Can Kannada Cinema be the ambassador for the language?

This question has been in mind for quite some time now. There have been lots of debates on the issue of language. I was thinking how Hindi as a language has spread all over India. I don’t think all who speak Hindi will be well versed in reading and writing the language. But that does not stop anybody to start conversing in Hindi in almost any part of India. What is the ingredient then for largest speaking language in India to find its foothold? Yes, here I am talking of the Hindi cinema or Bollywood which has played a larger role in spreading the language. Though learning Hindi as third language in schools in most states has helped its cause to some extent, it is the charisma of Hindi films which make it easy for any person to learn and speak the language. That applies partly to other language movies like Tamil or Telugu cinema; at least they have a greater presence in South India if not in North India. I still remember how I got introduced to Tamil when I was in Mangalore; it was through the song Chiku buku raile song from the movie Gentleman. Kaadalan, Roja, Bombay were next in line to cast their spell. People also say they learn the language by watching movies.

Questions Unanswered: Here are few questions for Kannada cinema to ponder upon – how many times have been there instances of Kannada films being released out side the state, if not outside the country. For example, you will find very few films being screened in Kasaragod district of Kerala, with sizeable Kannada and Tulu population. Few films are released there after they become blockbusters like Yajamaana, Mungaaru Male. Big cities like Mumbai, Pune and Chennai too have good number of Kannadigas and what about border districts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where Kannada is spoken. Why can’t we screen our films there? In Bangalore, a cosmopolitan city, there are shows of 6 different language films everyday. Can’t we screen Kannada movies in places where there is a significant presence of Kannadigas? Tamil and Telugu films travel to places where there is little presence of Tamilians, Telugus or not even that. Marketing would have made sure that it reaches places unheard of in mainstream media. Can we have the same marketing for namma Kannada films too?Script and the language: Echoing what Prakash Belavadi, well known director of ‘Stumble’, English and Kannada plays said in a seminar organized by Kannadasaahithya.com, we Kannadigas are lot more emotional about the script we follow. He said we are giving importance to lipi(script) rather than nudi(language), which is the reality too. Have you observed that Hindi ad punch lines are always written English? Bollywood movies in late 90s followed this trend of putting everything from film name to ‘the end’ message in English and that is not without reason too, as most of the movie goers could read English, so it was easy to understand. Can we have the similar thing for Kannada cinema? Along with the name in Kannada script can we have it written in English too, so non-Kannadigas too able to read the title, in turn learn a few Kannada phrases! Interestingly we find most of the times, captions after the film title in all English! Big hoardings in Bangalore now have Kannada written in English sometimes. If only they could be more meaningful it would serve the purpose. I am making it clear that it is not to replace the beautiful Kannada script but it is a temporary solution to ‘don’t know Kannada’ problem.

Recent Developments: Few days back, I was asked by one of my non-Kannadiga colleagues to translate ‘Ninnindale’ song from the movie,‘Milana’ to English. Good things are always appreciated devoid of language barriers. ‘Beduvanu Varavannu’ from 'Jogi',’Anisuthido Yaako Indu’ from ‘Mungaaru Male’ and most recently ‘Jinke Marina’ from ‘Nanda loves Nanditha’ was liked by every Bangalorean no matter whether he was a Kannadiga or not. Well, FM stations sudden rush to play Kannada songs also played its part here. Having said all that we have to make more good movies and market lesser popular but technically good movies, one Mungaaru Male or one Duniya is not enough to make a huge difference. Firstly filmmakers have to come out of their Bangalore centered approach while making films. There should be good marketing strategies to explore new markets and in turn spreading the language of the land.

Passing Note: Well known faces in film world like Maniratnam, Anil Kapoor(debut as director and hero respectively in Pallavi Anupallavi) and Juhi Chawla (debut in Premaloka) started their film careers in Kannada cinema.

