shevlin's world

Bernard Harris is the first African-American to go to space. The astronaut talks about his experiences

By Shevlin Sebastian

Bernard Harris opens the hatch of the space shuttle, Discovery, and steps out. He is wearing a white Extra Vehicular Activity suit, which weighs 159 kgs on earth, but is weightless in space. He gets onto a robotic arm which lifts him up. “So now I am 35 feet above the shuttle,” he says. “I can see the earth, which is blue and white, and looks beautiful. And behind the planet is a sea of stars of the Milky Way. It is the most incredible view I have ever seen.”

One of the primary experiences for Bernard is the lack of gravity. “When there is no gravity, physically you feel free,” says Bernard, who had come to Kochi to be a featured speaker for the TiE Con Kerala event. “You are not confined to operating in a two-dimensional space. Inside the shuttle, if I wanted to go from one side to the other, all I had to do was to press my fingers against the wall and soon I was gliding across. It was a novel experience.”

Eating was easy, but sleeping difficult. “We are used to sleeping on a bed, which is anchored by gravity,” says Bernard. “But in space, the sleeping bags are tethered to the wall or the ceiling. Breathing is easy, but there is a nagging headache for the first two days.”

That is because one-fifth of the blood, in the legs, which is usually held down by gravity, moves up and reaches the tissues of the face and makes it look puffy. The fluid also fills the nasal passages and most astronauts have a head cold. “We don't think as clearly,” says Bernard.

Astronauts also grow an inch or two in space. “One reason is that we do not have the weight of the body,” says Bernard. “The extra water goes into the tissues in the discs in the spinal cord and stretches the spine.”

The mission, which began on February 9, 1995, included a rendezvous with Mir, the Russian Space Station, the retrieval of a damaged satellite, as well as an investigation into the long-term effects on the human body while being in space.

Not surprisingly, as Bernard beheld majesty of space, he had a spiritual elevation. “I have always believed in a higher being,” he says. “In space, everything is perfect. The planets, the solar system and the galaxies – all this did not happen by accident. There has to be some higher power which orchestrated all this. My faith in God deepened.”

Not many people know that going to space was the fulfillment of a childhood dream for Bernard. It started in 1969 when he was 13 years old. On a black and white television set, he saw astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin [Buzz] Aldrin land on the moon. It was a tremendous moment for Bernard when Armstrong said, 'This is one small step for man, and a giant leap for mankind'. He decided that he would follow in the footsteps of these great men. “It was a leap of faith which I took,” he says. And unlike most people, Bernard was able to fulfill this childhood dream of travelling in a space shuttle.

“The shuttle is a fascinating vehicle,” he says. “It takes about seven million pounds of thrust out of five engines to get off the ground. As the force hits the ground, we are going so fast in the opposite direction that by the time we clear the launch tower we are going faster than the speed of sound.”

In two minutes they reach an altitude of 1 lakh feet. That is about three times higher than what most aircraft fly. “We are now above most of the atmosphere,” he says. “We are going from 2500, to 5000, 15,000 to 17,000 miles an hour till we reach zero gravity. At this moment it is so wonderful to get out of the seat, look out of the window, and see the Earth.”

Bernard is only one of 538 people who have been in outer space. In fact, he is the first African-American to do a spacewalk. In a career spanning 19 years, Bernard logged 438 hours and travelled 72 lakh miles in space.

Asked the qualities needed to be a good astronaut, he says, “He or she should have the ability to learn new things. When I became an astronaut I had to learn how to fly jets, to survive in different environments, and to parachute from an aeroplane towards land as well as water. You also have to be a stable person. In other words, you have to learn to keep your emotions under control.”

Apart from being an astronaut, Bernard is a qualified doctor, a former associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas, as well as an author of several scientific publications. Bernard is now the Chief Executive Officer of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital firm.

Bernard also has his heart in the right place. He has set up the Harris Foundation, which helps economically disadvantaged students, the majority of whom are African-American, Latino and Hispanic students. “It is not about skin colour,” he says. “We also reach out to white students in rural areas. Unfortunately, the majority of the poor are African Americans.”

Bernard has also won numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from several American universities. A fellow of the American College of Physicians, he has received the NASA Space Flight Medal, a NASA Award of Merit, and the 2000 Horatio Alger Award.

“All of us have talents and abilities,” he says. “Every individual was born to do something special.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Three veterans have formed a band, ‘Major Triad’. Their aim: to revive ‘live’ performances in an era where singers are all using recorded music

Photo: (From left) Aisten, Stelsie Jose, Biju James and Sesil George

By Shevlin Sebastian

Bass guitarist Biju James cannot forget the sight of a young Tamilian boy playing the keyboard at a performance given by a singer. “He had no idea what he was playing,” says Biju. “In fact, he was just moving his fingers over the keys. They were hoodwinking the public.”

Essentially, the songs had been downloaded to the keyboard and it was being played. “The idea is to save up on the cost of having a full band,” says Biju. “This is the trend all over Kerala. Whereever there is a public concert, the music that is played is downloaded songs. So what is the point of coming for a programme? You might as well stay at home and listen to the music on your stereo player.”

Drummer Sesil George says that during earlier times, like when 13AD and Crest were playing, the music was live. “We want to perform authentic music,” says Sesil. “We want to be sincere during a performance. Using recorded tracks is to trick the audience.”

So Biju, Sesil, as well as electrical guitarist Stelsie Jose and vocalist Aisten have formed a band called Major Triad. “Except for Aisten, we are veterans in the field,” says Sesil. “That is why we have put the word Major. And Triad is a music notation.”

The group is clear about the audience they are playing for: it is from the mid-thirties upwards. “All of them have a nostalgia for classical rock, which is our focus,” says Sesil. “We don't play rap or disco.”

At a recent performance at the Elephant Court hotel in Thekkady, where there were a large number of foreigners and North Indians present, they played songs by John Denver, Eagles, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple, Cliff Richards, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Doobie Brothers, Santana, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, among many others.

“We got a good response,” says Biju. “It was 'live' music all the way through.”

This was confirmed by the manager of Elephant Court, Manoj Thomas. “They played very well,” he says. “The big difference was because it was live music. Through their energy and passion for playing, they were able to draw the audience in. The people could feel as if they are participating in the show. It is very different from playing recorded music. Later, the feedback from the guests confirmed this. In all probability, we will be inviting Major Triad again.”

The senior trio joined together after a break of several years. While Biju was a marketing professional, Sesil was busy providing sound equipment for various institutions, while Stelsie has a music shop near the North Railway station. “One day we realised that our passion for music was still intact, and we wanted to return to it, before it is too late,” says Biju.

Adds Sesil: “We are not playing for money. We are playing for the love of music. All of us have arranged for alternate means of income.”

While Sesil is getting rent from a few flats that he owns, Stelsie has his music shop, while Biju is a teacher of music at home. “I teach school and college students, as well as IT professionals,” he says. “I am also the music teacher at the Teresa Spinelli Public School at Kaloor. The rest of the time we are busy playing music.”

Their reasons are clear: “We want to create a space where people can come and enjoy this type of classical music. The hotels should take the initiative, spend a little bit of money and hire full bands, instead of going for the cheaper option of one or two musicians and using recorded music.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Director Jeethu Joseph’s blockbuster hit, ‘Drishyam’, is the talking point in Kerala now. This is his third success in a row

Photo by Melton Antony

By Shevlin Sebastian

At the conclusion of the Malayalam film, ‘Drishyam’ (Visuals), during a night show at Kochi, the audience breaks out into a spontaneous applause. A few draw their breaths in, clearly stunned by the Hitchcockian ending. Through word of mouth and updates on Facebook and Twitter, the film has become a blockbuster hit.

The story is simple: a boy tries to blackmail a girl to have sex and that event leads to a series of spectacular twists and turns, which deeply affects two families. Both the stars, Mohanlal and Meena, have put in understated but riveting performances. Others who impressed were Kalabhavan Shajohn, who plays a brutal cop, and the children Ansiba Hassan and Esther.

At his Kochi home, the director Jeethu Joseph is constantly getting calls and messages on his mobile phone. As he talks, actress Praveena sends a message: ‘Amazing, brilliant, superlative. My husband leapt out of his seat, and clapped on seeing the climax. Congrats Jeethu, this is one of the outstanding scripts in our industry for a long time.’ Not surprisingly, the Hindu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada rights have been sold for a whopping amount.

