Sarhad Paar

2012-02-29T11:23:00.000-08:00

Indian comicsare comic books and graphic novels associated with the culture of Indiapublished in English and various Indian languages. India has a long traditionof comic readership, characters from centuries-old extensive myths andfolktales have adorned the covers of children's comic books in India fordecades. Indian comics often have large publication. Comics like DiamondComics, Raj Comics, Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha have established vastdistribution networks countrywide and are read by lakhs of children in a widerange of languages.

Chandoba

The first edition of Chandamama wasreleased in July, 1947. The founder editor of the magazine was B.Nagi Reddy wholater became a leading film producer in South India. Chakrapani, a friend ofNagi Reddy, was the force behind magazine, and his vision, perception andunderstanding of the target readership brought name and fame to the magazine.

Chandamama is a popular Indian monthlymagazine for children, famous for its illustrations. The stories embedded inthe never-ending story of King Vikramāditya and Betala (Vampire), an adaptationof an ancient Sanskrit work Baital Pachisi, brought wide repute to thismagazine. It always had very nice stories from Indian mythology as wellas historical tales of famous personalities.

It was revamped in November 2008 and hassince gone contemporary in terms of language, presentation, artwork, andcontent. While it continues to carry old favourites like Vikram-Betal andmythological tales, there have been several new additions includingcontemporary stories, adventure serials, sports, technology, news pages, etc.Considering the new trends in children's literature and the emerging importancegiven to academic study and analysis of the same, Chandamama has striven tokeep its editorial policies in line with the times. As the oldest brand in thefield, Chandamama has taken up the responsibility of delivering entertaining,sensitive, and educational literature for its young readers. Chandamama ispublished in 13 languages (including English), and has a readership of about200,000.

Rtr. Asawari Abhyankar

RCMSP

2012-02-29T11:12:00.001-08:00

Supandi

Suppandi madehis debut in Tinkle No.27 in January 1983. Unlike other Tinkle characters, hewas not originally conceptualized by the creators of the magazine. He was bornout of 3 narrative stories sent by Sameer Salman from Trichy. The concept wasrendered into comic format in Tinkle studios, with the illustrations by one ofthe famous yesteryear artists, Ram Waeerkar.

He is more of a simpleton who gets intotroubles because he insists on thinking for himself, than being dictated by theorders of his master. He is a servant whose masters changed very regularly,probably because he always did something foolish. He is not one of the cutelooking characters we are used to, dressed in a half-chaddi and shirt/T-shirt,long nose, weird hair (like it’s oiled and combed flat). The fun about thischaracter was that we knew that he was going to do something ridiculous but wealways wanted to know “how bad is it going to be this time?” Suppandi was oneof the first characters to have appeared in Tinkle and has been a popularfigure amongst children and adults alike, for almost three decades as they wereable to relate him to every day common man found in their locality. He is allabout proactive thinking with a natural talent to bungle everything.Many of theSuppandi strips in Tinkle were ideas sent in by readers which was thenillustrated by an artist. Can’t get more collaborative than that :-)

Rtr.Asawari Abhyankar

RCMSP

Amazing world of comics

2012-02-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

Just when the summer holidays were round the corner, I could feel the crisp of cool breeze in the warm climate. I was waiting eagerly for my exams to get over, pack my bag and go out on a vacation with my family. Our journey by train used to be around 16 hours. So I was always lost in my thoughts to plan the holiday. As soon as exam used to get over, I used to rush to the nearest book stall and grab the latest edition of comics. And of course, I used to save money to buy comics or put it on my dad’s tabJ. Since it was vacation time my dad didn’t object me to read comics. I used to purchase all sorts of comics right from Tinkle, Chacha Choudhary, Billoo, Phantom, Archies, and many more. But the first comic I read was ‘Misha’.

