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The Hindu : On National Geographic Channel, “Hollywood Science: Spy Gadgets” will investigate the technological validity behind Hollywood’s most outrageous espionage inventions. Spy gadgets were granted their own brand of sex appeal with the introduction of the James Bond films in the 1960s. Inevitably, the world of James Bond was imitated and spoofed – but surprisingly, the shoe phone used by bumbling TV spy Maxwell Smart on Get Smart was echoed in real life, when Communist block spies bugged a western diplomats shoe to monitor his activity. In a world where all of us have the ability to become spies thanks to consumer surveillance devices available at your local electronics store, Hollywood espionage dramas continue to reflect the world of real-life spies, while providing a preview of what lies just beyond the realm of possibility.Watch “Hollywood Science: Spy Gadgets” on National Geographic tonight at 9 p.m….More

The Hindu : He lured an entire generation of musicians towards technology. And now he comes a full circle.A.R. Rahman’s current passion is to create an Indian orchestra. The first step towards that is establishing the KM Music Conservatory as a bridge between music, technology and culture. The conservatory will help techno-savvy sound-engineers to learn the basics of composing and spend time with instruments and musicians to learn the importance of technology and the basics of sound recording. “We want our Hindustani and Carnatic musicians to be able to read Western notations and adapt to playing with other musicians,” says Rahman. “So that they can learn to play with ten other sitarists at the same time. That’s the sound we’ve never heard before,” he says. Rahman’s vision is to create an orchestra that not only sounds distinctly Indian but also blends various aspects of Indian culture and bhakti, which he believes, is at the heart of orchestral symphony. “Devotion is the basic element in all the music.”Spirituality plays a huge role in his life, so much that he’s chosen to call the conservatory KM as he believes that these initials are “spiritually close” to him and have brought him good luck. After frequent trips to Prague and Birmingham to record orchestral sound for his films, Rahman pondered over the need for our own orchestra. “Even Bahrain and Iraq have their own national orchestra.We are a country of 1.4 billion people and we don’t have our own national symphony orchestra. Since then, it’s been a burning desire to have something like that of our own.”The reason why music directors go abroad to record orchestral music is that what takes two months of effort in India can be completed with foreign orchestras in four days, he says. “There’s so much perfection in the way they approach music and translate notes.”Rahman probably knows he’s responsible for music directors slanting towards technology-based…More

The Hindu : Scoring with MultijetMotoring Fiat Palio set to win over customers with its new engineFiat is hoping to revive the Palio — and customers’ faith in it — with the talented Multijet diesel under its hood.Fiat has always had a good car in the Palio, it has got a solid build and a comfortable cabin. Never mind the after-sales support, the 1.1l petrol didn’t have enough in it to hustle the car along and the 1.6 was a true hot hatch, but burnt a hole in the pocket with the fuel bills.Well, now you can get the best of both since Fiat India has introduced the 1.3 Multijet engine (which it developed and has given to Suzuki under license) on the Palio.Yes, it’s the same engine that has everyone raving about the Swift diesel. There are a few exterior changes to the Palio, the most prominent being the new grille and logo.Apart from these, the design is the same as the petrol Palio Stile. On the inside, this car doesn’t feel like any other hatchback; it is solidly built.But sadly the interiors have been left unchanged and clearly look outdated, especially when compared to the modern Swift.Look closely and you’ll notice some cost-cutting too — the moulded roof-lining doesn’t extend down the B-pillar and the handbrake looks and feels cheap. Ergonomically, the cabin is very good. Both front and rear seats offer good legroom and support all around.Start the engine and you can tell it’s a diesel under the hood, but it isn’t as noisy as the diesel engine Fiat once offered on the Palio.It is quite smooth and the light clutch and gearshift make it quite stress-free to drive. The initial throttle response is sluggish, but after 2000rpmthat it thrusts forward till 4000rpm after which power tails off.In fact, the Palio’s ride and handling can even put a few saloons to shame.Fuel efficiency figures are…More

The Hindu : Gold has always been a woman’s best friend. Whoever thought that the soaring price of the sparkling yellow metal will dampen the spirit of traditional gold buyers need to look at the swanky showrooms that continue to attract buyers. Bracelets embedded with gemstones are popular as are designer talis.The “Jodhaa Akbar” collection of Mughal and Rajput designs is the latest rage on the fashion circuits. Controversy over Ashutosh Gowarikar’s directorial venture has done wonders for Tanishq who designed the jewellery used in the film.Chunky pieces worn around neck and clinking gold bangles and anklets have dominated trends in the last couple of years. If the rich and famous have been grabbing the heavy-weight pieces, those with limited resources are rooting for slinky, hollowed out pieces or ornaments made from non-traditional materials.“A variety of chokers and chains are made hollow and the reduction in weight compensates for the rise in gold prices. For the fashion-conscious, the designers offer light-weight sturdy designs,” observes Maddirala Mrunalini, a buyer. The wide range in the market bears testimony to the skills of the jewellers and their tailor-made personalized designs that provide craftsmen good opportunity to display their talent.Shukoor, a goldsmith, says the advent of machines, especially in the branded jewellery segment, has not affected the uninterrupted flow of orders. Precious and semi-precious stones are a rage, finding use in nose studs, earrings, bracelets, bridal crowns, rings, anklets, amulets and necklaces of different metal or style. Meenakari and kundan styles, often worn as chokers and necklaces have been influenced by the Mughal dynasty.Contemporary designs with an international appeal are in great demand in metros. “I am against stashing heavy and chunky jewellery which will not be of much use to me. I would rather prefer contemporary stuff with platinum or white gold,” says Swathi, a software professional. Since she is getting married by the month end, Swathi is keen on collecting…More

