Books-turned-movies impress M’wood

The industry has had some exceptional film adaptations of short stories and novels, and more are in the offing..

Over the years, tinseltown has had several literary classics shot into flicks. But more often than not, they fail to live up to the magic cast by the book, disheartening the audience at large; be it the much hyped Harry Potter or Twilight series; though, M’wood has had some exceptional books-turned movies. A pursuit into the mind of the audience … 

THE IMPACT VARIES… 

Madhura Somayaji, a communication student, says the problem lies with the perception of readers. “While reading a book, a reader creates his own imagery of the story in his mind, replete with things that a filmmaker might not exactly bring on screen. When the characters are cut to size and the filmmaker takes liberty with the plot, a movie might refuse its viewer the bliss the book gave him as a reader.” Yasha Shetty, a student, adds, “Directors forget the fact that the book has already made an impact on the minds of the readers. The only book-turned movie that matched my expectation is The Lord of the Rings,” she opines. 

    However, there are a few readers who feel that a film has to change the story in accordance with two factors – the time it is to be presented in and the taste of the audience. “The book may be written for a particular segment of people. Such stories might have to be modified when the target in mind is a larger film audience,” says Karthick Sharma, an aspiring movie maker. 

THE M-TOWN SCENARIO 

Over the years, M-Town has had many movies adapted from well-known novels, with director P Padmarajan leading the front with most of his films being adaptations of mostly his own novels and short stories — 

Thoovanathumbikal, Itha Ivide Vare, Nakshathrangale Kaaval, Rathinirvedam, Vadakakku Oru Hridayam, Thakara and Kallan Pavithran, among them. 

    “The clash of visualisation happens here as well, but most novel-turned-movies in Malayalam keep up the pace of the original story and therefore, are appealing,” says Ratna Kumari, an avid reader and film buff. “One must also remember that turning books into movies is a solution to reach out to multiple audiences when the book would have otherwise been limited to the readers’ domain.” 

WAY TO GO… 

Imbibing the audience’s interest in books-turned-films, M’wood will witness a number of such projects soon, including 

Randamoozham, EMS um Penkuttiyum, Ivan Megharoopan and Balyakalasakhi. 

    “Film and book are two different media, each demanding a different treatment,” says Aravind Suresh, a short filmmaker himself. 

    Nonetheless, when movies, such as the Harry Potter series target a universal audience, the issue of customisation may not come into play. “The books are meant to be read and enjoyed as series. When they are broken into a two-and-a-half hour film, naturally, the audience don’t find the experience equally gripping.” 

RIA LAKSHMAN. V

This article is published in Times of India on 20th July 2012.

Link-http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIKRKO/2012/07/20/17/Ar01700.xml&CollName=TOI_KOCHI_ARCHIVE_2012&DOCID=44434&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Eria%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Elakshman%29&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=HTML

    

Games which celebs play at party!

Party games are what spice up any get-togethers. Apart from the entertainment factor, they help break the ice and help guests bond better. We ask a few celebrities from the south Indian film industry, who are regulars at the party circuit, about their favourite party games.

Srikanth 

The actor loves Taboo and Pictionary as they are activity oriented. However, Srikanth adds that he is selective when it comes to party games. "Most of the time, Pictionary and Taboo involve cheating and the teams end up fighting," quips Srikanth.

Nani 

This Telugu star says he is a fan of Pictionary - the guessing game. The game is played with teams, with the players trying to identify the words from their friends' drawings. Nani says it is lot of fun to guess words by looking at the weird drawings. "I also enjoy distracting the opposite teams. However, Pictionary is really a hard nut to crack," he says. 

Jishnu Raghavan

Jishnu is yet another M-Town star, who loves to play Dumb Charades. "It is a lot of fun and even large groups can easily fit in. I also like to play Botticelli, where the player pretends he is a particular celebrity and reveals just the initial letter of the name, and the group will have to find out who he is," says Jishnu.

Asif Ali 

The most happening M-Town star says he is a fan of Truth or Dare, a game which is very popular among adolescents and children, but is sometimes played by adults too. "It's a game full of thrill and excitement and l love it," he says and adds that he always chooses dare and does anything daring that his friends ask of him. 

