Cheeni Kum Yah Jyada....

For all those who didn't get the Hindi title, its Less Sugar or More.

This movie was shot at kitchen, script was by a cook, who left the lid of the jar open, there was not much to do with lighting as natural light was sufficient. You know this is a low budget slow movie, tried to advert my script with some prominent directors but no luck. The actors were chosen on the fly with some rigorous audition near the racks of the kitchen shelf. Cinematography was by RC :). Also there is no music as this is silent movie, no budget to go for the dhoom dhadaka philum music.

So enjoy it.














Anybody ready to buy the copy rights and the release expenditure of my movie ? Anyways next time something coming rattlingly special, ekdaam jhakaas.

Keep reading and remain connected.

(Note: That's what happens to someone who is a night owl)

Timecheck...

Raise your wrist to check the time, you're in the middle of an important assignment, and you find that the damn timepiece has stopped operating. No clues because a while back, it was perfectly fine. But then, it doesn't matter much, just check your mobile handset and you know the time.

Also, this is something common. This scenario gets a bit hotchpotch if one is traveling across geographies, you move from say X, in a particular time-zone to Y in another time-zone. When touring to a new land, the first thing, I feel one needs to do before boarding out of the flight is set your watches, as the stewardess announces 'We are about to land, please be seated and fasten your seat belts'.

Why am I taking all this here? Because, don't you feel that, if you had a watch like the one in the pics below, you don’t have to bother about all these trivial yet significant things. :)

Also it's a co-incidence that yesterday, late evening I had to rush to a watch repair shop, as two of my watches were not functioning properly. The watch repairer, would fix my watches soon, till then let me enjoy my 'butterfly watch'.





Just a small info, if any of you is interested to check out a myriad of butterflies, there is Bannerghatta Butterfly Park in Bangalore. Though I have never been there, will try it soon.

Now, a small quote to terpsichore with the pics.


Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.— Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864)

Keep reading and remain connected.

[Pics taken on a small butterfly, thanks to the small solitaire for its patience]

9/11 Remembered...

Six years back, I was still in my undergrad school pursuing my program in Engineering. That fateful day, I along with few of my friends was sitting in a restaurant and this news flashed before the big TV screen. In the single worst act of terrorism committed on the U.S. soil, nearly 3,000 people died when nineteen hijackers in two hijacked jetliners crashed into New York's World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to tumble like a pack of cards. Then moments later a commandeered jetliner smashed into the Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense and then another, the fourth one crashing in western Pennsylvania.

The day is marked as Patriot Day, since then.

What happened in a few hours on that fateful day would leave an inerasable scar in the lives of many people. A 'silence' had penetrated the entire arena, after the building diddered like a disassembled barrel, the walls crumbling and collapsing and pieces of metal strewn because of heat and high temperature.

Since that black day, things have changed but those who lost their near and dear ones can never come to terms with the shocking and horrifying tragedy. Think for a while, 3,000 isn't just a number of the people who lost their lives. After all, these people are all human beings, whatever be the color of their skin, whatever be their race, whatever be their nationality, and as is expected when something incalculable punctuates their lives, we fall short of tears. We grow numb and petrified. But we do cry, pray and comfort each other with those infinite strains, pricking us like acupuncture needles.


Time has fleeted by, but the memories and rememberings do not fade. They keep fluttering in the mind. But just wish that life gets back to normal and peace prevails. This second part of the statement is what each one would desire for but given the circumstances that we are currently in, the picture of striking it, seems like a mirage.

But there is always hope just that something needs to be done, regarding a person named Bush. Methinks so. His approach was atavistic and unthinking, and it was based on a distorted, ignorant, intolerant and bigoted view of the Muslim world. There were some gross errors and in the long run it has created a devilish cocktail. The grand explanation of "spreading democracy in the Middle East" and "presence of WMD", cracked and alligatored, providing a palatable cover for vengeance and retribution. It's like not taking vengeance on the person who attacked the nation but on somebody standing on the corner. Purely an example of someone who chose instinct over reason and vigilantism over justice.

