The Indian cinema has an old history of portraying the complex world of crimes. It has portrayed it for entertainment and societal awareness as narrative device, points out Ritika Seth. According to her, beyond entertainment, films also serve as a lens through which to examine the intricate interplay between law, order, and the human condition. Besides, crimes are also a subject for creating engaging and compelling stories. Cinema is one of the most powerful and popular forms of art and entertainment that has the ability to influence and shape the minds and hearts of the masses. Cinema is also a…
Author: shubhangi
A past steeped in history is not the only stake to Raigad’s claim to fame. It has many UNESCO heritage sites and is made proud by historic temples, exquisite landscapes and its rich flora and fauna. As a place that holds huge tourism potential, it has been a site for sore eyes with places like Elephanta Caves, Ashtavinayaka, Murud Janjira Fort, not to speak of its majestic seashore expanse. Visitors can soak in its mystique and partake of its traditional, signature dishes that give Raigad a distinct identity of its own. Raigad is a district in the state of Maharashtra,…
“I wonder why adults encourage/force children to take up hobbies only to drop them later.” A rebel with a cause but without pause is what describes Shantanu Pandit succinctly. An ardent votary of what he eminently believes is “outdoor education”, this hardboiled adventurist strives to popularize activities like hiking, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, nature walks, and community service. Exposed to rigorous environment-friendly practices, he was able to cultivate the art of having lifelong friendships with many clients and business associates. His blogs are parts of his advocacy efforts. In a tete-a-tete with A.Radhakrishnan, he talks about a life well lived.…
Mahatma Gandhi’s political and personal life has always been a subject chewed by the theatre for its interesting trappings. Shoma A. Chatterji takes an in-depth look at the plays across languages that delve into the life of the “Father of the Nation” and his troubled relationship with eldest son. Gandhi is venerated as the “Father of the Nation”. But how was he as the biological father of his four sons? Did he do his duty as a father towards them? Or did he sacrifice/surrender his natural fatherhood in the service of the nation? His wife Kasturba Gandhi accused him…
Meet Bundelkhand’s unusual activist who sings not for entertainment but to propagate the cause of development and justice. Bharat Dogra sketches the picture of a landless Dalit Mata Dayal, who overcame poverty and illiteracy to pitchfork himself into a social movement that seeks to help the underprivileged class. Mata Dayal is a popular singer in Bundelkhand region. Over the years, he has written and composed nearly 50 songs on development and justice and preserved them for posterity in his diary. He also sings folk-songs/songs written by others, as long as these have some message of justice, environment protection and creating…
Rashmi Oberoi rips into the obsession for dieting, the hypocrisy behind it and concludes that diets are passé. They do more harm than good in the long run as most diets are anything but steady. Her verdict: Exercise, not diet, and be healthy. I hardly ever attend these glitzy parties that Delhi is so famous for… In fact, I stay miles away from them as I stick out like a sore thumb in such situations. I couldn’t get out of attending a recent lunch party, and that was undeniably a great revelation for me. I was educated on a fact that…
A pioneer in fusing parallel and mainstream cinema Kasinadhuni Viswanath popularly called Kalatapasvi (sage of the arts) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist, sound designer, and actor active in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. He was a pioneer who produced movies that were years ahead of their time and was known for fusing parallel cinema with mainstream cinema. He was a guru, a legend, and a mentor to many. Vishwanath directed 53 full length features over the course of six decades dealing with caste, colour, disability, gender, sexism, drunkenness, and socio-economic difficulties. But they included all popular components such as humour, romance, action, pathos, and drama. His actors’ performances served as evidence that he was an unmatched director. He emphasised the value of music in movies and infused classical music with life in many of his productions. He altered what constitutes commercial cinema and subtly presented creative plots that placed exactly the proper focus on the intended message. For decades, viewers were captivated by the many genres. He depicted our traditional and rural society with seeming effortlessness. To him cinema was a medium to educate people and bring positive societal change. Music and dance played a crucial role too as they helped in narrating the story in a more impactful way. A good film was one that touched the heart and soul of the audience. While being a work of art, it had to be…
Pioneer of public toilets in India Bindeshwar Pathak was an Indian sociologist, social reformer and social entrepreneur. He was the founder of Sulabh International, a pioneering non-profit India-based social service organisation promoting human rights, environmental sanitation, hygiene, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education. Born in village Rampur Baghel, Bihar in an orthodox Brahmin family, he graduated in Sociology in 1964, earned his Master’s degree in 1980 and his PhD on Liberation of scavengers through Low Cost Sanitation in 1985. When 5 or 6 years old, an incident left an indelible impression. He had accidentally touched the hand of a domestic Dalit maid. His grandmother…
Havaldar K. Palani was born on 3 June 1980 and hailed from Kadukkaloor village in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. His parents came from a humble family of farmers. An active sportsman during his school days, Palani always aspired to join the armed forces. After his schooling, Palani joined the Army at age 18, on 29 April 1999 and was enlisted in 81 Medium Regiment, Artillery. He later completed his graduation while is service through distance education. He got married to Vanathi Devi and had a son and daughter. He served in various operational areas under challenging work conditions. His…
Neeti Prakash takes a long look at key areas like economy, judiciary, agriculture, healthcare, technology et al and points out that transformational changes hold the master key, unlocking pathways to a future brimming with promise. She makes out a case for individuals to harness the collective potential of visionary thinkers, policymakers and agents of change, in the conviction that progress is both an art and a science. During a nation’s journey towards progress, pivotal reforms emerge as skilful hands intricately weaving together strands of metamorphosis and development. In the context of India, a land abundant with challenges and unprecedented opportunities,…