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The Hindu : Kala Sourabha, an art exhibition organised recently by the Association of People with Disability (APD), was a heart warming event. It showed that it is not pity that differently-abled children need, but a space where their talent can blossom. The exhibition and sale at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan had on display works of children with mental disability who participated in a workshop organised by APD last September in collaboration with the Ken School of Arts.The Kala Sourabha art exhibition saw a mixture of paintings by the mentally challenged children as well as those of artists and the students of fine arts. Those by the former were executed with such professionalism that it was in some cases hard to even tell that they belonged to a special category and were worthy of appreciation for their talent alone. The price of paintings ranged from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2,000.Strong supportAPD, which has been working towards the betterment of the mentally-challenged since 2006, believes that art is a form of therapy as well. APD supports persons with disabilities in therapy, health, education, vocational training, counselling, employment and career building.Kala Sourabha exhibition was supported by two other NGOs, Paraspara and Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA)….More

The Hindu : It was an opportunity for young artists of Bangalore to exhibit their work alongside their counterparts from different parts of the world. It was also a forum for children to exhibit their talents in other forms such as music and dance.Bit of cultureThe World of Art, Europe, in association with World Art Foundation, Bangalore, and Jawahar Bal Bhavan Society, organised the first International Children’s Art Work Gallery.About 200 works of children from Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other countries, besides those of Indian children, were on display. Children presented cultural programmes. Theyturned up dressed as Shiva, Krishna, Buddha and other mythological characters to participate in cultural programmes.Dignitaries including former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala, cine artiste Prema, Bangalore city police commissioner N. Achuta Rao were all praise for the paintings displayed in the gallery.The show was inaugurated by Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana of Murugha Math, Chitradurga.Speaking later, Ms. Prema appealed to parents to identify the talents in their children and encourage them instead of imposing on them. Mr. Venkatachala stressed the need to focus especially on girl children.Shriya Dinakar, one of the prize winners, was all praise for her parents’ support.“We should respect our parents and teachers who always strive hard for our progress,” she said. Her Kuchipudi dance to D.S. Karki’s song “Hachchevu Kannadada Deepa”” was a hit with the audience.The organisation also presented awards to children who have excelled in arts, sports and music.Puneet Hiremath, Neha Adiga, Madhav Gudi, Shivaprasad K. Achar, A.J.S. Lakshmishree, Shreya Kumar, Master Sughosh, Megha and Anjali Chandrashekar won awards for their talent in painting.Young film directors Kishan, Karan Krishnan and Karthik Sharma won awards in the entertainers section.Master Nikhil Kashyap, Shibani Nayak and Varshini Sadanand won awards for excellence in sports. Awards in the music category were bagged by Master Hitesh, Sanjaynag, Ritisha Padmanabh, Nischay Bhargav and Prahhyal S….More

The Hindu : No pretences, just natural.Just a whiff of Nadira Zaheer Babbar is enough to give you this impression. No airs, no frills, no showing off, just a broad, toothy grin in between directions to the members of her theatre troupe, Ekjute, on make-up, line delivery and so on. Known for meaningful plays, with a ever-present social message this Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner started as a stage actor way back in the ’70s, she is today a much-appreciated play director and a script writer too. Excerpts from an interview with the versatile personality:Is it true that you were not too keen on theatre when you joined the National School of Drama?Yes. I was not clear about what I wanted to do in life. Unlike my sisters, I was bad academically. My father was worried. He shared this with Ebrahim Alkazi, who was in NSD then. He suggested that I should join NSD, so I did. But the first few months were difficult. I was not used to the medium, nobody from my family had ever done plays. Today I am thankful to them.Any particular moment when you realised that theatre is your creative medium?It is difficult to pinpoint it. It happened gradually. Today, it is not just my trade because I am qualified to do it, but it is my best friend.Is it still difficult for a theatre person to survive on sheer merit?Very. Still, very little money is coming in for theatre. I want to take my plays to the villages, but where is the money? I don’t want to make a profit on such projects but one needs at least some funds to commute, lodge and feed your troupe.You have just staged two of your plays, “1857 – Ek Safarnaama” and “Begum Jaan” in Delhi. Both deal withtimes gone by. Do we see there a fascination for history in you?History has always fascinated me….More

