8I&feature=related

4 months 3 weeks 2 days >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzitmvuOLKE

the boy in stripped pajamas >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQVkjCtVOu0&feature=related

anna karenina >
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040098/

last lear >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMveTlvxSwI

.....................................................................................

a poetic garden : gulzar

2009-08-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

- a birthday is after all a factor of time.
so, this is just a token moment !

he is more than just a date to us - he is ;
a common link between me and my partner.
every song of his,
a part of our lives.
poetic simplicity -
his strength and

we go weak on that.

where do i start

and how do i gather
all that ...
... fills my mind and heart
which comes along with the name : Gulzar

" all night and day ... like the pearls strewed

... i have been scattered around.

you have strung me together ! "

Gulzar turned 73 today !
at this point of time these are some gems penned by Gulzar saab, i could recollect.

of philosophy :

of love :

of passion :

of anguish - desperation :
(voice : Gulzar)

of separation :

of concord - agreement :
(voice : Gulzar)

of innocence :

some of the beautiful songs written by Gulzar >> >>
dil doondtha hei ( mausam )
maine tere liye hi saath rang ke ( anand )
tere bina zindagi se koyi ( aandhi )
humne dekhi hei un aankho ki ( khamoshi )
naam gum jaayega ( kinara )
musafir hoon yaron ( parichay )
aanewala pal ( golmal )
do diwane sheher mein ( garonda )
aap ki aankho mein kuch ( ghar )
tujhse naaraz nahi zindagi ( maasoom )
ae zindagi gale laga le ( sadma )
yaara seeli seeli ( lekin )
dil hoom h00m kare ( rudaali )
chod aaye hum ( maachis )
ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi ( dil se )
chupke se lag ja gale ( saathiya )
dheere jalna ( paheli )
chup chup ke ( bunty aur bubli )
jaage hei der tak ( guru )
tu hi mera dost hei ( yuvraj )
saansen sada naheen rehti hain ( saans - tv serial)

more info here >

the persona :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulzar

the poet :
http://www.urdupoetry.com/gulzar.html
http://www.gulzar.info/biography.html

the storyteller :
http://www.gulzaronline.com/gulkahani.htm

the lyricist :
http://www.gulzaronline.com/gulqatra.htm

the icon :
http://gulzarfan.wordpress.com/

the father :
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040104/spectrum/book2.htm

catching some shooting stars !!!

2009-08-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

I was little aware of this sky event, until I saw the Google logo on my homepage three days ago.
It was about the Perseid Meteor Shower of August.

Brushing up my little knowledge of astronomy, I learnt that these Meteor showers happen every year in the Northern Hemisphere.

When Earth passes through certain streams of dusty debris which are left behind by the Comets, meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere.

They are visible as streaks of light, which are called as Meteors ; popularly known as Shooting Stars.

Seeing upon them many of our film heroines and heroes close their eyes and pray a wish for it to become true later :)

A meteor shower happens when there is an increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of the year. Meteors appear to fall from a particular place in the sky, and are named after that constellation.

Of all the meteor showers, the Perseid shower is popular as it offers up to 60 meteors an hour under a summer sky. Perseid meteor shower is named after the Constellation Perseus, because meteors appear to fall from that point in the sky.

One shooting star per minute !

Tuesday night (11th Aug), getting out around 11.30 pm, along with my partner I waited for the meteors to fall !

Patience was the buzz word, because we could only see some bright stars and the glaring Moon, but no shooting stars !

Midnight passed and as this is Summer time it was not too cold to keep our interest off. We kept gazing at the starry night sky for some time !

At around 1 am (Wednesday-12th morning) sudden sparks caught our eyes and we managed to see 4 meteors towards the North - East sky little above horizon in between 1 am - 1. 30 am.

We could catch some more up to 6 of them next day, around 10 pm (Wednesday-12th night) and from midnight 12 am up till 1.30 am (Thursday-13th morning).

It was surely a pleasant surprise that we could see some meteors in spite of the Moonlight.

The Perseid Meteor Shower has passed its peak but Perseids will remain active until August 24th.

The next meteor shower is the Orionids on October 21, 2009.

[photo courtesy : www.spaceweather.com / Sky and Telescope / nasa.gov]
[Info : Wiki / earthsky.org]

Following the song : Siboney

2009-07-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

I heard this song in '2046', a Cantonese film by Wong Kar-wai . This is a unique sequel to his earlier movies ( Days of Being Wild and In the Mood for Love).
I will write about these three films sometime later, but for now I follow this track, called Siboney.

This is one of the amazing songs I heard recently.

This Cuban song is composed by international fame Cuban Composer Ernesto Lecuona.

The song in Spanish goes like this :

Siboney, yo te quiero yo me muero por tu amor
Siboney, en tu boca la miel puso su dulzor
[Siboney, I love you, I'm dying for your love
Siboney, put honey sweetness in your mouth]

Ven aqui que te quiero y de todo tesoro eres tu para me
Siboney al arrullo de la palma pienso en ti
[Come to me, because i love you, and aside from everything else, my love, you were made for me
Siboney, lullaby to your soul, I think of you]

Siboney de mi sueño si no oyes la queja de mi voz
Siboney si no vienes me moriré de amor
[Siboney of my dream, if you do not hear the complaint of my voice
Siboney if you do not come, I will die of love]

Siboney de mis sueños te espero con ansias en mi caney
Siboney si no vienes me moriré de amor
[Siboney of my dreams, I await for you in my caney (hut) with anxiousness
Siboney if you do n0t come, I will die of love]

Oye el eco de mi canto de cristal
[Hear the echo of my crystal singing]

No te pierdas por entre el rudo Manigual
[Do not get lost in the rugged Manigual (jungle)]

Hear this beautiful composition in the voice of Connie Francis, American Pop Singer.

The instrumental version ( played in Accordian )

and another version from singer Xiomara Alfaro

Majidi's new song : The Song of Sparrows

2009-07-06T15:19:00.001-07:00

From time and again it is proved so precisely that any movie which is humane in nature moves one's heart and soul. One such movie is here again to stir the hearts and souls.

We caught up with The Song of Sparrows (Avaze gonjeshk-ha) on the last day last show at Camera 12 theatre.

Majid Majidi is best known for his vivid sense of visualization, lyrical narration and humane characterization. His story telling offers diverse dimensions of everyday lives with a pinch of compassion.
He does it again in his new movie, The Song of Sparrows, which portrays a poor lower class family, their hard times to keep the ends meet.

Karim works at an ostrich farm in a sub urban village near Tehran. He has a family of four to feed, a wife and three children. Other than that Karim has to fight hard to keep up with his low income falling short every month.
His daughter needs a new hearing aid; his son wishes to buy goldfishes, sell them and become millionaire are the new additions.

Distress befalls him when an ostrich runs loose from the ranch in to the mountains costing Karim his job. Karim starts a desperate search up in the hills and grass lands for the lost ostrich donning himself with ostrich feathers and a wooden rod. His efforts go in vain.

While in Tehran, Karim is mistaken for a taxi driver and this becomes his new means for income. He starts ferrying people, encountering generous and treacherous ones at the same time. The city hours give him a chance to learn new habits and self-centered thinking.

The openness of country sides and the dense crowded city streets are in contrast. With each day passing by Karim becomes more and more aware of the tricky charisma of city living and slowly looses his simplicity.

In a desire to accumulate and a conscious effort to upgrade his lifestyle, Karim starts fetching junk stuffs on his ride back home. Each day he brings things which get piled up in his backyard; a TV antenna, a window frame, a door, and what not.

Now the conflict is between his honesty and his newly acquired greediness. Karim turns into a self centered person who once was amicable with people and neighborhood. He refuses to accommodate and share.
Karim has lost so much from his new found money and materialism that he refuses to be the man he was, simple and honest person.

In parallel to Karim's behaviour, his son Hussein with his troop of friends has a wish to buy goldfishes, sell them and become millionaires. They literally work hard towards it; Cleaning up the silt filled water tank, refilling with fresh waters. Sparrows come and nest. The small little place turns out to a cool retreat.

Once, while climbing around the junk pile, Karim falls and gets his leg fractured. He is bound to be at home, confining himself to the front yards. It is then that he realizes how dependent he is of his family and their love and care. He also misses being a caring father, a loving husband and most of all an honest man.

The imagery used to portray Karim's changing behaviour, his struggle to stay honest, the contrast between the city and countrysides are excellent.
Some of the scenes - Karim falls off from his own junk piled up backyard, making him to learn from his own (mis)deeds ; Karim is not sure whether to offer a huge note to a poor girl, however we are not shown whether he does give it or not ; Karim getting back the Blue door from his neighbour not willing to donate ; a refrigerator he would have wished to keep for himself but returns ; a TV antenna which makes him proud amongst other neighbours, are beautifully crafted.

Majidi knows the magic of vision. His visuals are painted canvases. He is a master when it comes to colour and craft. Arid and mono toned landscapes used as backgrounds offer the characters to colour up the screen.

Spectacular aerial shots are Majidi's forte. The Song of the Sparrows has some of the best and enthralling shots.

There are a number of visual high points : Karim in disguise of an ostrich goes up in to the hills to find the lost ostrich. A helicopter used 360 degree shots in this scene are breathtaking.

Blue door against the muddy brown field becomes a powerful imagery of Karim's hard work and distress to feed the family.

Some shots are so simple yet convey a strong point, such as in one shot the soft foot prints of children on the hard dry silt are shown to communicate that the work is already done and they are serious into bringing goldfishes into the water tank.

The emotional high point comes when the goldfishes spill from the burst plastic tub and the children have to forgo them in order to save the fishes from dying. They push them into the water stream much against their wishes. Karim sings - " the world is a lie; the world is a dream " to comfort the children and more to himself.
At the end there is a stunning dance of an ostrich.

I wonder how beautifully a simple story turns out to be a poignant , sometimes hilarious and profoundly humane narrative in structure and style.

It would be a cliche if I say that the actors live the characters they play. But yes they do. Reza Nazi, as the protagonist Karim, Maryam Akbari, as Narges and a host of wonderful child actors support the film generously.

Noted for his poetic Neo-realism style, Majidi represents a rare group of filmmakers who exploit life and lives in its utmost glory. and " The Song of Sparrows " proves that.

Summer Time Blogging !

2009-06-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

It is Summer again and a pretty time to venture out.
So here I am forgathering all the knowledge and information of places we could visit around.

Last year when I landed here in April, it was almost like the start of Summer. This year we had to wait till the mid-June to flag off the real Summer season.
I guess many have their list ready for the season.
We are ready with ours too.

Why not leave the trailstops and footprints behind !

So, here is the Summer Time Blogging > INTO THE WOODS AND WILDS

: > Happy Summer Time : >

ಶ್ರೀ ಮುಖ : ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಚಿತ್ರ

2009-06-09T12:39:00.001-07:00

" ಶ್ರೀ ಮುಖ "

ಈ ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಚಿತ್ರ ತಯಾರಾದದ್ದು 2005 ರಲ್ಲಿ. ಇದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ್ದು ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ದೃಶ್ಯ ಕ್ರಿಯೇಷನ್ಸ್.
ಡಾ ಕಯ್ಯಾರ ಕಿಞ್ಞಣ್ಣ ರೈ ಅವರ ಬದುಕು, ಬರಹ ಮತ್ತು ಹೋರಾಟಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಈ 27 ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಚಿತ್ರ.

ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ಕನ್ನಡನಾಡು ಎನ್ನುವ ಕನಸನ್ನು ಆರಲು ಬಿಡದೆ ತನ್ನ ಬರಹ ಬದುಕನ್ನು ಗಡಿನಾಡಿನ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಪಣ ಇಟ್ಟ ಕಯ್ಯಾರರು ಅಪ್ಪಟ ಗಾಂಧೀವಾದಿ.

ಕಯ್ಯಾರರ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪೀಳಿಗೆಗೆ ಅವರ ಹೋರಾಟದ ಕಾವು ತಲುಪಲಿಲ್ಲ. ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಇಚ್ಛಾಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ಇದುವರೆಗೂ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಗಡಿನಾಡು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬೂದಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದ ಕೆಂಡವಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ.

ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ರಾಜಕೀಯ, ಪ್ರಾದೇಶಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಡಿನಾಡು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಪರಿಹಾರವಾಗುವುದು ದೂರದ ಮಾತಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅದು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಸರಳಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಾಗದೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಗೊಂದಲದ ಗೂಡನ್ನಾಗಿಸುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಶಯವಿಲ್ಲ.

ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಯ್ಯಾರರ ಏಕವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಹೋರಾಟ ಅರ್ಥ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಿರುವುದು ವಿಷಾದ. ಆದರೂ, ತಾನು ನಂಬಿದ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಕ್ಕೆ ಬದ್ಧರಾಗಿ ತಮ್ಮ ತೊಂಬತ್ತನಾಲ್ಕರ ಇಳಿವಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಯುವ ಜನಾಂಗಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿ, ಉತ್ಸಾಹದ ಚಿಲುಮೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಕಯ್ಯಾರ ಕಿಞ್ಞಣ್ಣ ರೈ.

ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಚಿತ್ರದ you tube ಲಿಂಕ್ :

ಮೊದಲನೇ ಭಾಗ
ಎರಡನೇ ಭಾಗ
ಮೂರನೇ ಭಾಗ
ನಾಲ್ಕನೇ ಭಾಗ :

wikipedia link > ಡಾ ಕಯ್ಯಾರ ಕಿಞ್ಞಣ್ಣ ರೈ

Shreemukha : Documentary film
> Copyright@Drishya Creations

[ Thanks to my partner for his help in converting the media files and uploading them to You tube ]

Sonbahar : a season of a lifetime !

2009-03-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this movie on a wet wet rainy evening ! As I settled into the theatre seat along with my partner what unfurled on the big screen was just breathtaking.

Mountain Greens ... Autumn Yellows ... Ocean Turquoises ... Snowy Whites !

It was as if a slice of nature is parading on ... in front of us. But, Sonbahar (Autumn) is much more than just a piece of Nature.

It is a season of a lifetime ! A journey from autumn to winter !

Yusuf is back in his village home, up in the green hills ... after the torment and trauma from ten years of prison life. His past seems to be in conflict with his present ... The future not anywhere near.

He is swinging between his own selves and often revisiting memories and nightmares of his youth. As we are drawn into Yusuf's state of mind, we learn that he had been a Socialist activist during his University years and was caught and taken to prison as a political prisoner.
Now, he is back into the world which has changed so distinctively. The idealism once he hoped for no longer exists. All seems superficial and alien to him. As his old comrade rightly points out, ' they have taken it all away. At least then, we had a hope of an ideal State one day. But that Hope never exists now.'
So True. No revolution, no idealism, no movement is a hope anymore. No option left for a trial. Idealism becomes a cliche every time someones speaks about it.

Yusuf has no hopes left but dive into a world which he never thought of coming back to. He has come back to a home where his ailing mother who is in hopes that her son will get married, work in the city and take care of her. She has no idea whatsoever what Yusuf had been through all these years. Yusuf's father died, without even waiting for him to return and his sister left home to be married to the city guy and the dog does not recognize him anymore.

In the midst of all these, Yusuf tumbles upon Eka, a Georgian prostitute. She is a sea of Hope and showers of Love. Yusuf finds himself drawn to Eka. He keeps coming back to her. She is a solace he can yearn for. But she herself is going away much against to her wish. The times are not right for both of them to come together and share their lives.
So, Love does not dare to dream and bloom. There is hardly a choice left for both of them, but to go through the winters; it is chilling; it is bitter; it is sick and heartbreaking.

The Silence ... in the film haunts. it emotes. it sickens. it engulfs one into the feeling of withdrawal ... much like what Yusuf is going through.

The whole film has a few countable dialogues to take forward the narration. Other than that the film has only Silence ... nothing but Silence. Now and then interrupted by Yusuf coughing, his mother sighing along with still sounds of the autumn nights and heavy showers of the mountain rains. There is a stillness in the air only to be scattered by the sounds of classic Kemence (a musical instrument from the Black Sea Region).

A brilliant debut film by Ozcan Alper, Autumn is set in a small but beautiful village near Hopa and Artvin in Turkey. Every shot in the film is awesome; anywhere you keep the camera, the shot is ought to look like a canvas painting.

The actors are from theatre background and have lived their characters to the core. A Socialist activist herself, R Gülefer Yenigül who played Yusuf's mother is silent through most of the scenes but her presence renders a special essence to the film.

Autumn mirrors the state of affairs of Turkey, post-90s and later. It documents the lost hope of an ideal State.

It is a sulking experience. From being withdrawn and aloof, the movie makes one ponder about the hopeless state of affairs the Polity is in. This could happen anywhere in the world where humane values are been humiliated, hope is been wiped off and civilian society at large is at stake.

echoes of longing ... and yearning !

2009-03-06T13:50:00.001-08:00

Phir wohi raastey phir wohi rahguzar ... with its melancholic resonance creates the mood of a journey into oblivion.

This one is a musical solace, rendering a feeling of somberness.

Shafqat Amanat Ali's mesmerizing vocals blending so soulfully with Shubha Mudgal's background aalaap, this track echoes the yearning and longing of a heart !
This is easily one of the best Shafqat has ever sung.

Debajyoti Mishra's music creates all nuances of a long journey ; stringing the inner chords relentlessly ; leaving oneself in a void.

Featured in the recently released Pakistani movie, Ramchand Pakistani, this track will haunt me all along my way !

saddest of the songs ... from 'humankind' !!!

2009-02-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

a picture can speak thousand words !
hmm , i don't dare to write any !!!

see for yourself, what have we done to ourselves in the name of religion, race, country, language and what not.

these are the saddest of the songs from the 'humankind ' !!!

NOTE : [ ... some of the pictures are very disturbing and horrifying ] ... so is the TRUTH !

click here for pictures >>> PICTURES OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY !
[ http://www.countercurrents.org/gazapics.htm ]

( photo courtesy : COUNTERCURRENTS.ORG )

telugu and kannada favourites : from our playlist !!!

2009-02-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

I have not yet learnt Telugu and he does not know Kannada yet.

One day I heard him humming some song, oh! I guess he was singing. That was a kannada song ... !!! mellusire savigana ... , but he was singing it in Telugu ... oohalu gusa gusalade ... I was not sure what I was listening to ... Kannada or Telugu !!!

I showed him the Kannada song ... in you tube. He keeps on saying that it is the Kannadigas who have copied the Telugu songs. I am not too far behind in fighting though !!!

So, we started off to search for the songs in Kannada and Telugu and to our surprise, we found some gems of songs from the music directors like Rajan Nagendra, Ilayaraja, G K Venkatesh, Satyam ... they have used their super hit songs both in Telugu and Kannada.

Since then, this is our favourite pass time.
Our musical journey is on ...

Listen to these wonderful songs from our play list !!!

see >>> post : play list 1 to 20

ಸಿಹಿ ಜಗಳಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣ ಈ ಹಾಡುಗಳು !!!

2009-02-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

ನನಗೆ ತೆಲುಗು ಬಾರದು. ಇವನು ಇನ್ನೂ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿತಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಹೀಗೇ ಏನೋ ಗುನುಗುನಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಅಲ್ಲ ... ಹಾಡ್ತಾನೇ ಇದ್ದ !!! ನಾನು ಕಿವಿ ನೆಟ್ಟಗೆ ಮಾಡಿ ... ಅರೆ ಇದ್ಯಾವ ತೆಲುಗು ಹಾಡು ಅಂತ ಆಲಿಸಿದರೆ ... ... ಅದೇ ಹಾಡು ... ಕನ್ನಡದ ... ಮೆಲ್ಲುಸಿರೇ ಸವಿಗಾನ ಎದೆ ಝಲ್ಲೆನೆ ಹೂವಿನ ಬಾಣ ... ... ಲೀಲಾವತಿ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್‍ಕುಮಾರ್ ಸರಸ ಗೀತೆ ... ಇವನು ತೆಲುಗಲ್ಲಿ ಊಹಲು ಗುಸಗುಸಲಾಡೆ ಅಂತ ಹಾಡೋದೇ !!! ???

ನಾನು laptop on ಮಾಡಿ youtubeನಲ್ಲಿರೋ ಕನ್ನಡ ಹಾಡು ತೋರಿಸಿದೆ. ಇವನು ಯಾವಾಗಲಿನಂತೆ ... ಇದು ನೀವೇ ಕನ್ನಡದವ್ರೇ ನಕಲು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು ಅಂದ. ನಾನೂ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ಹುಸಿ ಕೋಪಕ್ಕೆ ಪೀಠಿಕೆ ಹಾಕಿದೆ.
ಹೀಗೆಯೇ ಸಾಗಿತು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಿಹಿ ಜಗಳ ... ಹುಸಿ ಮುನಿಸು ... ಸುಮ್ಮಗೆ ಸಿಟ್ಟು ...
ಅಷ್ಟು ಹೊತ್ತು ನಾವು ಹುಡುಕಿದ್ದು ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಸಮುದ್ರವನ್ನು. ಯಾವ ಯಾವ ಹಾಡುಗಳು ತೆಲುಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿವೆ ಅಂತ ... ಸಿಕ್ಕೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟವು ನೋಡಿ !!! ಅಷ್ಟಷ್ಟು ಒಳ್ಳೇ ಹಾಡುಗಳು. ರಾಜನ್ ನಾಗೇಂದ್ರ, ಇಳಯರಾಜಾ, ಜಿ ಕೆ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್, ಸತ್ಯಮ್ ಹೀಗೇ ಹಲವು ಸಂಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹಿಟ್ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಲುಗು ಮತ್ತು ಕನ್ನಡ ಎರಡೂ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲ ದಿನಗಳವರೆಗೆ ಇದೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಫೇವರೆಟ್ ಪಾಸ್‍ಟೈಮ್‍ ಆಯ್ತು. ಈಗಲೂ ನನ್ಗೆ ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಹಾಡು ನೆನಪಾಯ್ತು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಸಾಕು, ಇದು ತೆಲುಗಿನಲ್ಲಿದೆಯಾ ಅಂತ ಇವನನ್ನು ಕೇಳೋದು ಸಹಜವಾಗಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಇವ್ನು ಕೂಡಲೇ ಆ ಹಾಡು ತೆಲುಗಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಯುಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ನಲ್ಲೋ ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಕ್ ಇಂಡಿಯಾಆನ್ಲೈನ್ ನಲ್ಲೋ ಅಥವಾ ರಾಗ.ಕಾಂನಲ್ಲೋ ಹುಡುಕಿ ನನಗೆ ಕೇಳಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಯಾವ ಹಾಡು ಮೊದಲು ಬಂದದ್ದು ? ಯಾರು ಆಮೇಲೆ copy ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು? ಅನ್ನೋ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಜಗಳ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸುತ್ತೇವೆ !

ಹೇಗಿದೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಸಹಪಯಣ ???!!!. ನಿಮಗಾಗಿ ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ಮಧುರ ಹಾಡುಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ...

see >>> post : playlist 1 to 20

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 1

2009-02-08T15:52:00.003-08:00

nee mudida mallige hoovina maale ...
movie : gandhinagara
year : 1968
singer : p b srinivas , p susheela
music : satyam
lyrics : chi udayashankar

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 1

2009-02-08T15:52:00.001-08:00

ee divilo virisina parijatamo ...
movie : kanne vayasu
year : 1973
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : satyam
lyrics : dasharathi

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 2

2009-02-08T15:15:00.003-08:00

jeeva hoovaagide ...
movie : nee nanna gellalare
year : 1981
singer : raj kumar, s janaki
music : ilayaraja
lyrics : chi udayashankar

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 2

2009-02-08T15:15:00.001-08:00

akasam enatido ...
movie : nireekshanam
year : 1982
singer : s janaki
music : ilayaraja
lyrics : aatreya

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 3

2009-02-08T14:56:00.003-08:00

endendu ninnanu maretu ...
movie : eradu kanasu
year : 1974
singer : p b srinivas , vani jayaram
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : chi udayshankar

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 3

2009-02-08T14:56:00.001-08:00

ennenno janmala bhandam ...
movie : puja
year : 1976
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , vani jayaram
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : dasharathi

:: telugu - kannada :: play list 4 to 6

2009-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

ಎರಡು ಕನಸು ( 1974) ಚಿತ್ರ ತೆಲುಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂಜಾ ಎನ್ನುವ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ (1976) ರಿಮೇಕ್ ಆಗಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೊಂಡಿತು.

play list : 4

nee daya raada ...
singer : p susheela

indu enage govinda ...
singer: s janaki

*** *** ***

play list : 5

poojisalende hoogala tande ...
singer : s kanaki

poojalu seya ...
singer : p susheela

*** *** ***

play list : 6

badi hoda balliyinda ...
singer : p b srinivas

malleteega vadipoga ...
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam

*** *** ***

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 7

2009-02-08T14:01:00.001-08:00

mellusire savigana ...
movie : veera kesari
year : 1963
singer : ghantasala, p susheela
music : ghantasala
lyrics : seetarama shastry

uhalu gusagusalade ...
movie : bandipoatu
year : 1963
singer : ghantasala, p susheela
music : ghantasala
lyrics : c narayana reddy