Regards
Raveesh

ಅಚ್ಚ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೊ೦ದು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ವಿಕಸನ ಪುಸ್ತಕ : ’ಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊತ್ತು ಆಣಿ ಮುತ್ತು’

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ೦ತಹ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಬ೦ದದ್ದು ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಆದರೆ ಎಸ್.ಷಡಕ್ಷರಿಯವರ ’ಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊತ್ತು ಆಣಿ ಮುತ್ತು’ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಈ ಹಿ೦ದಿನ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮಾರಾಟ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮುರಿಯುವ೦ತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕಳೆದ ಡಿಸೆ೦ಬರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲ ಪ್ರತಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿ ಕೇವಲ ೯೦ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ೫೦,೦೦೦ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳು ಮಾರಾಟವಾಗಿ ೧೦ ಮರುಮುದ್ರಣಗಳನ್ನು ಕ೦ಡಿದೆ. ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ’ಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊತ್ತು ಆಣಿ ಮುತ್ತು’ ಇದರ ೨ನೇ ಭಾಗ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಮೊದಲ ಮುದ್ರಣದಲ್ಲೇ ೨೫,೦೦೦ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳು ಅಚ್ಚಾಗಿವೆ.ವಿಜಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಎಸ್.ಷಡಕ್ಷರಿಯವರ ಅದೇ ಹೆಸರಿನ ದೈನಿಕ ಲೇಖನಮಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅ೦ಕಣ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಲೇಖನ ಮಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲೂ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಇಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎ೦ಬುದಕ್ಕೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯತೆಯೇ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ. ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಷಡಕ್ಷರಿಯವರು ಬರೆದ ೭೫ ಅ೦ಕಣಗಳ ಸ೦ಗ್ರಹವಿದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊ೦ದು ಲೇಖನವು ಒ೦ದು, ಒ೦ದೂವರೆ ಪುಟದಷ್ಟಿದೆ. ಚುಟುಕಾಗಿರುವ ಲೇಖನದಲ್ಲಿ ದಾರ್ಶನಿಕ ಕತೆಗಳನ್ನಿರಿಸಿರುವುದರಿ೦ದ ಓದುತ್ತಾ ಪುಟಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುವುದೇ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊ೦ದು ಲೇಖನವು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಹಾಗೂ ಜೀವನೋತ್ಸಾಹವನ್ನು ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳಾದ ಷಡಕ್ಷರಿಯವರು ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖಕರಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಮನಗಳನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದ್ದು ಈಗ ಇತಿಹಾಸ.

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ವಿಕಸನ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪೈಕಿ ಅನುವಾದಿತ ಕೃತಿಗಳೇ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅನುವಾದಗಳು ಅನರ್ಥವಾಗಿದೆ ಹಲವು ಬಾರಿ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಅಚ್ಚ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ೦ದ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಮಾಲೆ ಒ೦ದು ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಕೃಷಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ವಿಕಸನ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಾಗಲಿ.

ಇ೦ತಿ,
ರವೀಶ

ಪೂರಕ ಓದಿಗೆ:
ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ವಿಕಸನ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na - Film Review

A boy and a girl, best friends and they are not in love but only till they realize the other way. Simple story but fresh treatment has given the newcomer movie the fillip to success. Love story of Aditi and Jai is told by their friends to their new friend, making it a third person narration. Bits and pieces of story told by them keeps the movie in good pace.

Plot: Aditi (Genelia) and Jai(Imran Khan) are best friends in college. Whereas Aditi is known for her fights with almost everyone for the silliest of reasons, Jai is someone who strictly follows Gandhian principles, no ladai no pitai with anybody. Jai is always with Aditi in her craziest hobbies like performing last rites for her dead cat! Even the parents at both sides think Aditi and Jai are in love and ask them to marry which both turn down outrightly. Also, both Aditi and Jai owe each other to find a right match for them. Jai finds Meghna first and Aditi finds Sushanth next. In the company of Meghna, Jai’s number of calls to Aditi drop. Aditi senses Jai is not always with her now and once Sushanth comes into picture, Jai realizes the same. How the non violent Jai becomes warrior Jai Singh Rathore, true to his name typical of a man which Aditi always dreamt and of course how both realize their love for each other and confess it is rest of the story.What to look out for: Genelia is back in her ‘Boys’ film Harini look, typical of a teenager. Imran and Genelia make cute new couple in the tinsel town. Simple yet punch dialogues makes the film lot more closer to the heart. One instance would be of Amit, Aditi’s brother, with whom Aditi always quarrel with. Aditi asks why he started hating her and her friends. To convince her that she was all the time busy with her friends ignoring him, which made him hate her, he asks her to name her friends at different times for which she lists many but when asked about his own friends she remembers none. Then he tells he was always there only her friends were closer to her than him. Cameos by Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan tickle your funny bone whenever they are on screen! Jai’s punch on the face of Sushanth in return to his slapping Aditi becomes the wish of film audience, considering the earlier seedha saadha Jai. Well, in the climax when Jai had to stop Aditi from flying to US, he breaches security norms at the Mumbai Airport to enter the waiting hall, alarm is raised and police try to catch hold of the ‘terrorist’ unlike in the old movies where lovers ignore all the norms in world at the end of the film!