The Hindu : Ramananda Basak from Fulia, in Nadia district (85 km. from Kolkata) was in the city for an exhibition and sale of his work. This artisan is an expert on weaving and also setting up the loom. “Not many weavers know how to set the loom. It takesme about three to four hours to set it up,” explains Ramananda.Ramananda had no interest in becoming a weaver. He dreamt of having a “normal” childhood. Losing his parents when he was very young ended that dream. “I grew up on the roads, had no education. I studied only up to class four.”When he was 10, he entered the weaving world, polishing the cotton and drafting in the looms. He first sat at the loom when he was 14. “My legs were then long enough to reach the pedals.” After 36 years of hardship, Ramananda sees some respite. Today some known organisations promote and export his works.He started with Bengal cottons, but did not like them. “These saris become like a net when washed. Bengal cottons became very stagnant when it came to designs, colours and weaves,” observes Ramananda, who then shifted to Chennai. “I lived there for five years. Then my son met with an accident and I had to spend Rs. 2 lakh. Depressed we returned to our home town with barely Rs. 60 in hands. Slowly my work picked up and I bought my own loom and all the material that I needed. I made a few samples and sent them to various organisations that support weavers and handicrafts and got a few orders. At least now I need not worry about providing the next meal for my family.” Ramananda makes stoles and saris. His stoles are a big hit with Indians and foreigners. He supplies to stores including Amethyst (Chennai) and Fab India. Seeing his work the Crafts Council of India invited him for his…More

The Hindu : Come summer and there is a chorus amongst children ‘I’m bored’! Parents and caregivers are at their wits end to keep them occupied. Some fret about keeping them ‘constructively’ occupied. Pressure mounts on the child tolearn skills that might not possible during school days.Not too far back in time, summer meant time out with cousins and aunts at grand parents place with free play and unstructured activities the rule of day. Having fun was the paramount criterion. Adjustment and sharing formed part of the life skills learnt.With nuclear families, long family trips and time out with relatives are becoming increasingly scarce. Most often, parents try to enlist children into supervised structured activities. Thus, children invariably find themselves being shunted from one activity to another.Children often find themselves enrolled in activities and camps where they have little or no aptitude or interest. The question then arises, how effective are these summer camps and what do they have to offer.The great outdoorsSays Mehar S, of Wind Chasers which organises outdoor camps for children, “giving children the opportunity to go on a short camp where they indulge in outdoor activities helps them to appreciate nature and develop survival skills besides providing them with a sense of adventure.”According to her, enlisting children into structured activities over the entire summer would not be a good idea as “children need unstructured timings where they can relax, reflect, explore and be creative.”Her two-week outdoor camp in the wilderness of places like Wynad and Nilgiris, packs in activities such as rock climbing, rappelling and trekking. Children learn to appreciate nature and are not forced into any scheduled timings.“Movement-based camps for young children between the ages of four and seven are conducted by organisations like Jelly Beans. Here the accent is on developing the motor skills while also simultaneously addressing creativity and communication.Says Meera Ashar of Jelly Beans, “Activities such as theatre, miming, story…More

The Hindu : Virtual mechanicCar and bike questions? We have the answersI live in Auroville, which has bad roads. I want to purchase a bike with the best possible safety and suspension. I am considering the Honda Unicorn as suggested by a friend. Is this a good choice or can you suggest an option?Martin GluckmanYes, you can go for the Honda Unicorn. It makes perfect sense for you thanks to its excellent suspension and good ride quality.I have a six month old Honda Unicorn. Yesterday I rode the bike on a highway, where I tried reaching the bike’s top speed. Another friend also using an older Unicorn told me his bike reaches a speed of 120kph, yet my bike reached only 107kph. Why is it that my bike did not reach the same speed as his? Has Honda detuned the bike over the years? The owner’s manual mentions that fuel other than unleaded petrol may damage the bike’s catalytic converter. I prefer always using only Shell super unleaded. Is this fuel good for my bike?Dhana SekarThe top speed of 107 kph reached by your new Unicorn is absolutely normal. The Unicorn has not been detuned over the years. Your friend was probably reading his top speed including the speedometer error, assisted by a strong tail wind or going down a decline in the road when he attained 120kph on his bike. Yes, you can use Shell super unleaded without any fear.I plan to buy a 150-180cc sports bike. My budget can stretch upto Rs 65,000. I want a bike that has good acceleration, top speed and braking performance. My first choice is the RTR 160 but I want your opinion. I’m also looking at the TVS RTR 160, Hero Honda Hunk, CBZ X-treme and Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTS-i. I also want to know whether the TVS RTR FI is worth the wait. My height is 5’5″.Arun KumarThe Pulsar…More