Jeethu is on a roll. His previous films, ‘Mummy and Me’, ‘My Boss’ and ‘Memories’ have all become hits. However, he is the most unlikely candidate to become one of Mollywood’s hot-shot young directors.

The son of the late politician, VV Joseph, Jeethu was busy looking after the rubber estates of the family. Life was comfortable, but boring. Secretly, Jeethu had nursed a wish to join films, having become fascinated with the medium during his college days. Fate intervened when he went to stay, along with his wife, Linta, at his cousin, Geetha Joy’s house in Thiruvananthapuram for a few days.

On a table in the living room he saw a brochure for the film, ‘Karunam’, directed by Jairaj. When he asked Geetha about this, she told him that Jairaj was a tenant at their house in Thrissur. Later, Linta told Geetha that Jeethu was interested in films. So Geetha asked Jairaj whether Jeethu could join him as an assistant, and the latter agreed.

Jeethu worked with Jairaj on a Hindi film, ‘Bhibatsa’ (2002) which starred Atul Kulkarni and Seema Biswas. “What I learnt from Jayaraj was that a director should always be bold,” says Jeethu. To learn the craft, Jeethu watched a lot of films. “I would observe the editing patterns,” he says. “I learnt everything from seeing movies. I am self-taught and still learning.”

His first film, ‘Detective’ did not do so well. But, thereafter, things have moved forward smoothly.

Asked the reasons for his success, Jeethu says, “The key is a good script. If you do not have one, whatever gimmicks you do, the film will be a failure.”

Actress Meena concurs. “In ‘Drishyam’, the script was the hero,” she says. “It had everything: a family-oriented story, suspense, comedy, and sentiments. We actors just enhanced an already brilliant script.”

Meena also liked Jeethu’s direction. “Jeethu will give an outline of the scene and would ask us what we wanted to do in this particular situation,” she says. “When we do it, he will suggest some improvisations. He is a gentle person, and I felt comfortable working with him.”

Meanwhile, when asked about his future plans, Jeethu says, “First I need to take a break and calm down. Thereafter, I have to choose among the many options in front of me.”

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

The play, 'Romeo and Juliet: no strings attached', is all about the freedom to make choices, and the repercussions of that

Photo by Suresh Nampoothiri

By Shevlin Sebastian

The play, 'Romeo and Juliet: no strings attached' begins with four actors, masquerading as puppets, as they hop around on the stage. One of them says, “Day after day, I do the same things. I make the same moves. I say the same story like clockwork. I make the same mistakes.”

But, on one particular night, they realise that if they pull hard the strings will come loose, and they can run away and do anything they want, instead of acting in William Shakespeare’s play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, night after night.

But before they flee, they decide to act one last time in front of an empty auditorium. “With freedom they realise that they can do ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in a different way,” says director Prashant Nair of the Bangalore-based Tahatto Theatre. The group had come to Kochi to take part in the 'Museum Fest', organised by the Museum of Art and Kerala History.

While the puppets are giving Shakespearean dialogues, in between, they veer off to contemporary times in India. So there is talk about matrimonial advertisements, hunger strikes, the misdeeds of politicians and a mocking reference to television anchor Arnab Goswami and his thunderous line, ‘The Nation Wants to Know’.

Sometimes, the dialogues, in English as well as Hindi, are tongue-in cheek: 'Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to bring forth our hero Romeo. Now if it was a Karan Johar movie, there would be a Shiamak Davar dance song. If it was a Ramgopal Varma film, there will be a woman running with nothing on.”

Prashant also made some ingenious changes. When he came across a stuffy speech by Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, in which he asks the latter to get out of the sulk that he was in, because a woman named Rosaline has ditched him, and to start meeting other ladies, Prashant cuts it down to some witty lines, in the style of a rap song:

Yo Yo,

My main man Romeo,

You aware of this whole scenario,

Downtown Verona,

Beckons us.

Don't tell me you don't feel no buzz.

There are chicks there waiting to mingle,

So get off your ass and change your Facebook status to single.

Prashant got the idea to do this play out of a casual conversation between friends one day. “We were discussing about how all of us have a compulsion to keep saying that if we did not have certain responsibilities, we would have done this or that,” he says. “To do or not to do is a choice, especially in a democracy. There is nobody holding us back.” By coincidence he happened to read ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at that time and realised that every character had to make decisions and deal with the consequences.

Like in the original version, Prashant's play has the recurrent theme of fate and choice. “I wanted to show that our destiny is not defined by our stars, but by our decisions,” says Prashant.

The cast consisted of Rijul Roy, Kalyani Nair, Anshul Pathak, Shashank Purushotham and Christopher Avinash.

In the end, 'No Strings Attached' is a soaring, funny and sometimes poignant look at the way people make choices and the impact it has on them.

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn

Dr. Deepak Gopinath talks about life with champion athlete Preeja Sreedharan

By Shevlin Sebastian

Dr. Deepak Gopinath saw Preeja Sreedharan at a felicitation function at Palakkad following her performance at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, where she won the 10,000m gold and a silver in the 5000m.

Much later, he came across her profile on a matrimonial website and sent a query. Following an exchange of mails, it was found that their horoscopes matched. On September 27, 2012, Deepak, along with his mother and a few relatives went and met Preeja’s family. “In fact her house in the Railway Colony is behind the Kendriya Vidyalaya school in Olavakkode where I studied,” says Deepak.

The marriage took place on November 11, 2012 at Palakkad. For their honeymoon, they went to Indore where Deepak had to appear for an exam. Thereafter, they visited a few tourist sights, did the same in Delhi and Bangalore. After they returned to Kerala, they went for a holiday to Munnar and Thekkady.

Today, they are in two different locations. While Deepak is doing his specialisation in Radiation Oncology at Kozhikode Medical College, Preeja is training at the high-altitude centre at Munnar with colleague Sinimol Paulose and her husband Ajith Markose.

“Every day she runs 20 kms in the morning and 10 kms in the evening,” says Deepak. “To develop endurance, Preeja runs in the hilly areas. Then she does speed work on the track. The schedule changes from day to day. Ajith is overseeing the training. Usually, Preeja runs 300 kms every week.”

Till a few months ago, they had been living together, so Deepak has a good idea of Preeja’s character.

“At home, she does not behave like a star at all,” says Deepak. “Preeja does the cooking, sweeps the floors, washes the dishes as well as the clothes. In fact, once, a visitor who came to our house saw Preeja doing the housework, and assumed that she was a helper. So he said, ‘Can you call Dr. Deepak’s wife?’”

Unlike a modern girl, she is very obedient. “If I tell Preeja not to do something, she will not do it,” says Deepak. “She has a tendency to follow the patriarchal system. Whatever she wants to do, she will take my permission. If she goes to a shop and wants to buy a salwar kameez, Preeja will call and ask for my permission. She must be the only girl in these times to do this. And if I say no, she will not buy it.”

Deepak gives an example of Preeja’s down-to-earth nature. When Preeja went to take part in this month’s Kolkata Marathon, where she won the gold medal, Deepak organised a flight ticket for her return. But then the couple had a tiff. So Preeja decided she would return by train using her own money. She got a reservation, but a junior athlete who was travelling with Preeja did not get a seat. “This girl was running a fever and had body pains,” says Deepak. “So Preeja gave her berth to her, and spent the entire journey near the toilet. She put newspapers on the floor and slept there. Preeja never complained about it, but I did get upset when I came to know.”

Deepak is frank about Preeja’s negative traits. “Since she has concentrated so much on her athletics career, Preeja is a bit behind when it comes to academic qualifications, letter-writing and communications skills,” he says. “She will have to develop these attributes to be an effective chief officer superintendent [her current designation in the Railways].”

But on the athletic track, it is a different ball game. Deepak saw Preeja run for the first time, during the 5000m and 10,000m at the senior Nationals at Chennai in July, 2013. “Preeja had a look of determination,” he says. “It was nice to see how bold and confident she was.” Not surprisingly, she won gold medals in both events. But her rivals, like Kavita Raut and L. Surya, are her friends, and they go shopping together. “During the race, they will discuss on how to set the pace, in order to clock good timings,” says Deepak.

Preeja’s immediate goal is to take part in the Asian Indoor Championships in February at Hangzhou, China. Thereafter, she will concentrate on the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, Scotland in June.