The Hindu : Summers can be fun, especially for those who look on seasons as a chance to do a wardrobe overhaul. Bangalore-based designer Varsha Bhavnani says: “Summer is all about being comfortable and wearing clothes in breathable fabrics. Shirtdresses are big this season. Light, chiffon dresses with floral prints in A-line cuts is another option. For a bit of drama one can opt for smart shirts with belts and accessories or printed chiffon tunics with minimum embellishments. For regular wear, very light or no embellishments are recommended.”Varsha’s spring summer line boasts of a “Fusion of earthy traditional colours and prints, especially kalamkari and Indian prints with vegetable-dyed fabrics in western styles are making an outstanding entry this season.”A peep into retailer Ekta Tandon’s wardrobe is an eye opener. Ekta prefers wearing white or beige linen trousers with a kimono or formal tops in light hues with platform heels or a pair of ballet pumps to work. an official environment. For casual wear, she goes with a long skirt in chiffon or cotton, in pastel colours teamed with a trendy tee and flip flops. For a semi-formal occasion, Ekta goes with knee-length layered dresses in silk or satin for free-flowing outlook.“Monographic prints, polka dots and black and white retro prints are my favourites during summer. Any semi-formal outfit can be teamed with a pair of wooden wedged shoes, a well-detailed clutch, a chic scarf and accessories like beaded neck pieces and big bangles in copper and bronze,” feels Ekta.Ethnic chic is another summer option.“Try ethnic outfits in cotton or linen with bias cuts. Light embellishments or simple, western inspired embossed designs in pastel hues on kurtas adds colour,” says Varsha.For streetwise fashions, look no further than your average collegians. College-going Nikita goes by the basics.“Black and white cotton salwars are the ticket. A variety of kurtas in light hues with embossed prints or a well-designed hakoba kurta is…More

The Hindu : There have been many victims of Bollywood formula who have found sustenance in television. One of them is Sudhir Pandey. Son of legendary radio figure Devki Nandan Pandey, Sudhir is now seen in a central role in Sahara One’s “Mera Sasural”. “I always wanted to be an actor and started with theatre. My father, who also had similar dreams, which were not fulfilled understood my feelings but warned me of the risks involved. He asked to get proper training. I joined Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 1974. There I realised that acting can’t be mastered in a lifetime. You learn on the job,” says Sudhir.“Those were the times when heroes and heroines ruled and actors got to play father or brother. Om was fortunate that he got a tailor-made role in ‘Ardh Satya’. I am still looking for a challenge,” laments Sudhir. He got an important role in Dulal Guha’s “Dhuan” which starred Mithun Chakraborty but it flopped and Sudhir was marked unlucky.“Self publicity and luck play great role in this industry and I am weak on both the counts. Acting is such a profession where you need somebody to back your talent and put money on you.”Financial necessity forced him to do bit roles. “Here theatre saved me otherwise I would have gone into depression. It provided me a creative outlet. I met Kaifi Azmi, M.S. Sathyu and A.K. Hangal and it convinced me there is space for me beyond the formula. In the meantime, I did small roles in ‘Shaan’ and ‘Shakti’. Ramesh Sippy liked my work and offered me Gaindalal’s role in ‘Buniyaad’.”It opened new vistas for Sudhir but his screen age took a leap. “I hardly ever got to play a young man after that. It gets repetitive at times.”Talking about his role in “Mera Sasural”, Sudhir says, “I play the head of the family who becomes a…More

The Hindu : Spitting fireWe, as Indians, are justifiably proud of our national heritage. We reiterate our faith in the hoary traditions, customs and values that form the bedrock of our life today. But do our habits, demeanour and bearing reflect the grandeur of the legacy that we are prone to flaunt to the rest of the world at every opportunity? Isn’t it time we saw ourselves, once in a while, as others might see us?Take, for instance, our civic sense and our attitudes and responsibilities as social beings. We have a national habit, which unfortunately, almost completely undermines our claims to glory. Spitting, a disgusting activity that unites east and west, north and south, seems to have become an acceptable part of our national code of conduct. No place is exempt whether it is a public park or a bustling bus depot.Projectiles of phlegm, betel juice and plain old saliva were launched from all sides with the speed and accuracy of ballistic missiles. Not a thought is spared for innocent fellow citizens as the perpetrators display blatant disregard for hygiene and the consequent health hazards.Grand monuments built with loving care centuries ago by master craftsmen and touted as major tourist attractions have beendefiled by modern day denizens with blotches of bright red betel juice. Staircase landings in recently renovated office buildings are embellished with the same scarlet stains, right under notices which read ‘Do Not Spit’.Cleanliness, they say, is next to godliness. Stringent measures must be implemented to prevent besmirching of public property. We would then present ourselves as neater and more dignified, and our splendid heritage would prove more meaningful to others, and more importantly, to our own selves.Do you have anything to say? About the state of the world, the city, your angst? Pen it stylishly and you might get it published.And dash off your piece with your photograph, of 300DPI resolution. (Do not send…More

