Mashaal presents Sanchay

Mashaal brings to you Sanchay. Sanchay (meaning 'Collection' in Hindi) is a new initiative by Mashaal which aims to showcase on stage, a few short pieces of theatrical performances, different from one another in content & presentation, but united by a common theme.


Theme : Sapne

Language : Hindi
Date & Time : 27th July, 7:30 p.m.
Location : CFD (Centre for Film and Drama)
Duration : 60-70 minutes
Entry : Rs. 75
For bookings contact: +91 9739803104 or mailmashaal@gmail.com

About The Theme

The theme for this "Sanchay" is 'Sapne' (Dreams). Every human on Earth nurtures a dream during the waking hours and everyone is amused, frightened, flabbergasted by the dreams they see with their eyes shut. Both kinds of dreams play important roles in our lives. What happens when your dreams are shattered? What kind of crazy, weird, more-realistic-than-real dreams do you see when asleep? The things you wanted from life, the dreams that you had seen, have you realized them? Have they changed? Were they forced to change? Did you give them up? There are a million questions. We could spend all our lives asking them, and receive answers to only a few. And yet, Dreams continue to be as necessary and as intriguing as ever.

Good Honking Bad Honking!

-by Anup Tiwari Saturday, July 05, 2008

(This story has originally appeared at MSN India website)
http://content.msn.co.in/Contribute/Others/UCStory7481.htm
Suddenly everyone is saying that honking is bad. Initially it was just my expat friends. As I write this I am reminded of a former colleague from London. We were driving together and I honked having to negotiate a blind curve. She remarked," I know how to become a millionaire in India". I did not quiet understand and looked at her for more. " I just need to start a car horn business", she said with a wink.

Now it is almost everyone. There was this big no-honk campaign in Mumbai cheer led by 'the AB', himself, around the launch of his film- Bhootnath. The Delhi administration was though not impressed and said that Delhi's traffic was a different animal that did not need a similar campaign. But that is a different story of indifference reserved for a different day.

Coming back to honking. Yes, honking is bad. Especially, when it is needless and continuous.Not the single beep gentle variety. More so when it is a pressure horn.

But wait, there is a good honking too. Don't slaughter me for that expression. Read on.

I was in Lucknow being driven around the city by a friend of mine. He had then newly bought the erstwhile Matiz. A hot new launch around that time. I am sure many of us can go back in our minds and recall it vividly.

Now this friend of mine was a polite non-honker. At one of the narrow zones near Hazaratganj, he had no option but to overtake this slow moving tempo. He did it, but in the process scratched his car. Both the drivers pulled to the side. The tempo driver stepped out and said in his fully rustic dialect, "What sir, you are driving such a luxury car and being miser about honking."

Well that is good honking for you. The type that will guaranty that your car goes scratch free.

There is more. Picture this. You are on a red light. Slowly you have taken a start like a cricket fielder and are almost at the verge of crossing. You are at a point where you cannot see the colour of the signal. What do you pray for? I know I pray for the honk to signal that light is green. The first honk and you know it is accelerator time.

Another one at the traffic signal. Have you ever been lucky to be at the head of the waiting traffic? I don't know why but when I am at the head of the pack, my mind and eyes tend to rove. Suddenly I am not there. Then somewhere from behind comes this god send honk. I am pulled out of my reverie. It is driving time again. I don't know how I could have ever done without this music to the ears. I would have never ever hit on my smart (?) collage of ideas.

But wait don't let me make non-honkers turn honkers. The idea is to stop bad honking but keep on doing good honking.

An Evening of Lilting Music- Neeta delights

It was a pleasure to attend "Gulistan", an evening of enchanting melodies and divine rythms by Neeta Soorma at Gurgaon's new cultural hub Epicenter.

Neeta is a disciple of Smt. Savita Devi and an ‘A’ grade artiste of the All India Radio, Delhi in Vocal Light Classical music as well as in the Ghazals category.

A distinguished dilettante of music and an accomplished vocalist, she did not disappoint.The renditions were in the Poorab-ang, that is the Benaras style of Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Chaiti and Bhajan.