The Hindu : Whether Jodhaa was part of history or a fragment of imagination is a debate that holds little interest now. “Jodhaa Akbar” is a true blue hit.And Ashutosh Gowarikar’s labour of love stands to gain for its portrayal of Akbar and Jodhaa. Read between the lines of the love story and what comes to fore is the pragmatic assertiveness of the fiery Rajput princess and the receptiveness of the Mughal Emperor.Rajput king Bharmal’s initiation of the unusual alliance of his daughter with Jalaluddin Akbar presents Akbar with a battle far greater than what he has faced on the battlefield; that of winning over the defiant Jodhaa.The educated, sword-wielding princess stands her own, demands to retain her religious preferences and consummates the relationship on her own terms.Same set of problems“A lot of what Ashutosh depicted is relevant today. Times have changed and so has the context, but the set of problems remain the same for a lot of women. Jodhaa is not consulted before her engagement.“After her engagement, she takes it upon herself to love the chosen groom until he calls it off and later, despite her defiance, she has to consent to wed Akbar. She respects her boundaries and yet sticks to her core value systems. She stuns Akbar by demanding to retain her religion. She is strong, assertive and maintains her individuality. It’s a nice characterisation that shows her to be educated while Akbar isn’t,” explains Dolly Singh, key accounts manager with United Spirits.If Jodhaa was skilled in warfare like her male counterparts, she’s also graceful and feminine. Unlike the leading women in historical films of yore, she has a few lines to speak.“She has hardly any dialogues and certainly was not leading an easy life. She gets her point across with dignity after stepping into the Mughal palace. Akbar comes across as a fair and just human being who learns to appreciate Jodhaa’s inner…More

The Hindu : Sabras”, a tapestry of classical Odissi dance and Hindi film songs will be presented by renowned dancer Sonal Mansingh.The event is organised by The Bangalore International centre to inaugurate its Airtel Manthan Arts and Culture Series. The event will be staged on March 22 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall at 7 p.m.“Sabras” is a “novel choreography by the classical dancer Sonal Mansingh, that creates a rich tapestry of classical Odissi dance, interwoven with Hindi film songs. Classical ragas have been used in Hindi film songs and a few directors have used elements of classical dance in their films,” explain the organisers.The choreography spans the two genres, with all the hues of artistic expression, like the colours of a rainbow. The central of an idea, be it the navarasas, emotion states, like sringara, (romantic love), raudra, (anger or jealousy), hasya, (mirth), vira (heroic), an aesthetic notion like naina or eyes, or a philosophic concept, depicted through lyrics of the classical dance-music tradition, is matched with a film song that echoes the same sentiment, they add.For instance, they explain, the Geeta-Govinda ashtapadi depicting a jealous and angry Radha who is rejecting Krishna’s advances is juxtaposed with the song from “Guide” — “Saiyan beiman! mose chhal kiye jaaye”. Sonal Mansingh is an eminent Odissi dancer also trained in Bharatnatya, and Chhau. She has created many original choreographies based on Indian mythology and epics, as well as on contemporary issues.Lately her work has veered towards issues concerning women, environment, prison reforms and re-interpretation of ancient myths for contemporary times.She has also been the chair person of National Sangeet Natak Akademi and Trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.The dancer was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003.Entry to the performance is free. Please collect invitee passes from Bangalore International Centre at the address given below, or from Airtel Relationship Centres at…More

The Hindu : Dressed in matching peacock blue costumes, accentuating their well-toned bodies, Sandra and Zoli take their positions in the atrium of The Forum mall. There is a sudden hush in the audience when Andre, double checks the trapeze rope hanging in the middle of the stage and the two artistes powder their hands. Music starts and they take hold of the ropes and rise above the ground extremely slowly with graceful movements.Together, these artistes from Hungary, create magic in mid air moving like professional ballet dancers, throwing in some rope tricks and dangerous stunts in between. After a breathtaking five minutes, they take time off to talk about their life off stage.Sandra, Zoli and Andre started off when they were very young. Andre, the only one who can speak a little English works as interpreter.“I was bad in mathematics, so it was easy for me to take up sports and arts,” explains Andre. Zoli smiles and says: “Ditto”. But for Sandra, it was a different story. From a famous circus family in Hungary, she “had no choice but to join in the family tradition,” says Sandra who made her first stage appearance when she was barely two-years-old.The three, however, have no complaints about their life as they find it “interesting to travel together and perform and also meet various people”.The only challenge, adds Andre, about being trapeze artistes is that “our lives are always on the edge. A slight mistake and we could lose our life or be crippled forever. We need 100 per cent concentration. We also practise almost for six hours a day.”He then goes on to talk about eating habits when living such a “stressful life. We don’t eat often but eat in large quantities when we do. I eat a whole chicken hours before I get on stage. One chicken keep me going for six to seven hours. And we all drink…More