Meanwhile, when asked for tips for a successful marriage, Deepak says, “Most young people think only about themselves. When there is some problem, the attitude is how will I deal with it, instead of we. When there is a fight, spouses do not know how to compromise and resolve the issue. That is why there are so many problems in new marriages.”

Deepak has more tips. “Treat the parents and relatives of your wife's family as your own. There should be mutual respect. Appreciate the plus points of your spouse. As for the minus points, the best way is to accept and adapt to it.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

Anand Neelakantan's gripping novel, 'Ajaya' (Epic of the Kaurava Clan, Part 1), gives the Kauravas version of the Mahabharata. It is already No. 1 on the best-seller lists

By Shevlin Sebastian

Around ten years ago, author Anand Neelakantan came across a procession which was witnessed by thousands of people. They were waiting to pay homage to the idol at the Malanada Temple in a village in Kerala’s Kollam district. And the deity turned out to be a surprise. “It was none other than Duryodhana, the most reviled villain in Indian mythology,” says Anand.

In fact, according to legend, Duryodhana had come to Kerala in search of the Pandava princes. Feeling thirsty, he asks an old woman for water. Impulsively, she gives the toddy she is carrying. It was only then that the woman realises that Duryodhana is a Kshatriya and could lose his caste by drinking toddy from an Untouchable. When she tells him this, Duryodhana says, “Mother, there is no caste for hunger and thirst. Blessed are you for putting the interests of a thirsty man before your own safety.”

Ever since then Anand had been fascinated with Duryodhana. So it was no surprise that when he became a writer, he decided to write a book about the anti-hero. Called 'Ajaya (Epic of the Kaurava Clan, Part 1)', and published by Platinum Press, it has already soared to No 1 on the Crossword Bestseller List. This is his second book. His first, 'Asura-Tale of the Vanquished', about Ravana, was also a best-seller.

“In 'Ajaya', Duryodhana is the hero, while the Pandavas are the villains,” says Anand. On the throne in Hastinapura, is Dhritarashtra, a blind man, who does not have any influence. His foreign-born wife, Gandhari, and her co-sister Kunti are engaged in a protracted cold war to make their sons the next heir to the empire.

Duryodhana, the Crown Prince of Hastinapura, is himself desperate for the throne. But his cousin Yudhisthira, and his brothers along with their mother will do anything to stop Duryodhana from becoming king. They are helped by the orthodox elements of society, which include the conservative Brahmin, Drona, ace politician, Krishna, and Kunti’s chief adviser, the priest Dhaumya.

As the cold war progresses, and as the helpless Patriarch, Bhishma, and his prime minister Vidura looks on, a revolution is brewing in the jungles of India. Takshaka, a Naga leader, wants to overthrow the establishment and bring about a people's revolution. Ekalavya, an untouchable, wants to become the best warrior in the country. “It is a modern take of an ancient story,” says Anand. “I have tried to draw parallels with present-day India.”

The scenes are vivid and dramatic. You can feel as if you are in the kingdom of Hastinapura, so powerful are the images created in the mind. Anand says that the entire structure of the novel was planned beforehand. “It underwent changes as I wrote, but the blueprint remained the same,” he says.

Anand, who is Manager (Retail Sales) in Indian Oil Corporation, Belgaum, will be writing a second part. It is called the 'Rise of Kali', and will be published in August, 2014.

When asked why he decided to write about the Kauravas, Anand says, “All the stories are about victorious people. There should be someone to write about the vanquished too. From 'Asura' to 'Ajaya' was a natural progression.”

(The Sunday Standard Magazine, New Delhi, and The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Branko Stark, the Croatia-based director of the 'Rock of Ages' choral group, is a multi-faceted personality

Photo by Suresh Nampoothiry

By Shevlin Sebastian

“The singers are wonderful,” says Branko Stark, the director of the Kochi-based 'Rock of Ages' choral group, which comprises 25 participants. “There is a nice mix of young and old, but their spirit is young.”

However, by nature, Malayalis are reserved and conservative in their singing. “The Germans are also reserved, while the British sound so upper-class,” says the Zagreb-based Branko. “On the other hand, the Italians, as well as those who live in the Slavic countries, like Croatia and Serbia, sing with a lot of passion.”

The presence of a voice is unique among homo-sapiens. Sounds are created by using the larynx, vocal chords, the abdominal and respiratory muscles. “The instrument is under the skin,” says Branko. “You cannot see it. It is the only organ in the world which has a soul and a spirit. The instrument is at the same time the instrumentalist.”

The voice has bio-mechanical attributes. “You can shout very loud, upto 130 decibels, which is the equivalent of the sound of a jet,” says Branko. “If a child shouts very close to the ear, you can become deaf. However, in singing, there is a physical limit. You only have 12 different notes in music. And each person uses these notes in his own unique way, just as we use the 26 alphabets of the English language in our own style.”

Incidentally, in a choir there are only four voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.

The best singers are those who infuse emotion in their voices. “We have to colour our songs with emotion,” says Branko. “In other words, you have to sing in a way that reflects happiness, joy, despair or sadness.”

Branko teaches all types of Western classical songs, from the Renaissance era, in the 15^th and 16 centuries, to contemporary music. “I like to perform the works of composers who have been creative and inventive, like Beethoven, Bach, Chopin and Mozart,” says Branko. “All these genius composers were inspired. The word, 'inspired' comes from ‘Inspirare’ (inhale). In the olden times, people said that gifted composers had inhaled something from God and then they gave it to us.”

To put it another way, musicians like Bach and Beethoven are the medium. “It is God who writes through them,” says Branko. “Of course, they have to be craftsmen. But they had a direct link to God, with millions of bytes coming into them from above.”

Not surprisingly, for Branko, music is spiritual. “If you listen with concentration, you can feel the presence of God in a piece of music,” says Branko. “I always tell my students to search for the truth in a song.”

Branko has been searching for the truth since his childhood. His life changed, when his mother, a professional singer, presented him with a piano when he was 12 years old. “I immediately felt a deep passion for music,” says Branko. He wanted to write a composition as a child but it took him years to get the knowledge. Today, he has over 200 compositions under his name.

And composing is only one aspect of this multi-faceted personality. A teacher at the Arts Academy, (University of Split-Croatia), Branko also imparts lessons to singers, actors, choral directors, speech therapists, phoneticians and speakers. He holds seminars and workshops on vocal art, pedagogy and musical aesthetics. Branko haspublished scientific papers on voice theory and been the adjudicator for international choral competitions in China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Austria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Italy. Branko has also won numerous awards for composing, conducting and music.

Finally, he is the President of the Croatian Choral Directors Association, as well as the head of the Vocal Academy. Asked how he manages to cram in so many activities, Branko smiles and says, “Anything is possible with the help of God.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

John Freeman's book, 'How To read a Novelist' (Conversations with Writers), are profiles of world-class authors like Toni Morrison, Gunter Grass and Orhan Pamuk, among many others

By Shevlin Sebastian

In 1977 Kenyan leader Daniel Arap Moi got the novelist Ngugi Wa Thiong’o arrested for co-writing a play which was critical of the government. After a year in a maximum security prison, Ngugi was released. Later, he fled to the USA. In 2004, after Moi had stepped
down as president, Ngugi returned to Nairobi and received a hero’s welcome.

But things went horribly wrong. One night, intruders broke into his apartment. Ngugi’s wife, Njeeri, was stabbed and raped in front of him. When Ngugi tried to intervene he was burned with cigarettes on his forehead and arms. Finally the couple managed to escape. Later, when he came out of hospital, a combative Ngugi said, “We have to keep rising up. The Kenyans who attacked us do not represent the spirit of the new Kenya.”

This story is recounted in the remarkable book, ‘How To Read A Novelist’ (Conversations with Writers), by John Freeman, the former editor-in-chief of Granta, one of the world’s leading literary magazines.

This book is a collection of his profiles of some of the top writers of today. They include Noble Laureates Toni Morrison, Gunter Grass, Nadine Gordimer, Orhan Pamuk, Doris Lessing, and Margaret Atwood, along with notables like Richard Ford, Philip Roth, EL Doctorow and Tom Wolfe. India is represented by Booker Prize winners Salman Rushdie
and Kiran Desai, along with Vikram Chandra. In total, 54 authors have been featured.

Freeman has a fixed format. First there is an introduction of the author, which is laid out in an italics font. Then there is a description of the environment in which the interview is taking place, along with the writer's thoughts about his career, as well as anecdotes from the books or from life. Most of the pieces are only a few pages long. Since Freeman has an engaging and lucid style, it is an easy read.

