The film – Shiva. The filmmaker – Ram Gopal Varma.

It did help that RGV’s father, Penmatsa Krishnamraju was a sound recordist at Annapurna Studios (founded by Akkineni Nageswara Rao, father of Nagarjuna Akkineni who plays the lead of Shiva). From running a video rental shop to later being dissatisfied that there is no solid learning being a fourth assistant director, the gutsy RGV decided to jump into direction directly. Interestingly, beyond RGV’s passion and intensity, what clinched the deal for RGV with Nagarjuna was their mutual love for astronomy. It was a breakthrough film in Nagarjuna ‘s career and he would also later go on to marry the female lead Amala. Technically, Shiva set the path for Nagarjuna Akkineni’s career and life.

Shiva is often credited for introducing the steadicam (which RGV was fascinated by after reading in the magazine American Cinematographer) and hitherto unknown sound recording techniques. The sound design, lighting and shots of Shiva were trend setting and still serve as inspiration to many film students. In spite of the cinematographer’s apprehension, RGV was keen on using the steadicam after learning that it was available in Madras for four years and was already obsolete. This decision later paved the way for realistically filmed chases with POV sequences. After the film’s release, ten more steadicams were imported into India. Such was the influence.

The infamous cycle-chain fight sequence that made J.D. Chakravarthy famous (who later went on to play the lead of RGV’s cult gangster film Satya) has interesting origins. RGV, unsure about the feasibility of such a stunt had really tried to yank a cycle chain and failed to do so. Against his apprehension, he retained the sequence assuming nobody would have tried it in real life. Later when the shot became viral and many fans succeeded in replicating the stunt in real life, RGV was amused that this is how imagination can help overcome the limitations of reality. Like how we keep souvenirs of our past that played a pivotal role in our life, J.D. still proudly possesses the original cycle-chain used in the film.

When initial test screenings failed to interest distributors attributing to excessive violence and the raw presentation, the post-production atmosphere became more and more tense.  It was due to the absence of background score and sound design, reasoned RGV but in vain. It was Nagarjuna alone who stood by him like a rock during that period, states RGV. Later when Ilaiyaraaja was composing the score for a fight sequence happening in a college, RGV was surprised at the use of strings and questioned the same. Raja answered that they are students who came there to study but instead are fighting which made him sad.

The film’s main antagonist Raghuvaran, who was asked to underplay his performance, reportedly studied the Mumbai underworld criminals for twenty days. Unlike popular perception that RGV’s expertise in bringing to life the world of gangsters must be from his underworld contacts (which still can’t be ruled out completely) , his real learning as he says was more from his own life. RGV’s fascination with anti-socialism started early in his life when he admired the school bullies and how they controlled the people and the environment.  Many still argue that the brush between students, gangsters and politics has never been better portrayed than in Shiva. The ingenuity of RGV lies in his understanding of human nature, says Brahmaji who played a henchman in the film. This best sums up the filmmaker that is Ram Gopal Varma.

Written by Nirmal Henry.

The post Guns and Frames: the rise of a revolutionary filmmaker appeared first on OutFocus.

You might have heard buildings that use eco-friendly materials or which has self- sustaining energy needs as green buildings. But have you ever wondered if the entire building was actually made up of a tree – a bamboo tree. Well yes, there is this building – “THE GREEN SCHOOL”, located along the river Ayung, Bali, Indonesia.

The campus is designed around the principles of an organic permaculture system. It has been reported as an example of large –scale building potential of bamboo architecture, especially “The heart of school” is a 60 m long still structure constructed with 2.500 bamboo poles!

The bamboo tree really grows fast compared to the other plants and it is a locally available material in Bali. Bamboo which was just used as a scaffolding material was not generally considered for construction until now. A bamboo house lasts a life time if treated properly.

Small building models were built with bamboo itself, which served as the base model for construction. This  would require technicians and artists build a miniature model and then it was passed on to engineers for CAD drawings. The scribbles and sketches helped to build its beautiful interiors.