John Kokken 

This handsome villain's favourite game is Spin the Bottle, where people stand or sit or kneel in a circle. "It is the most embarrassing game at parties as the person who spins the bottle will have to kiss the person to whom the bottle points when it stops spinning," he says. He also finds a couple of other games such as Truth or Dare and Taboo - a word guessing game, very interesting.

Kailash 

Kailash loves the question game, in which the player is made to answer the questions about his chosen partner. "Mostly, the questions are too silly like the number of buttons on the partner's shirt or the brand of jeans that he is wearing and so on," says the actor, who claims to be an expert in the game by now. 

Meera Vasudevan 

Meera and her friends love card games and the movie guessing games, using only objects as hints. "We usually play the movie guessing games and the losers are made to do several activities which lead to a laugh riot. That is the best part of the game," she says.

Ranjini Haridas 

This small screen diva, who is all set to sizzle on the big screen, is a party animal. She loves to play Dumb Charades, which she finds very exciting. "We can begin Dumb Charades without any prior preparation. Also, I sometimes cheat friends by surfing the net on my phone for movie names," she says. Another game she loves to play is Poker, but only if she is partying with her close friends. 

Ria Lakshman V

This article is published in Times of India on 17th July 2012.

Link-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/news-and-interviews/32699309_1_party-animal-pictionary-jishnu

Girls are hard-core gamers too

... taking a liking for noisy boyish games than their mellowed down versions

Photo Courtesy: TOI

Youngsters are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment, with a plethora of games at their disposal. However, most of the apps and online websites are compartmentalised for both genders — clear, calm and lightweight games for gals, and hard, tough and noisy games for guys. But girls don't want this exclusivity. "We are hard-core gamers too," they say.

Banushree, a college student, says, "I am a hard-core gamer. I need vigorous, stalwart games and not those cold, unexciting ones." However, most of the girls begin their visit to game zones with their male friends. "Girls often accompany boys. It is only after their second or third visit that they start playing on their own," says Jithu, a game zone manager in the city. He says little boys and girls are also his customers and are accompanied by their parents.

"Little girls are in fact addicted to play stations. We have a minimum of 15 to 20 customers per week and they are mostly girls," says a shopkeeper in the city. He adds that the trend is fast catching up and most of the homes have at least one play station. "Usually, parents purchase one set of games for the boys. Soon girls too get wooed by the excitement of the games from their brothers and naturally lose interest in playing soft games," says Dr Raveendran, a parent.

Gaming sure seems to have crossed the gender barrier!

RIA LAKSHMAN. V

This article is published in Times of India on 9th July 2012.

Link-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-09/man-woman/32589076_1_hard-core-gamers-boys-and-girls-gender-barrier

I never break rules: Anoop

LOYAL CITIZEN: Anoop Menon

Anoop Menon sternly imprints himself as a law abiding citizen by all means. "I am a rightful person. I never break rules — not even the traffic rules and that is where I have to adjourn my driver," says the actor. "By law, I mean the right way of living. When I live by laws, I feel proud that I exist," he adds. 

The actor who plays the character of an ethically veracious doctor in the movie 916 is happy that he got a character that he can relate to. "916 is not my cup of tea. I may not be able to write such characters and that is why I need to be a part of this movie," he shares. 

RIA LAKSHMAN. V

This article is published in Times of India on 7th July 2012.

Link:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/I-never-break-rules-Anoop/articleshow/14715861.cms

Tradition meets contemporary home decor

Despite the demand for contemporary home decor, Keralites continue to treasure traditional Kerala architecture.

Inspired by the West, many Keralites are incorporating modern aesthetic sensibilities while designing their dream homes. Flamboyant, carved and wooden furniture are passe. The craze is for elegant and minimal designs. At the same time they can't completely do away with the traditional designs. This has resulted in a harmonious blend of the traditional and the contemporary. Kochi Times takes a look at a few traditional architectural designs that have found their way into modern homes.

Nadumuttom (Central courtyard)

The central courtyard has always been a part of Kerala architecture and it has several advantages too. It brings in a lot of daylight and fresh air and thereby brings the outdoors in. However, these courtyards in modern homes have undergone a change due to security concerns. They are now covered with steel railings or thick glasses.

Aattu Kattil (The swinging chair)

The old wooden swinging chairs called aattu kattil wide enough to accommodate three or four people have attained new forms and are now available in wrought iron as well. They add an ethnic touch to a large modern living room.