And all along, Freeman recounts interesting tidbits. Japanese best-selling author Haruki Murakami explains how he writes his brilliantly imaginative novels, like ‘Kafka on The Shore’. “I have a theory,” he says. “If you lead a repetitious life, your imagination works very well. It is very active. So I get up early in the morning, sit down at my desk, and I am ready to write.”

Tom Wolfe talks about the need for a Hippocratic Oath for writers. “The first line of the doctor's Hippocratic Oath is, 'First, do no harm',” he says. “For writers, it should be, 'First, entertain'. All writing should entertain. It is only recently that there is an emphasis on making writing so difficult that only a charmed aristocracy is capable to understanding it.”

As for Vikram Chandra he talks about the killers he met while researching for 'Sacred Games', his novel on the Mumbai underworld. “One night I went for a beer with some shooters,” he says. “And I thought, 'Gosh, I could almost be friends with these guys. They are really nice fellows'. Then I realised that they probably would go out later that night and kill someone.”

Mohsin Hamid, the author of 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', has been trying to kill off the stereotypical image of Pakistan as a place of rampant terrorism, feudalism, and a country in flames. “Our No. 1 television show host is a transvestite,” he says. “We have a large
indie-rock band scene. There are huge Ecstasy-fuelled raves and fashion models who wear next to nothing on the catwalks. But you don't see that on American TV. Instead, we get the guys hiding out in the caves.”

All in all, for bibliophiles and aspiring writers, this book is a valuable addition to their home libraries.

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

In his show, ‘The Sixth Sense’, the Dubai-based Malayali CA Praveen reads minds and changes the shape of spoons through his will power

Photo by Mithun Vinod

By Shevlin Sebastian

“I want you to think of a city anywhere in the world,” says the mentalist CA Praveen. The participant, Ramesh Menon, closes his eyes and nods. “Now write it on a piece of paper,” says Praveen. Ramesh does so. “Now fold it and keep it in your pocket,” says the mentalist. With his back to Ramesh, Praveen writes something in black letters on a white board. Then he turns and shows the words, ' New York ', to Ramesh, whose eyes widen in surprise.

In his show, 'The Sixth Sense', held at Kochi, Praveen amazes the audience by being able to predict, with unerring accuracy, whatever people have drawn or thought. In one segment, Praveen asks a volunteer to come on stage. He then gives him five editions of ‘The New Indian Express’. “Select any edition,” he says. The man does so. Then one page is pulled out by the man and torn into four, and finally eight parts. Then the volunteer mentally selects a word from one of the torn pieces, and writes it on a piece of paper.

Meanwhile, sometime earlier, Praveen had given an envelope to a girl sitting on the front row. He now asks her to open the envelope, and read out the word. It is the same as the one on the piece of paper held by the volunteer.

“That is why I love mentalism,” says Praveen. “The difference between magic and mentalism is that when I do a magic item, I know how it is going to start, the course, as well as the ending. But in mind reading, I have no idea of what is going to happen next.”

But the cherry on the cake was when Praveen bends spoons, in the manner of the famed Israeli psychic Uri Geller, by using his will power. To Praveen’s credit, before the show begins, he categorically states that he has no supernatural powers nor is he a psychic who can read a person’s mind.

“My method is to observe body language, use scientific techniques, and put subliminal suggestions into the sub-conscious mind,” he says. However, that does not explain how he bends spoons or predicts accurately the words that a person is thinking.

Praveen, a Malayali, graduated in engineering from the Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, Kollam, and joined the Indian Navy. A passion for magic ensured that he performed regularly during Naval functions. Over a period of time, he realised that his inner calling was to be an entertainer. So, on August 16, 2000, much against the wishes of the seniors and colleagues in the Navy, as well as his parents and relatives, he quit the Navy after 13 years. His advantage was that his London-based wife had a regular job as a psychiatrist. “So there was a back-up,” he says.

In retrospect, the gamble was well worth it. Today, the Dubai-based Praveen does regular shows in Britain, Japan, South Africa, Kenya, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and India.

Asked the secret of his skill, Praveen says, “There are three golden rules: practise, practice and practise. Once you learn a method you should be able to do it blindfolded. To reach that stage, you have to work at it hundreds of times.” So, it is no surprise that Praveen has become very good at it and received international kudos. In 2012, he won The Merlin Award for the Best Corporate Mentalist and Magician and was also inducted into the Hall Of Fame of the International Magicians Society. Consequently, his love for magic remains undiminished. “When I am on stage, I am the happiest person,” he says.

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

A recent short film festival, organised by film club, Shamiana, had the audience clamouring for more

A scene from the film, 'The Kinematograph'

By Shevlin Sebastian

The animated film, 'The Kinematograph', begins with the camera panning down from the clouds all the way to the streets of a 19th century village, with large houses on either side, with cobbled streets, and people running about. It then focuses on a particular bungalow. The viewer then gets a glimpse of the attic, on the top floor, where a man is sitting on a chair and looking at an image of a woman on a screen. This is the inventor Thomas, who switches off the machine and has a despondent look on his face.

Meanwhile, down below in the kitchen a woman, wearing a white apron, is cleaning a plate carefully. The man comes in, sits on a stool, and lights a pipe. Then he says, “I am running dry. I simply cannot figure it out.” His wife says, “You will. If not today, tomorrow. I know it.” Thomas says, with a touch of irritation, “You and your sweet optimism.”

The back story: Thomas is trying to invent a film camera, which nobody has done before. But he is frustrated. Thomas wants to add colour to the image on the screen, but does not know how.

Meanwhile, his wife urges him to patent the invention by saying, “Why not take my advice? You can always add colour later on.”

Finally Thomas agrees. Meanwhile, over lunch, his wife suggests an inventive way of solving the impasse. An excited Thomas stops having his soup, and dashes off to his laboratory. And it is the right suggestion. Thomas is able to add colour to the image.

However, despite this cheery news, an oblivious Thomas does not realise that his wife is gravely ill. There is a scene in the bathroom where she is having a coughing fit and suddenly she spits blood on a handkerchief. Later, Thomas stands outside and asks how long she will take. “Five minutes,” says the wife. But sometime later, he sees her lying unconscious on the floor, the white handkerchief with several splotches of blood, lying next to her body. Very quickly, she dies of tuberculosis. And Thomas is stunned.

It is a moving film and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Directed by Tomasz Baginski, the film shows the dangers of obsession and how a man is unaware that his wife is dying, because he concentrates solely on his work. In the end, Thomas is left feeling guilty, sad and alone.

'The Kinematograph', was shown as part of a short-film festival conducted by the Shamiana film club, at the JT Pac, Kochi, on Sunday. The other films which were screened included 'Curfew', 'Time Freak' and 'Henry'. All of these films were nominated for the Oscars, but it was 'Curfew' which won in 2013.

'Curfew', by director Shawn Christensen, begins with a New Yorker, Richie, who is lying in a bath tub, and has slit his wrist. The water is slowly becoming red, when he receives a call. It is from his estranged sister, Maggie, asking him to look after his nine-year-old niece, Sophia, for the night. Richie decides to abandon the suicide attempt by bandaging his wrist. He then heads out to meet Sophia. And, thereafter, the film focuses on them spending time in different places of New York. Slowly, they develop a warmth and get to know each other.

Thanks to his interaction with Sophia, played with aplomb by Fatima Ptacek, Richie is able to get over the deep depression he is in. Incidentally, ‘Curfew’ has won 47 awards at international festivals all over the world.

Both 'Curfew' and 'Henry' by Yan England focuses on the bleakness of life. In 'Henry', an old pianist loses his memory and does not realise that the woman who befriends him at the nursing home is his own daughter, Nathalie. As for 'Time Freak' by Andrew Bowler, it is about a man who travels to the past on a time machine.

But perhaps the surprise package was the 19 minute Malayalam film, ‘For Hire, made by young director Vishnu Raghav, about a woman (Kavitha Nair) who stands seductively at a bus stop, at Thiruvananthapuram, late at night. She persuades a man, also waiting beside her, to share an autorickshaw, whose driver is known to her.

Halfway into the journey, she pretends to fall ill, steps out of the vehicle, the man follows her, and the auto speeds away with the luggage. Later, the driver admits that the woman and he split the money from the sale of the luggage. A few men are tricked in this way.