:: telugu - kannada :: play list 8

2009-02-08T13:53:00.001-08:00

vagala rani vi neeve ...
movie : bandipotu
year : 1963
singer : ghantasala
music : ghantasala
lyrics : c narayana reddy

:: telugu - kannada :: playlist 8

2009-02-08T13:40:00.001-08:00

swabhimanada nalle ...
movie : veera kesari
year : 1963
singer : ghantasala
music : ghantasala
lyrics : seetarama shastry

:: telugu - kannada :: play list 9

2009-02-08T13:26:00.001-08:00

kannada : ravivarmana kunchada kale ...
movie : sose tanda saubhagya
year : 1977
singer : p b srinivas , s janaki
music : g k venkatesh
lyrics : chi udayashankar

telugu : ravivarmaki andani
movie : ravanude ramudaite
year : 1978
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , s janaki
music : g k venkatesh
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

:: telugu kannada :: play list - 10 to 20

2009-02-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

play list : 10

kannada : banallu neene ...
movie : bayalu dari
year : 1976
singer : s janaki
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : chi udayashankar

telugu: sirimalle neeve ...
movie : pantulamma
year : 1977
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

*** *** ***

play list : 11
kannada : kanasalu neene manasalu neene ...
movie : bayalu dari
year : 1976
singer : vani jayaram , s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajannagendra
lyrics : chi udayashankar

telugu : chinukula raali ...
movie : naalugu stambhalata
year : 1982
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , s janaki
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

*** *** ***

play list : 12

telugu : tali kattu subhavela ...
movie : antuleni katha
year : 1976
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : m s vishwanathan
lyrics : aatreya

kannada : tali kattuva shubhavele ...
movie : benkiyalli aralida hoovu
year : 1980
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : m s vishwanathan
lyrics : chi udayashankar

*** *** ***

play list : 13

kannada : jeeva veene meetu ...
movie : hombisilu
year : 1978
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , s janaki
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : geetapriya

telugu : veena venu vaina ...
movie : intinti ramayanam
year : 1979
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , s janaki
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

*** *** ***

play list : 14

telugu : o bangaru rangula chilaka ...
movie : thota ramudu
year : 1975
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , p susheela
music : satyam
lyrics : dasharthi

kannada : o nallane savimatonda nudiveya ...
movie : sahodarara saval
year : 1977
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam , p susheela
music : satyam
lyrics : chi udayshankar

*** *** ***

play list : 15

telugu : idi teeyani vennela reyi ...
movie : premalekhalu
year : 1977
singer : p susheela , s p balasubrahmanyam
music : satyam
lyrics : arudra

kannada : ee sundara chandiraninda ...
movie : muyyige muyyi
year : 1978
singers : yesudas, s janaki
music : satyam
lyrics : vijayanarasimha

*** *** ***

play list : 16

telugu : neeli meghama jaali choopuma ...
movie : ammayila sapadham
year : 1975
singer : vani jayaram
music : vijaya bhaskar
lyrics : athreya

kannada : belli modave elli oduve ...
movie : vasantalakshmi
year : 1978
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam, vani jayaram
music : vijaya bhaskar
lyrics : chi udayashankar

*** *** ***

play list : 17

telugu : idhe paata prathi chota ...
movie : puttinillu mettinillu
year : 1973
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : satyam

kannada : ide nadu ide bhashe ...
movie : tirugu bana
year : 1983
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : satyam
lyrics : r n jayagopal

*** *** ***

play list : 18

kannada : aaseya bhava olavina jeeva ...
movie : mangalya bhagya
year : 1976
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : chi udayashankar

telugu : mallelu pooche ...
movie : intinti ramayanam
year : 1979
singer : s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

*** *** ***

play list : 19

kannada : olida jeeva jateyaliralu ...
movie : benkiya bale
year : 1983
singer : s janaki , s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajan nagendra

telugu : viraha veena nidura raka ...
movie : rendu rellu aru
year : 1986
singer : s janaki
music : rajan nagendra

*** *** ***

play list : 20

kannada : nagu naguta nee baruve ...
movie : giri kanye
year : 1977
singer : s janaki , raj kumar
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : chi udayashankar

telugu : tolivalapu tondaralo ...
movie : sommokadidi sokokadidi
year : 1979
singer : s janaki , s p balasubrahmanyam
music : rajan nagendra
lyrics : veturi sudharamamurty

*** *** ***

song is in repeat mode !!!

2009-01-29T13:41:00.001-08:00

Of late, this one song is in repeat mode. and that is A R Rahman's again.

When I first heard this track, I was not sure whether I wanted to listen it once again. At that point Masakkali ... and Rehna Tu ... , tracks from the same movie, Delhi 6 were more overpowering my senses.

But now ... it is ... Dil gira kahi ... dafatan ...

I go on humming this all over the places. This track is sugar sweet ... sounds the first rain drops ... and essence beyond innocence.

music : a r rahman
lyrics : prasoon joshi
singers : ash king, chinmayee

... ... ... ... ... ...

Rehna tu ... :

A R renders his soulful voice to this romantic lyrics with beautiful expressions. This track gives an intro to Continuum instrument which would prove a revolution in Indian Classical Music, says Rahman.

... ... ... ... ... ...

Masakkali ... :

song of the pigeon sung by Mohit Chauhan with full energy and naughtiness. Tuned in Accordion instrument this one will resonate for many more days to come.

... ... ... ... ... ...

Bhor bhaye ... :

Now, this is called old wine in new bottle !!! coming together of two time lines !!!

Shreya Ghoshal sings this classic Tumri of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Raag Gurjari Todi. What a remix !!!

ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಾದರೂ ಶುರು ಮಾಡಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ !

2009-01-28T22:35:00.001-08:00

ಅಂತರ್ಜಾತಿ ವಿವಾಹವಾದವರಿಗೆ ನೌಕರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ :

ಇದು ಡಾ ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರು ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ಮಂಡಿಸಿದ ಹಲವು ಮನವಿಗಳು ಒಂದು. ಈಗ ಆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮನವಿಗಳು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ‘ಸದನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ’ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿವೆ.
ಡಾ ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯರ ಮನವಿಯನ್ನು ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಿಸಿ.
ಅವಧಿ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಿರುವ ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯವನ್ನು ಈ ಕೆಳಗೆ ನೀಡಿರುವೆ.

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ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ಮನವಿ ಕುರಿತು ನನ್ನ ಸೀಮಿತ ಮತ್ತು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಅನುಭವದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ -

ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಭಾರತದ ದುರಂತ ಅಂದರೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯೂ, ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾದ ಫಿಲ್ಟರ್ ‍ನಿಂದ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗಲೇ ಬೇಕಾದ ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಇದೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಅರಿತೇ ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯನವರು ಈ ಮನವಿಯನ್ನು ಮಂಡಿಸಿರುವುದು.

ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಅನ್ನೋ ಮಹಾನ್ ಚಿಂತಕ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟದೇ ಇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗಿನ ಚರ್ಚೆ, ವಾದ, ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯ ಹೊಸ ಹೊಳಹುಗಳು ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ ಆಗುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮಾರ್ಟಿನ್ ಲುಥರ್ ನ civil rights movement ಆಗದೇ ಇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬಾಮಾ ಅಮೇರಿಕಾ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷನಾಗುವುದು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿತ್ತಾ? ಆತ ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಬಲ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಣಾಮಕಾರಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಬೇರೆಯೇ ಮಾತು. ಅಥವಾ ಜಾತಿ ರಾಜಕೀಯ, ಧರ್ಮ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಅಮೇರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಎನ್ನುವ ಪ್ರತಿವಾದ ಬೇರೆಯೇ. ಅದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಡ. ಕುವೆಂಪು ಅವರ ವಿಶ್ವಮಾನವ concept ಆದರ್ಶ. ಅದು practical ಆದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅಲ್ವಾ ನಿಜವಾದ ಬೆಲೆ.

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ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯಿಂದ ಉಪಯೋಗ ಏನು ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಥವಾ ಕೇವಲ ಬಡವ - ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ವಾದಗಳು, ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೂಲ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೇ ಮರಳುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಅದು ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಸಮಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಗತ್ಯ. ಯಾಕಂದ್ರೆ ಆ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ದಾಟಿ ಯಾವತ್ತೋ ನಾವು ಮುಂದೆ ಬಂದಾಗಿದೆ.

ಅಂತರ್ ಧರ್ಮೀಯ, ಅಂತರ್ ಜಾತೀಯ ವಿವಾಹಗಳು ಹಿಂದಿನಿಂದಲೂ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದವು. ಒಂದು ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಹಲವು ವಿವಾಹಗಳು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಗೋಸ್ಕರವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಡೆದವುಗಳು. ಆದರೆ ಇಂದಿನ ಸಮಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಟ್ಟು ಇಡೀ ದೇಶ ಯಾವುದೇ ಬದ್ಧ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಉದ್ದೇಶದ ಕಡೆ ಮುಖ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸಮುದಾಯ ಚಳುವಳಿಗಳು ಸತ್ತು ಮಣ್ಣಾಗಿವೆ.

ಈಗಿನ ಪ್ರಕ್ಷುಬ್ಧ ಪರಿಸರ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ, ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ... [ ಅವರು ಈ ರೀತಿ ವಿವಾಹವಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಬದಲಾವಣೆ, ಆಂದೋಲನ ನಡೆದಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವರು ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಕಡೆ ಒಲಿದಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಇಂತಹ ವಿವಾಹ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ] … ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ನಾನು ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ಒಪ್ಪಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರೆ. ಮತ್ತು ಇದೇ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ನೀಡುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಗೆ ಉಪಯೋಗವಾಗಲಾರದು. ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೇ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಮದುವೆಗಳಾದರೂ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಲಾಭಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಏನು ಬೇಕಾದರು ಮಾಡುವ ಜನ ನಾವು.

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ಅವರೇ ಹೇಳಿದ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಅಂಶ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸೂಕ್ತ : …… [ ಇವರು ಜಾತಿರಹಿತರು, ನಿಜವಾದ ಭಾರತೀಯರು, ಜಾತ್ಯತೀತರು ಎಂದು ಇವರನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವಂತಾಗಬೇಕು. ]ಅಂತರ್ ಜಾತಿ/ ಧರ್ಮ ವಿವಾಹವಾದವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಜಾತಿ / ಧರ್ಮ / ಭಾಷೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗಿರಬೇಕು. ಆ ನೆಲೆಗಟ್ಟನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ತಾವು, ತಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಜಾತಿ / ಧರ್ಮ ರಹಿತ ಮಾನವರು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಗಟ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಬೇಕು. ಮತ್ತು ಅದು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಮನಸ್ಸಲ್ಲೂ ಬೆಳೆಯಬೇಕು.

ಇಲ್ಲವಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಆಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹಾಗೆ, ಒಂದು ಜಾತಿ/ ಧರ್ಮದ ಪ್ರಾಬಲ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆಯೇ ಹೊರತು ಜಾತಿ ರಹಿತ , ಧರ್ಮ ರಹಿತ ಸಮಾಜ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಲಾರದು. ಮಕ್ಕಳು ತಂದೆಯ ಜಾತಿ/ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನೇ (dominant paradigm) ಆಧಾರವಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭವೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು, ಅದು ಪೂರ್ವಾಗ್ರಹ ಪೀಡಿತ ಸಮಾಜದೊಳಗೆ ಬದುಕುವ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯ ಆಯ್ಕೆ.

ಯಾಕಂದ್ರೆ, ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು application ನಲ್ಲೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಜಾತಿ ಯಾವುದು, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಧರ್ಮ ಯಾವುದು ಎನ್ನುವ box ಗಳು ಇರುತ್ತವಲ್ಲ. ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ತುಂಬದೇ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಎದುರಿಗಿರುವ clerk/officer ನೀವು ಬೇರೆ ಗ್ರಹದಿಂದ ಬಂದವರೇನೋ ಅಂತ ನೋಡ್ತಾರಲ್ಲಾ. (ಈಗ ಇವು optional ಆಗಿವೆ ಅಂತ ಅಂದ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ … ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ). ಆ embarrassment ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಬೇಕು. ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಾಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿ ಸಲ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಹೇಳ್ಕೊಂಡೇ ಇರ್ಬೇಕು ಅಲ್ವಾ. ನಾನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಅಂತರ್ ಜಾತಿ / ಧರ್ಮೀಯ ವಿವಾಹವಾದ ನನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮನಿಗೆ ಅಂತ.

- ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಐವತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅಂತರ್ ಜಾತಿ ವಿವಾಹವಾಗಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ಒಬ್ಬ ಅಜ್ಜ-ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ (ನನ್ನ ಅಜ್ಜನ ತಮ್ಮ) ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಮದುವೆಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ( ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು - ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತೈದು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ) ಮತ್ತೆ ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು, ಅದೇ ಸಂದರ್ಭ, ಗೊಂದಲಗಳು - ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಾಡಿದ್ದವು. ಇನ್ನು ಈಗ ಅವರ ಮೊಮ್ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚೇನೂ ಬದಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ.!!! ಈಗಲೂ ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಹಾಗೇ ಇದೆ ಅಂದರೆ !!! ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯಿಂದ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ??? … ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅನ್ನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ!!!.

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ನಮಗೆ ಅಂದ್ರೆ, ಯಾರು (ಮಾನಸಿಕವಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ದೈಹಿಕವಾಗಿ) ತುಳಿತಕ್ಕೆ/ ಶೋಷಣೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗದ ಅನುಭವ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಮಾತುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ , ಬರಹಗಳಲ್ಲಿ - ಹೀಗಾದರೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು ಎನ್ನುವ ಮೇಲ್ನೋಟದ ಆದರ್ಶದ ಭ್ರಮೆ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲೂ. ಅದು ಧರ್ಮ ಇರಬಹುದು, ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಇರಬಹುದು, ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಇರಬಹುದು. anything and everything .

- ಈ ವರೆಗೂ ನನಗೆ, ನಾನು particular ಜಾತಿಯವಳು ಎನ್ನುವ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವ ರೀತಿಯ ಅವಮಾನವಾಗಲೀ, ಬೇಸರವಾಗಲೀ, ದೂಷಣೆಯಾಗಲೀ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಂದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ it does not exist ಅಂತ ನಾನು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡರೆ ತಪ್ಪಾಗಲ್ವಾ.!

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ಕೆಲವು ಸ್ತರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಜ್ನಾಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿಯಾದರೂ ನಾವು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದೊಂದೇ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲುಗಳನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ. ಹಿಂದಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಜನ ಇದನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡೇ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಮಾಜ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ನಾವೇ ಅಲ್ವಾ. ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿಯಾದರೂ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯಾವ ಭಯ ಆತಂಕವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ ಎಂದರೆ something must be happening over the period of time !!!

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ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಗಾಗಿ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆ ಈಗಲೂ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆಯೇ !
ಹೌದು ಅಂದರೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ನಾವು ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾಗಿರುವುದು ತುಂಬಾ ಇದೆ. ಒಟ್ಟು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನದೂ ಒಂದು ಪಾತ್ರ ಇರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅದಾಗಿಯೇ ಅದು ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಅದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸುಳ್ಳು.

- ನಾನು ಮದುವೆಯಾಗಲು ಯೋಚಿಸಿದಾಗ, ನನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮ ಮೊದಲು ಹುಡುಕಿದ್ದು ನಮ್ಮ ಜಾತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಾದ್ರೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಹುಡುಗ ಇದ್ದಾನಾ ಅಂತ. ಅಷ್ಟು ವರ್ಷ ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರೂ ಪ್ರಗತಿಪರರಾಗಿ ಬರೆದದ್ದು, ಭಾಷಣ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಚಿಂತನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದು, ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ಸುಳ್ಳಾ ಅಂತ ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ನನಗೆ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಆಯ್ತು ಅಂತ ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೇ, ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮ ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೇ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ. ಯಾಕಂದ್ರೆ ವಿಚಾರವಂತ ಬರಹಗಾರರ ಕುಟುಂಬ. ಇದು ಒಂದು ಚರ್ಚೆಯ ವಿಷಯವೇ ಅಲ್ಲ ನಮಗೆ. ಅನಾಯಾಸವಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಹಜ ಯೋಚನಾಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆಯೇ ಅನಗತ್ಯ. ಹಾಗಂತ ಅವರೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಳ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ರು. ನಾನೂ ಹಾಗೇ ಅಂದ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ.

ಆದ್ರೆ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಅದಲ್ಲ. ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕವಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಅನುಭವಗಳ ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ನಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗುವ comfort zoneಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಬದುಕಲು ಇಷ್ಟ ಪಡುವವರು.

ಜಾತಿ, ಧರ್ಮ, ದೇವರನ್ನು ಮೂಟೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಸಮುದ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಸಾಡಿದ ನನ್ನ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ನನ್ನ ನಿರ್ಧಾರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆಯಾದರೆ, ಪಾಪ ಅವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೊತ್ತುಕೊಂಡು ತಿರುಗುತ್ತಿರುವವರ ಪಾಡೇನು ಅಂತ ಯೋಚಿಸಿದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಒಮ್ಮೆಲೇ ಬದಲಾಗಬೇಕು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಹೇಗೆ. ಬಸವಣ್ಣ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಎಷ್ಟು ಶತಮಾನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ. ನಾವು ಈಗಲೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದ್ದೇವೆ ಅಲ್ವಾ. ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಬದಲಾಗುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಇದು.

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ನಾನು ಮದುವೆಯಾದಾಗ, ನಾನು ಏನೋ ದೊಡ್ದ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಅನ್ನಿಸಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಯಾಕಂದ್ರೆ, ಮೊದಲೇ ನಾನು ಈ ಜಾತಿ, ಆ ಧರ್ಮ, ಈ ದೇಶ ಎನ್ನುವ ನೆಲೆಗಟ್ಟನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ಯೋಚಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ. ಜತೆಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಮೊದಲೇ ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಜನ ಈ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು ಹತ್ತಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಸರಳ ಸತ್ಯದ ಅರಿವು ನನಗೆ ಇದ್ದ ಕಾರಣ. ಮತ್ತು ನನಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮ ನೀಡಿದ ಆತ್ಮಬಲ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣ. ದ್ವಂದ್ವಗಳು ಏನೇ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅವರ ಧೈರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ಜತೆಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಇದು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಯ್ತು.

ನನ್ನ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಹಜ and I do understand it. Its a micro example ಅಷ್ಟೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜ ಮಾನಸಿಕವಾಗಿ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗೆ ರೆಡಿಯಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ. ಯಾಕಂದ್ರೆ, ನಾನು ಜಾತಿ ಧರ್ಮ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟರೂ ನನ್ನ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತ ಇರುವ ಜನರು ಇನ್ನೂ ಅದೇ ಲೇಬಲ್ ಹಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರಲ್ಲಾ. ಅವರೆಲ್ಲಾ ಯಾವಾಗ ಈ tag ಗಳನ್ನು ಕಳಚಿಡುತ್ತಾರೋ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೆ ನಾನು ಅವರ ಜತೆ ಗುದ್ದಾಡಲೇಬೇಕಲ್ಲ.!!!

ನಾವು ಎಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿ ಧರ್ಮ, ಜಾತಿ ಬಿಡಲು ತಯಾರು.??? ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಜಾತಿ ಸೂಚಕ, ಧರ್ಮ ಸೂಚಕ ಹೆಸರುಗಳನ್ನು (ಸರ್ ನೇಮ್) ಬಿಟ್ಟರೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮಟ್ಟಿನ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ಬಂದೀತು. ಅಲ್ಲವೇ. ಎಲ್ಲಿವರೆಗೆ ಜಾತಿ, ಧರ್ಮ ಎನ್ನುವ ಬಾಲ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇವೆಯೋ ಅಲ್ಲಿವರೆಗೆ ಯಾವ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಯಾರಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದರೂ ಉಪಯೋಗವಾಗದು.

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ಬಹುಶಃ as a concept - ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಆದರ್ಶ. ಆದರೆ ಅದು ಆಮಿಶವಾದರೆ … ಮದುವೆ ಅನ್ನುವುದೂ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ದಾಳವಾಗಿ … ಇನ್ನು ಏನೇನೋ ಹೊಸ ಹೊಸ ರೀತಿಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಾರದಲ್ಲಾ ನಾವು. !!!

ಹಾಗಾಗದೇ … ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಲ್ಲುವ ಪಾತ್ರರಿಗೇ ಅದು ದಕ್ಕಿದರೆ ಆಗ ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಟದ ದಾರಿ ಸುಲಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಾದರೂ ಶುರು ಮಾಡಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ. !

ಅದನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

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ಹೊಸ ಕಾರಂಜಿ !!!

2009-01-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂತಹ ರಾಕ್ ಶೈಲಿಯ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗ್ತಾ ಇದೆ. ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷವೇ ಬಂದ ರಘು ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್‍ ರ ... ನಿನ್ನ ಪೂಜೆಗೆ ಬಂದೆ ... ಹಾಡು ಈ ಟ್ರೆಂಡ್‍ಗೆ ಪೀಠಿಕೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಈಗ, ಕಾರಂಜಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ. ಈ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಸಂಗೀತ ಹೊಸತನದಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಕ್ಲೀಷೆಯಾದರೂ ಇದು ಸುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲ.
ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ಹೊಸ ನೀರಿನ ಹರಿವಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಾರಂಜಿ, ಸಂಗೀತದ ಹೊಸ ಬುಗ್ಗೆಯನ್ನೂ ನೀಡಹೊರಟಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಜನಪದ ಮತ್ತು ಭಾವಗೀತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ರಾಕ್ ಶೈಲಿಯ ಬಳಕೆ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗಂತೂ ಸಂಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ವೀರ್ ಸಮರ್ಥ್ ಅವರ ಈ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪ್ರಯೋಗ .

ಕಾರಂಜಿಯೊಳಗೆ :

rock band theme ...
the music of 60's from the West, now at last has come to Kannada.

ಕುಂಬಾರಕಿ ಈಕಿ ...
ಸಂತ ಶಿಶುನಾಳ ಶರೀಫರ ಹಾಡು ಸುಖ್ವಿಂದರ್ ಕಂಠದಲ್ಲಿ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಯೇ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮಿದೆ. ಕೆಲವು ಶಬ್ದಗಳ ಉಚ್ಛಾರ ದೋಷಗಳನ್ನು ಮರೆತರೆ ಈ ಹಾಡು ಕೇಳಲು ಕುಣಿಯಲು ಸುಖ.

ಈ ದಿನ ಹೊಸತಾಗಿದೆ ...
ಹಾಡು ಮೆಲುವಾಗಿ ಮೃದುವಾಗಿ ತೇಲಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ್ ಧ್ವನಿ ಕೇಳಲು ಹಿತವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಹೊಸತಾಗಿ ಏನೂ ಅನ್ನಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಿನ್ನ ಹಳ್ಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಾ ...
ರಘು ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್ ಬಹಳ ಉತ್ತಮವಾಗಿ ದನಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಈ ಜನಪದ ಶೈಲಿಯ ಹಾಡಿಗೆ.

ಈ ತಂಪು ಗಾಳಿ ಬೀಸಲು ...
ಸುಂದರವಾದ ಸಂಗೀತ ಸಂಯೋಜನೆಯಿರುವ ಹಾಡು ಇದು. ಜೇನುಹನಿ ದನಿಯ ಹರಿಹರನ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬಾಂಬೆ ಜಯಶ್ರೀ ದನಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನಿಧಾನ ಗತಿಯ ಈ ಹಾಡಿಗೆ ಕವ್ವಾಲಿ ಶೈಲಿಯನ್ನೂ ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಹೆಣೆಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಡಲ ತೀರ, ಒಂಟಿ ಮರ, ಪಾಳು ಬಿದ್ದ ಕೋಟೆ, ಉದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರುವ ದಾರಿ ... ಏನೆಲ್ಲಾ ನೆನಪಾಯಿತು ಈ ಹಾಡು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾ ...