‘Misha’ was a comic book that was delivered to us via mail from Russia. We had subscribed to it via a scheme from the post office. It contained stories, puzzles, games and colouring. We received it till 1992& I guess even till March 1993, however due to the disintegration of the USSR, the comics delivery stopped. After that I was introduced to the local comics available at the local book store. My first comic was a combo comic book of ‘Spiderman and Ironman’. Both of them showed the birth of these legends. How Peter Parker got bit by a radioactive spider and his transformation and so on.

Then came the era of ‘Chacha Choudhary’, ‘Billoo’, ‘Pinky’, ‘Super commando Dhruv’, ‘Doga’, ‘Tinkle’ ‘Champak’, ‘Chandamama’ & ‘Jataka Tales’. It was fun reading comics during my long journey via train. Sitting in a first class compartment (At that time A/c compartments were only for few selected trains) with door locked from inside, and the pleasant breeze used to rush in and the train making the typical sound. Sometimes if there was someone of my age reading a comic then there was obvious we used to exchange our comics to read and end up making friendsJ. We also used to discuss as to what will happen in next comic book or how powerful the character is… Sadly our friendship used to last only till the time we reached our respective stations, and there was no means to be in touch, since there was no internet at that time, neither had we any phone connection. We could remember each other through our comics.

It was during my summer of 1996, I had around 130 comics of my own & my mother wanted to sell them saying it was affecting my studies. I somehow convinced her not to sell until vacations are over. An idea struck me. I went to my best friend’s (Kapil) house and asked him to give me his 64 comics. With around 194 comics I started my own library. Adding to it, I had other books as well such as the weekly magazines my mother used to purchase, a few science & GK books. We were very excited to cut the ribbon and start our own library. The news that we opened up a library spread like fire in our colony. It was my first partnership business. We had regular readers. We started the library in my study room. A huge table 5ft x 4ft was kept and on top of it books were arranged according to different categories. The charges were minimal starting from Ps 25, Ps 50 to Rs 2. My sister helped me to keep up the account and the register maintained. But soon within 20 days my friend Kapil had to shift to a new city because his father got transferred. So he withdrew his share of 64 comics. By then we had made around Rs 58. But since we were best friends we divided the money exactly into half, irrespective of whose book was rented by the reader. After that around one and a half month of vacation was remaining. Many new readers came to my library even from neighbouring localities. They could afford the rent and had a variety of books to read, since most of then couldn’t purchase a new comic book every time. I made more than Rs 150 in that span of time. I told my mother that the money I got was more than she’d have got after selling it in scrapJ.

It was fun reading my favourite comic books and I must admit I was a voracious reader of comics. And anytime I get a chance to read comic book I just lay my hand on one and finish it. Thank you ‘Uncle Pai’, ‘Diamond Comics’, all super hero comics, Archie thank you for that fun & enjoyable timeJ.

- Rtr. Aditya Awathare

Rotaract Club of Pune Kalyaninagar

How I Met Your Mother

2012-01-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered in 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, and directed by Pamela Fryman.

As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting their mother, which explains the title and allows for a narration in the past tense. How I Met Your Mother follows Ted alongside his friends Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), Robin Scherbatsky (CobieSmulders), Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan) and Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris).

This really is one of those shows in which all the characters are great. They all work very well together; the script and the actors are genius in this show, everything fits together perfectly.

How I Met Your Mother has received consistently strong ratings throughout its run. It has won five Emmy Awards, including a nomination for "Outstanding Comedy Series" in 2009.

Sure, I like all characters for some reason, but my favourite character has always been, and still is Barney, because he has the best and funniest lines most of the time.