Says Kavita, a well-known TV anchor: “One day, four youngsters were sitting around and throwing out ideas. It was how this film, which is based on a true story, was born. These young people did not have the finance and some of us put up the money to make this film. It has been put up on You Tube and we have been getting a lot of appreciation. We have also taken part in festivals.”

At the Festellen Short film fest held at Bangalore, where more than 60 short films from all over India were screened, Kavitha received the Best Actress Award.

In fact, all the films, shown by the Shamiana club, were gripping and worthy of appreciation. And the festival was a success, judging from the audience reaction.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

A Diva In Her Own Right

Former banker Neena Jhanjee runs Diva Odysseys which caters only to women

By Shevlin Sebastian

Neena Jhanjee enters the cottage where faith healer Ketut Liyer lives in a village at Bali. Ketut is nearly 100 years old and became famous when he was mentioned in Elizabeth Gilbert’s mega bestseller, ‘Eat, Pray and Love.’ Ketut looks at Neena’s palm and says, “You are a lucky girl. But you have to be careful when you are driving. You go too fast.” Neena nods and thinks, ‘That is so true. How does he know?’

The members of the all-women group take their turns to get their future read by Ketut. “The visit with Ketut was the ‘Diva Surprise’ of the five-day trip to Bali,” says the Goa-based Neena, who runs Diva Odysseys, a travel venture catering exclusively for women.

“I called it Diva because the name denotes that it is for women,” she says. “Odyssey is a term for travel. Of course it will not be as long as the travels of Ulysses (the hero of Homer’s epic poem, ‘Odyssey’), but just as memorable.”

Neena’s target group could be a female suffering from the 'empty nest syndrome', or a career woman or a busy mom who wants to take time off with the girls. But Neena is operating in the high-end segment. The five-day trip to Bali, with a stay at a five-star hotel, cost Rs 1.05 lakh, excluding airfare.

But those who went were happy. Lucie Masson, a French woman who lives in Goa, says, “Being a spiritual person, the Bali trip involved not only seeing temples, but actually experiencing cleansing rituals with local priests and meeting medicine men.”

Overall, the response to Diva Odysseys has been good, because Neena is targeting a niche segment. “Most travel companies don’t cater to the single traveller, particularly women,” she says. “Instead, they prefer to take families or corporate clients.” But Neena also offers one vital difference. She does not do destination trips. Instead, they are theme-based.

So, for an upcoming trip to the Amalfi coast in south Italy, she is offering a gastronomical tour. “This involves trying out the wine and the food from that area, having cooking classes, exploring the vineyards, and enjoying the pastas, pizzas as well as the mozarella cheeses, which are the best in the world,” she says. “Of course, we will do other things like sight-seeing in the town of Pompeii and driving through the scenic Amalfi coast, which has one of the most beautiful drives in the world. But the focus will be on gastronomy.”

The aim is to get like-minded women on board. “If it is destination-based, when people come together they want to do different things,” says Neena. “But when they understand that there is a theme to the trip, you get a close-knit group.”

Interestingly, her clients are from the older age group – from the mid-thirties to the mid-forties. “What happens with the younger woman is that she tends to travel with her boyfriend,” saysNeena. “But the older women like female-only trips.” Says Lucie, “Girlfriend getaways are special. You get some alone-time, as well as the fun of girl-bonding sessions.”

Interestingly, Neena had spent 13 years in finance, working in companies like HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank and the Zurich-based Capvent India Advisors. “I had been working for long with numbers, but what has always fascinated me was travel,” she says. So, last year, on March 8, (International Women’s Day), she took the plunge, to start Diva Odysseys, and has been having a gala time ever since. A Diva to cater to other Divas.

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn

Anasuya talks about life with the film director Shaji N. Karun

Photo by Kaviyoor Santosh

By Shevlin Sebastian

One day, in 1979, Anasuya Shaji was sitting with her in-laws in the living room of their home in Thiruvananthapuram. Her elder son, Anil, was playing with some toys on the floor. As was his habit, Anasuya's father-in- law, N. Karunakaran, switched on the radio to listen to the news. Suddenly, to their shock and surprise, the family heard the announcement that Shaji had won the National Award for cinematography for 'Thampu'.

“We were so happy,” says Anasuya. “Shaji had not come home. There were no mobile phones in those days. When he came, we ran outside and congratulated him. Shaji did not expect it. He was at a loss for words.”

For Anasuya, 'Piravi' is her favourite film. “It was his debut film,” she says. “Shaji was like a toddler, trying to walk.” However, it won a total of 31 awards, including the 'Camera d'Or–Mention d'honneur' at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as the National Award for Best Director and Best Feature Film in 1988.

Anasuya also likes 'Swapaanam', his latest film. “Shaji is a philosopher, psychologist and artist in the film,” she says. “He has put his heart and soul in it.”

Anasuya will know Shaji's heart and soul inside and out, because they have known each other since they were children. Both were neighbours and would play games like hide and seek. “We had a warm friendship,” says Anasuya. “My brother, Babu, and Shaji were fond of taking photographs, and reading books.”

So voracious was Shaji's reading that his friends would call him, 'That man from the British Council library'. Whenever he got some free time Shaji would be in the library. His reading included books on films, painting, arts and philosophy.

Love bloomed when Shaji went to Pune to do the cinematographer's course at the Film And Television Institute of India in 1971. “He missed his family and me also,” says Anasuya. “That was when he realised he loved me. He began writing letters to me.”

When he returned, he proposed. Anasuya trusted and liked Shaji a lot. “Our parents also knew we liked each other,” she says. “So they were happy to marry us off.” Unusually, Babu also fell in love with Shaji's sister, Sheela and they, too, got married.

Anasuya and Shaji tied the knot on January 1, 1975, and they went for a one-day trip to Neyyar Dam. Then Shaji rushed off to Chennai where he was working as a freelance cinematographer. At that time, Anasuya was working in the telephone department and managed to go to Chennai after three months following a transfer.

But life was not easy. There were financial problems in the beginning, because Shaji had very little income. So, Anasuya's job as a telephone operator helped a lot. However, in 1976, Shaji secured a job an an officer in the Kerala State Film Development Corporation at Thiruvananthapuram, so the family relocated from Chennai.

Back in Kerala, Anasuya continued with her job. But when her second son, Appu, was born, in 1981, Anasuya felt insecure about leaving the children at home. So she quit, after working for ten years.

Regarding his qualities, Anasuya says, “Shaji is a simple and honest person. He communicates well with people who have talent. If he gets upset, he will never show it. We are ordinary people, even though Shaji is part of the film world. He likes everything old. Our house, which was constructed in 2005, is in a traditional style, with a tiled roof, and a L-shaped design.”

Like all artists Shaji has unusual traits. When Shaji is working, he cannot be disturbed. “As far as possible, Anil, Appu and I will not disturb him,” says Anasuya. “We understood his need for isolation. The house would be silent when he was reading or working.”

Film, of course, is of primary importance for Shaji. “I don't have a problem with that,” says Anasuya. “I have seen him grow in front of my eyes. Shaji is my soul mate. And I am proud of all that he has achieved in his career.” Incidentally, Shaji won the Padma Shri award in 2011.

But it has not been easy to live next to an artistic person. There have been moments when Anasuya has wished that he would spend more time with her. “But if he has to grow, Shaji has to be obsessed with his art,” says Anasuya. “After all, he is a creator.”

To write a story and direct a film takes three to four years. After all the arrangements are made, Shaji will start filming. “Shaji is lucky to have a strong team for all his films,” says Anasuya.

Anasuya and Shaji have also been a strong team for 39 years. “Spouses should understand each other,” says Anasuya. “If the man has talent, the woman should understand and nurture it. And vice versa. Life is sweet and beautiful. Live it in that way. After all, you have only one life and it is very short.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

By Shevlin Sebastian

On Sunday afternoons, when the world slows down, when everything is quiet, the sky is blue, the sparrows are chirping in the trees, and a breeze is blowing, I usually lie down for a nap at my home in Kochi. And inevitably, without fail, I ask existential questions to myself.

Where will I be 100 years from now? Will I meet my parents, wife, children, friends and relatives in my next life? Is there something called a soul? Does it fly out of the body at the point of death? Where does it go? Will I meet God? Is he Krishna, Allah or Jesus Christ?

But on a recent Sunday afternoon, I thought about a particular person. His name was Ashok Kamath. An intense, bespectacled man, he was the sports editor of 'The Telegraph' at Kolkata. And years ago he published my first article in a mainstream newspaper.

