Sunday, March 10, 2019
Saturday, March 9, 2019
F2 - Fun and Frustration - Movie
Very funny. Long time since Telugu movies did that. Venkatesh is fabulous. Wish they had a better title though. Anil Ravipudi, thanks.
Friday, March 8, 2019
What's Good About Falling - Prajwal Hegde
Prajwal Hegde is the Tennis Editor for the times of India. She played tennis at state and national levels and when she began her career in journalism it was pretty obvious that she would cover tennis, and other sports as well. She is part of Tennis Writers Association (has been elected to its Board) and Media Commission. Suffice to know that she knows the world of tennis and sports well.
So for Prajwal to set her story in the life of an Indian woman tennis star Arya Ashok, who hails from Bangalore, and who is rising steadily in international women's tennis is easy. What's difficult is that Arya falls in love with a younger man, two years her junior at twenty-five, Arvind Ram, a talented cricketer - and guess what, a fast bowler to boot. Arvind is also a playboy of sorts and is rather temperamental. What with IPL and success at cricket, Arvind's life can only be imagined. More so, no one knows what a fast bowler thinks - not even himself. (In fact, most captains wonder if fast bowlers have the capacity to think at all!)
The Indian cricket team shows up at Wimbledon and Arvind starts wooing Arya, who returns his eager serves well. After a quick leap into the hay (well written!), the two cope with the problems of their own stardom, the media, paparazzi, unwanted stories, pressure from families, ups and downs in the game, Mars and Venus behavior and such stuff. All this leads to some issues - which is to be expected and then it all boils down to the big climax. Will they fall in love again or will they choose not to?
Prajwal takes us into the world of sports effortlessly and we can pretty much visualise ourselves in the Wimbledon or the Australian Open or the many scenes that happen in the lives of international sportspeople. She makes their world believable, makes the characters credible. It's not some breezy romance between two high-on-success sports icons but a measured take of their conflict between their vulnerabilities and their instinctive desire to win. I suspect Prajwal's Irishman friend, Pat Cunningham, would have loved reading this book that he seems to have sown the seed for.
Good debut Prajwal. More to come surely. All sports and romance buffs can grab their copy.
So for Prajwal to set her story in the life of an Indian woman tennis star Arya Ashok, who hails from Bangalore, and who is rising steadily in international women's tennis is easy. What's difficult is that Arya falls in love with a younger man, two years her junior at twenty-five, Arvind Ram, a talented cricketer - and guess what, a fast bowler to boot. Arvind is also a playboy of sorts and is rather temperamental. What with IPL and success at cricket, Arvind's life can only be imagined. More so, no one knows what a fast bowler thinks - not even himself. (In fact, most captains wonder if fast bowlers have the capacity to think at all!)
The Indian cricket team shows up at Wimbledon and Arvind starts wooing Arya, who returns his eager serves well. After a quick leap into the hay (well written!), the two cope with the problems of their own stardom, the media, paparazzi, unwanted stories, pressure from families, ups and downs in the game, Mars and Venus behavior and such stuff. All this leads to some issues - which is to be expected and then it all boils down to the big climax. Will they fall in love again or will they choose not to?
Prajwal takes us into the world of sports effortlessly and we can pretty much visualise ourselves in the Wimbledon or the Australian Open or the many scenes that happen in the lives of international sportspeople. She makes their world believable, makes the characters credible. It's not some breezy romance between two high-on-success sports icons but a measured take of their conflict between their vulnerabilities and their instinctive desire to win. I suspect Prajwal's Irishman friend, Pat Cunningham, would have loved reading this book that he seems to have sown the seed for.
Good debut Prajwal. More to come surely. All sports and romance buffs can grab their copy.
Chanakya in the Classroom - Radhakrishnan Pillai
I was buying books at the Bangalore Lit Fest and was looking for children's books. I saw this and remembered that Radhakrishnan Pillai was in the author's lounge with me. So I quickly bought it and took his sign for Anjali. Read it at the airport.
It's a loosely told story about two students who become successful in life. They reveal the secret - they followed Chanakya's rules for success. They tell how it is important to pray for the teacher and fellow students, how to know about right thinking. I liked the line - don't worry about your studies - think about them. Thinking involves logical, scientific, reasoning, strategic and critical thinking. Of course if you know about Aanvishakti, you will never know failure.