Rtr Nafisa Bulsara

Rotaract Club of Pune Kalyaninagar

Wonder of the Small Screen

2012-01-30T09:15:00.001-08:00

I remember I was in 8^th standard when we first had a cable connection. Prior to this I was used to shows on DD. I enjoyed most of them, right from Hum Log, Surabhi, Tana Bana, Turning Point, Heads & Tails, Mahabharat, Alif Laila, Street hawk, Knight Rider, Oshin(the cute Japanese serial) then Rangoli, Chitrahaar, Ek se badkar ek, Disney hour, Potli baba ki and the best one was during summer holidays ‘Chutti Chutti’. These serials had a huge impact on me and contributed in some way or the other to the way I look at things. I grew up watching these serials. Even I liked shows like: Byomkesh Bakshi, Malgudi days, Shanti, Swabhimaan, Chandrakanta, etc.

A revolution hit the small screen. Everyone was getting cable TV. So it was during the end of my 8^th standard we opted for cable TV. Believe me it was like the television actually turned into the idiot box. Whole day something was going on one channel or the other. But still there were few serials that were ruling the small screen. Shows like: Hum Paanch, Antakshari, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Aahaat, Zee Horror Show. But the best ones for me were ‘WWE, The three stooges, Silver spoon, I dream of geanie’. But my favourites were ‘Small Wonder, Threes Company, Full house, Fresh Prince of Bel Air & ‘The Benny Hill Show’. I liked BQC a lot and would be eager to answer the questions asked by Derek O’Brien.

There was the craze of shows like ‘Friends, Simpson’s, The X files, Baywatch, Who dares wins, Guinness Book of World records (which was shown on DD also earlier). At that time I’d a particular liking for this serial called ‘Small Wonder’. I loved it a lot and it is my all time favourite. I remember its title song ‘She’s fantastic, made of plastic, micro chips US made… She’s a small wonder, brings love & laughter everywhere…’

Then came the era of reality shows like KBC, Indian Idol, Big Boss, Roadies, Sacch ka saamna & many more copied concepts. This some what took away the charm from the regular channels I enjoyed watching. That shifted my interest. Also when I started studying engineering my subject of interest was more on the technology side. I started watching Discovery, Nat Geo & History Channel. There also there were many promising shows like ‘How do they do it? , American Chopper, ‘Fastest Tallest Biggest’, Super cars and many more.’ And since I’m a foodie I also watched Travel & Living’s cooking shows like ‘Nigela’s Kitchen, Highway on my Plate.

I miss those good old days when TV series were real fun watching with family and you could play competitions, replying to the show via ‘Competition Postcards’. And they used to show the stack of postcards they used to receive. Especially Surabhi, I remember once they received so many postcards that the whole room was stacked by the postcards and it was a ‘Ganesh Festival’ special episode. And now it’s all about ‘How I met your mother & The Big Bang Theory’…

