GENRE: Features

“The biggest challenge we face, with the increasing prices is to provide enough to eat three square meals a day with a balance in the nutrients,” says Mary, 46, a domestic worker and a single mother, who lives in Nakalu Bande in Jaynagar 3rd Block.   Price of petrol, which was Rs 46 in mid 2009, is now nearing Rs 75; 10 grams of gold cost approximately Rs 16000 in September 2009 and is at Rs 26,000 now. The price of milk has nearly doubled from Rs 12 for one litre (double-toned milk), in 2007, to the current price of…

At Kalyana Mantapas and community halls around the city, Bengalis concluded Durga Puja celebrations on Oct 6th, Bijoya Dashami. A Brookefields event on Oct 5th attracted around 300-400 people. It was organised by the East Bangalore Cultural Association. Aarati preparations at the Brookefields event Oct 3rd. Pic: Rudreshwar SenAshtami, Oct 4th at Jayamahal. Pic: Rudreshwar SenAt the Brookefields event on Dashami. Pic: Rudreshwar SenBrookefields Idol. Pic: Rudreshwar SenNilanjana and Alakananda, Whitefield area Bengalis, after Sindoor Khela at Brookfields on Oct 6th. Pic: Rudreshwar SenSindoor Khela at Brookefields, near Whitfield. Pic: Rudreshwar SenThese saris are particularly meant for this occasion. Pic:…

The festive atmosphere of the Dushera/Navarathri season was very apparent at the Durga Puja Pandal on Bannerghatta Road.At NGR Kalyana Mantapa, on Bannerghatta Road, the South Bangalore Cultural Association, under its President, S Lahiri, began the Pujo festivities on Shasthi (sixth day after the new moon), which fell on 2nd October. Several cultural programmes were scheduled for the festivities up the 6th of October, when the idol of Durga was  taken in ceremonial procession for "Bisarjan" or immersion, after the worship. Indrashis De Sarkar, a very active volunteer, says smilingly that this Pujo is as old as his marriage!  He…

Mythri Arun, 32, a homemaker from Banashankari, decided to make her doll display of R K Narayan's 'Malgudi days' more authentic this year. She downloaded the route map of Malgudi town and replicated it at her home. Mythri, who has been setting up the gombe display for the past eight years feels she can live the memories of her grandmother through this. “Every family should follow this; children actually enjoy and learn a lot through these dolls,” she says. Mythri Arun with her Malgudi arrangement. Pic: Nagashree Gururaj.Mythri's Malgudi arrangement, with the clocktower in view. Pic: Nagashree Gururaj.Mythri Arun's Malgudi…

It was an evening that evoked an array of moods as versatile singer M D Pallavi performed at a musical fundraising dinner concert at Taj West End, Racecourse road. She sang compositions of famous poets like G P Rajaratnam, D V Gundappa, Shishunal Sharief, Da Ra Bendre and Chandrashekhar Kambar. The Music was composed by noted composers like Mysore Ananthaswamy and Kalinga Rao. Pallavi mesmerizing the crowds. Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi The concert was organized as part of ‘Joy of Giving Week’, from October 2nd to 8th, a national movement that hopes to engage Indians in “acts of giving”, be…

For many years now, I have been following the work of Yours Truly Theatre (YTT), a young Bangalore theatre group. They can be said to have pioneered Interactive Theatre in India. Called "Playback Theatre", it was started in the 1970's in the US, and is now hugely popular across the world. Instead of a fixed script, it is an interaction between the audience and the cast; the performers take the inputs provided by the members of the audience, and stage a scene with their own dramatic interpretation. Playback theatre has three established ways of presenting the stories: Fluids, Stories, and…

For Samaksh Kapoor, 22, a M.Sc. student, a laundry service is the only way he can get his clothes washed and ironed. He gives 4-5 kilos of clothes every week to Sancy’s Launderette in 3rd Phase JP Nagar. “My family does not live in Bangalore. As I am busy with studies, I don't find time to wash my clothes.” He says that the service at the launderette is quicker than a traditional dhobi. “So, this is my only option,” he says. Village Laundry Service Kiosk. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi Bangalore has had a steady influx of students and professionals from outside…

The bright yellow walls of the building, a bountiful vegetable garden and smiling girls bring cheer to your heart as soon as you step into the '' Baale Mane'' premises. A home among the lush green ragi fields, eucalyptus groves and farm lands serve as the ideal retreat for the girls to grow in a nurturing environment. Baale Mane at Gopalapura. Pic: Suja Sukumaran. 'Baale Mane' meaning 'Girl's Home' is situated in the sylvan surroundings of Gopalapura, near Nelamangala, off Tumkur Road. It was founded in 2001 by Paraspara Trust, an NGO providing shelter and a home for girl children.…

Cinema located in the lives of Generation Next. A film about love, letting go, life and the contradiction of living. Pawan Kumar's directorial debut Lifeu Ishtene mixes many flavours, leaving us with youthful cinema that retains its simplicity without being simplistic.After successfully assisting Yogaraj Bhatt in the making of Manasaare and Pancharangi, Pawan gets into the director's seat with Lifeu Ishtene and does not disappoint. His cinema retains its trademark popular appeal, without losing a unique perspective. In the end he leaves us with a single thought - what is life if it is not lived truly and completely? Source:…

My fondest childhood memories of a ‘santhe' have comprised my annual visits to the Dasara exhibition in Mysore during the festival season. Over time, the duration for which the entire fete lasted continued to increase, as did the kind of displays, shops and rides that turned it into a curious blend of a shopping festival with theme park style rides and lots of food. Cut to the present when, as a resident of Bangalore, I was excited about the prospect of visiting the recently held Sunday Soul Santhe at the Palace Grounds on Sunday, September 11th. It seemed like an…