ನಾನು ಕೋಳಿಕೆರಂಗ ...
ವೀರ್ ಸಮರ್ಥ್ ಧ್ವನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಟಿ ಪಿ ಕೈಲಾಸ್ ಅವರ ಈ ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್ ಪೀಸ್ ಮತ್ತೆ ಯುವಜನತೆ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಲಿದಾಡಿದರೆ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.
( ಸಿ ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ಧ್ವನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಹಾಡು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇಳಿ)

ಯಾರು ಹಾಡದ ಎಂದೂ ಕೇಳದ ...
slow and sweet ... ಕೆಲವು ಕಡೆ ಶ್ರುತಿ-ಸ್ವರಗಳ ಜತೆ ಹರಿಹರನ್ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿಯೋ ಓಡಾಡಿ ಬರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಒಂದು ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಧಿಯಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಈ ಹಾಡಿನ ಸ್ವರಗಳು. " ... ಮನಗಳ ನೆರಳಿವೆ ಬಿಸಿಲೊಳಗೆ ... ಊರ ಸೇರಲು ದಾರಿಯೋ ನೂರಿವೆ ...", ಶ್ರೀಧರ್ ಅವರ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಮುರಿದ ಮನದ ...
ಭಾವಗೀತೆಯಾಗಿ ಕೇಳಿದ ಈ ಹಾಡನ್ನು ರಾಕ್ ಶೈಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇಳಲು ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ವಿಜಯ್ ಪ್ರಕಾಶ್ ಮತ್ತು ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಶ್ರೀಧರ್, ಹೆಚ್ ಎಸ್ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್‍ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರ ಗೀತೆಗೆ ರಾಕ್ ಟಚ್ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಸುಪ್ರಿಯಾ ದನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ... ಆಲಾಪ, ಅಪೂರ್ವಳ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಕಂಠಸಿರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ... ನಾದದಿಂಪು, ರಿಮಿಕ್ಸ್ ಮಾಡಿರೋ ... ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಸಂತೇಲಿ, ಗುರುಕಿರಣ್ ಹಾಡಿರುವ ... ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತಲು ಕಾರಂಜಿಯ ಇನ್ನು ಕೆಲವು ಸಂಗೀತ ಬುಗ್ಗೆಗಳು.

ಸಾಂಗತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ . . .

2009-01-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

ಸಾಂಗತ್ಯ : ಒಂದು ಚಿತ್ರ ವೇದಿಕೆ.
ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರಹಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಅಭಿರುಚಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಇದು.
ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗಷ್ಟೇ ಕುಪ್ಪಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವ ನಡೆಸಿ ಚಿತ್ರ ಸಂವಾದವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ ಸಾಂಗತ್ಯ.

ಸ್ಲಂಡಾಗ್ ಮಿಲಿಯನೇರ್ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾನು ಬರೆದ ಚಿತ್ರವಿಮರ್ಶೆ > ಸಾಂಗತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

for the film review of Slumdog Millionaire in English > SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Alberobello !!!

2009-01-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

I saw them in a recent Hindi film song, khuda jaane. The song was shot in several beautiful locales of Italy. One particular location caught my attention.
Those tiny hut like houses, unique white structures attracted me all the while.

It is Alberobello. Alberobello is a small town famous for its unique trulli constructions.

This small commune populated with 11,000 inhabitants, is in (the Province of Bari, the region of Puglia ) South Italy. It is the only such town in the world that has been built entirely by cone-shaped structures.

Trulli (Trullo : singular), as they are called, are limestone dwellings with a conical roof. They are constructed by the farmers as storehouses.

The origin of this structure design is although unknown, but the history of Trulli goes back to the Middle Ages. The stories claim that these were built by the farmers to evade the heavy land taxes.

Considering the fact that, a prehistoric building technique still in use in this region, the trulli of Alberobello were declared as world heritage site in 1996 by UNESCO.

Alberobello is an important tourist attraction mainly luring the British and German tourists. Many trulli structures are refurbished into hotels and also are sold as individual houses after the restoration.

This is 'truly' an enchanting spot for a holiday !!!

[ photo courtesy : geocities.com / wikipedia.com ]

Cesaria Evora : The Barefoot Diva

2009-01-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

link : three amazing voices

Cape Verde !!!

2009-01-14T13:42:00.001-08:00

It was a casual drive from an evening shopping back home with my partner. The music was on in one of the radios of Bay area, which instantly struck us both. He increased the volume saying ... this is so beautiful.

The presenter announced it was from Cape Verde, a small country of islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. The music was both mesmerizing and cheerful.

I came back and searched for Gabriela Mendes, the singer from Cape Verde. She sounds marvelous and her music similar to Indian folk tunes.

Later I heard, 'The Barefoot Diva' Cesaria Evora . She is the soul and heart of Morna and Coladera, music of Cape Verde. She has transcended Cape Verdian music and culture to the world.

Listen to her enchanting music in these links.

link 1 : Cesaria Evora - Cabo Verde

link 2 : Cesaria Evora - Sodade (this sounds so similar to Indian music)

Cape Verde's social and culture is borrowed heavily from Portuguese and African culture and traditions. It is a land of musicians and poets. This beautiful land in between the waters, is a center of culture and arts.

Hawaii !!!

2009-01-13T15:37:00.001-08:00

Hawaii : a land of beauty !!!
Aloha State as it is nicknamed,this US governed state is a hub of tourism. But deep down the waters of the Pacific lie a story untold; a culture, left scarred. (http://www.piccom.org/)

The early settlements in this group of islands were from Polynesian cultures, go back to 3rd century.
British captain, James Cook landed in Kealakekua Bay in the 18th century,thus making the first contact with the natives of Hawaii. With the help of British sailors, a Kingdom of Hawaii was established.
Since then, Hawaii has got transformed into a Provisional Government, a Republic government, then annexed into US as a territory and later as a US State in 1959.

Of the People and the Places !!!

2009-01-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

People and Places intrigue me the most !

I have been cherishing a dream of a world tour for a long time. So does my mother. She keeps on telling about it now and then. Well, I do not know if my dream is a possible one.

But, when I came across the Google Earth, I was all over the places. The whole world was in front of me !!! In search of the places and people I knew less about, or did not even know that they were existing, I have found out many and more interesting facts and details about Earth and its inhabitants.
Henceforth, I will keep posting some interesting and intriguing details about the people and places I have met and seen virtually.

a silent journey ...

2009-01-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

This was not like any other forward e-mail message which I usually send to trash without even opening them.
This was something different. This was from a distant friend, Anirban Dasgupta. He was the same artist from whom I had bought a digital art work in Chitra Sante, Bangalore, some 2 years back.

and now, a forwarded e-mail from him which read thus :

Hi friend,
When you meet a 'Deaf' person, when you read of the 'Deaf', please stop, ask yourself: 'What do I understand by this word 'Deaf''? Does it simply mean people who cannot hear, people in a 'Disability' group? Well, birds do not swim the way fish do and fish do not fly the way birds do. And yet, are they in any 'Disability' category? Of course not! They are simply different with different abilities!! Same with Deaf. Did you know the Deaf have a language of their own? And where language lives, their culture grows. So are you aware of a rich and fascinating Deaf Culture?

Yes, Anirban is a deaf artist himself.
And look how beautifully he has connected me to this wonderful world of Silence and to this courageous lady, Ms. Sarah Giri.

Almost instinctively I have associated myself with Ms. Sarah for a positive and silent journey myself. At once, I realized how easily we forget and take for granted ourselves; our lives; of how trivial it becomes such issues to us at times; how busy we get in the normal course of sounds and noises.

I remember some time back I had been on a shooting for a documentary of an organization. That institute was conducting courses for blind, deaf and dumb children; getting them equipped with livelihood sources.
On that day, there was a workshop for teachers and trainers in progress. Normal hearing people were getting trained to understand and cope up with those who are physically challenged. I was taken aback, how difficult it is for a normal person to digest the fact that one can not see, hear and speak.

That was then and I had long forgotten about it as usual any person would do. Because we tend to overlook these important means of our very own existence and communication.

And now, through Anirban, I am travelling over into a different world altogether. I am happy that I have come to know of Ms. Sarah Giri. I am happy that this association will continue further, for, I have atarted a silent journey myself.
I wish you too look at Sarah's journey into the world of Silence and beyond that. See what she has discovered for herself and may be you will also find something waiting for yourself !

[ photo courtesy : Anirban Dasgupta and Sarah's Blog ]

new album from Jagjit ji

2009-01-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

This voice is one which gets better and better like the old wine. That is Jagjit Singh.

Recently I was browsing through his website and found out that he is launching a new album of ghazals. I got to hear the new tracks as a pre-release preview. The 8 tracks in the new album are refreshing as always.

There is a small contest offered too. The contest is to listen to the mukhdas of the audio tracks and predict the order in which they will appear on the album to be released.

Well, for a ghazal lover like me, this was interesting. I tried and have posted my answer sequence.

I liked 3 of the tracks very much , din dooba tum yaad aye ... , inteha aaj ishq ki kardi ... , and manzilein kya hei raasta kya hei ...

Log in to www.jagjitchitrasingh.com (you need to register as a member) and listen to what Jagjit ji has to offer in his new album.

worth the price ! slumdog millionaire !

2008-12-21T21:27:00.000-08:00

It was a chilled afternoon. Yet we decided to explore out. The best option was the movie. Just a couple of days back my partner had told me that this movie is going to be a frontrunner in the next Oscars. I was searching the net for more of this slumdog!!! That is a British film, Slumdog Millionaire.

What attracted us to the movie was that, first the story happens to be from India and is based on an Indian novel by Vikas Swarup, Q & A. Second, the background music score by A R Rahman which has been making ripples in the top slots and had already won Golden Globe awards. So there was no second thought of missing it.

The movie, directed by Danny Boyle takes on from the fiction to the real streets and gullies of Mumbai slums. First few minutes to the movie and you start feeling that this film is heavily inspired by the 2002 Brazil classic, City of God ... said a review. I agree to certain extent. I came back and watched City of God. Then I realized that City of God is much more dense, intense, and haunting. And I remember watching our own Oscar nominee Salaam Bombay of the 80's.
Slumdog Millionaire is shocking to some levels, but it fails to grip the breath of the viewer and make one feel aghast. May be my Indian origin plays prejudices around.

The film is not a hard hitting one, but it is crafted brilliantly and narrated at its best. You take home some of the shots and scenes along with you which remain in front of your eyes long after the film has ended. Slumdog Millionaire revolves around people who were too far removed from the picture postcard image of Mumbai. (Inspired by City of God dialogue - we were too far removed from the picture postcard image of Rio de Janeiro).

Jamal Malik, an 18 year old slum boy is one question away from winning the jackpot of 20 million rupees in a reality game show. (Indian version of Who wants to be a Millionaire? - Kaun Banega Karorpati?). Opening scene tells us that Jamal has been accused of cheating in the show and is being interrogated by a police inspector (Irfan Khan). What follows is an interspersed narrative of the game show and the real story of Jamal. Jamal is explaining how he knew the right answers and did not cheat. He gets the clues and the right answers from the incidents of his very own life. And this is coincidental or what they call as the Destiny.

The early scene where Salim and Jamal along with a bunch of children are chased by a policeman sets the pace and the mood for the movie, but as the film unfolds itself, the pace mellows down sulking one into the distressing story of Jamal. This chase sequence is extremely well knitted with close-ups, mid shots and long shots and a few aerial shots of Dharavi, fast cutting across along with the foot tapping music track. It is also a great visual treat, (how can I call it a treat?) each shot, a harsh reality, the scene is spectacular in the way it is crafted. With the Steadicam shot running inside into every nook and corner of the slum gullies. Of course, this scene has shades from the hen chasing scene of City of God.

Jamal is running for his life; living his moments at the edge. His older brother Salim, who suffers from a feeling of sibling rivalry, always takes a chance ahead of Jamal. Salim does love Jamal but with a tinge of jealousy. A funny but a hard hitting scene, where a young Salim locks up his brother Jamal inside the outdoor latrine depicts the extreme poor living conditions of the slum dwellers. Jamal drops himself in a pit of excrement, comes out covered with the mushy brown blob dashing to his favourite film star's autograph.

Salim and Jamal escape the floods of fury (the raged Hindu mobs) but loose their mother who gets killed by the mob. They are joined by another orphan Lathika, and live on the streets. The three are handpicked by Maman's people who use children as beggars. One of the horrifying and poignant scenes is where one of the children is been picked up and his eyes are plucked off. That leaves one with heart stirring. I did not dare to watch that shot.

Again the three escape from Maman's den and jump into a moving train. Salim, who could have pulled Lathika on board does not do so and lets her off by hand. He is jealous and uncomfortable with Jamal's proximity to Lathika. The two brothers find themselves in the land of Love, at Taj Mahal. Both of them go on with petty works like selling snacks and tea on the local trains, as tour guides, as shoe keepers and all sorts of other menial chores. As they grow into adulthood, their paths diverge. Salim takes shelter with Javed, a gang leader and works for him. Lathika forcibly becomes Javed's lure.

The film is pretty predictable though the protagonist struggles through every single hurdle thrust upon him, and emerges triumphantly. As each flashback ends, there is question waiting for Jamal to answer. From the start, we know that he is going to win the jackpot. So, keeping apart that final anxiety, the viewer does not wait for the film to end in a twist or a surprise. But the fact is the justification of all the coincidents in Jamal's life which led him to the hot seat seem to be written or destined. Or if one want to call it as 'so real' and not 'surreal'.

Personally I do not agree with the fact that it is written or destined, so I immediately distance myself from that very underlying message (sarcastically though) of the film. The narrative is such that you come to believe that Jamal was destined to win the money or be there. It is indeed a beautifully narrated film.