Accompanying Neeta on stage were Ustad Ghulam Sabir on the Sarangi, Ustad Ballu Khan Warsi on the Harmonium, Ustad Salim on the Tabla, and Shri Razak Ali on the Tanpura.

Neeta began the evening with a famous Thumri—Basuriyaa ab nahi bajao shyam…
In this thumri, the words nahi bajao were presented in various shades of emotions; from request to cajole, pleading to mild anger. Even though in the literal sense, Radha is asking Lord Krishna not to play his murli, inside her heart, she wants him to go on and on.

Thumri as the music lovers would know is a song of love, romance, passion, longing. Essentially an amorous mood of music, it came into prominence in the later half of the 19th century. The moods range from romance to apathy, from frolic to forbidden, from free-spirited to spiritual.

"Thumri is like an abstract art of expression and improvisation, like a bouquet where you have different types of flowers but each asthetically blending. Thumri is like a painting where you use different colours and strokes to create a beautiful work of art. Poorab-ang Thumri is deeply influenced by brijbhasha and the gayaki derives its spiritual inspiration from the bhakti cult, which probably explains the repeated themes of love and separation of Radha and Krishna", Neeta told right2review.com

Thumri was followed by a Dadra just as a Chota Khayal follows a Bada Khayal or a Vilambit Khayal. Dadra is one of the immensely popular styles owing to its arresting spell. Neeta’s next spell in the form of a dadra, Souten Ghan Na Ja... is a traditional composition, extremely popular with music lovers for over a 100 years.

Neeta dedicated dadra in the loving memory of Ma Siddheshwari Devi. This being one of her rarest gems. Tarpe Bin Balam Mora Jiya… surely delighted the listeners.

Neeta added from the stage, "This one is a surprise for my Guru. The practice that we follow prior to any event is that we sit together and decide on the kind of compositions that are to be presented. However, as I wanted this to be a surprise I didn’t disclose this particular one to her. I only hope that she along with all of you will also enjoy this one". Rooth Gayeele Saniyaan Hamaar… was rendered in a way that would have really done her Guru proud.

Neeta concluded the evening with a Sufiana Kalaam kafi, a poetic expression with a blend of mysticism.

Towards the end the listeners were informed by the MC, “The purpose of music, considered in relation to God, is to arouse the longing for God, and passionate love for Him, and to produce states in which God reveals Himself and His favours, which are beyond description and known only by experience. These states are called ecstasy.”

But we can say the same for all the renditions of the evening- ecstatic!

Play Reading- Zukaam.... and Adhikaar

DO COME BACK AGAIN FOR THE REVIEW POST PERFORMANCE


Mashaal brings to you Samvaad , a play reading. Samvaad (meaning Dialouge in hindi) is a small effort to bring more plays to you thorugh the age-old medium of Reading. Play Reading is actors reading a play out loud, usually one actor reads the lines for one character. In this second edition of Samvaad, we will be experimenting with two short plays.

Plays : 'Zukaam Jaari Hai' and 'Adhikaar Ka Rakshak'

Language : Hindi
Date & Time : 5:00 pm, Sunday, June 15th 2008
Location : CFD (Centre for Film and Drama)
Duration : 60 minutes
Entry : Free
About The Plays :
Two One Act comedies. A witty act where a woman is convinced her end is near; a political satire dwelling into the hypocrisy in our society.

The Reading will start at 5.10 sharp, after a brief introduction to the plays and playwrights. Discussions about the plays will follow after the reading.


Mashaal is a theatre group formed by HDC, BITS, Pilani alumni.

Click http://mailmashaal.googlepages.com/samvaad to know more

Review of oldy 1978 art-house film- Kondura

Hi, stumbled on a very oldy and rare film, Kondura, while shopping at a Delhi mall. Had never heard about it and won't be surprised if you have not. But a Shyam Benegal film with Govind Nihalani for cameraman and Girish Karnad as one of the script writers, made the DVD simply irresistible. And add to that the formidable star cast of Anant Nag and Smita Patil, the lone disc appeared to be a real steal.

I have put the review on wikipedia, click on the title above and read about this art-house film from yore.

Review of experimental theatre production "Beyond"

Thank you Rajiv for sending in this review. You too can send one at at@right2review.com


Yours Truly theatre group is a Bangalore Based English (primarily) theatre group which was set up sometime in 2002 by Ranji David and Nandini.