Manichithra-thaazhu (The ornate lock)

The front doors of many urban Kerala houses are adorned with a manichitrathaazhu, the ornate lock made of gold-plated metal and carved with intricate designs. This timeless design gives an impression of grandeur and elegance to any entrance.

Mural paintings

Mural paintings or frescos depicting stories from mythology and legends once used to adorn the walls of palaces. Now these paintings have found a pride of place in the living rooms of modern homes. Keralites are ready to spend a fortune on these paintings these days.

Chuttu verandah

The wooden benches with carved decorative resting are another feature that has found its way into modern homes. It helps to accommodate an ample number of guests and makes a perfect place for visitors to sit and chat.

RIA LAKSHMAN.V

This article is published in Times of India on July 4th 2012. 

Link-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-04/home-garden/32524863_1_keralites-designs-contemporary-home

Eat Ada, Kozhukatta to avoid depression

However, the gradual increase in the number of modern fast food joints in the state threatens to lure youngsters away from opting for a healthy, traditional meal.

Yes, Kerala does have its share of burgers, fries and pizzas. But the fact is that we continue to treat these as an occasional treat rather than a way of life. Much welcome, considering the results of some recent studies. Scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Univers ity of Granada found that fast food consumers are 51% more likely to develop depression than those who do not consume fast foods.

Across India...

Even in the Indian context, statistics continue to alarm. According to a recent study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), 86% of metropolitan households in India prefer instant foods.

Around 3,000 representatives from major metropolitan cities were surveyed for the study, which found that bachelors have less time for formal meals. High income contributes to rise in unhealthy consumptions.

What it means...

More intake of fast food means high intakes of salt, sugar, fat and calories. Here, youngsters make a choice, either to die of diseases or to live painful lives. In addition to the physical health threats, recent studies have also found a link between depression and fast foods. The presence of trans-fat makes junk foods inconsumable. Trans-fat increases cholesterol and develop insulin resistance in body. This leads to weight gain and diabetic disorders, which further extend to other ailments.

In Kerala...

In a state that has already topped charts for high rates of depression and suicide, the lesser the number of triggers, the better. "Increasing number of fast food outlets within a city is a direct sign of increase in its consumption level. The scenario is apprehensive," says dietician Suni Shibu, who fears an addiction of junk foods among youngsters.

Fix it...

"Traditional rice and millet foods such as Nadan Ada and Kozhukatta are healthy and cost -effective choices. They are better than oil rich and plain white refined flour food stuffs," explains the nutritionist. "Students should take care of their food intake. Food decides their mood and activeness to a larger extent. Stick to home-made food. However, when it's not available, opt for healthy options from what is available outside," she adds.

RIA LAKSHMAN. V
This article is published in Times of India supplement Kochi Times on 27th June 2012.
Link-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-27/diet/32425919_1_junk-foods-instant-foods-food-joints

A fresh approach

The Souparnika Art Gallery in Manipal founded by K. Surendran Nair has interesting ventures for art appreciators

Photo Courtesy: Karishma Hansen

The boundless borders of art captivate our minds. With simple strokes and mesmerising colours, art has its own way of enlightening lives. The new insight it provides to the viewer could be the real realm that enables the art to be a regenerator of community.

Souparnika Art Gallery in Manipal lives up to such expectations. Within its small space dedicated to paintings, sculptures and various other art forms, the gallery offers an avenue for art lovers of the city to explore its various dimensions.

No conventional drawing classes here

Being a place that welcomes all, even the uninitiated, the gallery does not have the the haughty air of playing art promoter.

Founder K. Surendran Nair has been a sculptor and painter in Ajman Fort and Museum for the past twenty years. He believes art to be the perfect way to expose the best in man. He believes in maintaining the rhythm of the body and finds art as a means towards this end. The gallery intends to shape the creativity of young minds. The customary concept of classes to impart drawing skills is absent here. Rather, Nair tries to mould the creativity he believes is present in every individual. “Art is an exercise by which you can find something within yourself; it's not knowledge to impart,” he reiterates.

The paintings in the gallery facilitate visitors to see everything artistic — they may spot beauty in every weird combination of colours and strokes. The amalgamation of different styles lead to a varied understanding too. This leads to new idea generations and fresh perspectives on things around.

With twenty long years of experience as a curator in Ajman Fort and Museum, Nair has wide exposure to art forms from across the globe.

