There is a new tv commercial for a lemon soft drink - it reminds a chap of gully cricket as a kid and homemade nimbupani. How often does this happen to us? A smell, a texture, a taste, an old song that catapults us down memory lane to a different time. Everyone has things...
People always seem to think they know what other people want. Some people have built whole careers out of it! I have been interacting with film professionals from different countries about the kind of films that are appreciated by their local audiences. One hears many thumb rules about what will work with the audience and not. These...
When things are unpredictable or disturbing or unsettling, I turn to… food.
The other day a lady called NURA wrote to me mentioning that she felt alienated from her own culture because she was an "unfortunate NRI". She felt that she was judged even before she spoke.[Reference http://anjalimenon.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/barack-obama-david-letterman/#comments] It can be quite a predicament when one has lived in multiple cities and countries and identifies with different...
This month my calendar has a lot of red marks - each of them indicate deadlines and right now February looks like a floral rangoli pattern!! How is it that the universe conspires to bring all the things on at the same time? Thank you for all the responses to the posts! Am actually...
Jayakrishnan of jaykayu@rediffmail.com posted a comment on this blog on 17.1.2010: Thanks a lot for Happy Journey. It was wonderful – my favorite from Kerala Cafe. I hope upcoming artists like you can answer the foreign delegate at IFFK who asked “Where have all the Malayali women directors gone?”. All the best! Thank you...
Dr.Mohan Agashe and Mr.Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Looking back to 2009, it has been a whole range of new experiences. One of which I cherish is the opportunity to be a Jury member @ IFFK for the Hassankutty Award for Best Indian Debut Director. The Award is based on a model where the winner of the Award would be on the Jury the next year, which is the only reason I get to be on this Jury! Am happy to say that it was a really special experience.
At International Film Festival of Kerala 2009, today is a quiet day - so far - all in anticipation of the awards announcement this evening. An interesting sight to see jury members in hushed corners debating over decisions and filmmakers wondering about their fortunes...
Its that time of year when people turn to film appreciation, with two-three major fests in India and so much debate/discussion on the worth of 'good cinema'. Over the next 10 days, am designing a filmmaking workshop for women and attending another workshop where am supposed to handle the segment on Short Films...