Chanaya advises the students to manage their time well - it's the key to success. He urges them to sleep less. Daily study is best - it works for everything. Make good routines and follow them. Prepare short term and long term time tables.
Listen to teachers and discuss with seniors. Improve self-study which is the best form of studying - reflection and repetition are the keys. Learn to use self-discipline and self-restraint and increase your focus and concentration.
Be a learner he says. Learn everything. Interact with elders and experts. Think like a teacher - it will change your perspective of the subject. Try different techniques to develop learning skills - travel, discuss, notes etc.
As he concludes he says - prepare for the exam of life. Learn to face challenges alone. there is a bit about SMART Goals which is definitely not from Chanakya I would think. Overcome your desires, be disciplined etc are stuff the students hear anyway and don't pay much heed to.
Some nice pointers. But I would rather wait for Anjali to give her verdict on this book.
It's a loosely told story about two students who become successful in life. They reveal the secret - they followed Chanakya's rules for success. They tell how it is important to pray for the teacher and fellow students, how to know about right thinking. I liked the line - don't worry about your studies - think about them. Thinking involves logical, scientific, reasoning, strategic and critical thinking. Of course if you know about Aanvishakti, you will never know failure.
Chanaya advises the students to manage their time well - it's the key to success. He urges them to sleep less. Daily study is best - it works for everything. Make good routines and follow them. Prepare short term and long term time tables.
Listen to teachers and discuss with seniors. Improve self-study which is the best form of studying - reflection and repetition are the keys. Learn to use self-discipline and self-restraint and increase your focus and concentration.
Be a learner he says. Learn everything. Interact with elders and experts. Think like a teacher - it will change your perspective of the subject. Try different techniques to develop learning skills - travel, discuss, notes etc.
As he concludes he says - prepare for the exam of life. Learn to face challenges alone. there is a bit about SMART Goals which is definitely not from Chanakya I would think. Overcome your desires, be disciplined etc are stuff the students hear anyway and don't pay much heed to.
Some nice pointers. But I would rather wait for Anjali to give her verdict on this book.
The Snake and the Lotus - Appupen
This is a work of art. A graphic novel. Appupen has an idea of a perfect world and goes furiously at it, creating intricate graphics and worlds, despairing at how dystopian the world we are living in now is and constantly urging us to get back to nature, our natural selves. The work is so intricate, the thoughts are abstract and it may take a while to get his story. But whatever it does, the sheer effort that goes into his graphic novels, the satire and wit, and the intent cannot be ignored. I am highly impressed by someone who creates for the sake of creating, bringing his idea to the world, and letting the audience make its own sense of it. He does not explain anything. I like the fact that he does not. Figure it out for yourself - he challenges you.
Let me tell you what I figured out after reading it three times. Appupen created the world of Halahala, a universe by itself which is under threat. It starts with the green dying (nature?). people have forgotten their language. Machines have taken over their lives and they are all part of gigantic cities ruled by machines. All, except one girl who retains some humanness.
There is a White City that everyone aspires for. This is the dream, paradise. The city is engaged is producing milk from lotuses - they feed on it. There is a Grey world - of insects, which have a life still. They seem to know that the people are doomed - and they are prone to launch suicide attacks.
The white city is where the godlings live and they strive to be one with their leaders (god). Godlings have a different currency - they work for coins and get pills in return that give them a divine aura. This is pretty much like any decadent civilisation that is ruled by people who think they are godlings.
The girl comes to White city looking for coins. She finds a bunch of them. Having a conscience she returns them to a godling. The godling realises that the girl is a chance o reproduce because all other people have lost their ability to reproduce. She is made the Temple Queen and a rather adult rated ritual takes place.
The godling comes to the Grey area. He needs to get the box to the Central Temple and needs the Queen's help. There is a godling inspector, I think he is the hero of the story. He has a design that requires a box to be taken into the central temple. Only the queen can do it. He fears she is forgetting her abilities but he makes contact - physical contact and for a moment her life courses through him, there is a moment of hope.
The hero makes contact with the grey human (the first godling) and makes him bring out the box under some kind of hypnosis. He makes the grey human put the box someplace where the voice will cease to exist - and then humans wake up. The next day the queen is asked to take the box to the green. The hero invites the green to take over. And the insects and other life forms take over the world telling humans that there is life beyond them. If they do not live with the green, they will be consumed.