YT presented its latest production “Beyond” based on a play written by Badal Sircar, which was first staged in Kolkata sometime in 1972. The play was a culmination of a 6 Sundays workshop by professionals who rarely had any previous experience of proscenium theatre.

Although, the play did not complete as Badal Sircar wrote, it did add little spice and novelty by incorporating the idea of letting the audience complete the story by stopping it just 15 minutes before the end. This gave the opportunity to the audience to script the climax and improvise end of the play.

Liked more by the children than adults, the original play had 2 thieves Kena and Becha, who in order to escape from the hot chase given by the villagers, jump into the river only to be flown to a place called - Hattamala.

The play an adaptation of the original had a bunch of 6 thieves. After having funny experiences with the inhabitants of the land, the thieves led by Dada (Ranjan), soon realize that they have come to a place where there is no concept of money. Buying, selling and money were all alien concepts to the Hattamala people.

The thieves soon realize that this is the place they can easily have a soft kill when they come to know that there is a library in the town where besides books, jewellery is lend and borrowed and that too without anybody keeping a watch. So, the thieves come back to their natural instinct and strike at the library. As they were trying to vanish from the town with the booty, suddenly the Hattamala people catch them red-handed.

This and henceforth is what Badal Sircar had not written but conceived by Ranji the director himself. One more thing which I did not read in the script from Sircar was that the Hattamala people were puppets. Which again, I think is the director's vision to infuse some excitement for children and adult alike. The thieves are presented before their queen. While the public demands that the thieves must be exceuted. Now there is when, the play is stopped and audience is asked to script the climax of the play...
a) what would happen to theives?
b) will they be exceuted as demanded by the local people?

Ranji intervenes and with the help of the inputs from the audience, weaves a story while actors are on-stage waiting for the climax scent to be narrated by Ranji and then performed - impromptu.
The audience, gave suggestions from injecting Hattamalan virus (puppet like behaviour), to Dada blasting the court as Suicide Bomber. Anyhow, after a dicussion of over 10 mins, finally the actors were narrated the climax which was : The Queen falls for Dada as she realises that she herself was an alien and then ruled the land of innocent people while she orders the rest of the thieves who were dissuading Dada to fall in love with Queen to be injected with Hattaala Virus...and then the Queen leaves dada and runs away with rest of the Thieves while Dada is declared as King of Hattamala...
The villagers make merry and the show ends...
This climax was bound to get into chaos and the actors need not get any time to coordinate among themselves and keeping in mind the nascent stage of their acting skills they pulled up a great end which made audience to burst into laughter.

The play is considered to be a big hit especially for the children as there are very funny yet easy to understand incidences in the play.

In this play directed by Ranji David, the actors were professional working with Tech Mahindra in Bangalore. Well, prior to this main play there was a kind of prelude - Freedom play. It was actually, not a play but just a representation of how communal riots take place especially in rural areas were the population is not civilzed and how the leaders use the innocent people for their selfish gains. Ended with Mahatama Gandhi's - Vaishav jan to...it depicted that violence does not have any solution.......all it results is in - Destruction.
Ranji plans to take this play with more changes to the children. The group is involved in staging plays for NGOs from time to time and had recently performed at a Labor Camp in the outskirts of Bangalore.
In a nutshell - a good show and good Sunday entertainment.

Coming Soon-Review on Theatre Production "Beyond"

Hi the review of Beyond is under construction. Should be there soon. Keep wathcing this space if you are real theatre buff.

Reviews on Tele-facing a new fundraising tool for NGOs

Tele-facing is fast emerging as a new tool for fundraising for NGOs in India, Asia and even in industrialised countries. It has been reviewed across several international sectoral publications. Click http://www.nonprofitfundraisingindia.blogspot.com/to know more.

Film Review- “Bow Barracks Forever”

A film with finely crafted performances often tells a great story. Bow Barracks Forever completely belongs to this category. The film will most probably be remembered for its perfect performances by Lillete Dubey and Victor Banerjee, besides the depicted subtle charms of life at Bow Barracks.

