An interesting read on a Sunday morning

For my blog today , I only wish to identify a newspaper article  which by itself explains most of the negative impact of the growing 'Technology UPrising' in our environs.

Though I am neither a scientist nor a sociologist , I enjoyed reading every line of the article.  Having met certain strange people who value the machine more than the human, I was thoroughly amused at my own prudence in the matter on front page and that too in such a quick witted manner.

It is food for the 'dumb' mind :)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/man-woman/They-are-making-you-dumber/articleshow/17349244.cms

SILENT PROMISE

I believe I have had four people to thank for my share of parenting.  My biological parents (has to be two! obviously), my Guru and last but not the least 'Cinema'. Coincidently since my belief is so strong and Universe runs on auto-suggestion, the journey so far has also been truly filmi.

So by that logic the filmi part of October 2012 will be : a filmi dip into cinema (STUDIES!)...YES people study cinema as well, have had a super high dose of cinema + research methodology......and then some people who were invisible suddenly reappearing in my life!(very bollywood filmi)  and initiation of my cubs to the power of silence...no not mommas silence, she speaks...but THE SILENT CINEMA.

What does a 10 year old see these days? Probably TV, Internet Games, Animation films and then he sees other people seeing TV, other people people on the lappies and other people watching all current contemporary films.

When I was young my greatest cinema experience of all times, was a screening of SOUND OF MUSIC. and of course the greatest film critic of all time (my life) was my mom. With her, I have some incredible memories of seeing regional cinema on the erstwhile Doordarshan , to whom  for some strange reason, noone gives credit to. There were also some great Hollywood films that I saw on the same platform.

My days of the single channel were superb. The Rays, Ghataks  and Adoors were known to me since 1985 ...when I was 10.

But for  some strange reason, in this vast cinema basket that I assembled, I was never exposed to BUSTER KEATON. That name always rung a bell but I didnot ever go back and do my research till I finally saw The General.



Such incredible work dome in 1926. Such imagery , shot taking and then complimented with a such story telling. The extremes of form and the simplicity of content just bowls you over. One of my favorite film maker Orson Welles stated that Keaton's The General is "the greatest comedy ever made, the greatest Civil War film ever made, and perhaps the greatest film ever made."

A 2002 worldwide poll by Sight & Sound ranked Keaton's The General as the 15th best film of all time and yet it had escaped me. 

HATS OFF ! TO A MASTERPIECE 

So not only did I see it but also made sure that my cubs start their discovery of silent cinema by watching this one. The first reaction on announcement of the screening was very natural...why a black and white...oh it doesnt even have sound.....but then after the first five minutes, the magic began....these kids of the so called super modern robotic age got engulfed in a simple tale sewn together seamlessly and yet so powerfully.


The ought and knot of it is also peculiar. What was also interesting is that during my researches post screening (which is a compulsive habit), I disocovered that The General, set during the American Civil War, , the film's storyline reenacted an actual wartime incident. . Though it would come to be regarded as Keaton's proudest achievement, the film received mixed reviews at the time. It was too dramatic for some filmgoers expecting a lightweight comedy, and reviewers questioned Keaton's judgment in making a comedic film about the Civil War, even while noting it had a "few laughs".


It was an expensive misfire, and Keaton was never entrusted with total control over his films again. His distributor, United Artists, the organisation which wanted to break away from studio tyranny and had teh consuling of CHARLIE Chaplin, insisted on a production manager who monitored expenses and interfered with certain story elements. Ironically Keaton endured this treatment for two more feature films, and then exchanged his independent setup for employment at Hollywood's biggest studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).


Anyways, beyond the history, all the parents who ever read this, show your child Silent cinema, break them free of the cacophony of modern life for some time. It will be worth it.

For me , its the beginning of a 'SILENT PROMISE'.....i have loads to share...now the Pandoras box shall open....Chaplin shall also visit us in our dreams.

STROKES TO STEPS

Caught within counterchecking bills of an event and dips in ‘cinema verite’ for my students, my Friday was a nightmare. It finished with chapter 9 of class v – revision. When I went to bed …the only question that lurked was ‘one day of life gone mundane’….but the Saturday has made up for it.