Rtr Aditya Awathare

Sec/ Dir International Services

Rotaract Club of Pune Kalyaninagar

Dist 3131

FRIENDS

2012-01-30T09:13:00.001-08:00

Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan.
Season one
It introduces the six main characters: Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross. Rachel arrives at Central Perk after leaving her fiancé Barry at the altar and moves into Monica's apartment with her. Ross constantly tries to tell Rachel that he loves her, while his lesbian ex-wife, Carol, is expecting his baby. Joey is shown to be a struggling actor, while Phoebe works as a masseuse. Chandler breaks up with girlfriend Janice, who frequently returns in later seasons. At the end of the season, Chandler accidentally reveals that Ross loves Rachel, who realizes that she feels the same way.
Season two
It begins with Rachel discovering that Ross is dating Julie, someone he knew from graduate school. Rachel's attempts to tell Ross she likes him mirror his failed attempts in the first season, although the characters eventually begin a relationship. Joey gets a part in a fictional version of the soap opera Days of our Lives, but his character is killed off after he claims that he writes many of his own lines. Monica begins dating Richard, recently divorced and 21 years her senior. In the season finale, they end their relationship when they realize that unlike Monica, Richard does not want children.
Season three
Rachel begins working at Bloomingdale's, an upscale department store chain, and Ross becomes jealous of her colleague, Mark. Rachel decides to take a break; and Ross, hurt and drunk, sleeps with someone else, causing Rachel to break up with him. After believing she has no family except her twin sister Ursula, Phoebe becomes acquainted with her half-brother and birth mother. Joey develops a relationship with his acting partner Kate, and Monica begins a relationship with millionaire Pete Becker .
Season four
In the premiere, Ross and Rachel briefly reconcile, but Ross continues to insist that the two were on a break. Joey dates Kathy , a theater actress, but Chandler falls in love with her only to break up when he suspects she is cheating on him with a fellow actor. Phoebe becomes a surrogate motherfor her brother and his wife Alice. Monica and Rachel are forced to switch apartments with Joey and Chandler after losing a bet, but manage to switch back by bribing them with Knicks season tickets and a one-minute kiss between the girls. Ross begins dating an English woman named Emily , and the season finale features their wedding in London. Chandler and Monica sleep together, and Rachel decides to attend Ross and Emily's wedding. While saying his vows, Ross uses the wrong name at the altar, to the shock of his bride and the guests.
Season five
It features Monica and Chandler trying to keep their new relationship a secret from their friends. Phoebe gives birth to triplets in the show's one-hundredth episode. She gives birth to a boy, Frank Jr. Jr., and two girls: Leslie, and Chandler. Ross and Emily's marriage is called off as Emily is intimidated by Rachel, and Ross is unwilling to give up his friendship with her as Emily demands. Phoebe starts a relationship with police officer Gary. Monica and Chandler go public with their relationship, to the surprise and happiness of their friends. They decide to get married on a trip to Las Vegas, but change their plans after witnessing Ross and Rachel drunkenly stumble out of the wedding chapel.
Season six
In the premiere, Ross and Rachel's marriage is established to be a drunken mistake, and they divorce several episodes later. Monica and Chandler decide to move into her apartment together, and Rachel moves in with Phoebe. Joey lands a role on a cable television series called Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E, where he stars alongside a robot. Ross gets a job lecturing at New York University, and starts dating one of his students, Elizabeth. Phoebe and Rachel's apartment catches fire, and Rachel moves in with Joey while Phoebe moves in with Chandler and Monica. Chandler decides to propose to Monica, who considers reconciling with Richard. Although Richard confesses that he still loves her, Monica accepts Chandler's proposal.
Season seven
It mainly follows various antics by Monica and Chandler, who are preparing for their wedding. Joey's television series Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E is canceled, but he is offered his job back on Days of our Lives. Phoebe's apartment is fixed, but is rebuilt with only one large bedroom instead of the original two, so Rachel decides to stay with Joey. The season finale features Monica and Chandler's wedding. The friends believe Monica is pregnant after Phoebe finds a discarded pregnancy test in Monica's bathroom. At the very end, it is revealed only to the audience that Rachel is pregnant.
Season eight
The first three episodes revolve around the identity of the father of Rachel's baby. The father is ultimately revealed as Ross. Rachel and Ross decide to have the baby but do not resume their romantic relationship. Joey develops romantic feelings for Rachel, but she does not reciprocate them. Rachel gives birth to baby Emma in the season finale. At the hospital, Ross's mother offers him an engagement ring because she wants him to marry Rachel. Ross does not intend to ask Rachel to marry him, but he takes the ring anyway and puts it in his jacket pocket. Meanwhile, in the post-delivery room, Joey looks for some tissue for an upset Rachel, picks up Ross's jacket, and the ring falls to the floor. He kneels to pick it up and turns to Rachel, still on his knees and still holding the ring. Rachel accepts what she thinks is his proposal of marriage.
Season nine
Begins with Ross and Rachel living together as roommates with baby Emma. Monica and Chandler decide to have a child themselves but discover that they are unable to conceive. Phoebe begins dating Mike Hannigan , and chooses to be with him over her ex-boyfriend . Rachel and Emma move in with Joey in the middle of the season, and Rachel develops romantic feelings for him. The group travels to Barbados in the finale to hear Ross give a keynote speech at a paleontology conference. Joey and his girlfriend Charlie break up, and she begins a relationship with Ross. Joey and Rachel's feelings for each other return, and the finale ends with them kissing.
Season ten
closes several long-running storylines. Charlie breaks up with Ross. Joey and Rachel try to contend with Ross's feelings about them being together and decide to remain friends. Phoebe and Mike get married. Monica and Chandler apply to adopt a child and are chosen by Erica. In the series finale, Erica gives birth to twins – a boy, Jack , and a girl, Erica . Monica and Chandler prepare to move to the suburbs, and Joey becomes upset with the changes happening in his life. Rachel accepts a job in Paris, but Ross, realizing he loves her, chases after her. Rachel realizes she loves him, too, and agrees to stay with him. The series ends with all the friends plus Monica and Chandler's new babies leaving the apartment, heading to Central Perk for a final cup of coffee.

