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The Hindu :

Stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das revels in the energy of his shows and the response of his audience

Photo: Shiv Kumar PushpakarNO WAY! Vir Das says his shows are intelligent, not embarrassing

Not long ago, 30-year-old Delhiite and stand-up comedian Vir Das “reappeared” in the Capital after five years to give a performance called “Walking on Broken Das”. “It’s the hall where I began my career,” says Vir, on a note of nostalgia. The show also featured Alien Chutney, Nassar Davis, Ravi Darsan and Sara Samadhan, members of Vir’s company whopep up the audience before Vir enters the stage.Cheeky innuendo

Born and brought up in Delhi, Vir speaks so fast, that it’s hard sometimes toeven make sense of what he says. In fact, you might have missed one of his cheeky innuendoes. So why does this alumnus of Delhi University’s Venkateswara College thrive on jokes that must surely embarrass the family audiences at his shows?

“Embarrass?” he laughs, “Don’t those who come to my shows go to bed every night and have private moments? Let me tell you that my audiences love my shows, else they wouldn’t be packed! I manage to do ‘all that’ with intelligence. And my audiences are no less intelligent. Those who call my show ‘embarrassing’ are the same who admire the erotic images in Khajuraho, but stealthily!”

Vir is incredibly energetic and active on the stage. He screams, jives, makes funny faces, mocks at the audience, yet manages applause. He doesn’t falter even when switching topics wildly. He has mastered the art of “blabbering” as he puts it. And of course, he does not shy away from dialogues bordering on the ribald.

He divulges the secret. “The success of the show depends on the first few minutes. If you are able to capture their attention for the first three to five minutes, you are bound to have a roaring…More

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An exhibition of photographs by the students of the Light and Life Academy is on. The show features the works of the student of the 2009 batch.

Venue: Chitrakala Parishath

Date: On till October 29

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The Hindu : y>After five years of hectic activity at Ranga Shankara, it’s now time to pause, says Arundhati Nag. Idleness can be productive, she tells DEEPA GANESH

PHOTOS: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.THE BIRTH OF A DREAM Arundhati Nag: `Right from our early acting days, Shankar and I dreamt of an exclusive space for theatre’

Is nostalgia idealistic? Self-indulgent, did you say…? Not really. The past does not have to be recast in an idyllic romantic light. It has joy, pain, moments you would like to treasure and those that are best forgotten. The moments that trigger nostalgia, are also moments that put you on the path of the future. The past protects a sense of space. Arundhati Nag, the force behind Ranga Shankara stands at that point where the past is moving into the present, and a future is seeking to be born. It is five years at Ranga Shankara and over 2,000 shows — “Looking back is daunting,” says Arundhati. “It has been humbling, challenging… so many emotions all at once,” she says, sounding cheerful and reflective, at once.

True to being the artiste that she is, Arundhati has always felt lesser than the challenge that’s before her. She is of course happy the way Ranga Shankara has defined itself, but it is pause time now, she reflects. “In the five years that Ranga Shankara has been around, Bangalore has changed so much. The mindsets of people have changed as well. Isn’t that reason enough for us to think afresh?” she asks. “The least I want to achieve is have at least 100 people for any performance. Is that too much to ask… well, that’s my goal…,” avers Arundhati, who, with a hundred things on her head, is adept at multi-tasking.

A call, a visitor, an email… attending to all of this, Arundhati speaks of the lacuna she feels as far as initiative from the rest of…More

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Oxford Bookstore, in association with Aashwasan Foundation, an NGO, is hosting a special awareness programme on “Realising One’s Infinite Potential”, which will be followed by an interactive session with Maithili B., Practitioner, Aashwasan Foundation.

Venue: Oxford Bookstore, Leela Galleria, Leela Palace, Old Airport Road

Date: October 24

Time: 5 p.m.

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The Hindu :

Combos, a curse for the choosy shopper?

Photo: R. RaguWe want more Combo packages need to improve

Whether one likes it, hates it or condemns it, starting from the biscuits we buy in the supermarket to the toilet brush in the home section, chances are that we will be forced to buy a thing or two that’s not on our ‘to-buy’ list.

‘Dosa with coke’ is as crazy as an idea as having soup with pappu-annam. Chai and mirchi bajji will make most of us smile but the same cannot be expected of a suggestion like lassi and hotdog.

Take the case when watching a movie.

The food counters in the comparatively new multiplexes have lots to choose from, but they all come in combos. From hot dog, nacho combos to a samosa combo. And what do they all have?

A tub of popcorn, a tumbler of aerated drinks filled with ice and one item as the ‘main eatable?’

“I loved the hot dog in the theatres. What I don’t like is the fact that the combos that come with the hot dog are not to my taste. The combos are rigid and that makes the entire food experience a not-so-good-one,” says Namrata, a final year bio-chemistry student.

There are some combos that work.

Take for instance, the dal-chapati-chinese platter or the Chinese-chaat platter.What they serve is dal roti and a small portion of noodles and chaat with a portion of fried rice.

PRABALIKA M. BORAH

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Dramanon presents an English play “(sic)” by Melissa James and directed by Sharanya Ramprakash.

Venue: Alliance Francaise

Date: October 24

Time: 4.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Online

Booking:www.indianstage.in

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There will be film screenings by Bangalore Film Society, which will be followed by an exhibition of paintings — all on the theme of water. This will be followed by an interaction with artists and resource persons.

Venue: Era Organic, Dollars Colony, R.M.V. II Stage

Date: October 24

Time: 6.30 p.m.

Contact: 41606003

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Bangalore rockers Galeej Gurus will perform at the Great Indian October Fest.

Venue: Palace Grounds

Date: October 24

Time: 7.45 p.m.

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Pedigree, the pet food brand of MARS is organising the Pedigree Pet Day with a host of activities lined up for pet owners and pets. There will also be free dental check ups, personalised tips on grooming from leading vets.

Venue: Palace Grounds

Date: October 24

Time: 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

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The Hindu :

There’s a climate change campaign today

So what is this 350 all about, one asks the organisers of the “350 Campaign on Climate Change” slated for today.

“Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis, to create a new sense of urgency and possibility for our planet,” say the representatives from IYCN (The Indian Youth Climate Network) and 350.org.

“350 – as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number, it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.”

Though the final climate meeting in Copenhagen doesn’t take place until December, governments will be finalising positions before the meeting takes place. These young activists hope that their creative actions will change negotiators attitudes, before important decisions are reached in December. And these activities will be echoed across the globe.

A couple of events planned for Saturday include The Flash Mob Run: “It’s an impromptu run on M.G. Road down to Central Mall to attract people’s attention to the crucial 350 figure that the world should aim for,” says Arun Patre. There is a Cycling Rally as well. “We will bike into key areas like M.G. Road and the large Malls and do a bike salute and then take a fun ride to Ulsoor,”says Mayank. There is also a community activity with Rajendranagar slum in association with Christ University students. “To raise awareness among the slum dwellers, we will exchange a traditional bulb with a CFL in each home, plant medicinal shrubs in pots and distribute a cloth bag to each home,”says Nitin Saboo. “I don’t want the developed world to impose restrictions on our Green House Gas emissions that will cripple India,” says Siddarth Gokul, a first year student of St. Joseph’s College, Autonomous. “But…More