Slumdog Millionaire is not about the poor vs. rich. It is not even about the dream of a poor boy wanting to be a rich man. The money does not drive Jamal to take part in the game show, but Love does. That’s why Slumdog is a love story rather than a real story of destinies. Love here is raw, still a novice. We do not get ample scenes to justify the love of Jamal and Lathika. But Love is Love. What else do you need to prove it? From the soft tender emotions of Jamal, love evolves for Lathika, develops into a bond of affection and longing. Both know that they want to be with each other. That is the call of Love, which ultimately succeeds. For it to succeed, the coincidents and the final destiny of Jamal being in the game show is necessary.

Some of the scenes are dramatic. All the answers are drawn from a clue or a link to Jamal’s life; for once also Jamal does not fail. That's the extreme in any kind of coincidence. Prem Kumar, the host of the show (Anil Kapoor) is not justified enough for his misleads given to the contestant. One, it could be fame and the status. Other is jealousy. And far more real one could be just Star Power. Whatever it is because of him Jamal lands in the police station and gets to experience the horrors of police treatment. And again, not enough reasons for why the Police Inspector thinks that Jamal is telling the truth. Jamal does not for once gets discouraged or dejected, for he is determined to get what he came for. Not the money but Love. He knows for sure that Lathika an ardent fan of the show would be watching the show. And this alone will let them unite. And it does.

The end is Happy yet not a happy ending. But the director inserts a big bollywood dance number right after the film ends.It certainly takes away the very essence of the movie. Though this Jai Ho track is sung by Sukhwinder Singh and penned by Gulzar does make you enjoy when separately listened to it, but not along with the credits rolling. It was an out of sync insert.

A R Rahman's music is like an addiction. He brings a certain quality to his works. All the 13 music tracks elevate the scene up.

The Director of Photography, Anthony Mantle took a digital camera and a small crew and a great sense of editing and montage into one of the world's biggest slums unravelling the glimpses of wastelands, pipeline edges, garbage dumps, and a peek into million lives of nameless slum dwellers.

The actors have done good acting. For many it is their first film. The director found his child actors among Mumbai's street kids, Ayush, Azaruddin and Rubiana. The middle set of younger three played by Tanay, Ashutoash and Tanvi are fine in their characters.

Dev Patel, the British TV actor seems to be very familiar to me. I haven't seen any of his TV shows earlier, he is a face of innocence. He emotes vibrantly. Frieda Pinto, is a normal face of beauty. I hold a special mention to this director's actor because her roots go back to my home town, Mangalore. She may prove herself given the fact that she is let alone to act and not only to sing and dance. The new found Madhur Mittal, would become a good actor in Indian films if only he is guided properly and given the characters he is deserved for.

The biggest casting mistake was Anil Kapoor as the Host of the game show. I feel so probably because I am not attracted to Anil Kapoor's acting skills nor did he had the grandeur and mystic charisma needed for the character. And Irfaan Khan was there only because of his recent international fames, Namesake and Mighty Heart. He is far more a great actor to be used for than this single layered character of a Police Inspector. Saurabh Shukla, the Police Constable, had nothing to do but give some stereotyped expressions of a typical policeman. Same with Mahesh Manjrekar as the gang leader, this one is a just a pass on. Although Ankur Vikal as Maman had a brief role in the film, he epitomizes the villainous with his subtle performance. This actor is the one to look for in the coming days.

Out of a great pain and great happiness emerges the great Life and also may be a good story. Hence, this work is a good piece of work by the director Danny Boyle. Given the marketing network and the PR for awards, it does not surprise me if this film goes on to win the Oscars.

I am not at all bothered whether this film is showcasing the poverty of India, or if this is a mockery of the status quo. Because every film comes with a reason and certain kind of motive whatsoever. And movies are as much Commercial a product as they are the Artistic expressions.

Slated for an early next year release in India, I am curious how this film attracts the Indian lots. For, there are more shades to it than just being a film. Hidden desire to acquire wealth with no hard work, the lure of Television shows, the Destiny factor, the Love angle, the Hero triumph would very well gets down with the Indian psyche.

[ for more of the Slumdog : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slumdog_Millionaire ]

ತುಮ್ ನೆ ಮುಜ್ ಕೊ ಫಿರೋ ಕೆ ರಕಾ ಥಾ ...