A visit to my favourite artist’s solo exhibition and a small tete-a- tete with kathak in the evening was the flavour of my cake for the day. The icing on the cake though remains my cubs. The ferocious little tigress was with me loving the colours of what she will later know when she grows up to be TRUE REFLECTIONS OF THE SELF- A-R-T . The teddy cub was chiselling his perception of Rabindro Sangeet and Jatra. What needs mention is that tigress never skips Tagore. She noticed his image on one of the display paintings at the gallery and she came running “…mamma…they have tagore.” Little girl knows mama is smitten by that name, those thoughts and that humungous vision.

I have just taken a few steps into knowing the great ‘Gurudev’. Will remove the word ‘great’ because at a seminar recently, an admirer mentioned correctly- “ don’t add the adjectives, it makes the seekers pull away. Pre-designated greatness have made many refrain from any self discovery whether it is the Mahatma or  Gurudev.” I found the words profound.

My journey may have begun late but is well rooted in my desire to self discover each day along with the arduous task of earning bread, remaining the ‘social animal’ and above all guiding young minds as a Teacher. For those who would like to take a dip , they should listen to

“ Bhalo beshe sokhi nivrito jotone …….” …….entirely a new dimension.

ভালোবেসে, সখী, নিভৃতে যতনে
আমার নামটি লিখো-তোমার
মনের মন্দিরে।
আমার পরানে যে গান বাজিছে
তাহার তালটি শিখো-তোমার
চরণমঞ্জীরে।।
ধরিয়া রাখিয়ো সোহাগে আদরে
আমার মুখর পাখি – তোমার
প্রাসাদপ্রাঙ্গণে।
মনে ক’রে সখী, বাঁধিয়া রাখিয়ো
আমার হাতের রাখী – তোমার
কনককঙ্কণে।।
আমার লতার একটি মুকুল
ভুলিয়া তুলিয়া রেখো – তোমার
অলকবন্ধনে।
আমার স্মরণ-শুভ-সিন্দুরে
একটি বিন্দু এঁকো-তোমার
ললাটচন্দনে।
আমার মনের মোহের মাধুরী
মাখিয়া রাখিয়া দিয়ো-তোমার
অঙ্গসৌরভে।
আমার আকুল জীবনমরণ
টুটিয়া লুটিয়া নিয়ো-তোমার
অতুল গৌরবে।।

There is a reference in the same to know the taal of mine for you to know me. I find that segment particularly fascinating. Everyone has that taal, and some are so betaal.

It is Teachers day, and hoards have decided to wish me as their teacher, as someone who has influenced their lives in some way. Most don’t know my ‘taal’.

The messages are part of the bulk mail culture. The only identity that a student would know of me is that I am not bulk ( weight excluded in context). The only ‘taal’ that I follow is to have an individualism amongst the cattle, to stand on your reasoning created by years of observation, humility and a learners habit. To not think that anyone can give you a crash course on life or a diet pill to stay fit.

Mass messages reek of a ritual that needs to be implemented like a task at work. They portray the lack of individual attention or singular reverence to a particular ability of a teacher that has inspired us. All teachers do remain human and mortal at the end of the day.

Those who know me would know that I would answer those singular stand alone messages that contain content and context and are not sent for the sake of being said or sent.

The greatest teachers in the real sense are we to ourselves. An ability of introspection that slowly is being lost. Everyone is on the run and the beauty of the individuality of a message is completely washed away. Dhanya ho Facebook!

Mother's Day ..(OUT!)

My son asks me to close my eyes, he holds my hand, he is 9 years old. Those hands are like paws, padded and warm. . I am thinking, unsure of whats this filmi keeda that has come upon him. He makes me walk a few steps and .......'open ur eyes'..the command comes. There in the centre of the table is a chocalate cake which says ' Happy Mothers day'. I dont know how to react. Either he is grown up too soon or I couldnt see it happen. My hearts choked with emotion but I am careful , dont want to load him with that. I hug the teddy bear,,,,, he is mine though.

Its tuesday and I dont know if mothers day is on sunday because for me every minute is mothers minute. Now here comes my deal ......'baby, how do you want to celebrate mothers day?'. His eyes sparkle ...Avengers he says . I want to keep that enthu spirit on. 'OK' , done comes my reply. So the filmi threesome, HE , HIS EQUALLY FILMI SIS and mahafilmi Ma go to the multiplex. Its early morning and I am lost in the hangover of 'copie conforme'.

