Playgrounds is best short film at Los Angeles fest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Proud entry:M.D. Pallavi and Shamik Sen Gupta’s Playgrounds was made on a shoestring budget of Rs. 3.2 lakh.
Proud entry:M.D. Pallavi and Shamik Sen Gupta’s Playgrounds was made on a shoestring budget of Rs. 3.2 lakh.

Kannada Sugama Sangeeta and theatre artist M.D. Pallavi and Shamik Sen Gupta’s Playgrounds was adjudged the Best Short Film at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) held from April 6 to 10.

The 18.08-minute short film has been selected for screening at eight international film festivals held across the country so far, besides winning gold in the Asian New Force category at 21 Incubator for Film and Visual Media in Asia (IFVA) Festival, Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Jigmet Wangchuk, cinematographer of No One Killed Jessica, handled the camera for Playgrounds . The story is woven around the child of migrant labourer in the booming metropolis. This toddler falls asleep in an auto while in a game of hide-and-seek. When the driver discovers the child, he sets about trying to return her to the parents. “It is a game of survival in a concrete arena,” says the log line of the film.

Playgrounds was made on a shoestring budget of Rs. 3.2 lakh and has been shot in suburban streets, low-income class neighbourhoods, streets, hospital, construction sites, and workers’ shanties juxtaposed against and separated from a massive building complex by a deep moat, emphasising the divide. “While in some of the locations we had permission to shoot, in several others we had to shoot discreetly,” said Ms. Pallavi.

It took some three months for the director duo to write the script. “We shot the entire film in seven days. Since the film commences in the evening and ends after midnight, we had to shoot mostly at night with very little artificial lighting,” she explained.

Interestingly the film has various languages – Dakhani Urdu and Tamil besides Kannada. “It is our intention to make a multilingual film to capture the authentic soundscape of the Indian urban spaces where you don’t hear one but multiple languages,” she said.

“We are surprised on learning about the award. We could not go to Los Angeles to receive it because of financial constraints,” Ms. Pallavi said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – April 13th, 2016

Miss India 1st Runner-Up’s Mysuru connection …

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

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Femina Miss India 1st runner-up Sushruthi Krishna (extreme right) is seen with Femina Miss India winner Priyadarshini Chatterjee (centre) and 2nd runner-up Pankhuri Gidwani.

Mysuru :

Sushruthi Krishna, who was crowned as first runner-up in Femina Miss India pageant held on Saturday (Apr.9), has Mysuru connection.

The 22-year-old Architect Sushruthi was born in Mysuru and then moved to Bengaluru where her father M.S. Krishna is a businessman. Her mother Jayashree Krishna is a native of Mysuru. Sushruthi’s maternal grandparents Ganesh Iyer and Kameshwari are residents of Vijayanagar 3r stage in Mysuru.

After completing her studies in DPS, Bengaluru, Sushruthi Krishna received her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru. Speaking to SOM, Ganesh Iyer expressed his happiness and said that it was because of his grand-daughter’s hard work that she could achieve the feat.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 12th, 2016

From Austin Town to China

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

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A Kannada documentary traces the journey of underprivileged footballers from Bengaluru to China. The film, which won a national award, went largely unnoticed

A team of 14 boys from the shanties of Austin Town, who love football over anything else in their lives, recently created history by representing Bengaluru at the Great Wall Cup at the Olympic Nest in Beijing.

These underprivileged kids participated in an event where 30 countries competed for the trophy and returned with the runners-up cup. Their parents work as sweepers, maids, band members who play at funerals, and cooks in smalls hotels.

Moved by the spirit of these boys, Jacob Varghese, who has earlier directed Kannada hits like Savari, and Prithvi starring Puneeth Rajkumar, made Dribbling with their Future, a Kannada documentary on these children.

The film got the award in the Best Exploration/Adventure film category at the 63rd National Film Awards this year, but was lost in the cacophony of larger films.

According to Jacob, Dribbling with their Future documents the journey of the children to realise their dream of playing at the Great Wall Cup. Jacob believes his film should speak, rather than its creator.

“It is up to the audience to interpret and relate to it,” he says. So far he has made two short films –Andhyam (the story of a hangman), which went to many international film festivals, and Putti (the story of a seven year old girl, and her grandmother in a drought-hit village).

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Excerpts from the interview:

What made you want to move away from star-driven features to a documentary like this?

I was never in awe of any actor and I always treat them as a part of the crew. For me, they are mere actors and never stars or heroes.