What could have been done better: Amar Singh Rathore’s(Naseeruddin Shah) portrait talking to Savitri Rathore, Jai’s mother to make ‘his son’ the real Rathore, the warrior appears funny for one or two times but after that it becomes boring. Some of the sequences for best friendship seems clichés. Depicting the third guy as bad in a love triangle or quadrilateral as it has been done in most of the films earlier continues here too. Aditi’s boy friend Sushanth is depicted so, which eventually breaks their engagement.

Striking the right chord: Good lyrics and equally good music. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi Me Yunhi Koi Achcha Lagtha Hai has some simple yet powerful words to touch your heart and Pappu Can't Dance Saala is definitely for the party numbers. Of course, these are the two songs which will be in your mind when you come out of the movie hall.

This and That: Long forgotten, Kitu Gidwani as mother of Meghna, Jai’s girlfriend appears for a brief moment in the film. Had last seen her as Geeta Biswas in Shaktimaan, serial in Doordarshan. In his dreams, Jai finds one warrior, riding a horse, resembling Zorro whom he discovers in the end. Mera tujhse hai pehle ka naata koi…Yunhi nahi dil lubhaatha koi… Jaane tu ya jaane na… Maane tu ya maane na… is a song from the film Aa Gale Lag Ja, from which this film derives its title from and it is also the song which Jai says he would be singing for his dream girl. Needless to say that he ultimately sings that one for Aditi.

Regards
Raveesh

Mangalore, next BPO boom town - CNBC TV18 Reports

Came across this video in youtube, in which CNBC TV18, one of the premier business news channels in India reports of Mangalore, calling it next BPO boom town and a serious challenger to India's silicon valley Bangalore according to a NASSCOM study! Watch the video to know more.

CNBC TV18 reports, Mangalore is now home to 27 outsourcing firms including big names like Infosys, Wipro and Mphasis. With over 186 educational institutes in and around Mangalore and over 3000 engineering graduates every over boom is here to sustain. Being in one's home town is certainly a dream nowadays as one goes in search of jobs to India's big cities. So, Mangalore provides a window of opportunity in the near future for more Mangaloreans to stay in their home town. People interviewed by CNBC too echoed the same opinion. Even the people who moved into this town from outside too were also happy about the city, typical cosmopolitan nature of Mangalore evident from many years. Sky scrapers in the city are common scene now. Real estate prices have gone up. City's economy is changing with new malls coming up. But again infrastructure is the main concern here too as in the state capital.

Related Posts:
Mangalore International Airport ready by 2009?
Infrastructure Projects in Mangalore
Small City to Mall City
Mangalore Photo Essay
Mangalore Photos Shot in 2007

Mangalore Photo Essay

This post is a compilation of the photos of Mangalore City shot by me.


Mahaveera Circle ( also known as Pumpwell Circle) which has the giant Kalasha, is the first landmark you would see if you reach Mangalore from Bangalore via NH48 or from Kerala via NH17.


Town Hall, Mangalore, is the place where most of the Tulu dramas are performed


High rises in Mangalore as seen from Bharath Mall


Time Out, the food court at the Bharath Mall, Mangalore


Pabbas in MG Road is one of the famous ice cream joints in Mangalore


Saibeen Complex, MG Road, popular commercial complex before malls in Mangalore took over


Mangalore City Corporation Building in MG Road, Mangalore


Fishing Boats Boats near Nethravathi River Shore, thanks to the Monsoon Rains, the river is in full flow.

Related :
Mangalore Photos shot in 2007

ಗುರುವಿಗೊ೦ದು ಬಹಿರ೦ಗ ಪತ್ರ

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ಸ೦ಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಗುರುಕಿರಣ್ ರವರಿಗೆ,

ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರ೦ಗದ ಸ೦ಗೀತ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುವೇ ಆಗಿರುವ ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕನಾಗಿರುವ ನಾನು ಏನು ಸಲಹೆ ಕೊಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಆದರೂ ತಾವು ಮೊನ್ನೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ’ಕನ್ನಡ ಗಾಯಕ/ಕಿಯರು ’ನಮ್ಮ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳು ಪರಭಾಷಿಕರ ಪಾಲಾಗಲು ಕಾರಣವೇನು’ ಎ೦ದು ಸ್ವತ: ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿಕೊ೦ಡರೆ ಸಾಕು, ಉತ್ತರ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ ಎ೦ದಿರ೦ತೆ’ - ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊ೦ಚ ಬೇಸರದಿ೦ದಲೇ ಈ ಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಹಾಗೇನೇ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಗಾಯಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆ ಸಾಬೀತು ಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು ಎ೦ದಿರುವಿರಿ - ಅವಕಾಶಗಳು ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಗ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹಾಡುಗರು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಳಸಿಕೊ೦ಡೇ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಗ ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ೦ಶಯ ಯಾಕೆ?

ನಾನು ಪರಭಾಷಿಕರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗೀತೆಗಳ ಗಾಯನದ ವಿರೋಧಿಯಲ್ಲ. ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್, ಕುನಾಲ್ ಗಾ೦ಜಾವಾಲ ಮು೦ತಾದ ಗಾಯಕರು ಹಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ೦ದು ಆ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇ೦ದು ಕನ್ನಡ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವ ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಗವು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಪದಗಳ ಉಚ್ಛಾರ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಗದೆ ತಪ್ಪಾಗಿ ಹಾಡಿದರೆ ಹಾಡಿನ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೇ ಅವಮಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ೦ತಲ್ಲವೇ? ’ಆಕ್ಸಿಡೆ೦ಟ್’ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ಹಾಡಿದ ’ಬಾ ಮಳೆಯೇ ಬಾ’ ಎ೦ಬ ಸು೦ದರ ಹಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ’ಅಷ್ಟು’ ಎನ್ನುವ ಪದ ’ಅಟ್ಟು’ ಎ೦ದಾಗಿದೆ. ಗಾಳಿಪಟ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ’ಆಕಾಶ ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಯಾಕಿದೆಯೋ’ ಹಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ’ಕಾಮನ ಬಿಲ್ಲು ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ಉ೦ಟೇ’ ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ’ಕಾಮನ ಬಿಲ್ಲು ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ಗು೦ಟೇ’ ಎ೦ದು ಕುನಾಲ್ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಹಿ೦ದಿ ಗಾಯಕರು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಡುವುದು ಜಾಗತೀಕರಣದ ಇನ್ನೊ೦ದು ಮುಖ ಎನ್ನಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸ೦ಭಾವನೆ ನೀಡಿ ಹಾಡಿಸುವಾಗ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಹಾಡಿಸುವ ಕಡೆ ಸ೦ಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು ಗಮನ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆಯೇ ಎ೦ಬುದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ. ಪರಭಾಷಿಕರಿ೦ದ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಉಚ್ಛಾರಣೆ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದು ತಪ್ಪು, ಆದರೆ ಸ೦ಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಇದನ್ನು ಅವರಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿ ಸರಿಪಡಿಸಬಹುದಲ್ವೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಹಾಡುಗರು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡವಿದ್ದಾರೆ೦ದು ತಾವು ತಿಳಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಫಲರಾಗಿದ್ದೀರೆ೦ದು ತಿಳಿಸಲು ವಿಶಾದಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಒ೦ದು ಉದಾಹರಣೆಯನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಾದರೆ ’ಮು೦ಗಾರು ಮಳೆ’ ಯ ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ಹಾಡಿದ ’ಅನಿಸುತಿದೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಇ೦ದು’ ಎಷ್ಟು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಯಿತೋ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯತೆಯನ್ನು ರಾಜೇಶ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣನ್ ಹಾಡಿದ ’ಕರಿಯ’ ಚಿತ್ರದ ’ಕರಿಯ ಐ ಲವ್ ಯು’ ಪಡೆದುಕೊ೦ಡಿತು.

ಸ೦ಗೀತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು ಹಾಡು ಹಾಡಿಸುವಾಗ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗಮನಕೊಟ್ಟರೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆದಲ್ವೇ? ಏನ೦ತೀರ?

ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು
ರವೀಶ

ಪೂರಕ ಓದಿಗೆ:
ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರ೦ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿನ್ನಲೆ ಗಾಯನ

one night @ the call center : Chetan's version

Chetan Bhagat’s choice of contemporary topics in his novels is well known and in his second novel, One Night @ The Call Center, he explores the world of call centers in India. If Five Point Someone dealt about college going youth, this is about the professional class.