This was how it happened. In August, 1983, the World Athletics Championships took place in Helsinki. A week before that I had gone to the American library and was going through the Sports Illustrated magazine.

In it, there was a story on the then unknown athlete Carl Lewis. The magazine predicted that he would make a big impact at the championships. Prodded by my intuition, I wrote an article. At the championships, Lewis won the 100m, long jump, and the 4x100m relay gold.

Ashok was looking for a write-up on Lewis when mine arrived through the post. And, amazingly, he took it across six columns of the sports page, with my byline in 12 point. I still remember the shock and exuberance I felt when I opened the paper the next day and saw it.

Thereafter, many articles of mine were published in 'The Telegraph'. With all these clippings in hand, it was easier for me to secure my first job in Sportsworld magazine and begin my journalistic career.

In 1990, Ashok and I went to Beijing to cover the Asian Games. He represented 'The Telegraph', while I went for 'Sportsworld'. And I remember our trip to the Great Wall.

It was a sunny day, but when you stood at the wall, at the Badaling section, a bracing wind blew about. So, to counter the chill, as an avid jogger, I set out on a run. Up and down the sloping paths I went. I ran up the steps, to the watch tower, and carried on to the other side. And when I returned, Ashok smiled and said, “Good run.”

We were both enjoying our experiences of being in China, watching sports, and interacting with the people of so many countries. The beauty and joy of life! But little did we know that dark clouds were beginning to gather on the horizon.

On September 2, 2001, Ashok died suddenly of a heart attack. He was only 44 years old. By then, he had become the Resident Editor of ‘The Times of India’. He left behind his wife, Shampa Dhar, who is now the Managing Editor of ‘The New Indian Express’, and two sons, Raunaq, 14, and Vivan, 9.

Ashok had played a decisive role in my life by publishing those articles of a beginner. And as you become middle-aged, you tend to look back, and think of the people who impacted you. For a few moments I felt a sadness at Ashok’s untimely death. Suddenly, my 11-year-old son shook me, and said, “Baba, get up. Let's go out.”

(This appeared as a 'middle' in the New Indian Express, all editions)

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The Rajagari Public school has built a Rs 12 crore indoor stadium, which is, probably, one of the best, among educational institutions in the country. Their I-share programme is also a success

By Shevlin Sebastian

“The Rajagiri Public School has built a beautiful indoor stadium,” said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy while inaugurating the Rajagiri Sports and Cultural Centre (RSCC) at Kalamaserry on Saturday, February 1.

Undoubtedly, the RSCC is an awe-inspiring achievement. There are six badminton courts. The school has followed the World Badminton Federation specification of having maple wooden flooring. Apart from the badminton courts, there is a playing area for 12 table tennis games which can be held simultaneously. The total court area is 20,000 sq. ft. And to watch all the action, the gallery has 1385 seats, apart from the seats on the ground which number 2000.

The other amenities include changing rooms, dormitories, a gymnasium, and a room for coaches. There is also a training centre for Fine Arts and Performing Arts, mini auditoriums for soft-skill training and audio visual presentations, accommodation for guests and officials, a book and stationery shop, a cafeteria, and a medical clinic.

The school has adopted an eco-friendly approach. The overhead lights emit almost zero per cent heat, thus consuming far less energy. “To contain the heat and to arrest sound vibrations from the roof, rock wool bags have been placed above the false ceiling,” said Mathew. “As for the roof, we have used Space Frame Technology which is usually seen in airports.” The overall cost for all this: Rs 12 crore.

It was Fr. Austin Mulerickal, the former Director of the school, who came up with the idea in the first place. “Prior to this, Fr. Austin had set up the much acclaimed kindergarten, as well as the swimming academy,” says Mathew B. Kurian, former president of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). “When the history of the school is written, when our youngsters bring laurels to the school and, hopefully, to the state and country, Fr. Austin will get the recognition that he deserves.”

Undoubtedly, there has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes to bring it to reality.

“It has taken five years to build this stadium,” said Carmelite of Mary Immaculate Provincial and school manager Fr. Jose Alex Oruthayapilly. “Many parents, as well as the management, worked day and night to make this one of the best indoor stadiums.”

Among the parents, there was a small group that worked tirelessly. “They are Jortin Antony, K.P. Roy, Sony Madathil, Sunny Varghese, Sam Thomas and Tanuja Omanakuttan,” said Susan Varghese Cherian, the principal. “Thanks to the guidance of the school director Fr. Jijo Kadavan, the dream became a reality.”

There was a reason to set up the stadium. “The school has always put an emphasis on the holistic development of the child – through academics, cultural and sports activities,” said Fr. Kadavan.

U Vimal Kumar, the former chief coach of the Indian badminton team, who represented the country for 12 years, said that it is one of the few schools in the country which has this facility. “The students are lucky to have such excellent amenities,” he said. “The RSCC can become a nursery for champions.”

Jortin Antony, PTA president, acknowledged that the aim is to produce world-class players. “We can easily earn revenue by hiring out this beautiful hall for meetings and film shootings, but we will not do that,” he said.

Meanwhile, the school has notched up other achievements, like the I-share programme, in which each student contributes Rs 1 per month to help the less fortunate. In five years, the I-Share concept has been adopted by 22 schools, totalling 25,000 students. Students have so far contributed Rs 96,28,842.

“The I-Share fund has helped build science labs and libraries, bus stands, supported the education of Adivasi children, provided improved facilities for cancer and haemophilia-afflicted patients, helped aged people, and aided the education of deaf and mute people,” said school leader Arshad Mohammed in a rousing speech during the inauguration ceremony.

And he gave the reasons behind the idea. “Statistically, about 30% of our countrymen are below the poverty line,” said Arshad. “Malnourishment, lack of infrastructure and illiteracy hamper our nation’s progress. If someone tells us that one school can start a fire that would light up the lives of thousands of people, would you believe it? Today, we can, as the I-Share programme is living proof of that hope.”

When it was the time for famed playback singer MG Sreekumar to speak, he lauded Arshad's speech. Sreekumar also gave an entertaining talk about his struggles and triumphs and said that in the institution that he studied in, the Model school in Thiruvananthapuram had no such facilities. But he also had a telling point to make. “While the State sets aside a lot of money to encourage sports, they should also give money for the arts,” he said. “All students should learn a musical instrument or participate in the arts.”

Later, the packed audience of parents and students enjoyed the engrossing two-game badminton match between some of India's current and former players like Ajit Vijay Tilak, K. A. Aneesh, Jaseel P Ismail, Jaison Xavier and Joy T. Antony. In fact, in one rally, more than 40 shots were hit.

The evening ended with a well-choreographed two-hour cultural programme of song, dance and drama by the students. For Rajagiri School, there was plenty to be proud about.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Anubha Sinha has been converting Hollywood and Bollywood films from 2D to 3D, thanks to a software she invented

Photo by Mithun Vinod

By Shevlin Sebastian

Two years ago, the Mumbai-based Anubha Sinha had gone to see a Bollywood director to talk about a 3D printing project. While waiting in the reception, she began talking to David Smith (name changed), the head of a major Hollywood studio. Anubha told David of how her company had been converting 2D posters into 3D. David asked whether she could do the same for films. Since she was not sure about it, Anubha just nodded. David gave her a pen drive, which had some test shots, and asked Anubha to convert it.

When Anubha returned to the office she wondered what to do. She began by converting a single image into 3D. “A movie is nothing but 24 images per second,” she says. Based on this concept, she took a man in a scene, and cut out his eyes, nose, lips, hair, and background settings like a sofa and made it into layers. From there she put it in her poster software, and managed to convert the images into 3D.

Three days later, Anubha showed the result to David, who was flabbergasted. “He told me that 50 people take 15 days to do this in Hollywood,” says Anubha. An excited David brought in high-powered lawyers, and signed a contract, by which Anubha would work for him for two years.

Among the Hollywood films which Anubha's company, 'Ultra Rays 3D', has converted include 'Piranha', 'Blackjack', 'Static', 'Vampire dog''Topcat', as well as Hindi films like 'Warning', 'Sholay', 'Vivah' and 'Iqbal'. She also worked on the Malayalam film, 'Dam 999'. As her business expanded, she began hiring a lot of people, which included many Malayalis. Over a period of time, she was impressed by their hard work and dedication. That was when she got the idea of starting a back office in Kochi.