There are a lot of people I come across in my life, doing extraordinary work, which makes them real heroes, unlike our reel heroes. And these people go unnoticed. Documentary filmmaking helps me bring their story into the limelight. That is really exciting.

What made you make a film on this particular subject?

The determination of the boys, who are all younger than 15, and participated in the football tournament crossing all hurdles, touched me to the core. The boys in Austin Town love to play football, at a time when boys of their age opt for cricket, which is more remunerative than football. I wanted to attempt making a documentary as there are so many compelling stories you see around, which need to be told. That’s why, when I heard of these boys, who come from underprivileged backgrounds, and learnt of their passion for this sport and the struggle they underwent to fulfil their dream, I decided to document their journey from Austin Town to Beijing.

Did you enjoy making this documentary?

I loved this aspect of filmmaking as a documentary filmmaker — the independence, no boundaries and framework for the shoot — I was comfortable with this genre. This allows me to explore newer avenues of filmmaking.

Had you expected an award for this film?

No, not at all. If I get an award, it is well and good. At the same time an award doesn’t make any difference to the approach I have towards life and filmmaking.

Why do you think your film went unrecognised?

Yes, there was confusion regarding the language of the film. The film has a voiceover in English and this led to all the confusion. I again wanted to make it clear that Dribbling with their Future is a Kannada documentary, as some people even now think that it was not a Kannada film. I didn’t want to publicise the award — it came my way. I made a film and the jury recognised that.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / Muralidhara Khajane / Bangalore – April 11th, 2016

Bengaluru Musician in John Lennon Contest Finals

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Bengaluru :

Sandeep Boniface, a city-based musician, has been shortlisted for the coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

His composition Moments of Bliss has been selected as one of the three entering the final round for the award. He is a music composer, singer, keyboardist and music teacher at Canadian International School, Bengaluru.

The contest, named after the former Beatles singer, was started by Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono in 1997. It is a platform for amateur and professional musicians across the globe.

Over the years, Sandeep got many offers to sing for Bollywood films, thanks to his association with musicians from around the country. However, he did not go down that road. “I did not want to cater to a particular market. I wanted freedom to make my own music,” he says.

Being nominated for an international prize has been a dream come true, says Sandeep.

“It is also a privilege to rub shoulders with fellow finalist and Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej,” he says.

Sandeep started learning piano at a very young age and performed for the first time at the local church when he was 10. “One of my earliest influences was the band Bee Gees. I was fascinated by their compositions and the harmony in their music,” he says.

Subsequently, works of French composer Eric Serra created an impact on him.

As a singer, Sandeep learnt a lot from Rab Halford, lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Judas Priest, and Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

He has sung and composed music for numerous radio jingles, TV commercials, documentaries, films and plays. He has also worked with organisations like Nimhans as a music consultant. A couple of months ago, he set up his own recording studio named DJ Nitro Production.

“Winning the award will help me reach out to a global audience,” he says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / Express News Service/ April 07th, 2016

Directory of mental health professionals released

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

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Fulfils a long-pending need of the city

Mental health is a topic rarely spoken about in social circles, making it difficult for those who want to seek help to know where to turn to. To bridge this gap, students of Azim Premji University (APU), Bengaluru, have brought out a directory of mental healthcare professionals in the city.

“One of the reasons behind formulating a directory was the fact that there was no such database for Bengaluru. Friends and relatives often come to us seeking references,” said Benson Issac, faculty, APU, who mentored the students.

Professionals have welcomed the launch of this directory. “With more and more people coming to us seeking therapy, it would be useful to have a directory of mental healthcare professionals,” said P.T. Shivakumar, Additional Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS. “People need to have information. Some platforms are offering the information, but I don’t think it is complete.”

The directory was prepared by students of Masters in Development at APU as part of their coursework. “We have tried to provide a complete picture of mental health care. So the directory also lists recreational spaces and wellness centres,” said Saumil Sharma, an MA student.

The team plans to make the handbook easily available to make it accessible to event those who are hesitant to seeking this information.

“We think the directory should be available in cafes and bookshops, workplaces and healthcare institutions,” said Mr. Issac.

Hard copies of the directory were distributed to healthcare professionals recently and will be made available free of cost. A digital version will be uploaded on the university website by Monday.

Fewer options outside

A database of mental healthcare professionals in the State would reduce the burden on institutions in the city. While every medical college in the State has a department of psychiatry, NIMHANS sees several patients from across the State visit the institute before seeking help at the district hospital or the local medical college hospital.

