Society

Global travel guide publisher Lonely Planet (LP), owned by the BBC, has listed Bengaluru third in the top 10 cities to visit in 2012. LP calls Bengaluru, ‘Capital of cool' in the article "Lonely Planet's Best in Travel: top cities for 2012", published on its website on 30th October. Lonely Planet is one of the leading independent travel guide publishers founded in the late 1970s. Adopted initially by globe trotting backpackers and budget travellers, it now commands a broader following that includes well-heeled independent-minded travelers too. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of BBC UK bought a 75% stake in the…

"We should learn Kannada. No Kannada, no respect" says one white cab driver to another. This is a scene from the recent Kannada blockbuster Super. The movie is set in 2030 with Bangalore as a ultra modern city populated with men wearing Mysore petas and where all the cab drivers are white. Hegemony is maintained through language – English and Hindi are considered to be above Kannada. A person may expect you to learn Hindi while not learning Kannada – this causes resentment among Kannadigas. There are many avenues for learning Kannada. For example, Tamil Sangam holds Kannada classes, or…

There was an extra festive element at the Ranga Shankara Theatre Festival this time, as it fell between Dasara and Deepavali. The Theatre Festival started on October 16 and wound up on October 23. Street play at Ranga Shankara. Pic: H V Venugopal This year's theme was "Political Theatre," a controversial topic that brings out debate, and creativity, in people. Keeping with the theme, there were several contemporary folk theatre performances and documentaries screened, with vigorous discussions at the end. Sadanand Menon's workshop on Theatre and Arts Appreciation was very well-attended, as was the seminar on the same theme. "It…

Street play is one of the most basic forms of theatre. It is truly theatre of and for the masses. No special stages, elaborate sets, props, or costumes are required, no time is wasted, no special environment is created, and no fee is paid-yet, street theatre can speak directly to the heart of the viewer. The energy and vitality of performing in a public environment to a public audience also makes street play the perfect vehicle for political protest and propaganda. In India, the name of Safdar Hashmi is synonymous with political street theatre. The Ranga Shankara Theatre Festival 2011,…

The Ranga Shankara Theatre Fest 2011 had a political theme- all the events including seminars, film screenings, plays and platform performances have a political thread running through them. But then, who can get more political than Badal Sircar, the doyen of anti-establishment theatre in our country? Pic Courtesy: Ranga Shankara The Rangshila theatre group from Mumbai staged Sircar's "Teesveen Shatabdi" or "Thirtieth Century," on 21 October, a fascinating play about the moral aspects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. This is one of Sircar's early plays written in 1966. A time when the echoes…

Kannada film director Pawan Kumar's decision to include 12 minutes of extra scenes in his debut movie ‘Lifeu Ishtene', starring Diganth, has run into trouble with the State Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The scenes were originally part of the film certified by the censor board but were cut when the movie was released in theatres a few weeks ago. They are now being included in the screenings. The move was made to combat piracy and get more people to theatres to watch the movie. Debutant Director's anti-piracy act lands him in trouble. Pic courtesy: Pawan Kumar The makers…

Wise words About the Green line between Greece & Cyprus A potent message Facts on Northern Ireland's religious divide Separating Palestine and Israel Symbols of peace? US shuts out Mexicans The performers pause Why do people build walls between their territories? To ensure privacy? Or safeguard themselves and their belongings? But the borders between "neighbours" such as the United States of America and Mexico, India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine and other places have been doing much more than protecting the citizens of the respective countries. In fact, they have managed to sow the seeds of violence and animosity apart…

      The word "Soorpanangu" is a concoction that is drawn from two root words-Soorpanagai, the demon sister of Ravana, and the Tamil word "Anangu" which means "Woman". In a deeper sense, "Anangu" can be interpreted as "demon", "one without form", or "invisible". Indeed, an apt description of the pitiable state of Woman. The press write-ups for the play appeared impressive, as did the fantastic photographs that appeared along with write-ups. The play, staged at the fabulous Ravindra Kalakshetra, had a formal inauguration, and all the guests emphasized on the experimental nature of the play. Pic: Pugal Magendran Dr…

First it was Aindrita Ray, who was crying on television accusing a veteran director of slapping her and touching her inappropriately. Then it was a seasoned and veteran actress Ramya, weeping on small screen to get her money from a producer who had not paid her dues. Then it was another super actress, Pooja Gandhi who threatened to take a producer to court and complained about harassment and threats to her life from another person in the industry. And more recently Nikitha Thukral, although was not seen crying in public, must have shed plenty of tears in private after receiving…

The world is a small one, in today's age of jet travel, but not many of us can claim to have visited the Poles. Of the two polar regions, Antarctica (the south Pole) still remains largely inaccessible to the whole of mankind. So when the first woman from Bangalore, Priya Venkatesh, visited Antarctica, her trip made for an interesting conversation. Priya, 36, lives in Jayanagar and works for a training company. She is a keen amateur naturalist, and an excellent photographer. Priya Venkatesh in Antartica. Pic courtesy: Priya Venkatesh Why Antarctica?"In school, I used to see the little strip of…