In my view, unable to handle the machinery of one of the most developed nations of the world, the United States, Bush has crusaded and chicaned the fellow Americans and the citizens of other nations, through one of the most bizarre needless wars in history.

Keep reading and remain connected.

[Note: The pic that you see in the post is by my cousin who stays with his family and works @ NYC.]

Desi Breakfast....

This is something very common for me over the weekends. Rush to some nearby 'Shanti Sagar','Udipi restaurant', or for that matter a chain of similarly sounding names but has the suffix of 'Sagar'. Rates are reasonable and this wholesome brunch would cost one Rs.40 at max. Also make sure not to miss the Kape (South Indian filter coffee).


Simple food, it's like the Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's like this, I see so many movies, trailers only [rarely see a movie a month] from Hollywood on the idiot box while having dinner but those are like 'fill-it-shut-it-forget-it'. Those which fit into Raat gaye Baat gaye format. Very few are like Breakfast at Tiffany's, a wonderful film, a classico that has stood the the test of time. Similarly many neatly packaged foods do make a beeline in the racks of the departmental stores but then nothing can stand the taste of the wholesome desi breakfast.

Am, I biased for desi breakfast, hmmm a little bit. But then other than that, I have enjoyed some of the best breakfasts in Edinburgh, Scotland sitting near the Scottish Art Gallery. Each city has it's own charm when it comes to breakfast culture, like when in Paris, Croissant French Toast is common.

Keep reading and remain connected.

[Pic taken in a small self service, stand and eat food joint.]

Can Be Done, I Guess...

Thoughts of back-to-primary-school days flaunted my memory when computers were something that used to keep me glued to my seat and chair for hours. I started it with a simple language 'BASIC' and then learnt 'COBOL'. I still remember those days of getting my turn for playing a game of 'Digger'on a black and white screen, with falling balls, squashing monsters, releasing gold which can be collected and that keeps the score cannonballing along. Bags had to be pushed left or right along vertical paths, horizontal grids with deft fingers promenading over the keyboard. After that a lot of change has happened and so is my dabbling and paddling with other languages. But one question that used to be common in any of those tests when in Standard 3 or Standard 4 was 'Mention in brief the IPO (Input-Process-Output) cycle.'

So the regular answer used to be this.

IPO (Input-Process-Output) is one of the most fundamental design patterns. Before a computer can perform any computing on data, the data needs to be entered at an input device. Now calculations can be performed based on the program or the algorithm. And, finally, a result would be displayed on an output device.

Sooper, say there are 3 marks for this, so 3/3 in the kitty. Of course you need a simple diagram like this.


Now, suppose I land in a school situated in a slum area and am taking a class for a group of toddlers in the age group of 7 to 8 years. My personal discernment is that, if the same question is posed to this lot 'Mention in brief the IPO (Input-Process-Output) cycle.' and suddenly I tattle about the same old example that I was taught 15 years ago in my primary school. Does it help? I guess NO.

I feel that learning and teaching when structured as a project-based context-driven inquiry meets its end result. The approach is to put the interface between knowledge-generation and use, grounded in a generic notion of delivering it the most pragmatic way, so that assimilation and acculturation is quick. The purpose is to list and develop a personal portfolio of competencies responding to the contemporary state of life and living and it has to be contextual.

As an example, I would offer this example to the smart kids. Now the kids in the slums know what is 'honey' or 'sahad'. So the life cycle of it is can also be framed into the IPO (Input-Process-Output) cycle. This can be explained with a help of few photographs and later on as the child grows, the concept about IPO is clear to him/her, even though if s/he may or may not get a chance to fiddle with a computer or laptop.

Input

Process

Output
[Note that the unadulterated honey here is bottled in used liquor bottles. So don't mistake it for daaru or booze.]

This is an approach in which competencies are results supported by simple topics rather than led by subject knowledge. I feel this structure would combine traditional instruction with innovative project and assessment components. It would also provide an opportunity for the student to get acquainted with, if not wholly on par with other kids who are supported and whose education and upbringing are well managed by their parents.

Just came to my mind, so scribbled it.