Anubha came to Kochi a year ago and the experience has made her somewhat disillusioned. “There is too much of gossiping at work,” says Anubha. “The Malayalis in Kerala lack self-motivation. A few of them drink too much and have health issues, as a result. Malayalis are very much family-oriented. So, if there are deaths, marriages or birthdays, they will take leave. On an average, the staff works 4 to 5 days a week. Hartals only make it worse.”

But things have become far better in the past few months. “I have finally been able to impose a Mumbai-style work culture,” she says. “In fact, I need around 1000 people because I have got projects to keep us busy for the next three years.”

Meanwhile, Anubha is certain the future belongs to 3D. “Films were black and white four decades ago,” she says. “Then we moved to colour. From colour we will eventually go to 3D, although, at present, the costs are prohibitive.”

One of the attractions of 3D is that we view the world in the same way. Two eyes see different images and the brain makes it one 3D image. Soon, there will be glassless 3D television sets. “A special screen can be put on it which will make it 3D,” says Anubha. “There will also be glassless 3D theatres. This will be possible through a software which will calibrate the images on the screen.” The young entrepreneur’s future plans include setting up a 3D hall in a multiplex in Kochi.

Meanwhile, Anubha's most thrilling moment occurred when she invited America-based physicist, Mani Lal Bhaumik, a co-inventor of the Lasik technology, to her Mumbai office and explained the work she was doing. Impressed, Mani Lal gave her a copy of his book, 'Code Name God', and inscribed it, 'To the genius Anubha.'

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn

Sindhu talks about life with the actor Krishna Kumar

By Shevlin Sebastian

When Sindhu wanted to make an international call to her Muscat-based parents, she would go to a communications centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Now and then, she noticed a handsome young man who worked there. The face seemed familiar. Then Sindhu realised that he was Krishna Kumar, a newsreader on Doordarshan. "He was good-looking and seemed a nice person," she says. Sometimes, they smiled at each other.

One day, Sindhu set out from her hostel at the All Saints College with her sister, Simi, and friend, Lakshmi to go shopping. They entered a shoe shop. Once again, she saw Krishna, who was speaking to the owner, the actor Appa Haja.

Sindhu spotted a pair of heels which she liked. But, at Rs 700, it was expensive, and she did not have the money. So she told Appa she would return the next week to buy it. "But Appa insisted that I take it and pay the money later," says Sindhu. When she came the next week, Appa told her that Krishna liked her and would like to marry her.

"I did have a crush, but I never thought of marriage," says Sindhu. Then Krishna came and they went out for lunch. "And we spoke for a long time," says Sindhu.

Following lunch, they exchanged phone numbers, and remained in touch. Sindhu was doing her MA, while Krishna had just finished his first film, 'Kashmeeram'.

One particular day Sindhu was returning by train with Simi from her parents' home at Kadakkavoor. But when they arrived at Thiruvananthapuram station, people said it was a hartal. It was the time when there were no mobile phones, so they did not know about this. They were wondering what to do. But suddenly they saw Krishna. He had been waiting for them. "He said, 'Come to my house, which is nearby, and you can meet my parents'," says Sindhu. She did so and ended up liking Krishna's parents.

Soon, Sindhu informed her father and mother. They flew down from Muscat, met Krishna's parents, and the marriage was finalised, despite the fact that Sindhu belongs to the Ezhava community while Krishna is a Nair.

"My family did not have any problems, but my relatives were upset," says Sindhu. "They asked my father why he said yes."

Nevertheless, her parents held firm and the marriage took place on December 12, 1994 at the Trivandrum club. But they were unable to go for a honeymoon because within a short while Sindhu got pregnant. The months went past. Then one day Sindhu went to the hospital for a check-up. Suddenly, the doctor said that Sindhu had to be admitted, since she could give birth at any time.

"I was scared and confused," she says. "I was young and did not know what to expect." In the labour room she felt panicky. So, she called out for Krishna. He came in, hugged her and gave her strength. Their first child, Ahaana, 18, is now acting in a Rajeev Ravi film. Then there is Diya, 15, Ishaani, 13, and Hansika, 8.

Sindhu says that Krishna is a devoted father. "He is more like a friend to them," says Sindhu. "But Krishna is also particular that the children lead a disciplined life. He insists that they sleep early, and get up early, even though the next day might be a holiday and the children would like to sleep late."

Asked about his character traits, Sindhu says, "Krishna is my best friend. People say that we talk like newly-weds, giggling and laughing. We discuss everything, including family and financial matters. In fact, our property and bank accounts are held jointly."

Other traits include Krishna giving all the money to Sindhu. "Krishna is perhaps the only husband in Kerala to do so," she says. "He never spends anything for himself. That's why I buy all his clothes. When he is going out he will not check his purse. He is sure that I have kept enough money in it. He never questions my spending even though I am a bit of a spendthrift. Krishna just wants us to be happy."

Krishna's negative trait is that he is short-tempered. "You cannot predict what will irritate him," says Sindhu. "Sometimes, on big issues, he will remain cool, while on small matters, he will get angry. For example, he might get irritated if the TV set is switched on and nobody is watching. Whenever he scolds me or the children, there is no doubt that what he is saying is right. But sometimes, I do get irritated."

But that is momentary. When asked for tips for marriage, Sindhu says, "The number of times Krishna and I have fought, we could have divorced a long time ago. When you get married, and have children, you must make your marriage work. It is easy for a husband and a wife to break up, but what will happen to the kids? They can never have a comfortable life after that. I have seen friends having second marriages, and the pain the children of the first marriage go through is sad to see. Whatever be the flaws of your partner, just forgive and forget."

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

Handloom clothes are the best for the Indian climate

Photos: A model wearing a handloom dress; Owner Neelima Chandran

By Shevlin Sebastian

Six months after her son was born, Neelima Chandran was feeling out of sorts. She was doing nothing except look after her child. Neelima is a chartered accountant who had worked in companies like the Trident hotel and Federal Bank at Kochi and McMillan publishers in Bangalore. “Since I wanted flexible timings, I decided to do something on my own,” she says.

Her initial plan was to do an online business. So she travelled to Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, which is the centre for handloom textiles. Thereafter, Neelima went to Pondicherry and saw some contemporary handloom styles.

That was when Neelima decided she would concentrate on handloom. “It is a fabric that breathes,” she says. “Once you wear handloom you will not wear anything else. It makes you feel so cool. For the Indian climate, handloom is the best. It is light on the body. It lasts longer than cotton clothes provided you take care of it.”

The best way is to wash the clothes by hand and dry it in the shade. “If you hang it to dry in the sunshine, the colours will fade fast,” says Neelima.

Apart from the online trade, Neelima opened a shop, 'Neelaambari', at Bangalore in 2010. But last year, Neelima relocated to Kochi and has opened an outlet at the DD Milestone in Kochi. She sells kurtas, short tops, skirts, trousers, kurthis and dupattas. “My clothes are a bit off-beat, and not the normal, jazzy, sequenced, button-wear kind,” she says. “We don't have party wear. We only have handloom clothes with a contemporary touch.” In fact, Neelima does the designing and has tailors to implement her ideas.

The most popular item is Ikkat, a handloom fabric from Andhra Pradesh. “It is a rage with everybody,” says Neelima. “These are contemporary designs and appeal to 80 per cent of the customers.”

Indeed, buyers are happy. “The selections are awesome, elegant and classy,” says Nashiya Salim. “And the prices are reasonable.” Yes, one of the attractive aspects are the affordable prices: from Rs 450 to Rs 1000.

Jeeva Jayadas is another satisfied customer. “I liked the clothes and would definitely recommend it to my friends,” she says. Buyer Reshma Rao says that Neelima has an awesome collection of kurthis.

Meanwhile, Neelima has an interesting observation to make about her customers. “Many of them, especially in the over-35 group, are conservative in their dressing,” says Neelima. “They are reluctant even to wear sleeveless blouses. Somehow, they lack the confidence. Maybe, it has got to do something with our patriarchal society.” However, the college-going generation is willing to try out anything, thanks to their exposure to the outside world, because of Facebook and the Internet.

Incidentally, Neelima started the business with a social aspect. She bought the fabrics from non-governmental organisations, self-help groups, tribal communities, and women associations. “In the beginning, I just wanted to help these people,” she says. “But then I realised that if I had to make my business a sustainable one, an income is necessary. Otherwise, the enterprise will die.”