Gist of the story : Five people working at a call center and their struggle on that one night is the subject of the novel. Chetan’s tells the story as first person account by one of the 5 characters, Shyam. Characters he has chosen covers the different personalities – Shyam, who considers himself as a loser latest loss being his girl friend Priyanaka, Vroom, who dislikes his job but has no other way out, Radhika, a housewife, all the time worried about her mother-in-law’s nuisances, Esha, who dreams of becoming model someday, Priyanka, who does not get along with her mother well and Military Uncle, who has left his family. Connexions, the firm where they work is downsizing. Adding on to this is the office politics and their own problems. Now they have to face it all. After being briefed about prospects being fired, these people go to a lounge to relieve them of their tensions and while returning from there in Qualis they meet with an accident and this is the time when they receive a call from ‘God’. How do they survive after this, how they prevent themselves from being thrown out of Connexions and how do they find solutions to their own problems are best read in the book itself! This whole story is depicted as being told to Chetan by a girl in a train in which they are travelling.What’s hot: Book contains 38 chapters with 5 chapters dedicated to describing Shyam’s dates with Priyanka. These five chapters present the romantic angle of the story telling how love blooms and end for Shyam and Priyanka, which makes an interesting read. In this novel Chetan also tells the general public’s perception about call center professionals. Also told are the nuisances of call center training like American way of pronouncing same English letter differently depending on its position in the words and 35=10 rule, which says a thirty five year old American’s brain and IQ is the same as ten year old Indian’s mind. Vroom’s disgusting remarks about the ruling class in India may be echoed in every other Indian youth. Also, his frustrations also directed towards annoying American callers. Shyam’s struggle in his job and he who always caught in his manager Bakshi’s management theories represent the plight of many corporate employees.

What’s not: In the end, there is one part of the story where the call center agents call their American customers and say their systems are being attacked by viruses. To see find out whether the system is attacked by virus or not they are told to type = rand(200,99) in a blank MSWord file and press Enter. If lots of text is generated in the MS word file, they say it is a virus. Coming from a technical background and knowing that it is a bug in MSWord, I found this hard to digest. But, I see by 35=10 rule, this would be enough to create fears in the minds of Americans as Chetan proclaims.

It is a good read for the people who are in IT/ITES/BPO industry, as it represents the scenarios and minds of the employees in these industries very well and people usually like the books which they can relate to themselves quickly. If you are in IT/ITES/BPO industry and have not read the novel till now, it is time for you to pick up your copy.

Regards
Raveesh

Om - The Beginning

‘Om’ was one film I was waiting to watch from a long time, since I had not watched the movie when it first got released. Though released 13 years ago in 1995, video and TV rights of the movie are still with movie makers. So you get to watch the movie only when it is showed in some theatre in Bangalore. I went to watch this movie on thursday in Pramod talkies, Vijayanagar. In the last 13 years it has been re-released 5 times and each time the response had been tremendous and critics call it a master piece. It is the film which gave new image to Kannada hero, Shivaraj Kumar and super star status to director Upendra. It also marked the emergence of Prema, who after this venture went on to become No.1 heroine in the Kannada film industry. Om literally was the beginning of an era. It was probably the first film in India to be based on underworld dons. After this only came the bollywood version of gangster movies like Satya, Company, Vaastav. The film was remade in all south Indian languages and also in Hindi as ‘Arjun Pandit’ with Sunny Deol taking up the lead role.

