ARTS and CULTURE

Bangalore, now Bengaluru, has become a melting pot of cultures. A plate of vaangi bath here, and Char Sui Bao there; an Iyer mami here, a sister Susie there; a house with monkey-tops here, a glass-panelled 17-storey building there. Every one of these is reminiscent of the changing culturescape of the city. Here are five videos that pay homage to our very own Bean Town, in their own special way. Humble beginnings To start off, here is a video that traces how the founder of Bengaluru, Hiriya Kempegowda developed Bengaluru. This video was screened when Bengaluru International Airport was renamed…

Citizen Matters is looking to work with citizen writers/photographers for a new series: Disappearing professions of Bengaluru. Through this series, we are looking to capture the essence of a Bengaluru that is slowly disappearing, and create a repository of what could perhaps become history in a few years. The series will offer an insight into how Bengaluru is coping with all the change, as the city and her people move forward in the race to become a true metropolis. Disappearing professions of Bengaluru Do you remember the knife sharpeners, kulfi walas/ice cream carts, salt sellers, son papadi sellers, metalware repairmen, etc…

BG Sreedhhar is a rather well-known personality in the Whitefield Rising Facebook community. For starters, he draws. Most people can draw, one would say. Sreedhhar’s art is a little different. His one-page cartoons are a satire on the many situations that Whitefielders find themselves in. No harm in looking for humour in adversity, right? On your commute to office? Here’s an apt one. Illustration: BG Sreedhhar Considering purchasing a property in Whitefield? Here’s another. Illustration: BG Sreedhhar Missed ISRO’s announcement about a new Space Park in Bengaluru? He’s got that covered too. Illustration: BG Sreedhhar Sreedhhar, a landscape designer by…

The 8th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival is all set to begin on January 28th 2015. Here are the highlights, according to a press note: The 8th Bengaluru International Film Festival which is being conducted from January 28th to February 4th will witness many firsts. For the first time, the Chief Minster is leading the International Film Festival’s Organising Committee. The Minster for Information and Public Relations is the executive Chairman.  Actress and Member Legislative Council Smt. Jayamala is the artistic Director.  The 8th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival will be held in Bengaluru and Mysuru simultaneously. The…

Bengaluru has over 200 churches and some of them date to even a couple of centuries old. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to these majestic old houses of prayer. While some seek it to find solace, some others pay a visit to simply take in the grandeur of these buildings. And come Christmas, one can be sure to find these churches lit up, thronging with crowds who have come to attend mass or just to take in the spirit of the festival. There are several organisations like INTACH, Bengaluru Walks, Unhurried, Bengaluru By Foot and others that take you…

I answered the doorbell a few weeks ago to a blue inland letter. Selvaraj thatha, the resident guardian of my building smiled gummily at my furrowed brow as he handed it over. Late night online impulse purchases ensure a steady stream of parcels that thatha receives on my behalf, but an inland letter was a novelty and he was curious to know what had occasioned it. I gingerly eased open the letter and found that it was from my library. Among other things, the letter said that the good folks at Eloor library, Bangalore were looking forward to seeing me…

Following a sea of controversy surrounding this season’s Bangalore Literature Festival, naturally there was much excitement in the air over the talks and discussions at the lit fest. As I entered the venue of the lit fest on Day -1, the first thing that effortlessly drew my attention in the events schedule was the list of sessions marked under the bold heading “Left Wing” and “Right Wing.” However, my efforts to decipher the code by reading the topics through a sharp eye, went in vain. The sessions on both the stages were evenly distributed, with no clue on left and…

Part I: How C V Raman came to BangalorePart II: The Raman Effect on Indian Institute of SciencePart III: Raman, his research institute and his many hobbies The collection of specimens in his museum and his reputation as the greatest scientist of India attracted many visitors from around the world to Raman’s institute. But not all were welcome. Proposals made by government representatives to offer Raman the much-needed funds, only if he could in exchange provide the government with certain kinds of research helpful for Defence Ministry, had enraged him. He had developed a natural distrust and aversion towards politicians.…

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time - Thomas Merton Bengaluru is teeming with artists of every kind. For the visual arts, there are several great places that showcase diverse works by artists - featuring both Bengalureans and out-of-towners! National Gallery of Modern Art The National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru was opened to the public in February 2009 at the Manikyavelu Mansion at 49 Palace Road, Bengaluru. The gracious heritage building, previously a residence, transformed into an art gallery with plenty of space for displays  - both for its permanent collection and the periodic…

For part 1 of the series, click here: How C V Raman came to Bangalore. For part 2, click here: The Raman effect on IISc C V Raman with his Nobel prize. Pic courtesy: Raman Research Institute While still serving as a professor at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Raman had planned for a private institute where he could carry out research work on subjects that interested him personally, without having to go through a long and tedious procedure of getting approvals from a complex bureaucratic system at IISc. He had saved a considerable amount of money for this purpose…