The Hindu : The band’s name is Menwhopause. But the truth is the reverse. Anup Kutty, Sarabjit Chadha, IP Singh, Randeep Singh and Rahul Chatterjeerarelypause. Even though they love it, their choc-o-bloc schedule leaves them with little time.With back-to-back trips to the U.S. for shows — a seven-city tour and Jack Daniel’s Legendary Mash at Tennessee — things were never this good for this Delhi-based alternative/rock band.The trip to the Legendary Mash came about as Menwhopause won the Best Band award at Jack Daniel’s Rock Awards. “It was really crazy. We had to leave for Tennessee within days of returning from the U.S. tour. But we are loving it,” says Anup Kutty, the guitarist.No complaintsObviously,the five aren’t complaining. The band got to collaborate onstage with bands like Hard-Fi (from Staines, U.K.) and Carbon/Silicon (featuring Mick Jones and Tony James), along with six other bands from across the world.Menwhopause also got a chance to record a track with guest producer David Barbe, who has worked with artistes like Son Volt, Kelly Hogan, Drive-By Truckers, The Glands and the American rock band R.E.M. “We worked with David for over two hours to re-record a track from our second album, ‘Easy’,” explains Anup, their first album being “Home”.The band members have been travelling a lot. Other than an upcoming tour to the North by Northeast festival (NXNE) in Canada, a trip to Pakistan is also being planned in September.Last year, they made a trip to the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) in Texas. And the experience, Anup says, is invaluable. “We realised every artiste is the same around the world. They live for their music, just like us. But beyond the stage, they all have fun. NXNE will be the first time for an Indian band, but we hope to find some sponsors for it.”Known for their original music and unique song writing, Menwhopause discovered more about themselves on the recent…More

The Hindu : Video watchThis fortnight at seventymm.comHamletCast: Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Norman WoolandDirector: Laurence OlivierHamlet, Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, has had many screen avatars. There was Franco Zeffirelli’s star-studded extravaganza in 1990. The film with Mel Gibson as the procrastinating Prince of Denmark and Glenn Close as a sexy Gertrudehad Zeffirelli’s signature lavish style. Then “Hamlet” moved to New York City in the 2000 version. Denmark is a company and Hamlet, played by Ethan Hawke, films the play-within-the-play on his handicam. Bill Murray as the garrulous Polonius was a piece of inspired casting. Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 version was equally star-studded with Julie Christie and Dame Judi Dench sharing the screen with Branagh.Laurence Olivier’s 1948 version, which incidentally won five Oscars including best actor for Olivier and best picture, when compared to the other productions seems simple. And that is the movie’s greatest strength. There are no technical hi-jinks, no distracting cuts and camera swooshes. The film gives you the unadulterated pleasure of watching one the greatest plays in written history come alive in the hands of a thespian.Obviously we cannot know how it was staged during Shakespeare’s time or how the great Henry Irving played the gloomy Dane. But here in this movie, we see Sir Laurence at work treating some of our best-loved lines with the affection and respect.The film is the greatest tribute to Shakespeare’s lines. And while different people have different ways of relating to the Bard — one has no quarrel with Baz Luhrmann’s rocking rendition of “Romeo + Juliet” — there is a special magic in listening to Hamlet talk about being bound in a nutshell and counting himself king of infinite space, or him contemplating the eternal question, “to be or not to be”.One can almost gasps in pleasure at iambic pentameter coming alive as Hamlet chides the skull to tell the lady to paint an inch thick, seeing…More

The Hindu : Ask for cherries in an Indian supermarket and you will get a packet of flaming red, sugary sweet fruit.The red fruit certainly fit our mental image of cherries, but they are actually karanda, a.k.a Bengal currant or Christ’s thorn.Native to India, Burma, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, the straggly shrubs that carry this fruit are a common hedge plant in Asia.The fruit, in clusters of 3 to 10, is broad-ovoid to round, has thin but tough purplish-red skin that turns dark-purple or nearly black when ripe. Artificial additives are responsible for the bright red colour of packaged fruit.The ripe fruits have a mildly acidic taste and can be eaten out of hand. However, even ripe natural karandas are not as sweet as the supermarket ones, which get their syrupy taste from being stewed in sugar.The raw green fruit have a sharp taste and are ideal for making pickles. Slightly under-ripe fruit are made into jelly. Deseeded fruit, seasoned with cloves and sugar, are a popular ingredient in cakes, tarts and pies. The juice extracted by boiling the fruit adds colour, body and taste to fruit beverages.As for nutrition, 100 gm of the ripe fruit contains 75 Calories. The figures are obviously a lot higher for the sugared variety. The fruit is rich in dietary fibre and Vitamin C.Karanda leaves are fodder for silkworms. Paste from the ground-up root is an insect repellent. The astringent raw fruit find use in the tanning and dyeing industry.Medicinal benefitsAs with gooseberries and lime, sailors ate the raw fruit to prevent scurvy. They also used the fruit to treat indigestion.The leaf decoction was a popular remedy for fever, diarrhoea, oral ulcers and ear infections.The roots contain salicylic acid and cardiac glycosides. The former is the natural version of aspirin, but most people will find it easier to swallow the pill. Except as a natural source of Vitamin C, there are no…More