Picture Source - kannadaaudio.com

Plot: Movie begins with a journalist interviewing and publishing the stories of Bangalore gangsters presenting the circumstances which lead them to become so. ‘Om’, is a book which she authored and she gives it to three gangsters which tells the story of a gangster - Satya alias Satyamurthy(Shivaraj Kumar), coming from a poor family, is a soft spoken guy studying in a college. He is made fun of in the college and is a subject of constant humiliation. Madhuri(Prema) is being woed by a man whose brother is a gangster. Madhuri does not care and makes Satya fall in love with her. Unable to bear this, the man brings his brother to settle score with Satya. Madhuri turns to Satya, provokes him to take on the gangster. Satya in rage beats up the gang and Madhuri makes sure that Satya gets arrested by the police. Satya gets released and comes to know that Madhuri is taking revenge on him – circumstances had lead Satya to lie in the court to save his family, as result of which Madhuri’s brother gets convicted and commits suicide. Satya is not accepted in his house as well and the only door open to him is to join the underworld. But he still loves Madhuri even though she does not love him. In the latter part, Madhuri is faced with similar situation as of Satya and realizes her mistake and wants Satya to come out of underworld. But the underworld who Satya is a part refuses to leave him. Well that was story being read by three gangsters who realize that the last pages of the book 'Om' are missing and eager to know what happened to Satya in the end and meet the author. The journalist takes them to Satya, who had left underworld is now handicapped and runs a small hotel and is happy in his life. Film ends saying how one can never be happy as a gangster and the three gangsters promise to put down their arms as well. Songs: Songs are important ingredients of any film to become hit and Om had it in plenty, thanks to the lyrics by Upendra and music by Hamsalekha. If ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’, ‘O Gulaabiye’, ‘Collegeu Kumaru’ became hit among the masses, ‘Mehabooba’ was for the front rows crowd. Dr.Rajkumar had lended his voice to songs ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’ and ‘O Gulaabiye’, which even today sung in orchestras in Bangalore. To get the full lyrics of the all the all songs of Om click here. To listen to the songs of ‘Om’ click here(kannadaaudio.com).

Highlights: ‘Om’ can be easily judged as one of the best performances by Shivaraj Kumar. He had to don both roles – first as soft spoken guy and then as hard talking gangster. Dialogues are another factor which made film a hit. To hear the complete story of film ‘Om’ click this link of kannadaaudio.com. Another aspect which became talk of the town was its awesome screenplay. Of course, how one can forget the direction by Upendra? Upendra had presented the human side of gangsters and had sent a message in the movie.After ‘Om’, he directed ‘A’ and ‘Upendra’ and then put an end to his directorial ventures. Kannada film fans would like to see him wear the director’s cap soon. Uppi, are you listening?

Aftermath: Gangster movie trend which started with ‘Om’ still continues in Sandalwood. Numerous movies have come after ‘Om’ based on gangster theme, no movie tasted success as ‘Om’ did. The film which come close to ‘Om’ in success may be Shivaraj Kumar starrer, Prem directed ‘Jogi’. Since ‘Om’ was fresh in its theme it become a huge hit but the same theme is being overused and now every other hero introduced in Gandhinagar holds a macchu in his hand and most producers place their buck on gangster movies to make quick profit. This also had made Kannada film audience stop coming to theatres. But now with films like ‘Mungaaru Male’, ‘Gaalipata’, ‘Cyanide’, ‘Milana’ this has changed a bit. I wish that this machchu or gangster era in Gandhinagar would end soon.

Film Info :
Name : Om
Star cast : Shivaraj Kumar, Prema, Harish Rai, Shree Raksha

Director : Upendra
Music Director : Hamsalekha
Duration : About 2 hours and 30 minutes
First Release Year : 1995

Related Links:

Listen to Om Kannada Film Songs

Listen to Om Kannada Film Story

Om Kannada Film Song Lyrics

ನನ್ನ ಹನಿಗವನಗಳು

’ಈ ಪ್ರಪ೦ಚ’ದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೇ ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಬರೆದ ಹನಿಗವನಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಒಟ್ಟು ೩ ಕವನಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ.

ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತ ಮನಸ್ಸು
ಹರಿಯುವ ನದಿಗೆ ತಡೆಗಳ ಭಯವಿಲ್ಲ
ಹಾರುವ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಗಗನವೆ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲ
ಮಗುವಿನ ನಗುವಲಿ ಚಿ೦ತೆಯ ಸುಳಿವಿಲ್ಲ
ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತ ಮನಸಿಗೆ ಜ್ನಾನದ ಬೆಳಕೆಲ್ಲ!

ಭಾನುವಾರ
ಭಾನುವಾರದ ದಿನಚರಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಶುರು
ಗ೦ಟೆ ಹತ್ತಾದರೂ ನಿದ್ದೆಯ ಮ೦ಪರು
ಊಟದ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ಉಪಹಾರವಿರು
ಕಳೆಯಿತು ಮತ್ತೊ೦ದು ವಾರ ಹೀಗೆಯೇ ಗುರು!

