EVENTS

'Second to none' is a group of volunteers who are trying to practice and encourage everyone to practice a life of reuse, recycle, reduce waste and replenish resources. We aim to do this by sharing recycling ideas, discussing ways to reduce consumption of harmful materials and encourage buying used goods instead of new. The activities and discussions could occur through this blog, on our Facebook page and through events like the periodic flea markets that we plan to organise. Sneak peek into the items on sale this weekend. Pic Courtesy: Second to none We're creating this space for people to…

Ripples of excitement ran through the assembled gathering when Margaret Alva, the governor of Uttarakhand came to inaugurate a little plant fair in Bangalore. Simple and unassuming in her trademark silk saree and bindi, the governor who has been associated with The Association of people with Disability (APD) for years, inaugurated the sale without any fanfare. Sale: The Association of People with Disability,  6th Cross, Hutchins Road, Off Hennur Road,  Lingarajapuram, St. Thomas Town Post, Bengaluru 560 084. Ph:  25470390, 25475165 "Margaret Alva is on a visit to Bangalore and supports anything that can help people with disability, as well as the environment of Bangalore,” says…

With Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Farhan Akhtar takes off where he left us with Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!!. But in this film, sister Zoya Akhtar (and not Farhan) takes the director's chair.  Source: Excel Entertainment Like previous films from Excel Entertainment (Farhan's production house), this is a film about friendship, love, life and letting go. It's a journey of self-discovery, set in that twilight zone where boys finally become men.Kabir (Abhay Deol) is engaged to marry Natasha (Kalki Koechlin). But before that, he is to have his Bachelor Party-a three-week road trip in Spain, with his buddies Imraan…

Director Mahesh Bhatt often says that it takes an equal amount of effort to make a good film or a bad film. This especially true of the superhero film Green Lantern, which had the film makers wading through over 1,300 visual shots and was finally completed at the cost of $300 million.While the superhero film has existed since the 1960s, Richard Donner's Superman (1978) was the first significant film in this genre that had both commercial and critical success. It was also this film that introduced audiences to Christopher Reeve - their most loved Superman avatar for years to follow.…

With Stanley Ka Dabba, director Amol Gupte takes off where he left us with Taare Zameen Par. Here we catch our first real glimpse of the vision that shaped the idea of Taare Zameen Par.  We also recognize how the involvement of Aamir Khan Productions made TZP a bigger film, though not necessarily a truer one. As in Taare Zameen Par, Amol Gupte returns to the world of classrooms and teachers, in juxtaposition to the world of childhood and its many dreams. Yet the shades are more muted, the characters as real and the perspective uniquely his own. It is…

Shutterbugs of Bangalore have reason to rejoice. 'Weekend of Photography', a three-day event is being organised by two photographers based in the city- Mahesh Bhat and Mahesh Shantaram. The event kicks off on 8th April. Speaking to Citizen Matters, Shantaram said that Weekend of Photography is an event of events which will unite photography enthusiasts, professionals who specialise in different kinds of photography such as wildlife, lifestyle fashion and many more. "Paris has a whole month for photography and we felt we could do something on a small scale," says Shantaram. The event is open to anyone interested in getting…

Ramanagaram shot into fame with the film Sholay in the 70s. But this small town just outside Bangalore has been the hub of silk-industry, rock climbers' haven and home to several temples. Panaromic View from one of the hills. Pic: Usha Hariprasad A peep in to the history: Ramanagaram known as Closepet before independence has seen a great many rulers. It has been ruled by Gangas, Cholas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Mysore kings, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.  During Kempegowda rule the place was also referred to as Ramagiri and Ramagiridurga.  The district is surrounded by seven majestic hills Shivaramagiri, Yatirajagiri, Somagiri,…

It's been an interesting beginning to the New Year for cinema buffs in Bangalore. January began with the screening of the Travelling Film South Asia (TFSA) at the Bangalore International Centre. This mobile campaign is part of an initiative to promote and popularise the best of South Asian documentaries at more than 50 international venues between the regular Film South Asia Festivals that are held in Kathmandu once in two years. Outstanding festivals screened at this festival are then chosen to travel across the subcontinent.  In this spirit, the festival reflected the contradictions and the cinema of South Asia, with…

No One Killed Jessica It was a murder and a trial that transfixed India. Now the story returns to celluloid in director Raj Kumar Gupta's account of the murder of model Jessica Lall and the subsequent trial of Manu Sharma. It remains an important film of our times, yet it is not always landmark cinema. The film narrates in dramatised documentary style the events surrounding Jessica's murder and the subsequent investigation and trial. Certain movies will also be remembered for the manner in which they caricature a city. No one killed Jessica is a film that also puts Delhi on…

A participant practising bouldering. Pic courtesy: BAR organisers. Adventure enthusiasts in Bangalore can now get ready for the first edition of Bangalore Adventure Race (BAR). The race being held on Saturday, January 8th promises to be a rush of adrenalin as it combines the thrill of cycling, kayaking and bouldering. It is a single-day format, multi-discipline, endurance and adventure race kicking off at Turahalli, a hillock off Kanakapura road, loops around Manchanbele lake and returns to Turahalli. The backbreaking 12-hour adventure begins at the crack of dawn at 4 am with teams of three participants each. The race will test…