“Sometimes, patients drop out of treatment because they cannot afford to visit a distant centre for the entire duration of the treatment, which can stretch to several months,” said Dr. Shivakumar.

Knowing the options available nearby could help them complete the treatment.

Hidden at workplace

Mental health issues are often hidden at the workplace. People think that the moment someone sees a psychiatrist, they could lose their jobs. “Even government employees fear disclosing this information. Government employees are protected under the Disabilities Act. Even if they have a mental illness, they cannot be easily removed from their jobs,” said Dr. Shivakumar.

To some extent, many companies are supportive, but employees hesitate to reveal their condition, he added.

The directory should be available in cafes and bookshops, workplaces and healthcare institutions.

Benson Issac faculty, Azim Premji University

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – April 10th, 2016

Nimhans will house India’s 1st adolescent psychiatry centre

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology
India's first adolescent psychiatry centre to open in Nimhans by month-end.
India’s first adolescent psychiatry centre to open in Nimhans by month-end.

Bengaluru :

A quiet room where adolescents can meditate; an activity room for theatre, life skill activities, music and films; individual therapy rooms and high intensity wards. These are features of the 24-bed Adolescent Psychiatry Centre (APC) coming up at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (Nimhans). When the APC is ready by this month-end, it will be the first adolescent in-patient psychiatry facility in the country.

The APC will cater to the special needs of adolescents (16 to 18 years) with psychotic, substance-use and severe conduct disorders; those who have experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse; youngsters prone to aggression and violence and those who come for care through the Juvenile Justice Act.

Dr Shekhar P Seshadri, head of the child and adolescent psychiatry department who will be in-charge of the new ward, said they decided to set up the special wing following an increase in number of adolescents coming to Nimhans for therapy. “Adolescents require a separate set-up – different from younger children at one end and adults on the other – as they undergo a transitional period of mental and health development. Their needs are different in terms of privacy, freedom, space for their indoor and outdoor activities, intervention and nature of problems encountered,” he said.

“They require specific interventions such as pharmacotherapy, intensive psychotherapy, group intervention, social skills training, and family-focused intervention and special educational inputs which call for a separate facility in order to make them feel at home within a special comfort zone,” he added.

Adolescents will be admitted for at least two weeks. The period may go beyond three months depending on the nature of their problems and the intervention required. They will be able to have one or two caregivers, usually parents.

“Evaluation and treatment will be provided by multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychiatric social workers. The APC can serve as a model for developing much needed facilities for adolescents in other parts of our country,” said Dr Seshadri.

Dr BN Gangadhar, director of Nimhans, said: “The three-storey building opposite to the children psychiatry department is almost ready to operate. We are waiting for a few pieces of furniture and equipment and by the end of April we will call for the inauguration.”

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Key features:

· Quiet room where adolescents can have calm space and practice relaxation techniques
· Activity room-cum-library to encourage them to take part in theatre, music, life skill activities, watch films and read books.
· Indoor and outdoor play areas
· Individual therapy rooms for psychotherapeutic interventions
· Group therapy rooms for team activities and discussions
· High intensity wards for adolescents with suicidal risk and severe depression.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee / TNN / April 08th, 2016

Former DGP passes away

Leaders

Former Director General of Police Bipin Gopalakrishna, who was suffering from a prolonged illness, passed away here on Thursday.

Bipin Gopalakrishna was an IPS officer from the 1982 batch and served as the managing director of BMTC after which he was posted as the commissioner of police in Mysuru city.

He also served as the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) in Bengaluru after which he was posted as the chief of Internal Security Division (ISD).

He went on to become the Additional Director General of Police Law and Order.

His last stint was as the Director General in the Criminal Investigation Department before he retired from the services.

The officer breathed his last around 4 am on Thursday, family sources said and added that the last rites will be conducted on Friday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / April 08th, 2016

City’s Kalasuruchi enters Limca Book of Records for ‘ Longest Weekly Story Sessions

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mysuru :

City’s Kalasuruchi has entered Limca Book of Records for its ‘Longest Weekly Story Sessions.’

Kalasuruchi, a cultural institution in Mysuru, has been conducting story sessions called ‘Kathe Kelona Banni (Come, Let us hear Stories)’ for children every Saturday since Feb. 3, 2007 at Suruchi Rangamane in Kuvempunagar.

The first story session was held by Bhargavi Narayan. People from various walks of life are invited to tell stories mainly in Kannada, even though they have had a few English sessions.