2008-12-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

ಈಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿ … … … ಹೇಮಂತ ಗಾನ. ಶಿಶಿರನ ಆಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾದಿರುವ ನೆಲಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಎಲೆಗಳ ಹೊದಿಕೆ.
ಮಂಜಿನ ಚಾವಣಿ ಹೊದ್ದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ ಆಗಸದ ನೀಲಿ. ಸುಮ್ಮಗೆ ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಇಣುಕಿ ನೋಡುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಕಣ್ಣುಮುಚ್ಚಾಲೆ ಆಟ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟ ಅಲ್ವಾ?. ಹಸಿರು ಎಲೆಗಳು ಹಳದಿಯಾಗಿ ದಟ್ಟ ಕೆಂಪು ಆವರಿಸುವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಕಳಚಿ ನೆಲಕ್ಕೆ ಉದುರಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ವಿದಾಯ.
… … …
ಅದಷ್ಟೂ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಕಂತೆಯನ್ನು ಹರಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಕೂತಿದ್ದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಫೇವರೆಟ್ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಜತೆಗೆ ಪೋಣಿಸುತ್ತಾ ನನ್ನದೇ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಎಷ್ಟು ಹೊತ್ತು !!! … ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ … ದಿನಗಟ್ಟಲೆ … ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಇಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ !!! ಅದ್ಯಾವ ಭಾವ … ಅದ್ಯಾವ ಎಳೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಜತೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು. ಯಾವ ಮೈತ್ರಿ. ಯಾವ ಸೆಳೆತ ?
… … …
ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಹರಡಿ ಬಿದ್ದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಸಮುದ್ರ, ಮೇಲೆ ನೀಲಿ ಆಕಾಶ, ಚಂದ್ರ, ಕಾಡು ಹೂವು, ಗದ್ದೆ ಬದಿಯ ಸಣ್ಣ ದಾರಿ, ಅವನ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುವ ಓಣಿ, ಸಂಜೆ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗುವ ಬೆಳ್ಳಕ್ಕಿ ಸಾಲು.ಅಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹುಡುಕಿದರೂ ಸಿಗದೆ ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಅವನು ಒಂದು ಹಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಒಂದು ಹಾಡಿನಲ್ಲೇ …… ಹಮ್ಮ್ … ಅವನನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಹಾಡಿನ ಬಂಧನದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿಸಲಿ ಹೇಳಿ?.
… … …
ಸುಮಾರು ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು ವರುಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ. ಹರಿಹರನ್ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ.
ಉಡ್ನೆ ಲಗಿ ಹೆ ಯೆ ಜಮೀನ್ … ಥಮ್ ಸಾ ಗಯಾ ಯೆ ಆಸ್ ಮಾನ್ …
ರೊಖೊ ನ ಇಸ್ಕೆ ಜುನೂನ್ ಕೊ … ಅಬ್ ಹೊಗಯಾ ಹೆ ದಿಲ್ ಜವಾನ್ …
ನನ್ನ ಸಂಜೆಗಳಿಗೆಂದೇ ಬರೆದ ಹಾಗಿದ್ದವು ಆ ಸಾಲುಗಳು. ಆ ಸಾಲುಗಳ ಜತೆ ಥಳಕು ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಆ ಮುಖ.ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ನದಿ ನೀರಿನ ಬಳುಕು, ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಜಲಪಾತದ ಆವೇಗ. ಬಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟ ಮಾತು … ಹೇಳಲಾಗದ ಮೌನ … ಕಣ್ಣು ಕಣ್ಣು ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡು ಕನಸು ಕಟ್ಟುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ದಿನಗಳು. ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಕನಸುಗಳು ತುಟಿವರೆಗೆ ಬರಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಮುಗುಳು ನಗು ಮಾತ್ರ ಇಬ್ಬರ ಮನದ ಮಾತಿಗೆ ಸೇತುವೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಹರಿಹರನ್ ಮಾದಕ ದನಿಯ ಸಾಂಗತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನನ್ನು ನೆನಸಿಕೊಂಡರೆ ತುಟಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಿಂಚಿ ಮಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಅದೇ ಆ ತುಟಿಯಂಚಿನ ತುಂಟ ನಗು.
ಯೆ ಆಯಿನೆ ಸೆ ಅಕೇಲೆ ಮೆ ಗುಫ್ತಗೂ ಕ್ಯಾ ಹೆ ...
ಜೊ ಮೆ ನಹಿ ಹೂ ತೊ ಫಿರ್ ತೆರಾ ರೂಬರೂ ಕ್ಯಾ ಹೆ ....
ಅವನು ಕೂಡ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಹರಿಹರನ್ ಗಿಂತಲೂ ಚೆಂದವಾಗಿ. ಆ ದನಿಯ ಮೋಡಿಗೇ ಮರುಳಾಗಿದ್ದೆ ಅನ್ನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಾ ??? ಅದೇನು ಅಂದರೆ ಆತನನ್ನು ಹಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ಅರಿವಾಯ್ತು. ಹಾಗಂತ ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. !!!
ಆಪ್ ಕೊ ದೇಖ್ ಕರ್ ದೇಖ್ ತಾ ರೆಹಗಯಾ ...
ಕ್ಯಾ ಕಹೂ ಔರ್ ಕೆಹೆನೆ ಕೊ ಕ್ಯಾ ರೆಹಗಯಾ ...
ಆತೆ ಆತೆ ಮೆರಾ ನಾಮ್ ಸಾ ರೆಹಗಯಾ...
ಉಸ್ಕೆ ಹೊಂಟೋ ಪೆ ಕುಚ್ ಕಾಂಪ್ ತಾ ರೆಹಗಯಾ …
ಆ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಹುಚ್ಚು ಹಚ್ಚಿಸಿಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ಜಗ್ ಜಿತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್ ನ ವಿಷಾದ ಮತ್ತು ನೀರವತೆಯನ್ನು.ಅವನೂ ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಗುನುಗುನಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ನಾನು ಅವನ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಸಾಲುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಕ್ಷರವಾದೆ. ಜಗ್ಜಿತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಜತೆಗೆ ಅವನೂ ಸಹ.
ಕಭಿ ಯೂ ಭಿ ತೊ ಹೊ …
ಯೆ ನರ್ಮ್ ಮುಲಾಯಮ್ ಥಂಡಿ ಹವಾಯೆ …
ಜಬ್ ಘರ್ ಸೆ ತುಮ್ಹಾರೆ ಗುಝ್ ರೆ …
ತುಮ್ಹಾರಿ ಖುಶ್ಬೂ ಚುರಾಯೆ …
ಮೆರೆ ಘರ್ ಲೆ ಆಯೆ …
ಆ ತಣ್ಣಗಿನ ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಬೆಚ್ಚಗೆ ಉಸಿರಿನ ಗುರುತು ಸಿಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಜಗ ಜಿತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್ ನನ್ನ ವಿರಹ ವೇದನೆಯನ್ನು ಅರಿತೇ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದನೋ ಅಂತ ಅಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ.
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Cassette ಖರೀದಿಸಿ ಹಾಡು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಾಲ. ಅಮ್ಮನ ಜತೆ audio shopಗೆ ಹೋದರೆ, ಅವರು ... ವಿಷಾದ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಇರೋ ಹಾಡು ಕೇಳ್ತಾ ನಿನಗೂ ಅದೇ ಗುಂಗು ಹಿಡಿದು ಬಿಡುತ್ತೆ … ಅಂತ ಗದರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.ಅದು ನಿಜವೇನೋ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ಪ್ರೇಮ-ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ವಿರಹ-ವೇದನೆ ಅಂತ ಹೊಸತಾಗಿ ಗೊತ್ತಾದ ದಿನಗಳೇನೂ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅವು. ಆದರೆ, ಅವುಗಳ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯೆ ಪಕ್ವಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಾಲ. ನನಗೆ ನಾನೇ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು. ಅವನು ಹೀಗಿರಬೇಕು, ಆತ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಹಾಡ್ತಾನೆ, ಪಕ್ಕದ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿರೋನು ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಚಂದ ಮಾತಡ್ತಾನೆ. ಅಪ್ಪನ ಆ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನ ಮಗ ಎಷ್ಟು ಓದಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಅಂತೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ವಿಹರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಆ ಅಷ್ಟೂ ಮುಖಗಳು ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗ್ತಾ ಇದ್ವು.
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ಕಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಮುಖಗಳು ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಬಿಡಲಿಲ್ಲ.ಜಗ್ಜಿತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್ ಜತೆ ಚಿತ್ರಾ, ಸುಧಾ ಮಲ್ಹೋತ್ರಾ, ಫರೀದಾ ಖಾನುಮ್, ರೂನಾ ಲೈಲಾ, ಮೆಹದಿ ಹಸನ್, ಗುಲಾಮ್ ಅಲಿ ... ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ನಾವೂ ಇದ್ದೀವಿ ಅಂತ ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೇ ಬಂದು ಕೂತ್ಕೊಂಡು ಬಿಟ್ರು ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸೊಳಗೆ. ಜತೆಗೇ ಅನಿಲ್ ಕುಂಬ್ಳೆ ಕೂಡ. Cricket ಆಟದ ತಲೆ ಬುಡ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ … ಆದ್ರೆ ಅನಿಲ್ ಕುಂಬ್ಳೆ ನನ್ನ notes book ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂಟಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ. ಅಮ್ಮ ತಮಾಷೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ರು. ಇವಳನ್ನು ಅನಿಲ್ ಕುಂಬ್ಳೆಗೇ ಮದುವೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡೋದು ಅಂತ. ಇಷ್ಟ ಆಯ್ತು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಮದುವೆ ಆಗ್ಬೇಕು ಅಂತ ಏನಾದ್ರೂ rule ಇದ್ಯಾ … ನಾನು ಅಮ್ಮನ ಜತೆ ವಾದ ಮಾಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದೆ. ಅಮ್ಮ ನನ್ನ ವಾದವನ್ನು ಅರಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಕಷ್ಟಪಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.
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ಆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮುಖಗಳ ಜತೆಗೆ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಅಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೇಲಿ ಹೋದ ಸಂಜೆಗಳೆಷ್ಟೋ. ಸ್ನೇಹ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಎರಡು ಜತೆ ಜತೆಗೇ ಇರಬೇಕು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ನಾನು ಅದೇ ಗುಂಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ... ಮಾತಿಗೆ ಸಿಗುವ ಮೋಡಿಗಾರ, ಮೌನವನ್ನು ಅರಿಯುವ ಮಾಯಗಾರ ಎಲ್ಲಿಹನು ಎಂದು ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ... ನನ್ನೆದುರು ಮುರುಟಿಕೊಂಡು ಗಂಟು ಗಂಟಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಅಥವಾ ನಾನೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದೆನೋ ... ಸಾಥ್ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದದ್ದು ...
ಖಾಬ್ ಥಾ ಖಯಾಲ್ ಥಾ ಕ್ಯಾ ಥಾ … ಎಂದು ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸುಧಾ ಮಲ್ಹೋತ್ರಾ,
ಆಂಖ್ ಸೆ ಆಂಖ್ ಮಿಲಾ ಬಾತ್ ಬನಾತಾ ಕ್ಯೂ ಹೆ …
ತು ಅಗರ್ ಮುಜ್ ಸೆ ಕಫಾ ಹೆ ತೊ ಚುಪಾತಾ ಕ್ಯೂ ಹೆ …
ಗೈರ್ ಲಗ್ ತಾ ಹೆ ನ ಅಪ್ನೋ ಕಿ ತರ್ಹಾ ಮಿಲ್ ತಾ ಹೆ …
ತು ಝಮಾನೆ ಕಿ ತರ್ಹಾ ಮುಜ್ ಕೊ ಸತಾತಾ ಕ್ಯೂ ಹೆ … ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಗಝಲ್ ರಾಣಿ ಚಿತ್ರಾ ಸಿಂಗ್,
ಜತೆಗೆ ಫರೀದಾ ಖಾನುಮ್ ದನಿ …
ಮೇರೆ ಹಮ್ ನಫಸ್ ಮೇರೆ ಹಮ್ ನವಾಬ್ ಮುಜೆ ದೋಸ್ತ್ ಬನ್ ಕೆ ದಗಾ ನ ದೆ …
ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ರೂನಾ ಲೈಲಾ …
ರಂಜಿಷ್ ಹಿ ಸಹೀ ದಿಲ್ ಹಿ ದುಖಾನೆ ಕೆ ಲಿಯೆ ಆ …
ಆ ಫಿರ್ ಸೆ ಮುಜೆ ಚೋಡ್ ಕೆ ಜಾನೆ ಕೆ ಲಿಯೆ ಆ …
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ಅಂತೂ ಅವನು ಬಂದಿದ್ದ. ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನಾಗಿ.
ತೇರೆ ಆನೆ ಕಿ ಜಬ್ ಖಬರ್ ಮೆಹೆಕೆ … ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದು ಜಗ್ ಜಿತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್.
ಕಭಿ ಯೂ ಭಿ ಆ ಮೇರೆ ಆಂಖ್ ಮೆ ಕೆ ಮೇರಿ ನಝರ್ ಕೊ ಖಬರ್ ನ ಹೊ …
ಕೊನೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅವನಿಗೇ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ನೇಹ ಎರಡನ್ನೂ ಜತೆ ಮಾಡೋಣ ಅಂತ …
ನಾನು ಅಭಿಸಾರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಆತ ಮಳೆಯಂತೆ ಕಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಸೋನೆಮಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೋಯ್ದು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಬಾರಿಯೂ ಮಳೆ ಸುಯ್ಯುತ್ತಲಿತ್ತು. ಆತನ ಜತೆ ಇರುವಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲಾ.
ಸಮಜ್ ತೇ ಥೆ ಮಗರ್ ಫಿರ್ ಭೀ ನ ರಖೀ ದೂರಿಯಾ ಹಮ್ನೆ …
ಚರಾಗೋನ್‍ಕೊ ಜಲಾನೆ ಮೆ ಜಲಾಲಿ ಉಂಗ್‍ಲಿಯಾ ಹಮ್ನೆ …
ಅದೊಂದು ದಿನ … ಜಿಟಿ ಜಿಟಿ ಮಳೆ.
ಅವನು ಬರೆದ ಕಾಗದ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಕೂತಿದ್ದೆ ನಾನು.
ಮನಸ್ಸು ಒದ್ದೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಕಣ್ಣು ಬತ್ತಿ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು.
ಸ್ನೇಹ ಯಾಕೋ ಮುದುಡಿಕುಳಿತಿತ್ತು ಪ್ರೀತಿಗೆ ಹೆದರಿ.
ಆತ ಹೊರಟು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ. ಜತೆಗೆ ನನ್ನ ನೆನಪು ಒಯ್ಯಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ಕಹಿ ಪರ್ ಜೀ ರಹೆ ಹಮ್ ತುಮ್ ಮೊಹಬ್ಬತ್ ಫಿರ್ ಮೊಹಬ್ಬತ್ ಹೆ …
ಆತನ ನೆನಪು ನಿಗಿ ನಿಗಿ ಕೆಂಡ. ವಿಷಾದ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡೇ ಕಳೆದವು ರಾತ್ರಿಗಳು. ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ವಸಂತಗಳು ನೀನಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಹಾಗೇ ಮಾಸಿ ಹೋದವು ನೋಡು …
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ನೀನು ಇಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದೆ. ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲೋ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ.
ಮೆಹದಿ ಹಸನ್ ದನಿ ಸಿಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿ ಕೂತಿತ್ತು.
ಪತ್ತಾ ಪತ್ತಾ ಬೂತಾ ಬೂತಾ …
ಹಾಲ್ ಹಮಾರಾ ಜಾನೆ ಹೆ
ಜಾನೆ ನ ಜಾನೆ ಗುಲ್ ಹ್ ನ ಜಾನೆ
ಬಾಗ್ ತೊ ಸಾರಾ ಜಾನೆ ಹೆ …
ನಾನೇ ಕೇಳಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನೀನು ನನಗೆ ಕೇಳಿಸಿದೆ …
ಎಲಿದ್ದೆ ಈ ತನಕ ನೀನು ?
ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಆಸ್ಥೆ, ಅಕ್ಕರೆ, ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ … ನೀನು ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಬೊಗಸೆ ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿಸಿದೆ.
ದಿಲ್ ಮೆ ಇಕ್ ಲೆಹೆರ್ ಸಿ ಉಠೀ ಹೆ ಅಭಿ
ಕೊಯಿ ತಾಝಾ ಹವಾ ಚಲೀ ಹೆ ಅಭಿ …
ಔರ್ ಯೆ ಚೋಟ್ ಭಿ ನಯೀ ಹೆ ಅಭಿ …
ಕುಚ್ ತೊ ನಾಝೂಕ್ ಮಿಝಾಜ್ ಹೆ ಹಮ್ ಭಿ
… … … ಅಂತ ಗುಲಾಮ್ ಅಲಿ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದರು.

ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಉತ್ತರಗಳ ಕಟ್ಟು ನಿನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದವು. ಗೆಳೆಯಾ … … …
ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಹತ್ತಿರವಾದೆವು. ನಾನು ಏನನ್ನೂ ಕೇಳದೆಯೇ ಹೇಳದೆಯೇ ನಿನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗಿದ್ದೆ.
ಮಳೆಹನಿ, ಇಬ್ಬನಿ, ನೀಲಿ ಆಕಾಶ, ಕಪ್ಪೆಚಿಪ್ಪು, ನದಿನೀರಿನ ವೈಯಾರ, ಚುಕ್ಕಿ ಬೆಳಕು, ಹಕ್ಕಿ ರೆಕ್ಕೆ, ಪುಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಚಪ್ಪಟೆಯಾದ ಗುಲಾಬಿ ಎಸಳುಗಳು, ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳು, ಮಳೆಬಿಲ್ಲು, ನನ್ನ ಬೆಚ್ಚಗಿನ ಉಸಿರು - ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ನಿನ್ನ ಹೆಸರ ಬಣ್ಣ ಬಂದಿದೆ.
ನಾನು ಹರಡಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಹಗಲುಗಳಂತೆ … ನೀನು ಪೋಣಿಸಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು.
ಐಸೆ ಬಿಖ್‍ರೆ ಹೆ ಕೆ ರಾತ್ ದಿನ್ ಜೈಸೆ … … …
ತುಮ್ ನೆ ಮುಜ್ ಕೊ ಫಿರೋ ಕೆ ರಕಾ ಥಾ.
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it tolls for thee .........

2008-12-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

what were you doing ??? ...... was the question a friend asked me. well, he meant that why did not I respond to the recent happenings in India.

I was quiet. I did not want to respond to him either.

shocked and upset ..., too long passed a long weekend.

laptops were on ... news pouring in ... Live ... ...

how do i relate to this? ...
unless it happens to you in person ... no one relates to violence and crime ...
it can not be a vicarious experience ... it can not be empathy !
...........................................

it is all about how well we put our words and where.

I shut down my PC. i was disturbed.
unprecedented attack ... a serious jolt never felt before.
one more blast. one more attack.

i was not curious to know what was happening. i knew i would be upset. all over again ...
...........................................

through the friday and saturday and sunday ... ... conversations went on ... my partner and me ... we were angry ... we were pained ... we were trying to soothe ourselves by talking out ... analyzing ... discussing ...
all these talks ... analysis ... discussions ........ look so frivolous to us !!!

India is so fragile ... volatile !!!

and what a success !!! India entered into top 20 unsafe places of the world.

we give out reasons ...... justifications ........ defensive statements !!!
.... lack of political will ... corrupt system ... bias and prejudices ... society under threat ... votebank politics ... religion and ........... so on ...... so on ............

the common person in us is nothing but ..... all Questions ....... Questions .............
we have seen knowledge ... information ... facts ... figures ... the horror worst of its kinds ...
we know the reasons why we are like this. and yet we do not learn from our past !!!
...........................................

i was going through the news websites and blogs ......... and ... !!!
there were quite a number of blogs who voiced themselves condemning the ghastly acts of terror !!!
of course, a catharsis !!!

i can not stop but write that ... some of the blogs were too flashy and gimmicked.
some ... lost the sense of what they were writing !

some ... showing off what is their acquired knowledge is all about !
some ... marketing themselves ... with loads of condemns !
and some ... ... making a series out of the comments !

and now it is Me ... who is writing ... after all these days of self-exile.!
...........................................

with this, the last and final call to rise to act, I sense that we have failed as the largest Democracy, making a mockery of ourselves again and agian !!!

if not now, then when do we act ?

John Donne reminds me ...
" No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. ... ... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. "
...........................................

i choose to be quiet. i do not want to dilute my sensitivity.

no words can transfer my angst ... my rage ... !

but ... i ask myself ... what if every person thinks the same and chooses to be quiet !

computers - male ??? female ???

