News

The Hindu : There is an air of nonchalance to Manish Pandey. And typical of adolescents, he has a wandering mind.When asked about his favourite batsmen, the 18-year old’s answers have often swapped ‘Ricky Ponting’ for ‘Kevin Pietersen’. He may be a bit confused about his batting idol but when it comes to his own batting, he is crystal clear. “I am an orthodox batsman who prefers to settle down initially. I like to get those singles and then play my shots. But yes if the situation demands I can play big shots as well,” Manish says.It is this clarity in approach backed by consistent batting exploits that has propelled him as the lone Karnataka player in the India under-19 squad currently touring Malaysia for the Under-19 World Cup. “I am excited to be part of the World Cup squad and I am looking forward to making the most of this opportunity,” Manish says. Manish recently trained at the National Cricket Academy with the rest of the squad under the watchful eyes of coach Dav Whatmore.The young lad’s story has been a tale of constant travel and consistent runs. Born in Nainital, Manish has often moved places thanks to a father who is an army officer. “My father used to get transferred and the family used to move with him. I came to Bangalore three years ago when he was transferred here from Nasik,” Manish says adding: “He is now posted in Rajasthan but I decided to stay on in Bangalore. This is the place where my career got a boost so I thought of pursuing my cricket based from here. Earlier I have played in Nasik and was even part of Maharashtra’s under-14 probables list.”Rapid stridesManish’s rapid strides in cricket were initially etched in the KSCA league matches. In his first year in Bangalore, Manish played for Friends Cricket Club in the fourth division league. Later he…More

The Hindu : The Bard famously wrote “She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is woman, and therefore to be won.” Today, our concept of love has changed drastically. Thanks to the individuality killer, peer pressure, there is a desperate need to be just like our friends, colleagues neighbours.Today is Valentine’s Day, and time to do a check on whether people do all the goofy things they do for that crazy little thing called love or just as a way to keep up with the Joneses. “The last time I felt the need to buy a gift for a girl I liked was when I was in the tenth grade,” confesses 26-year-old Ankush, a chartered accountant. “I still remember the evening my classmates convinced me to do it because that is what they were all doing. Unfortunately, for me, the end result was awful,” he adds.Standing firmInterior designing student, Sushma Prasaad was branded a “stone age girlfriend” by her friends. “While they surprised their boyfriends with gifts, I barely remember even wishing my guy.”There are others who stand firm against the peer pressure like engineering student Glen Winston who claims that peer pressure never drove him to buy a bunch of red roses or even send a mushy card. “I do what I feel like doing, what I think is best to do in a particular situation. I can’t care less about what people around me are doing,” he says with refreshing candour.Then, of course a good number of people blame the media for “over-hyping” this day. According to Preethika Vijaykumar, a lawyer, “If people are in love, they can celebrate what they share everyday. I feel the media focuses so much on these days that it works on young people who want to fit in and be like their friends.The city is bathed in a pink and red glow. We have a half-price sale on Valentine…More

The Hindu : Shop till you dropSerenity is hosting an exhibition of cotton chikan work, georgette and chiffon kurtis, ethnic salwar sets, crystal, silver and semi precious jewellery by Usha Abraham from February 14 to 16 and “Blossoms”, a collection of printed fabricsand saris by Shefali Khushalani of “Imprints” from New Delhi from February 14 to 17, 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. at No. 8/1, 5th main, Jayamahal extension. The saris are in the range of Rs. 2,200 and Rs. 4,000 and materials between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 3,500. Usha’s collection is priced from Rs. 295 onwards for kurtis, Rs. 900 onwards for long kurtas, Rs. 1,000 onwards for salwar sets, Rs. 170 onwards for earrings and Rs. 700 onwards for necklaces. Call 41279127 or emailserenityblr@gmail.comAalamwar Textiles is presenting a collection of Indo-Western wear of contemporary designs in natural dyes and prints on skirts, jackets, printed silks, kurtis in crepe, cotton and silks on February 14 and 15, 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. at 3/12 Cleveland Road Cross, Frazer Town Cross. Call 41225830.Effervescence is introducing Höglund Art Glass with an exhibit of a full range of hand blown art glass artefacts and jewellery from Hoglund Art Glass, New Zealand, created by husband-wife duo Ola Höglund and Marie Simberg of Höglundfor first at Leela Galleria on February 16 and 17 and also at Little Italy, 100ft Road Indiranagar on February 18 and 19. Visitwww.effervescence.in…More