He finds traces of Indian art in Ajman art forms. Furniture, traditional equipments carry similar designs as that of Indian artefacts. “This is the biggest proof that shows India and Gulf countries had trade exchange between them,” he points out.

Exploring further into the similarities of paintings between the countries, he finds the framework of Indian paintings to be the biggest. “We have Kalamkari, Madhubani, Pahari, Rajasthani, Batik, Mughal and many such kinds of painting. In Gulf countries, the paintings are based mostly on calligraphy. But whatever the difference in art forms, every country tries to reflect their culture through art,” he added.

While the gallery welcomes technological advancements in art, Nair stresses the need to maintain the basic hand-balance of drawing, which tends to loosen up when you become dependent on computers for the generation of art forms. “The technology has helped to ease the process of sculpting. Hand works are tedious and many sculptors of the present generation do not prefer to pursue it.”

Souparnika Art Gallery has some of the prestigious exhibitions in its profile. One such was the exhibition-cum-workshop conducted at Kollur Mookambika temple in January 2012. It was organised on the birthday of the singer K.J. Yesudas. Artists from various parts of the country contributed their time and talent in the temple premises to bring out some of the admirable pictures, which are now part of the gallery.

Souparnika Art Gallery has a lot more in store. An exhibition on murals is coming up next. The gallery has plans to co-ordinate with ASARE, the home for mentally challenged children to impart a sense of colour to its citizens through chromotherapy. It is a healing method in which light, in the form of colour, is used to balance energy in the human body. This is sometimes called colour therapy. Rotary Club of Manipal is a strong supporter of the Gallery on its voyage.

RIA LAKSHMAN. V

This article is published in The Hindu-Metroplus, Mangalore edition on 12th May 2012.

Link-http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article3410190.ece

Restroom horrors

Washing hands Could go a long way in preventing infections

Recently, the World Health Organization reported that poor hygiene and toilet habits have cost the life of thousands in Asia. As per the report, out of 1.8 million worldwide deaths from poor hygiene, two-thirds are from Asia with more than half in India and China. This raises the issue of lack of proper sanitation in India. This is mainly because of improper maintenance, improper usage of toilets, improper ventilation, lack of awareness about healthy habits and illiteracy. “We have eight bathrooms but only one is functional,” says Rekha, a final-year microbiology student in the city. “We don’t even have sufficient number of mugs and buckets,” she adds. Of course, extra care is taken to maintain only the staff toilets.

Unhygienic

Tamil Selvi, a class IV student from a reputed school says she never turns to ‘that’ area because it makes her nauseous. Sometimes, the students are forced to carry water bottles due to lack of water supply. “Because some children avoid using unhygienic toilets, they may develop urinary tract infection at a later stage," says Dr. Mohan Stephen, a child specialist. He also points out that the flies in toilets are major carriers of cholera and typhoid. “Though preventive vaccinations and medicines are available, the danger still remains.”

Foul odour and slippery floors are signs of improper maintenance. Germs thrive in such restrooms. Lack of supplies such as water, mugs, buckets and dustbins prevent users from keeping the toilets clean. Those infected by germs are likely to transfer them through contact with door handles and taps. Though one cannot avoid the germs completely, the simple act of washing one’s hands can drastically reduce the chance of germ transference.

Experts say that the Government should intervene and pay more attention to sanitation. Awareness creation and privatisation of public toilets, education on healthy habits and proper toilet design can alter the situation significantly. “Above all, everyone should try and maintain the public toilets the way they would their own toilets at home,” says Dr. Stephen.

Doctors point out that women’s restrooms have twice the bacteria than men’s; also they are more prone to related diseases. More people like Sudha Krishnan are called for. A medical officer at PSG Urban Centre, Coimbatore, she conducts awareness programmes regularly to make the 22 slums in her area disease-free.

To educate the public, Domex, a Hindustan Unilever product has launched a campaign on toilet hygiene in association with the Indian Medical Association, Mumbai. The objective is to share the findings of the Unilever Global Research Centre (on the harm caused by microscopic germs lurking in toilets) with the public.

RIA LAKSHMAN. V

This article is published in The Hindu Metroplus (Chennai and Coimbatore edition) on 10th July 2008.

Link-http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/07/10/stories/2008071050690300.htm