They have held 439 such sessions as of June 30, 2015. Targeted at children in the 6-13 age group, the programme is co-ordinated by Dr. H.K. Ramanath and K. Nagaraj, under the leadership of Vijaya Sindhuvalli.

Today’s session: Today (Apr. 9), in the 480th story-telling session, Dr. Nagaraja B.G. Kere, Curator, Folklore Museum, University of Mysore, will narrate the story at Suruchi Rangamane, Chitrabhanu Road, Kuvempunagar, from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> General News / Saturday – April 09th, 2016

CFTRI empowers Puttegowdanahalli Villagers

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Opens Papad-making unit; Provides Papad-making and Dough-mixing machines, water filtration units

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Mysuru :

CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, has selected Puttegowdanahalli, an agrarian village about 25 kms from Mysuru, for empowerment under the Rural Development programme.

Initially, doctoral students interacted with local people and devised a strategy for intervention with the participation of Self-Help Group (SHG), Farmers group and Teachers of Govt. Higher Primary School and Anganwadi of the village.

Awareness on new super-food crops such as Quinoa and Chia was held initially and useful agrarian practices were shared by students and scientists with farmers for growing these crops successfully.

Practically, there was no organised post-harvest processing in the village. A few housewives were making papads at their home and selling it locally. This gave CFTRI an opportunity and the institute established a papad manufacturing unit.

Training was arranged to two of the SHG members in the institute. A leg-operated papad- making machine (CFTRI design) and dough-mixing machine were bought from machinery suppliers.

The team conducted a survey of village and suitable place was identified for establishing the unit.

A brief function was arranged on Mar. 22, at Puttegowdanahundi, in which the machines were handed over to the SHGs by Prof. Ram Rajasekharan, Director of CSIR-CFTRI.

The entire village consisting of farmers, Members of SHG, Teachers, Caretaker of Anganwadi, students, and village representatives were present.

Also, water filtration units, developed by CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, were handed over to representatives. The school was provided with laptops and an adulteration test kit to create awareness on food safety.

An Adulteration Test Kit was given to School for creating awareness in children on food safety. Later, CFTRI team gave a demonstration on how to use the kit to the students and teachers of the school.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 07th, 2016

City architect only Indian at Swiss clock-making competition

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Bengaluru:

Dilip Sivaraman, a Benglauru-based architect, believes everything has a soul and requires a human touch. For the same reason, he found love in watches that run mechanically.

“I have always loved the fact that a watch can be powered by you. Till today, I wear the HMT winding watch and it works beautifully,” he said. Little did he know that this passion for watches would make him the only Indian finalist on a global platform for watch-making apprentices.

For Dilip, 38, buying a 1980s clock over a year ago meant revisiting the heritage of clock-making. “I am a purist. So, whatever I buy or have currently in my house is a throwback in time,” said Sivaraman.

However, finding it tough to set the timepiece right, Dilip took to exploring the world of clocks himself. He searched the internet and scoured through online books on clock-making.

Recalling the experience of reading digitized versions of over 200-year-old books, Dilip said, “Most of these were written when technology didn’t exist. While questioning the need for complete traditional clock-making, I decided to integrate the use of technology into it as well.”

Although it took him 18 months, Dilip successfully designed and recreated from the scratch a mechanical regulator clock, which he named Gato.

Last September, while doing a regular follow up on the Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants (AHCI) website, Dilip chanced upon the AHCI young talent competition for young clock/watch making apprentices. “I showed them the design of my clock while informing them that I’m not a formal student or apprentice. For something that I did out my love for it, they let me complete the project and send in my entry by January,” said Dilip.

Being the only Indian to enter the global competition and emerging among the top ten finalists, Dilip not only received huge support from the watch-making community at Switzerland but also got to meet his icon and renowned high-end watchmaker, FP Journe at the Baselworld watch exhibition in Switzerland this March.

A resident of Murugeshpalya, Dilip has plans to take his passion forward, “I wanted to make a clock that’d last for the next few hundred years and not just perish. At AHCI, I was encouraged to join their community of watchmakers. They have offered to review my work. But, for now, I’m hoping to wind up with Gato and, hopefully, start my next project soon,” he said.

Encouraging Experience

When I started the project I had no idea that it would enter the competition. The clock wasn’t complete and I had to seek an extension of deadline from the event organizers. But when I presented my work at the AHCI competition, watch-makers came up to me asking if I was willing to sell it. That was very encouraging. I hope to see my clock being sold someday and contribute to independent watch making.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Deepika Burli, TNN / April 06th, 2016