The message is clear. Don't mess with nature. Don't think you are all powerful. Nature is bigger than you. It is still not too late. Go back to the natural way. We are all part of this whole.
George Mathen (Appupen) has worked with environmental protection agencies before but he is a compassionate human even without that. I can sense his despair at the way the world is going and he depicts it well in his graphic novel. 'The Snake and the Lotus' is a huge book, carefully thought out and presented. It ends with a warning ' And you will remember all of this.'
It's rare piece of work and must be enjoyed. And admired.
Let me tell you what I figured out after reading it three times. Appupen created the world of Halahala, a universe by itself which is under threat. It starts with the green dying (nature?). people have forgotten their language. Machines have taken over their lives and they are all part of gigantic cities ruled by machines. All, except one girl who retains some humanness.
There is a White City that everyone aspires for. This is the dream, paradise. The city is engaged is producing milk from lotuses - they feed on it. There is a Grey world - of insects, which have a life still. They seem to know that the people are doomed - and they are prone to launch suicide attacks.
The white city is where the godlings live and they strive to be one with their leaders (god). Godlings have a different currency - they work for coins and get pills in return that give them a divine aura. This is pretty much like any decadent civilisation that is ruled by people who think they are godlings.
The girl comes to White city looking for coins. She finds a bunch of them. Having a conscience she returns them to a godling. The godling realises that the girl is a chance o reproduce because all other people have lost their ability to reproduce. She is made the Temple Queen and a rather adult rated ritual takes place.
The godling comes to the Grey area. He needs to get the box to the Central Temple and needs the Queen's help. There is a godling inspector, I think he is the hero of the story. He has a design that requires a box to be taken into the central temple. Only the queen can do it. He fears she is forgetting her abilities but he makes contact - physical contact and for a moment her life courses through him, there is a moment of hope.
The hero makes contact with the grey human (the first godling) and makes him bring out the box under some kind of hypnosis. He makes the grey human put the box someplace where the voice will cease to exist - and then humans wake up. The next day the queen is asked to take the box to the green. The hero invites the green to take over. And the insects and other life forms take over the world telling humans that there is life beyond them. If they do not live with the green, they will be consumed.
The message is clear. Don't mess with nature. Don't think you are all powerful. Nature is bigger than you. It is still not too late. Go back to the natural way. We are all part of this whole.
George Mathen (Appupen) has worked with environmental protection agencies before but he is a compassionate human even without that. I can sense his despair at the way the world is going and he depicts it well in his graphic novel. 'The Snake and the Lotus' is a huge book, carefully thought out and presented. It ends with a warning ' And you will remember all of this.'
It's rare piece of work and must be enjoyed. And admired.
World in Harmony - Dalai Lama
Tenzin gifted me this slim book full of wisdom. It has short chapters each leading up to the big story - of a world in harmony.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama emphasises on the need for compassion - always. He urges us to make future generations more compassionate. I think they are. He says that we are secure when we are compassionate. We are responsible at all levels and have an altruistic mind for all things - including the environment.
He says that the purpose of our life is to find happiness, satisfaction and joy. To find compassion within ourselves we need to watch our internal thoughts. Smile he says, be joyful. In the chapter on hope and despair, he says there is authentic hope and false hope and one must distinguish between the two. Authentic hope comes with action. In fact, he says action is more powerful than prayer.
As for despair he says, don't avoid it. Go deep into it. Look at the positive. All sentient beings are equal - we have to live together.
Be aware of your feelings he says. Empty yourself. Emptiness is the absence of independent existence. we are all dependent on one another.
He says anger is suffering that has not yet met compassion. Anger destroys judgment. Anger comes from fear.
Love and accept your limitations. A healthy person he says serves others. Dedicate life to benefit others.
Usually, we must speak the truth he says. But in some cases, the truth may have disastrous consequences. Where truth would injure and does not benefit, he says, better be silent for the time being. Real compassion comes from seeing the others suffering.
When you are suffering try to deal with the cause of suffering. If you cannot then forget about it. Practice compassion. For this practice, our enemies are very useful to us. By feeling compassion we can transform.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama emphasises on the need for compassion - always. He urges us to make future generations more compassionate. I think they are. He says that we are secure when we are compassionate. We are responsible at all levels and have an altruistic mind for all things - including the environment.