The Hindu : Amoeba is hosting a Valentine’s Day party for couples on February 14 where there will be singing and dancing competitions, games like bowling, darts, car racing and more with an in-house DJ Chetan at the bowling alley with prizes to be won. Call 25594631/32/255327983.Gelatissimo is celebrating V-day for people to “make your own gelato sundae for your loved one from the various flavours available” or take part in the compatibility test and various other activities. There will be an array of frilly cakes laced with dollops of Gelato icing and other fresh seasonal delights. Gelatissimo is at No. 302, C.M.H Road, Indira Nagar.* * *The Leela Palace Kempinski is celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14 with a candlelight dinner, live band, dance floor, pink champagne at the poolside for dinner with a multi-course meal at Rs. 5,000 per couple excluding taxes. They are also organising a one-night stay at The Royal Suite that includes complimentary pick-up and drop in a luxury car (within 20 kms), lavender bath salts and rose petals sprinkled in the bath, passion fruit cocktail, chocolate covered cherries, an exclusive candlelight dinner set up in the balcony with glasses of Moet-et-Chandon, and breakfast in bed. For reservations call 9341211208.* * *ITC Windsor is hosting a candlelight dinner at the Raj Pavilion for couples this Valentine’s Day on February 14. Call 22269898 for reservations or more information.* * *Donut Baker is offering heart shaped doughnuts in four varieties – strawberry filled Valentine donut, white chocolate valentine donut with chocolate cream, nutty strawberry valentine donut and honey dipped valentine doughnut till February 17. You can buy any two valentine donuts and two cold coffee/iced tea for Rs. 99 or pick up four valentine donuts of each variety for Rs. 88. Donut Baker is at Brigade Road, Oasis Centre in Total Mall, Malleshwaram, Koramangala 80 feet road and Forum Mall.* * *Inox at Garuda Mall…More

The Hindu : Show me thy loveCelebrities share their thoughts on V-DayWhile the world is swathed in impossibly shaped, blood red hearts and the telly is blaring incredibly mushy songs, we asked people from various walks of life their idea of the height of romance.Sanjeev Kapoor(Chef and author)Most of my romantic moments hover around food. So I think I have done enough of cooking-a-meal for my wife, Alyona. This time I have decided to take her to London for a romantic dinner. I think more than showering gifts, romance is about being thoughtful. I remember, about 15 years ago, I was working as a chef in a hotel in Delhi. Valentine’s Day in a hotel is a very hectic and important day. I decided to work non-stop for a month, just to get that day off.I took my wife Alyona to Badkal Lake and spent the whole day together. It was so nice.Bappi Lahiri(Music director/lyricist)It happened in 1976. I had become famous by doing “Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost” and “Chalte Chalte”. One day, I composed the song “Pyar Manga Hai Tumhi Se”, took my girlfriend to the recording studio and said, ‘I have dedicated this song to you’. It affected her so much she married me the following year!”Jeetendra(Actor)Those days I was dating Shoba (now his wife). She was an air hostess with British Airways. Once she was in London. I was missing her terribly in Mumbai. So, I boarded a flight to London and landed at her hotel. Some 40 years ago flying to ‘vilayat’ was a big thing. It wasn’t as easy as it is today. Seeing me, she nearly fainted with excitement. She loved it and still feels great about that.Sunil Gangopadhyay(Author-poet)As a young revolutionary poet, I used to get letters from admirers. One of them was a girl who I always used to write back to. Once a man with three ladies came…More

The Hindu : The Bangalore School of Music and Alliance Francaise de Bangalore will present “An Evening of Colourful Dances”. The event will feature Omkar, a group of young dancers from various classical background.“Omkar came together and seeks to promote, propagate and glorify Indian art,” say the organisers. The group consists of artists who have established themselves as soloists and who bring with them rich experience in different styles of Indian classical and martial art forms, they add.The dancers are Kirti Ramgopal, Smitha Srinivasan, Sowmya Thantri and Sweekruth B.P. The dance is scheduled for February 16, at Alliance Francaise, 7 p.m. Donor cards for this concert, in aid of the BSM Charitable Project are available at the Bangalore School of Music, Alliance Francaise and Dockers (on Brigade Road, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar and Vittal Mallya Road).This event is part of the ongoing 11th East West Music and Dance Encounter – 2008. This year’s East West Music and Dance Encounter festival features artistes from countries such as Portugal, Germany, Italy, Canada, India, Switzerland, UK, France and Hungary to name a few.This multi-cultural international festival is a definite treat to the music lovers in Bangalore, promise the organisers. This Music festival, which started on January 29, will continue till February 24 with “10 special concerts and several workshops”.This festival is presented by Dockers, The Bangalore School of Music and Alliance Francaise. Haywards Black is the co-sponsor and Radio Indigo is the Radio partner….More