The school was awarded the – “Greenest school on earth” by  the Centre for Green Schools at the U.S.Green Building Council. The school was a finalist for the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

This school provided a door to the future vision, it would set an example to the children playing, to improve their creativity in real life. The surrounding habitat would let them think out of their minds and create innovative ideas.

It would alter the way they look at things, they would never see their school as just another building, but as their INSPIRATION.

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Written by Sruthi Subramani.

The post SPOTLIGHT : Green School in Indonesia appeared first on OutFocus.

NORTH – EAST MONSOON -2015

Every year during November , there occurs northeast monsoon. But this year, if we had expected a drought, we were in for a big surprise.

It rains all day long, without a pause. This year the delta region and Chennai, the capital city faced the trouble.

1000 people have been made to migrate from danger places to the safer places in Northern parts of Chennai due to flood. Flights have been delayed due to heavy rains in Chennai. Several low lying areas in the city have been floating in the flood. Stagnant water has been reported from almost all the parts of the city. People have been compelled to stop driving vehicles and remain safe in their homes.

ROAD CONDITIONS:

Traffic jams had been created in various parts of the city for even the slightest of stagnant water. The potholes in the main stream of road is covered with water hence the vehicles move at a snail’s pace. Old jail road has been damaged a lot due heavy rainfall.

Residents of Vadapalani, Valarasaravakkam and Virugambakkam had to avoid the Arcot road, since the traffic there is a stand still for over two hours. It is the tough for the people in those regions.

Areas in Madipakkam, Velacherry, Adayar, Korattur, Villivakkam, Maduravoyal, Arumbakkam, Sholinganallur, Perungudi, Kilapauk, T.Nagar  have reported persistent water stagnation.

In Chennai locality, 265 areas are covered with water , among that 133 areas remains a challenge for rescuing.

The Chennai corporation has deployed 21, 500 workers for rescuing purposes in 426 Sq km. of the city , where the water has been covered.

College campuses like Sathyabama also been submerged in heavy rainfall so the Chennai government has declared 1 week holiday for all colleges, schools and even for some offices.

Two boats have been brought in Ambattur as officials fear that Chembarambakkam lake may be breached. 75,600 food packets have been distributed to the victims for breakfast, lunch in various parts of Chennai. Power cut also forms a major problem.

DAMAGES IN OTHER DISTRICTS:

Five major tanks such as Manodai, Andiodai , Vettakudi, Kandirathirtham and Sukkiran in Ariyallur district will be filled shortly if the rainfall had continued.

In Nagapatinam district , the houses were marooned. More than 120 families suffered at Vandal and Kundooranveli villages near Vedaranyam. The corporation officials are making arrangements to safeguard them and due to heavy rain there is a power cut in the region for over 3 days and officials are making alternative arrangements.

Paddy fields were submerged in delta regions and hence there is a great loss for farmers.

Sadly, the death toll from one week of rain had reached 79. Compare that with 129 from the Paris attack.

UPCOMING WEATHER:

Heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu and Puduchery. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over Andhra Pradesh and there is a chance of decreasing rainfall over Tamil Nadu, since the wind has lost its strength. Latest speculation that another low pressure area might be gaining strength and might result in heavy downpour from Saturday on have been dismissed and occasional rain would be present in some areas of Tamil Nadu. One can only speculate the amount of loss that would result in a disaster struck again.

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Article by Aakash S, intern.

The post OutFocus: Chennai Rains appeared first on OutFocus.

The soft morning breeze untucked few strands of hair from Megha’s ghunghat. She absent mindedly shoved it away from her face. Sourabh stole loving glances of her and sighed. Nothing justifies her beauty in this cold climate today. She brought him some tiffin to have before going on a venture together.

Sourabh and Megha went back to high school where they studied together and reminisced the memories from days of yore. Megha’s dream was to plan her own wedding, but it was next to impossible. However, that did not stop her from planning her best friend’s big day. It gave her immense pleasure to witness her friend’s matrimonial procession. ‘Someday, it’ll be my turn,’ she hoped.