Directed by Anjan Dutt, the film is based in a middle class Anglo-Indian locality Bow Barracks, in the heart of North Kolkata. Bow Barracks as the name suggests has a historical army connection. Something good enough to give the building a heritage status. But not for the well connected local land mafia, who have set their eyes on the property and want to pull it down, to give way for modern structures. Their ploy being that the building is unsafe and can fall any time.

To compound things the inhabitants have failing finances and an unclear title to the property. Add to that the burning desire and faint hope of making it to family and relatives in foreign lands. While many of them may not love their habitation, yet this is their only roof and hence they organize with others to fight the mafia. Even there is Usha Uthup playing herself, who agrees to do a fund raiser with the local band to collect money for repairing the building to safety. They also receive help from a Good Samaritan engineer from outside Bow Barracks, but he gets killed, shattering the fledgling courage in the community.

In this grind for saving their roofs the daily plot of life with its vices goes on. There is Lillete Dubey essaying the role of Aunty Lobo, the middle aged but adorably sweet mother of two grown-up boys. The elder one, who never appears in any frame, has some how managed to catch the proverbial boat to England. The mother has great hopes from this son to bail them out and send for them. She has set a targeted departure of approaching Christmas. Her younger son Bradley (Clayton Rodgers) is a musician at heart and continuously gets thrown out of jobs. He is not much help to his mother, who somehow makes the two ends meet by baking cakes and brewing wine, which are famous in a small way. On top of it he has this dangerous liaison with Anne, the young married girl (played by Neha Dubey) next door, whose wife-beating husband is on the wrong side of law. Aunty Lobo has an addictive and in vain routine of calling her elder son, only to end in unanswered pleas for response on a voice mail.

Lillete effortlessly shifts through her different roles, clearly carrying the entire film. She even has an admirer in a failed musician and now nicknamed ‘Peter the Cheater’ (Victor Banerjee), who has a long hidden soft corner for her. Peter tries to express his feelings but instead appears to be making a pass and rightfully gets a snub from Mrs. Lobo. He has clearly fallen on bad times and survives by passing cheap trinkets for antiques and hence the sobriquet. He is a survivor and it a treat to see him in the act. Only occasionally now does he break into a brilliant jig and a melodious trumpeting session, although playing trumpet is also his way of sorrowing. True to his cheater instincts he has the capability of threatening the mafia side-kicks into a run out of Bow Barracks, using a toy gun.

Moon Moon Sen plays Rosa, a love starved wife of a teacher totally in despair with the life at Bow Barracks. She is seen all the while coaxing her husband to sell the place and move out. She also has a torrid relationship with an Insurance agent and hopes and cajoles him to free her from drudgery of her monotonous life. She even makes a middle age elopement act with her paramour only to return later. Aunty Rosa returns back to appreciate her life at Bow Barracks and a loving husband.

The climax has it highs and lows, anxieties and celebrations, as Bradley finds his true love and gets married. A marriage at Bow Barracks is a true celebration where every one joins in.

The film’s music keeps up with the brilliance of the film and adds to the passionate performance by Victor Banerjee, especially the act where he breaks into a trumpeting and dancing session. Anjan Dutt’s direction is taut and helps the narrative flow seamlessly. The film is out on VCD and is truly a collector’s item.

Linram’s Interesting Shantasay

Book review of Shantaram, Author Gregory David Roberts, Published by Abacus, Price INR 497/-

The first thing first, finally and finally, a book based on India that presents the country in true spirit. I think we all are tired of clichéd accounts of mere visitors to the country who leave for home with a ‘book’ of stereotypes. This is a fresh waft of air.

Gregory David Roberts, the author spent several interesting years in India and as mentioned by him fell in love with the country within first twenty minutes. Through out the book he carries that love, loving the country for what it is. The book is based on his awe inspiring years in India after breaking through an Australian prison.

The central character, Gregory lives his life in Mumbai under an assumed name Lindsay and goes on to be called ‘Linbaba’ by his guide turned friend Prabhaker and several neighbors from the slum in South Mumbai, where he spent more than two years, after his visa expires and he is mugged of whatever money he has. He is ‘Lin’ to his friends at the watering hole ‘Leopold’s’ and ‘Shantaram’ to the folks in Prabhaker’s village in Maharastra, where he spends several months.