Rtr Ritika Athvani

I.P.P

Rotaract Club of Pune, Kalyaninagar

Ekta kapoor- queen of daily soaps!!

2012-01-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

When it comes to our Hindi Film Industry more popularly known as Bollywood, one always looks out for famous Production houses like Yash Raj films, the Bhatt camp or the Yash Johar Productions who all have contributed a lot to the industry in terms of quality, box office profit. Similarly today even the television industry consists of such Production Houses who have not only taken the television medium to a whole new level of popularity in terms of the fan base and TRP ratings but have also changed the outlook of television to a great extent!

It is a well known fact that Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji telefilms is one of the oldest and the most popular production houses on small screen, ruling the industry for more than 10 years!!As in the early days of “Hum Paanch” , Balaji telefilms continues to run it’s success story even today with it’s latest venture in “Bade Acche Lagte Hai”, showcasing it as yet another runaway success on Sony TVin terms of ratings and popularity.Ekta Kapoor is called the undisputed Queen of Daily Soaps for bringing out quite a few changes in television medium and for introducing the first ever Saas-Bahu genrein daily soap on TV.”Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi BAhu Thi ” is a show that even today is termed as one of the classics of small screen.It has launched a whole set of talented actors like Hiten Tejwani, Smriti Irani, Amar Upadhyay, Gouri Pradhan, Aamna Sharif, Sushant Rajput, Ankita Lokhande and many such talented youngsters who have gone to become the superstars of small screen.She has created the immortal romantic couples like Manav-Archana, Mihir-Tulsi, Milind-Prachi, Pratham-Gouri, and several such couples who have created history.Even today Balaji Telefilms continues to run it’s success story by creating couples like Ram-Priya, Abhay-Piay on small screen and rewriting their success story in Bollywood too with hit stories like “Once Upon A Time in Mumbai” and the blockbuster “The Dirty Picture”.Ekta Kapoor surely is one rare combo of ‘Beauty with Brains’

- Rtr. Indira Iyer

Rotaract Club Of Mumbai Shivaji Park

Reality shows and their effects

2012-01-30T09:00:00.001-08:00

In the recent times there has been a steady increase in the number of reality shows. As we all know, they are very much inspired by the west world. So are they good or bad?

Well nothing in this world is perfect and neither are these shows. However some shows are very well prepared and executed and liked by all, like “Kaun bangena crorepati” ,”Hasn baliye” or “comedy circus” or “ Khelo jeeto jeeyo” show where people win numerous gifts and enjoy themselves and I am sure that many would like to participate in shows like these ones. There are also shows like, “Rodies” , “Iss jungle semujhe bachao” where seeing the tasks gets you excited, but in the end trying to create misunderstanding among the participants and the vote outs are a sad point of the show. The language used to is sometimes not appropriate. Well when you are making a show, TRP’s are most important and the makers of the program will do everything in their power to make it most colorful and viewable as possible. Creating confusion and is one great method of doing one. There are very few people who will not be interested in fights that are going on in the show and the outcome of those fights. So the question is are they viewable or should be banned? Are they fit for all age groups? Should they control their language?