They sat on their school bench at the hilltop by a huge old tree with little yellow flowers. When the wind blew strong, some of the yellow flowers would fall on them gracefully. It was a pretty sight to look at. Life seemed like a perfectly disguised fairy tale which may not falter.

He stared into her eyes. Something flickered. Light; joy or tears maybe. He slid his palm into hers and grasped it.
‘Is my love upset?’, he kissed her delicate inner palm.
No. She shook her head.
‘How is life at the borders?’, she enquired.

**
Indo-Pakistan Border military camp,
09:00 a.m.,

Gunfire ripped through the jungle. The neighbouring troupe Commander G.D.Sharma buckled his M16 against his chest as he returned fire.

“Cover…cover!” he shouted urging his men to safety.

Soldiers, half dressed, some busy shaving,  spilled out of their tents.
Officers barked orders. Jeeps roared to life and pilots ran for their choopers.

Another mortar whined towards them. “Get down”, their battalion Commander Hamish Patil shouted.

The missile hit less than fifty yards away from them, taking out a small prefab supply hold. Running with their guns over their heads five uniformed soldiers charged towards an unmanned gun battery.

Another mortar hit, nearer this time. Then another.

As Sourabh rounded the trees and reached for his rifle, he realized too late that he was at the top of a steep embankment. There was nothing he could do to prevent himself from falling down the back of it. The mud and slick grass made it impossible for him to halt his slide. He clawed desperately at the ground, his hands and feet slipping in the mire.

As the sickening sound of automatic gunfire continued to punctuate the air, he realized that his fellow team mate Abhinay hadn’t fallen with him. Few other soldiers groaned in pain. In a wild frenzy, he punched and kicked his way back up to the top of the slope, desperately.

The first thing he saw were two soldiers from other battalion lying about fifty yards down the trail. The base took close to a dozen hits before it answered with heavy artillery fire. Giant howitzer rounds mowed through the jungle beyond the clearing, felling large trees as if they were hollow beneath their bark.

Another mortar hit, flipping an unmanned jeep onto its side. Sourabh breathed in the caustic smell of cordite. After carefully scanning some four hundred yards away, he immediately ran towards the nearest gun battery. The soldier manning it was firing wildly into the air. ‘Move’, he commanded. The soldier was visibly relieved to relinquish control. Sourabh spun the field gun around and opened fire. The ground shook as the giant rounds tore into a concentrated area on the hillside.

Within minutes, the attack was over. A sweep revealed shells and blood at half a dozen sites, suggesting the offensive might have involved as many as fifty soldiers but they found only ten bodies. All told, they lost four jeeps, two Hueys, an entire gun battery on the eastern perimeter, a supply compound, and the worst of it; fifteen men from their troupe. Abhinay was one of it. Sourabh’s best mate and one of the best, fearless soldier. He fathered a child, Rukmini. A bright eyed girl who must be around five or six.

Unlike any movie he had ever seen, he was the one who fathomed death this time. An intense, sharp pain heaved his chest, and sunk quickly through it to reach everywhere inside his body. The split second agony quickly faded, and before he knew it his sight had gone away. He couldn’t see anything, hear anything, and slowly, he began to not be able to think anything.

He bit back tears as he saw Abhinay’s eyes still open and the whites of his eyes outlined in blood. He squeezed his friend’s hands and shook his head. He felt sick. In the dying embers of the war, Abhinay might well have been Pakistan’s final casualty. At least among the dead.

***

‘Tu mhaare sobaat aila kai?’ (Will you come with me?) She asked sympathetically.
‘Kaathe se jaaon?’ (Where to?)
‘Our favourite meeting spot back then’.
‘Mm. Main thare sang aaula’ (I shall come with you).

And they left the place.

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Written by Ruby

The post MARWARI LOVE STORY – PART 2 appeared first on OutFocus.