Lin’s stay in Mumbai takes him from becoming a savior-doctor at the slum, part time drug pusher, an inmate at Arthur Road Jail, to an inner member of the mafia circle. He appears to be in love with every thing in the city. The city itself, Prabhaker, various neighbors at the slum, fellow mafia fighter Abdullah, mafia don Khader Khan and above all the enigmatic Karla, whom he truly, deeply, madly adores.

He also has a battery of fellow philosophers that include the mafia don, his flame Karla, Frenchman and wall paper at Leopold’s Didier, Johnny Cigar and Qasim Ali at the slum. The book is full of very intense sequences of conversation between Lin and them, interesting most of the times but a tad drag at some. But as the story progresses one realizes the relevance of them in the plot.

He does not spend all his time in India though, as he travels under fake identity to Afghanistan via Pakistan, coaxed by Khader Khan to fight his holy war against Russians and other tribal war lords. This adventure almost kills him physically and totally emotionally as several secrets about the people he adores get revealed to him. But the life goes on as he is reminded in the last few pages of being Shantaram, the indomitable son of soil.

The story although 936 pages long, that too in very small point size, has its twists, turns, surprises, and moments of elation, sorrow, moist eyes, gore, romanticism and philosophy.

Bollywood 2007:Water Shed or Tear Shed

Bollywood trade pundits in 2007 appeared nervous as film after film returned flop. Reams and reams of space was devoted by them to proclaim 2007 as the year of doomed. Although, they had some relief towards the end when few of the films made it blockbusterly big. Despite the late home run, many of them may want to forget the year quickly. To be fair to them, their only way of judging, the bang for bucks statistic, is fairly important a factor.

But for the discerning audiences 2007 was a real water shed year. Given the genre of films released and amount of experimentation done with the medium. This meant that several films only attracted niche viewing and not much cash. But in all they gave great viewing experience to a section of moviegoers. Paise mein dollar vasool! Since even a minority in India is also couple of millions, a huge cross section had a real treat this year.

No single year has seen such differently paced and treated films being dished out. It turned out to be a real-time, several course meal served right through the year. There are examples galore.
Take 'Saawariya', which was simply beautiful poetry on screen with mind blowing performances and music. It was a visual treat where you just surrendered your buds and cones.

Then there were no pretence hilarious flicks like 'Bheja Fry', 'Ek Chaalis ki Last Local', 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd', and 'Dhamaal', which without any dilution went about their task of tickling the funny bone.

There were real-surreal, never attempted in India, kinds like 'No Smoking'; bizarre and quiver sending. And 'a simple tale emphatically told' types like 'Manoram-Six Feet Under'.

The year also saw true life situations rolled into powerful films in 'Parzaania' and 'Black Friday'. Much has been said on the depth of these films and that too unanimously. 'Bow Barracks For Ever', did you ever hear about it? Unfortunately, the film that sank without trace had such moving potrayals and unblemished performances by Victor Banerjee and Lillete Dubey.

Then there were slick, clever, mainstream but well treated movies like 'Chak De' and 'Tarein Zameen Par'. The two touched the emotive chords in a real big way. The latter no wonder returned more successful than equally powerful 'Apana Aasman', which many would not have even noticed.

There were surprises galore. A well directed and acted in 'Laaga Chunri Me Daag', which told a very mainstream story did not do well. And on the other hand the powerful and rocking but very urban 'Life in Metro' went on to be a hit. Often, this genre of films do not have such a ball at the box-office.

A clutch of directors also tried a 'Dus Kahaniya', again a very bold concept, but the only wish as a viewer was that a majority of ten minuters could have been directed and scripted better. Although some of them were amazing. The concept needs a retry, perhaps next time with a better bouquet of movies.

The year also saw some creatively dud commercial hits like 'Om Shanti Om', 'Partner' and 'Welcome', proving that senseless fare continues to be the biggest market. The year may also see Kareena Kapoor's over the top acting in 'Jab We Met' winning awards. While a stunner of a performance in the solid 'Dharam' by could have been Father in Law, may not even make the jury blink.

Yet, in the same breath, there have been praises galore for 'Jhonny Gaddar' another unassuming movie and Niel Nitin Mukesh's historinics . Not very successful at box-office but admired by who ever saw it. Hopefully, Niel may get noticed by some jury some where.