Definitely seeing these shows is no crime. As I mentioned earlier that some shows are very well prepared keeping in mind all age groups. In some programs you get to exhibit your talent like, “ Entertainment ke liye kuch bhi karega” but some shows like “ Roadies”, “Splitsvilla”, “ Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao” are of the category where some restraint is required.

Well because you see such things and their effect creeps into your life as well. For eg. After watching an inspirational movie like “Chak de”, there is a different feeling inside you. You may not be able to express it in words, but the presence is felt. And a different feeling after you watch a horror flick. Also language is an essential part of our lives. Using slang’s have became a habit, but not a healthy one. So see the shows, but fights and vote outs can be avoided as your mind then tends to be on them only.

Nowadays television is flooded with reality shows and as they say, as the quantity increases the quality decreases and the same thing has happenned to these quality lacking reality shows.

Whether we like it or not, reality shows are here for the time being and have a large viewer ship. They are at least better than the “K” serials where extra marital affairs and fights between family members, not to forget the constant howling is prominent!!!!

Reality shows and their effects

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Tourism in Pakistan - The Next Big Thing!’

2011-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

Pakistan is such a diverse region, it is the epicenter of various religions and settlements long before the creation of the nation that exists today. Today,Pakistan is formed of four large provinces - Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and four territories - Islamabad Capital Territory, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The cultural and physical diversity of Pakistan has developed the country into a tourist hot spot for foreign travellers as well as adventurers.

The country's attraction range from the ruin of civilization such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and Taxilla, to the Himalayan hill stations, which attract those interested in winter sports. Pakistan is home to several mountain peaks over 7000 m, which attracts adventurers and mountaineers from around the world, especially K2. The north part of Pakistan has many old fortresses, ancient architecture and the Hunza and Chitral valley, home to small pre-Islamic Animist Kalasha community claiming descent from Alexander the Great. The romance of the historic Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is timeless and legendary, Punjab province has the site of Alexander's battle on the Jhelum River and the historic city Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital, with many examples of Mughal architecture such as Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort. Before the Global economic crisis Pakistan received more than 500,000 tourists annually. However, this number has now come down to near zero figures since 2008 due to instability in the country and many countries declaring Pakistan as unsafe and dangerous to visit.

Pakistan being the epicenter of various wars led to several dynasties and tribes ruling its lands. They left various landmarks behind which some have become national icons whilst others needing the attention of concerned authorities. Some of these include Faisalabad Clock Tower and the Eight Bazaars, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Derawar Fort, Tombs of Talpur Mirz

India-An emerging Tourist Destination

2011-12-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

After Independence, focus of the Indian government was solely on industrial and economic development. However, in the 20^th century India became a popular name on the world map with the recognition of amazing locations to explore. Tourism India has alarmed the country with immense potential of development, recognition and livelihood.

India or Bharath is the Destination of the Millennium, a Land of All Seasons where beauty beckons, culture echoes, diversity delights and tradition talks. Those who reach India are greeted with a gracious Namasthe, Namaskaaram, Vanakkam or Sat Sri Akal denoting warmth, hospitality and respect - a tradition in tune with the country’s age-old motto “Athidhi Devo Bhava” where the guest is treated as God. Blessed with mist clad mountain ranges, deep blue seas, enigmatic deserts, golden beaches, emerald green valleys, palm fringed backwaters on the one hand and unique art forms, exciting fairs and festivals, interesting pilgrim centres, exclusive heritage sites, royal forts, majestic monuments, architectural marvels and exotic flora and fauna on the other, this legendary land is unique in all aspects - it is no wonder that India has emerged as one among the Top Five Tourist Hotspots of the world, with a tremendous increase in tourist traffic all through the year. This wonderful peninsular subcontinent that is India, the land that projects Unity in Diversity - surrounded by the grand snow capped Himalayan ranges in the North, the spectacular coastline offered by the Arabian Sea in the West, the Vast Bay of Bengal in the East, and the awesome Indian Ocean in the South.