He says that the purpose of our life is to find happiness, satisfaction and joy. To find compassion within ourselves we need to watch our internal thoughts. Smile he says, be joyful. In the chapter on hope and despair, he says there is authentic hope and false hope and one must distinguish between the two. Authentic hope comes with action. In fact, he says action is more powerful than prayer.
As for despair he says, don't avoid it. Go deep into it. Look at the positive. All sentient beings are equal - we have to live together.
Be aware of your feelings he says. Empty yourself. Emptiness is the absence of independent existence. we are all dependent on one another.
He says anger is suffering that has not yet met compassion. Anger destroys judgment. Anger comes from fear.
Love and accept your limitations. A healthy person he says serves others. Dedicate life to benefit others.
Usually, we must speak the truth he says. But in some cases, the truth may have disastrous consequences. Where truth would injure and does not benefit, he says, better be silent for the time being. Real compassion comes from seeing the others suffering.
When you are suffering try to deal with the cause of suffering. If you cannot then forget about it. Practice compassion. For this practice, our enemies are very useful to us. By feeling compassion we can transform.
Five Plays for Children - Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar is a legend. 'Give me a piece of paper, any paper, and a pen, and I shall write as naturally as a bird flies or a fish swims,; he said. The five plays were written on the express request of Sulabha Deshpande for school children she was teaching.
The first play 'Missing: A Father' is an unusual and intriguing tale where a tree, a letter box, a pole, a crow, and even a film poster play the lead characters. Into their dull life comes a little girl who is kidnapped by a rogue. How the lead personalities get together and put out an attractive poster to search for her father is the story. Haven't ever read any like this before.
In 'Bobby, the young girl dreams of being a teacher to famous personalities who appear in her school books - Akbar, Birbal, Shivaji, Mickey Mouse, circus artistes all keep flitting into her class as school kids and she is the teacher. What fun!
In 'Nosey Parker' we find a kingdom is a crisis - the prince's feet are burning. the King realises that the culprit is the Sun. No amount of planning is able to reduce the heat. Plans include stitching a giant umbrella, constructing huge taps to cool it down and in desperation even an attempt to shoot the Sun. Until a Nosey Parker arrives and hands them a pair of slippers and earns a great reward.
In the next play 'The King and Queen Want Sweat' the king and queen of an idle kingdom find that the cure for their sleeplessness and other health issues is lack of sweat so they search everywhere for it. Well, the king finds out finally that he needs to work out a sweat else it does not work for him nor his people.
In the last play of the 'Drummer', we have a lavish wedding in the village but the headman has chosen to ignore the village drummer and has hired a band from the city. How the village idiot saves the day by frightening away the band is the rest of the story.
Delightful stuff. Wonder when I can write like this. Children's writing is the most satisfying of all.
The first play 'Missing: A Father' is an unusual and intriguing tale where a tree, a letter box, a pole, a crow, and even a film poster play the lead characters. Into their dull life comes a little girl who is kidnapped by a rogue. How the lead personalities get together and put out an attractive poster to search for her father is the story. Haven't ever read any like this before.
In 'Bobby, the young girl dreams of being a teacher to famous personalities who appear in her school books - Akbar, Birbal, Shivaji, Mickey Mouse, circus artistes all keep flitting into her class as school kids and she is the teacher. What fun!
In 'Nosey Parker' we find a kingdom is a crisis - the prince's feet are burning. the King realises that the culprit is the Sun. No amount of planning is able to reduce the heat. Plans include stitching a giant umbrella, constructing huge taps to cool it down and in desperation even an attempt to shoot the Sun. Until a Nosey Parker arrives and hands them a pair of slippers and earns a great reward.
In the next play 'The King and Queen Want Sweat' the king and queen of an idle kingdom find that the cure for their sleeplessness and other health issues is lack of sweat so they search everywhere for it. Well, the king finds out finally that he needs to work out a sweat else it does not work for him nor his people.
In the last play of the 'Drummer', we have a lavish wedding in the village but the headman has chosen to ignore the village drummer and has hired a band from the city. How the village idiot saves the day by frightening away the band is the rest of the story.
Delightful stuff. Wonder when I can write like this. Children's writing is the most satisfying of all.
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