Keep reading and remain connected.

[Note: IPO pic taken from site, I took rest all of the pics during a road tour to hinterland in India.]

You See, You Do, S/he Sees, S/he Does .....

Life is not easy but we must go on. I had this story in my e-mail and it's true in its application. But the unfortunate part is that's how the world is. Jabber, chitter, chatter, but have seen very few who actually get to the root of what s/he is saying. Knows each word and sentence that goes out of the quill, the pen or the touch of a key board. But then I am talking of an utopia if that's the case. So here it goes..

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.

Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.

And that, my friends, is how any firm/company/organization/party policy begins. But what bemuses me is that even with these singultuses, the world moves. Isn't it true ? But it's very important to know the HOW and WHY ? . I am neither aware of all the know-how's of anything or everything nor have I mastered any particular area to the core, but the sprint is on and so is the attempt.

Keep reading and remain connected.

Wide Angle 2007, an initiative by B'lore Based Shutterbugs...

I don't know why but I like this phrase 'Less is More'. Some people have it in them, the ability to reach people, to get through, to communicate, to start a discourse with some things very subtle. Something as elusive as the click of a camera.






They reach past the outer layers into the gut of our humanity to grab us. Quickly and clearly, their depictions say life is simple and easy, nature is my living room, children are innocent, sometimes life can be fragile, and emotions are corpuscles of life. And the best part is they say it equally to men and women of different classes and cultures, dil se and bindaas dil khol ke. Their pictures attract us like magnets, the image on the print speaks more than what a page of writing or publishing can convey.

So what is this magic, exactly?

Few of Bangalore based shutterbugs and photo-enthusiasts are exhibiting their works and displaying their imagery on September 7,8 and 9 at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad , Bangalore.


Ultimately, this is a treasure trove for any one who loves photography, and presents the extraordinary variety, breadth and idiosyncratic gestures. Just a peek into the works of these enthusiasts: Nishant, Shankar, Venkatesh and Anita.


The exhibition runs for 3 days and the motive behind this exhibition is to communicate to the common people in the simplest way. Besides, it is also a sincere attempt to support a cause. To raise funds for a benificiary - Jagruthi - a Bangalore based voluntary organisation working with children affected with AIDs. Pixetra has extended its support in this modest endeavour by this extremely passionate group of shutterbugs.

The inauguration is on Sept 7 at 5 pm at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad premises. Besides the exhibition, well-known photographers Anand Sharan and Dr Manoj Sindagi would be guests and interact with the audience on the Sept 8 and 9.

More details are available on Wide Angle 2007.













So chuunu, muunu, uncle, aunty, Mr, Mrs, bunty, bubblies, maaga, dost, friends, pals, amis, be there and scuba dive into a world, where there are three predominant components, you, pics and your interaction with pics. This is a personal invitation to all on behalf of Anita and her team to attend this exhibition. The pics that you saw here are just the starters and the main course is more sumptuous and varied. Have fun.

Keep reading and remain connected.

[Note : The pics in this post are by Anita, Shankar, Venkatesh and Nishant.]

A small orifice.........(candle light)




The room was dark
Candlelight gleaming in my room.
It's effulgence drapes my face,
Asking me about my perfections,
my imperfections..





C'mon share with me
Your glorious hopes
and aspirations,
Your discordant views
and states of reverie.
The rays are mellifluous
and forgiving.




It hovers over the waves of passion,
even though the caboodle of wax
has subsumed grief of every form.

Still it reveals in its entombment,
The sparkle of renewed innocence.

Also, today while reading the newspaper, I just flipped across the news, that it was Princess Diana's, 10th death anniversary. There were familiar scenes clusters of wilting flowers propped against the fence, memorable poems, the sniffles, yet another replaying of Elton John's reworked 'Candle in the Wind' in the honour of one of the most charismatic and enigmatic ladies of our times. But in the end, UK still fractured by 10 years of grief and accusations over a dead princess showed signs of moving on.

Keep reading and remain connected.

[All the pics taken in darkess, when there was power failure a couple of days back.]