So, with a mix of a social conscience and entrepreneurial spirit, Neelima is steaming ahead.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Dear Friends,

I am embarking on the e-book road.
My children's book, 'The Mystery Of The Midnight Murder', has been put up on Kindle.

Price Rs 62.

It is aimed for the 9-12 year age group.

It can also be ready by adults.

The story is set in Kolkata and is about the life of 11-year old Ayaz Hussein, a rag picker.

It is also, as the title says, a mystery novel.

Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ICLK22A

If you can download I would be grateful.

As for the writers among you, please do write a small review, if possible, on Amazon.

Shevlin

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn

Snehalatha talks about life with the noted art designer Sabu Cyril

By Shevlin Sebastian

Snehalatha Sebastian was feeling nervous. She had to take part in a science exhibition at her school in Chennai. She knew the only person who could help her was her relative Sabu Cyril. And he obliged. He took the cover of a biscuit tin and converted it into the face of a clock. The working mechanism could be seen at the back. Sabu also made a water heater by using pieces of metal and a wire. “I won prizes for this, thanks to Sabu, who was a brilliant student,” says Snehalatha.”

When Snehalatha was in Class 12 and Sabu was in his second-year in the government arts college, she was convinced that Sabu liked her. One day she said, “Sabu, I hope you are serious. I don't want to be taken for a ride.” Snehalatha expected Sabu to propose. Since he did not, Snehalatha decided to take the initiative. One day, while they were walking down a road, near her home, Snehalatha held Sabu's hand and said, “I know that you are serious about me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

But it was not going to be easy. They are first cousins: Snehalatha's father's sister is Sabu's mother. When Snehalatha told her father, he said no. But despite his opposition, Snehalatha and Sabu went ahead and had a church wedding on June 9, 1986. Thankfully, sometime later, her parents reconciled with her.

Asked about the qualities of her husband, who is one of India's leading art designer in films, Snehalatha says, “Sabu is a genius. His set designs are unmatched. His work on the sets of the films, 'Enthiran The Robot', 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Kalapani' are superb. He also has a heart of gold. Those who come across him have only good things to say about him. I have learnt so much about life from Sabu.”

Not surprisingly, for a creative and talented person like Sabu, work is everything. “It is his topmost priority,” says Snehalatha. “Family comes later. In the early years I would get upset about it, but when people praised his work, all my anger and frustration took a backseat. It is not easy to have a balance between career and family.”

Sabu's concentration on his work also made him absent-minded at times. “Throughout our marriage, Sabu must have remembered my birthday about five times,” she says, with a smile.

Once, Snehalatha was celebrating her birthday with family and friends at their home in Chennai. Sabu was out of town. The family was teasing her that Sabu had forgotten to wish her, when suddenly there was a telephone call. It was Sabu on the line. But when they spoke, Sabu asked his wife about work-related matters and did not mention the birthday at all. But after an hour he suddenly called, apologised and wished Snehalatha on her birthday.

A few days later Sabu told Snehalatha how it happened. “We had given our birthday dates to the Chola Sheraton hotel where we are patrons,” she says. “They only had Sabu's number and had called to wish me on my birthday. That was how Sabu realised it was my birthday.”

Just as Snehalata has accepted Sabu's absent-mindedness, she has got used to Sabu's short temper. “At work Sabu is cool and chilled-out,” says Snehalatha. “He never shouts at anybody. He handles the stress very well. But once he returns home, Sabu takes out the bottled-up pressure. I do get upset, because I am not an angel, but I understand why it happens.”

Undoubtedly, it has been tough to be the wife of a brilliant man. But in the past few years, Snehalatha has become relaxed. For one, she has a job as a part-time French teacher for Class 11 and 12 students at the KRMM Matriculation Higher Secondary school. “I enjoy my interaction with the students,” she says. “Thanks to the principal, I have found my calling.” Another reason is that her children, Shweta, 25, and Soumya, 21, have grown up and are busy with their lives.

“As a Dad, Sabu was too busy to spend time with the girls,” she says. “For many years, I had to be the father as well as mother. Sometimes, I had to be firm with them.”

Meanwhile, when asked for tips for a successful marriage, Snehalatha says, “Every marriage has its ups and downs. What is important is the respect and space that you give each other. There should be an understanding between the spouses. For God's sake, it should not only be the wife understanding the husband, but the other way around also.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

French photographer Oriane Zerah focuses on the long tresses of Indian women

Photo by Suresh Nampoothiry

By Shevlin Sebastian

Just a few minutes before the inauguration of the 'Something About Hair' exhibition at the David Hall, Fort Kochi, by Kabul-based French photographer Oriane Zerah, she has a number of visitors. They are Ahmedabad-based art collectors who tell Oriane that they want to buy two photographs. Oriane quotes a price, and in typical Indian fashion, the buyers offer something less. A flustered Oriane slowly gets the hang of the thrust and feint of bargaining between buyer and seller. Finally, the deal is sealed, and Oriane promises to send the mounted photographs once the exhibition concluded on February 25.

It is not difficult to understand the interest of the collectors. Oriane's exhibition is an unusual one: it focuses on the hair of Indian women. And the idea occurred to Oriane as she travelled to conservative countries like Iran and Pakistan. She had to always cover her head with a scarf. “In Islam, all women have to use a scarf,” she says. “That is the case in Christianity when a woman has to go to church. The legend says that the angels feel shy in front of women's hair. In Judaism, women also use scarves. In every civilisation and society, the need for women's hair to be covered is paramount.”

At the same time, in striking contrast, Hindu gods and goddesses were proud to show off their flowing tresses. “Both Lord Shiva and Kali have long hair,” she says. “This had an impact on my imagination.”

But the tipping point occurred when she went to the Venkateswara temple at Tirumala. “I saw women getting their head shaved. Later, this hair was presented to God,” she says. “It was one way of giving up the ego. From Tirumala I came to Kochi. It was then that I decided to focus on the hair of Indian women.”

She asked a friend who was working in a hotel at Fort Kochi, whether he knew of any women who had long hair. He located Sindhi, a pretty 17-year-old girl, who is the daughter of a fisherman. Oriane took Sindhi to the terrace of the hotel. “I did not know what I was going to do,” says Oriane. “I asked her to turn this way and that. Sindhi was shy, but she had wonderful hair that went below the waist.”

And that was the start. Thereafter, Oriane went to Jaisalmer and shot a 50-year- old woman. But now she used a different technique. Oriane placed the model on a white sheet and overexposed, so that only the hair could be seen. Thereafter, she did a bit of editing on Photoshop.

Oriane also took a photo of a woman lying on a patch of grass, her hair spread out above her and rose petals were placed on it. “Indian hair is long, beautiful, clean and soft,” says Oriane, who has shoulder-length hair. “I feel envious at times.”

However, the effect of seeing these photographs can be disconcerting. Sometimes, the hair looks like an undulating black slope on a mountain. At the bottom, it breaks up into so many tendrils that it resembles the roots of trees. In another photograph, the hair looks brown. “I took it at sunset and allowed the light to play with the hair,” says Oriane. In yet another image, a woman has allowed the hair to fall in front. “She did not want to reveal her face,” says Oriane. “So I took a shot like that.”

Of course, long hair is becoming rare. Indian women, like those in the West, prefer to keep their hair short. “When I would ask around, some will say, 'Oh my late grandmother had such long hair,'” say Oriane.

The French photographer, who has travelled to many countries, lives in Kabul.
“The security of the people is getting worse day after day,” she says. “But it is my choice to live in Afghanistan. The women are in the worst condition, when you compare with other nations. For women artists it is very difficult. They have to fight to exist as a person. Many girls study, but they know that when they get married, they will not be allowed to go for a job.”

In Kabul, Oriane earns her living by taking photographs for non-governmental organisations, the local press as well as a mobile company. “I am not afraid even though recently, there was a bomb blast in which a few foreigners were killed,” she says. “But unlike the Afghan people, thanks to my French passport, I can leave at any time I wish.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

The Man Who Went To Space

A Major Campaign

On a Hot streak!

Letting the Strings Loose

Running on the Same Track

Duryodhana is the Hero

Music Is His Life

The World of Writers

The Man Who Bends Spoons

Gripping and Meaningful

A Diva In Her Own Right

“Shaji is my Soul Mate”

Reminiscences on a Sunday afternoon

Plenty to be Proud About

Playing around with images

"He is good-looking"

Clothes that Breathe

MY First E-Book

“He has a Heart of Gold”

There's Something about Hair