2008-11-25T11:41:00.000-08:00

Long back I had read this book called Men from Mars and Women from Venus. That was a light timepass reading.

Its surprising but natural that however equal perceptions we have about men and women in general, we like to keep going with gender stereotypes and laugh it away even when we are making some serious remarks about our counterparts. I remembered this book when a couple of days back i received a forwarded e-mail and it reads like this :

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'

'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'

A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?'

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

Not to hurt any sentiments, but to laugh it away !!!

From where ever men and women are, we are here in this Earth ... making possible a Life to live and exist.

How different and unique each human being is, just think how boring it would have been to live without these (biological and temperamental) differences.

[clipart : ecarg.wordpress.com]

A tiny part of the Universe called Earth and a probable Paradigm Shift?

2008-10-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

I like the mystery around the Space. Gazing at the endless sky watching the stars is a favourite pastime of mine, for the sheer enigmatic experience it gives.

Astronomy is always been a fascination to me, though I have been a very poor student of Science. The books, Nakshatra Veekshane by G T Narayana Rao (a Science Writer) and The Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (an Applied Mathematician and Theoretical Physicist), I read in my childhood have had some indelible impression on me about our Universe and a tiny part of it called Earth.

People living on the Earth can imagine the Universe only to a level their imagination would take them to. In real, the Universe is much beyond our imagination. We will be lost in thinking what lies farther outside the Milky Way, the Galaxy in which our solar system is situated.

It was Copernicus, a Polish Astronomer who promulgated heliocentric theory (Sun as the centre of Solar system) which embarked the scientific revolution. Since then, there has been umpteen numbers of scientific discoveries about our Universe, Solar System, the Earth and other Planets.

I had learnt in school, that Pluto is a Ninth planet of our solar system. Very recently in 2006, Pluto was dethroned from its planet status and was renamed as a dwarf planet. As scientists make new findings and discoveries, the theories change and get replaced.

Of late, I have been reading a lot about the Earth’s end. Media is being overloaded with the information. People who believe in religious references, majorly the Biblical References of Earth’s end, will continue to believe so. But here, I am drawing some of the relative points together which I ponder over and over.

Keeping the imagination wide open for all those sci-fi movies, there would be some cosmological reasons behind the Earth’s doom, if there is any. But wouldn’t the destiny of Mankind be written by us? We write History. We live the History. History is nothing but, the present becoming the past every moment. Our today’s actions and reactions are the seeds of our future. We Reap What We Sew. True, Isn’t that?

Science also creates History. The invention of Nuclear Bomb and the deadliest use of it on Japan defined our political history to a large extent. It would be a Nuclear War which may end this Earth. Or there could be a celestial intervention. End could certainly mean a Change. A paradigm shift!

Keep aside the belief, that the Mayans predicted 2012 as the Earth’s end. If we watch the recent happenings of our times, we can draw a rational conclusion that indeed Earth is in a process of a Change.

A change can be a growth; a failure; an alternative; an entire different setup; or simply could be a different lifestyle and living. Going by the Economic upheaval of the recent weeks, it is sure that the Change is for sure. There will be certainly a shift in the international powers in the days ahead.

According to Fareed Zakaria, a journalist and a commentator on international relations, there had been 3 major power shifts over the last 500 years. These fundamental changes in the distribution power have reshaped the International orders in terms of Politics, Economics and Culture. In his recent book, The Post – American World, he writes, now, is the times for a Change.

The First Power shift was the Rise of the Western world in the 15th century which went on till late 18th century, saw an accelerated growth in Science and Technology, Commerce and Capitalism, Agriculture and Industry. The Second shift in the Major Powers could be seen in the late 19th century, was the rise of the USA; the biggest powerful nation emerged since the Imperial Rome. There will be a Rise of the Rest, the third major power shift, which will define the course of the World, says Zakaria.

The rest of the world would mean other than USA. China, India, Japan, UK, UAE, Brazil and many other countries as major players in the economy will bring in a probable paradigm shift which will move the centre of powers away from the West. The political, economical and cultural shifts so far we could digest and apprehend. But if we start discussing from the Cosmological and Geographical point of view, these above said 500 years is merely nothing in the timeline of 4.5 billion years of the Earth.

We as a mankind have just begun our journey. Scientists predict Earth will live for another 500 million years. Isn’t it amazing that on the basis of simple laws of Science we can now draw conclusions about the future of life and the cosmos.

Historians warn that those who fail to study the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them. The world we think as Normal is in fact fragile and perilous. Our political, economic and cultural decisions are interwoven and will have an effect on the life and future of Earth. Unless we start the long term future plan for our planet and our species, we are sure to ruin it. The concern is that we should not be ruining it before its Time.

Thomas Nagel, a philosopher observes that it does not matter now that in a trillion trillion years nothing we do now will matter. This is the truth. But it will matter to us that what we do now will affect our future of at least some hundreds of years. So, being here matters. However mundane seems our lives, it has been for a purpose unknown. This may sound philosophical, but nothing divine about it. The truth is we are here for once and to Live it to the Full is an experience of a Lifetime.

[ photo courtesy : www.ammasso.com]

In the name of a language

2008-10-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

November 1^st is approaching. On that day Kannada, a major Dravidian language of India will celebrate itself to the maximum and will resonate for a whole month. And then it will go into a deep slumber again to be awakened in November next year. This is not a joke but a stark reality of the times.

The rights of the Kannadigas; the Classic language crisis; forcible enforcement of Hindi; conflicts with other languages; Kannada as a medium of education and many other issues related to the language of Kannada will erupt all of a sudden. Some groups of people who consider themselves, the protectors of the language will protest, and some will write articles and comments and responses on how great it is to be a proud Kannadiga. All this will dominate the media front for a month and then slowly start depreciating.

When the talk of the town is about language, let me join the brigade. What always intrigues me is the correlation between learning of a language and process of learning in total.

I was tutoring a seven year old boy, during my college days. I was shocked to see his learning disorder. He was in utter confusion of languages. The styles and nuances of three languages were blogging and haunting him. I am sure the words would have been dancing around him (as shown in one of the scene in Hindi movie, Tare Zameen Par). However, I would try to make him understand Kannada and English, but he would not react. He used to go blank whenever I asked him dictation of spellings and meanings. He was in English medium school and was also learning Kannada as a language. To build the tension more, he was speaking Tulu at home. Three different languages were hammering down his small little brain. His teacher could never understand the little one’s problem. I tried different learning techniques, using pictorial references to make him realize the differences of each language and this might have cleared out his difficult learning behaviours.

Similarly, I feel pity for many of my friends who are neither good in communicating in English, nor in Kannada. They never concentrated on any one language. They hardly have had any vocabulary. They neither would have read any English or Kannada literature texts.

I always get amused when people often ask me rather in a surprising tone, “Did you study in a Kannada medium school. How is that you speak so well in English? ”. The question posed to me proves that they have a false understanding of the concept of language. What any language has to do with the medium of one’s studies?

There are two different factors. Knowing a language, understanding the grammar, and speaking, reading, writing in that language is one factor. The other is, grasping and mastering a subject through language. Unless the former factor is strong enough, the latter factor will have no meaning. Unless I know a language, I can not master a subject. If, my mother tongue is Kannada, then I would learn the subject more easily than learning it in English.

When I started learning English and Hindi in 5^th Std., I was sure how Kannada would look like and sound like. There was no confusion of any sort. So, I was ready to learn a different language. That is how the process of learning goes. Unless a child is capable of recognising a language in its totality, introduction of any other language will lead to confusion. Educationists and psychologists have said this time and again.

Learning a new language and a subject in that language simultaneously is a double punishment for any child. A child will understand any of the subjects better in its own language than in English or any alien language. This simple logic is not been understood by many of our parents, administrators, politicians, and lawmakers.

If French or Portuguese have had ruled us, we all would have been learning French and Portuguese? No, I guess. Because, majority of the people learn English because it is been considered as a language of high status and dignity and viable world wide. Not because it is a beautiful language.

Recently, the Education minister of Karnataka stated that a change in the First Standard English syllabus will be brought in. In fact, the change needs to be brought in the system of learning and teaching.

Now the government schools (Kannada medium schools) are teaching English along with Kannada. There is a complaint that the syllabus is difficult to teach. I guess the problem is not with the syllabus, but with the teachers. Given the English education these teachers have had, they would face the difficulty in teaching English. Many of them would have studied in Kannada medium schools, and would have learnt English with great difficulty.

The scenario with English medium students either is not different. Probably teaching in Govt. schools is not an option for these ‘fortunate ones’, but the problem of language is similar. Many of the students fail to frame even a simple sentence either in Kannada or English.

The reality is our children learn in English and they hardly relate to Kannada. It is a fact that English is a necessity in today’s fast growing world and a child has to compete with different varieties of skills and capabilities. But that does not mean Kannada should be negated.

It is a responsibility of the parents and the teachers to make students go through the experience of learning a language. Understand it and respect it. Be it Kannada or English. Time is to train the teachers to provide a good teaching; facilitate the Kannada medium schools with similar opportunities as that of English medium schools. The role of the Government is major, but sadly none of the so far Governments in Karnataka have come up with a solution policy for this. As usual, they need to be playing the Politics.

[photo courtesy : www.freewebs.com]

A familiar sound … … miles away …

2008-10-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

It was a boring dull summer afternoon.

Though I was tempted to have a siesta, I tried hard not to sleep off.

He was, like all other days, staring at the computer screen, busy in his work.

Just then I heard a very familiar sound.

Tink tink tink tink ….. The bell rang.

My taste buds started dancing hearing that sound.

That was the sound of … an ice-cream gaadi. For a second I felt a strange sense of dé jà vu.

I peeped out of my window, sliding off the window blinds.

To my utter amusement, there was a gaadi selling ice candies and ice creams.

I was thrilled to see that small rolling wooden box here, more than 8,000 miles away from my hometown. My dull afternoon brightened up with the sound of ... tink tink tink tink ...

Almost like a kid, I jumped out of the room to see the ice candy man and his ice cream gaadi. The ice candy man had all varieties of cones, cups and flavours. I turned my face to my partner. Knowing what I was hinting at, he nodded his head saying a big NO.

Only I know how bad I felt at that moment. But, he was also right. Here in America, health is a treasure. Even a small cold or a cut may end you up in a crunch. (Unless, one has a medical insurance).

Ice candy man was making rounds near our apartment. Handing the camera to my partner’s hands, I pleaded, at least get me a photo of the ice candy man, if not the ice cream cup. For this, he could not say no.

I go back to my childhood days when I hear this sound of ice cream gaadi. During the holidays, many of the ice creamwallahs would pass through my home. But, my mother never allowed us children to have these ice creams with the concern that we would get a cold or a cough. Or perhaps, she believed these ice creams are not made from good waters.

For me, Ice cream is a synonym to Ideals Ice cream. A sense of nostalgia runs through me. I guess, for any Mangalorean, it is so.

Whenever I went out with my mother for a shopping in Mangalore, a visit to Ideals Ice cream parlour was a must. During the school days, we, I and my brother used to be lucky sometimes to have a cup of ice cream from the Ideals.

I used to love my visits to the dentist. I knew that after the tooth removal or tooth filling, I would get an ice cream. (my teeth had fillings, as I was fond of biscuits and sugar!!!), that was a cooling effect and a sweet pain. My grand mother loved it too. Whenever she came with us for her tooth removals or tooth fillings, a visit to the ice cream parlour was a must.

I used to like the single flavour slab ice creams the most, though later I switched my loyalty towards the bigger ones like the gudbud, parafeit. My mother even to this day likes fruit salad with ice creams and the gudbud. At one time, gudbud meant ice cream in our household.

Even in the rainy days in Mangalore, having a cup of ice cream was never a threat to my health. It was a perfect party place for a friend’s birthday, a hangout for a family outing and a hideout for young lovers. Well, I never ventured into Ideals parlour with my boyfriend, in fear of getting caught by my mom, who was a lecturer in a nearby college.

Near my High School, in Surathkal, there was a parlour called Femina Ice cream parlour. Though wasn’t a big parlour, it was a popular hangout for most of the students. Almost everyday after lunch as if it was a ceremony, we friends would go to this parlour and have a candy or a cone cream. Such were the taste and the attraction of the place, that we never missed an opportunity of relishing the ice creams here.

I have tried and tasted ice creams from other parlours in Mangalore, like the Shetty Ice creams, Arun Ice creams, Joy Ice creams, and Hangyo Ice creams … not one of them was able to recreate the magic like Ideals did.

Early this year, when I visited Mangalore with my partner, I saw an advertising hoarding showing the new ice cream introduced, Tiramisu. I just looked up at the hoarding and my family knew where to take us to.

Next time whenever I hear the sound of ice cream gaadi I will go out and take a glance of it … I know it brings a whole lot of memories alive.

[ photo courtesy : basha ]