The Hindu : In 1997 when Huli Chandrashekar was having a beer with film director Pattabhirama Reddy he broached the topic of making a documentary on him. His subject shied away instantly. “No, no,” Pattabhi told him. “I am an ordinary man. Youare going to lose money if you make a film on me.” At this typically “Pattabhic” response, Chandrashekar kept quiet. He drafted a proposal, sought funds from the Department of Information, failed, and decided to go it alone. Meanwhile he shifted the onus of convincing Pattabhi to his daughter Nandana’s shoulders. Finally, Pattabhi agreed (“If you have decided to lose money, what can I do?”), and the “Family Pattabhic” produced the film, with “Family” member Navroze Contractor agreeing to do the camera work. The result is Pattabhi, a two-hour documentary that is a biopic as well as a slice of Indian history. When it is screened tomorrow for the first time, those who never met him will be introduced to a path breaking filmmaker and poet whose greatest achievement lay in how he could inspire creativity in others.The world measures achievement by the number of awards, medals, citations, shawls and sandalwood garlands an individual can garner. In a similarly blinkered fashion, the media refers to Pattabhi only as the director of “Samskara” because (a) it was the first Kannada film to be banned and (b) it later won the President’s Gold Medal. Yes, the radical film on Brahmin hegemony, made in ’69 and based on U.R. Ananthamurthy’s novel, did start a new wave of Kannada cinema. But it did not wholly define the man Pattabhi whose life and work spanned nearly a century (19 February 1919 to 6 May 2006). Chandrashekar’s film fills out the portrait.We come to know the boy Pattabhi, a product of feudal times, living in a mansion in Nellore, fearful of his stern father who used to beat him to make him…More

The Hindu : Love and warLove is in the air again. It’s the same old thing, year after year. Controversies upon controversies. Debates upon debates. But, you can’t escape the whole love syndrome, can you?Some say that it is against our culture and that everything western is a bad influence. Then, why should we celebrate May Day or observe Sunday as the day of rest? Or why wear jeans, drive cars or do anything that’s remotely, not fundamentally “Indian”?Whatever it is one can’t help but wholeheartedly agree with the media hype that’s doing the rounds. It’s literally in your face – the ads, the offers, the candlelight dinners, the movies, the songs – the works.While it’s everywhere you go, things of two extremes happen – extremist groups vandalise shops that naturally go overboard with heart shaped balloons, cuddly toys and cards dripping saccharine from every embossed pore.Read on as the debates do the rounds again. Some people feel that Valentine’s Day celebrations are a complete waste of time. Others feel that after being together for a short while, the celebrations are a bit overboard, there are others who feel it is okay to show your love material sweet-nothings.This day spoils our culture. Even though I have a girlfriend, it doesn’t make sense why only one day should be celebrated in a year. It is an ironic day as gender violation cases and divorces are rampant. Bangalore has the second highest number of divorce cases.KishoreAdvocateThis is a day that should be celebrated no matter what. I don’t think it is a bad influence. We celebrate it only once a year. I don’t see any issue about showering your loved one with gifts and treats as an expression of your love. It is a day for people to be together.AnushaAir hostess traineeV-day is the same as celebrating your wedding anniversary as both have been taken from western culture. Youngsters celebrate…More

The Hindu : ScreeningCatch films on families in India and EgyptVikalp Bengaluru (Films for Freedom) is screening three films about unique families in India and Egypt at Nani Cinematheque, Centre for Film and Drama, 5th floor, Sona Towers, 71 Millers Road. On February 15, Anjali Monteiro and K.P. Jayasankar’s “Our Family”, on February 16, Avijit Mukul Kishore “Snapshots from a Family Album” and on February 17, “Salata Baladi” (House Salad) will be screened at 6.30 p.m. Director Nadia Kamel will be present for the screening. Members need to bring their membership cards and non-members need to come to the venue half an hour before the screening and register. For more information, visitwww.vikalpblr.org…More

The Hindu : Love songsThis February Vh1 will screen love songs for Valentine’s day from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Viewers can also express their love with songs for every kind of emotion and get a dose of everlasting love songs from artistes like U2, James Blunt, Whitney Houston and loads more, say the organisers.The chaneel will also showcase love songs classic hits from Celine Dion, Bon Jovi etc. There will also be love songs from your favourite Hollywood movies. And for all those who are “bitter, from a break up, there will be bitter break up songs from Ace of Base, Shakira and Kelly Clarkson,” add the organisers. Groovy tunes of Elvis, The Beatles and Don Mclean are some of the other tunes that you can look forward to….More