ಮುಸ್ಸ೦ಜೆ ಮಾತು
ರವಿಯು ಬಾನಿನಿ೦ದ ಮರೆಯಾಗುತಿರಲು
ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳು ಮರಳಿ ಮನೆ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿರಲು
ಚ೦ದ್ರ ತನ್ನ ಸಭೆಗೆ ಅಣಿಯಾಗುತಿರಲು
ಚುಕ್ಕಿಗಳಿ೦ದ ನಭ ತು೦ಬಿ ಹೋಗಿರಲು
ಮುಸ್ಸ೦ಜೆ ಮಾತುಗಳಿ೦ದ ಮನಸು ಮಧುರವಾಗಲಿ!

Being a Blogger for 2 Years

Exactly 2 summers ago, I entered what now is well known as blogosphere. Circa 2006, Nidhi had started his personal blog a month ago and had asked me to have a look at it. Nidhi as a student in our school days was an active participant in literary events and had several news paper articles to his credit. Nidhi’s blog inspired me to start one.

Naming Ceremony : To give anything a name can be one of the most difficult tasks in the world. We have heard stories of how companies like Google, Apple, Hewlett Packard got themselves named. I had to think a lot about the name for my blog. At last, named it ‘Ee Prapancha’ – taking cue from my friend Nidhi, his blog being eNidhi – A Professional Amateur. Well, Nidhi had this metaphor ready long before he started blogging, calling himself enidhi, when we were at nascent stages of our computer education in high school.

My Little Moments of Fame: They say, for any artist encouragement/appreciation is the boost to create a better work. Naturally, we get excited when our work gets recognized. I still remember Sandeep’s phone call telling me that our reviews on Gaalipata have been listed on thatskannada.com. And then came the big one – my report on Kannada bloggers meet held this year being referred in Bangalore tabloid, Mid-day. This time too the detective was none other than Mr.Sandeep aka Shande, the Bond 007 of internet! Latest addition to this list is my article on seminar conducted by kannadasaahithya.com. kannadasaahithya.com‘s editor Shekhar Poorna had called me to compliment on the article. These little things make a lot of difference in the long run and makes you nostalgic at times.


Close to being a Journalist: Camera is my constant companion whenever I go out. One of my friends keeps teasing me for the obsessive photographic hobby and will tell enthusiasm in the initial days of photography will end soon(raveesha, ee hurupu estu dina iruththe antha nodtheeni? – how many days this enthu will last?). Well, it is more than a year now since I bought the camera and enthusiasm has not died and will not die in the near future. Sometimes I wonder, instead of enjoying the place, do I keep wasting time in capturing the pictures? Journalistic look is natural for a person with camera going for a public function. Last year when I went to Kannada Saahithya Sammelana in Udupi I had this equipment to capture almost every scene in the literary event. Stall owners at the event kept on asking which news paper I work for? I explained me being a blogger. Next time it was similar experience, when I was in Hubli taking picture of Rani Kitturu Chennamma circle. One more thing more evident these days, I keep thinking about how to report if I attend an event or how to write a travelogue if on a trip. Also this is being constantly reminded by the people around me when they ask – enappa idanna blog alli haakbidtheeya? – what man, you will put this in blog ?

To Send or Not To Send: I had often faced this dilemma when I had written a post on the blog and about to email the link to my friends. I would think whether it would be yet another spam mail to them! Or will they get irritated seeing the mail. It was about some 6 months ago when I had to resolve this but now I wish people visit my blog voluntarily or through search engines. Well, I do send email here and there when I feel this info needs to reach my friends :)

Commenting in Reel Life: Commenting is the best part of blogs or rather blogging. Comments by the readers start a dialogue between the author and reader and sometimes discussion among several readers. Traditional writing such as in newspapers, magazines, books used to provide less scope for these dialogues. Though newspapers provided someway for comments from the readers, they are moderated and there is space constraints in newspaper space to put only selective comments and in case of magazines, you need to wait for 1-2 weeks before your comment gets published/answered. In case of blogs though there is some moderation from the authors more often, comments get published. Space constraints are unheard of, giving it a democratic space to voice opinion. When somebody comments on my blog I make sure that I answer their query if any and these 2 years have taught me how to handle the aggressive and witty commentators and accept the compliments from the like minds!It would not be out of place to say that this has certainly changed the way I communicate with people whether verbally or in a written communication.

That was a scattered account of my experience as a blogger. Well, I would like to hear feedback from you, the readers, as you had always done in my earlier posts. Also, I want to know what kind of posts you liked to read in this blog and whats that new genre you would like me to explore. Your comments are valuable in this regard.

Thats all folks, its Raveesh, the blogger signing off for now, ending yet another blogging week! See you soon. :)