So what else can one expect out of a year! Such huge variety, a true treat. Bollywood keep it up! Give us an even better 2008.

Colors of Fashion

Hi all, here are 4 poems translated in English, originally written in Hindi by my late father Mr. BP Tiwari :

Colors of Fashion

Scores of thanks, the world of fashioned,
You have left even Gandhi and Kabir stunned,
Draped in a coffin of ever new designs,
The traditional ensemble, what? No signs.

Oh! God what outfits were those,
Such smug shows,
You could tell a Brahmin from distance,
A robe less drown trodden without pence,
A Kshatriya, a Trader no pretence,
A Scavenger or a Community comrade hence.

Each stank of caste and fragmentation,
All that drowns now in the colors of fashion,
What Gandhi and Kabir could not solve,
Here in the magic of fashion they dissolve.

But hold on; don’t let fashion overwhelm you,
Good till complements, the time and situation cue.


--------------------------------------------------------

So Desire Your Fellow Country Men

It is not the unknown scary black night,
Nor is it the grim grey rainy day sight.

Instead it is the dreaded face of caste inequity,
Count blessings if you can spot it in a jiffy,
Thank stars that you have not lost your path,
And you are on the right side of time’s wrath.

Light the torch of eradicating untouchability,
And grow nation’s glory with all alacrity.

They watch you with a gaze never seen before,
High hopes burning bright and lips singing lore,
Other societies look at you with admiration,
They think a lot about you with interest and elation.

Simple solutions, easy ways, some plain thinking to do,
Huge expectations are from you the big buddy Hindu,
Pull down now every wall of caste inequity,
Every horizon will burn a new light of vivacity.

----------------------------------------------------------------

You still need to clear you tenth class!

Don’t talk like a Phd. pass,
You still need to clear your tenth class!

Then there is senior school and college,
You desire straight for Vedas-Shastras knowledge.

Forgetting even the basic of conversations,
Plagued by short-cut of mere translations,
Poisoned by the quick and dirty descriptions,
The venom of half truths has spread across each vein,
And polluted your pitiable brain.

First put some life learning Sanskrit the mother language,
With in-depth study; gain wisdom and its leverage,
Bring it home right into your surroundings,
Learn its behavior, disciplines and nuances.

Next snap the towering bars of untouchability,
Only then could you sing the shlokas with clarity,
With just empty chants of ‘Entire Universe My Family’,
Who on earth will hug your exclusion guilty body warmly?

Don’t talk like a Phd. pass,
You still need to clear your tenth class!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thus the spring in my gait

Many thanks, Shyam Shoe Store!
Within seconds, you made my IQ sore,
Nothing sells here for less than four hundred rupees,
Do not have it in you, cant’ buy, so leave please.

Head bowed and tight lipped, slipped out,
Thought, buy here if you wallet is mighty stout,
For me it is only shoeless feet,
And the store manager’s scornful bleat.

Burning road and naked soles,
Hurt and pain from flaming coals,
Whom does one call and plead?
Which courts would pay heed?

Heart torn, ambled into a temple,
My whole on God’s feet, emotions ample,
A prayer on the lips, an appeal for a good pair,
Everything else Lord I get under your care.

“So be it”, echoed in my entire within,
In God’s boon I flowed to the brim,
And there on the temple doorsteps lay a pair, unwanted, carefree,
He only willed a praying devotee to remove them for me.

My feet consumed them to their full length,
My gait got its spring, joy and strength.

Hi A Tribute to Begin With

Hi all,

I start my blogging with a tribute to my late father Mr. BP Tiwari, who passed away a year before.

He lived and died a poet at heart. I have just finished compiling his poems, in Hindi and that took some effort. Since it is ready for public eyes, I am trying to upload them some place. You will soon have a link to them. I never liked them before, because I never understood them. Now since I do, I am in love with them.

I was pleasantly surprised that he could understand so vividly that what created inequity in Hindus and hence a big populace in India is Caste based descrimination (Varan Bhed).

The verses have deep meaning, some of them make you laugh, smile perhaps!

So rest later.

Cheers

Anup