The 3D glasses are handed over and the journey begins. and ...............Its over .  I dont feel a thing. I think in awe at the scale and finish of the production. I just feel as if I saw a comic in action with no scope of my imagining any of it. Feel helpless, I havent been able to take that flight in my mind.

The makers dont feel helpless at all. The whole business of being obsessed with the world beyond us and therefore they desire the world to see it. The next time if ever during my lifetime, aliens ever ever come on this planet, I wouldnt be surprised at all. A lot of my experiential moments have already happened. Imagine how surprised they will be to know that we are not surprised!

Anyways, my teddy and cindrella are super happy. They have been able to see the Avengers at last. Cinema Mommy couldnt get her way.......but she loved every second of their giggles and awe! It was a super mommy day.

J’ai adore la film Copie conforme

If you wondered my French classes have reached that far that I can create this title for my Blog piece – yippee you are right !
Before I begin my own interpretation of a Kiarostami film, the brief  is that ‘Copie Conforme’ is a 2010 Iranian film, starring Juliette Binoche and the British opera singer William Shimell, in his first film role. The film is set in Tuscany, and focuses on a British writer and a French antiques dealer, whose relationship undergoes an odd transformation over the course of a day. The film was a French-majority production, with co-producers in Italy and Belgium. The dialogue is in French, English and Italian.
Now that the basics are through, my journey to another cinematic catharsis. I decided against all obstacles of work, motherhood, agendas to take a peek at the film …an evening screening of course..otherwise why the hassels at all? It was at Alliance, my favorite spot in the whole of Delhi.  Convinced some film makers to attend, who had other agendas. Went with the minimalistic of expectations- because that is the most damaging of them all. High hopes of a known auteur. And wallah what do I discover….for myself….another cinematic journey with a lingering after-taste !
A distinct way of storytelling. In the beginning very regular conversation as if you were overhearing a very overrated dialogue between two people. I kept thru it because of the male protagonist whose screen presence is extremely engrossing. Initially, the process of trying to decipher the signature of the autuer…some sparks here and there. And then as you move a ‘surrogate’  motive to the narrative…you are almost standing on the egde of the real and the surreal. Their conversation becomes personal. You had thought the writer and the French dealer ( whose cleavage was a consistent visual distraction for me….) were just getting to know each other and then you wondered when had they actually met. The transition in the audiences mind of time and space blurred at a surreal level leaves you high if you enjoy complicated mature storytelling.

Coming to Juliette, who looks remarkably attractive as an artist. The camera with her in closeup actually invites the viewer to become the active participant in the otherwise mundane narrative (which you believe it is when it starts). Her each expression giving away tons of stories that either a male viewer can interpret or a female viewer can re-experience. The fine line between spectator and artist broken with simple frames.
The New Yorker called the film "fascinating, beautiful, and intentionally enraging: a brilliant return to form from a director whose work, in the past, has joined modernist game-playing to ethical propriety and modesty."

I personally found it fascinating and the beauty of the interpreation or gap between the male and the female side of human life was brought about in the seamless of ways.
They talk about technology and 3D these days….and I wonder, will I or a true cinephile ever get that kick of adrenalin from 3D action or is it always going to be the ‘rawanagi’ of a simple story and the attractive pebbles that add gravitas and you see when you walk a cinema pathway. I am scheduled to see ‘the avengers ( mind you 3D) tomorrow with my kids while I still haven’t overcome the dose of yet another work of an autuer!.........

WOMEN BONDING !

I have always believed that I stand on the edge of the male female divide. My mind works like a 'man' and my heart thinks like a 'woman'......and having spending half my life under this notion, I have conquered many a feats. But for the first time in the year 2012 , I was destined for a life changing experience. A workshop on the highest level of Power making, yet the most subtle , undisclosed topics on womenhood discussed. I truly have understood female bonding for the first time.

And thats not all.......the process of a positive introspection. A decision to stop looking behind my shoulder, to not feel affected if you meet yet another thankless shameless ungrateful souls doesnt even come up......let them be!....The karma will catch up in due course. (cant skip spirituality even now !)

The point is in the process of selfless discovery of being a woman with grit, determination and above all the most precious quality of all- honesty. I met women in all authority making or growing to be authority making positions, from all kinds of fields, religions, backgrounds and in a span of those few days.....there was so much that we shared without the speech.....I take a new step to sisterhood!....let the almighty make this a self emancipation and self discovery journey.

to the women ...cheers!

The next item will be a power packed info item!