Don't just travel, JUST TRAVEL!

2011-12-30T09:29:00.002-08:00

What if one day you decide to just pack your bags and go to some undecided destination? Won't that be fun? You can ask around, explore the place, explore the food, the travel, the people. Planned trips are something that everyone does. But a true travel-o-holic will always be game for this kind of travel adventure.

The best part about an unplanned trip to an unknown destination is that feeling of discovering a new place all by yourself. Ah! that's what i would call the "Columbus" feeling!!! Imagine you visit some unheard of village in Rajasthan, travel around in a tum-tum, have some yummy dal bhaati in some local house, shop at the "haat"and also learn a bit of "beendh" "beendhni" and other words of their local language!!!!

And to make travel even more adventurous how about travelling with just 100 bucks maybe not to Rajasthan but some where closer at about 4-5 hours from Mumbai.

The point that I'm trying to drive home is that travelling can be made much more interesting than just soaking in the sights and sun!

Imagine you start with 100 bucks, you gotta earn while you travel, then spend, earn yet again and still keep traveling. Sounds difficult or impossible? That's what I call the real adventure. You don't know what's coming up. And you can always do this with a group of 4-5 friends each one alloted a hundred. You travel by the cheapest means, trade on the way, meet some interesting people and just go on.

The third kind of travel and my favorite would be to travel only for food. Choose about 5-6 different places known for their cuisines and just go to all the authetic restaurants in those places and hog as if there's no tomorrow. I would love to go to the north east, say Assam and just have all the local, real Assamese food.

So from unplanned, unknown destination to travel in 100 bucks to travel to hog the real food, there could be several other fun ideas of travelling.

So next time you 'unplan' to travel choose one of these ideas or invent your own and travel your heart out!!!

- Rtr. Alvina Panjikar

Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park

Ecotourism

2011-12-30T09:29:00.001-08:00

Ecotourism

Ecotourism tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism. Its purpose may be to educate the traveller, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavour by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention.

Generally, ecotourism focuses on volunteering, personal growth and environmental sustainability. One of the goals of ecotourism is to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities. For these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to environmental and social responsibility advocates.

The lack of sustainability highlights the need for small scale, slow growth, and locally based ecotourism. Local peoples have a vested interest in the well being of their community, and are therefore more accountable to environmental protection than multinational corporations. The lack of control, westernization, adverse impacts to the environment, loss of culture and traditions outweigh the benefits of establishing large scale ecotourism. The increased contributions of communities to locally managed ecotourism create viable economic opportunities, including high level management positions, and reduce environmental issues associated with poverty and unemployment. Because the ecotourism experience is marketed to a different lifestyle from large scale ecotourism, the development of facilities and infrastructure does not need to conform to corporate Western tourism standards, and can be much simpler and less expensive.

Because the regulation of ecotourism is poorly implemented or nonexistent, ecologically destructive green washed operations like underwater hotels, helicopter tours, and wildlife theme parks are categorized as ecotourism along with canoeing, camping, photography, and wildlife observation. The failure to acknowledge responsible, low impact ecotourism puts these companies at a competitive disadvantage. Environmental impact assessments could be used as a form of accreditation. Feasibility is evaluated from a scientific basis, and recommendations could be made to optimally plan infrastructure, set tourist capacity, and manage the ecology. This form of accreditation is more sensitive to site specific conditions.

An environmental protection strategy must address the issue of ecotourists removed from the cause-and-effect of their actions on the environment. More initiatives should be carried out to improve their awareness, sensitize them to environmental issues, and care about the places they visit.

- Rtr. Naina Deshmukh

Rotaract Club of Bangalore, Koramangala

ALWAYS SPEAK UP!!!

2011-12-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

“I am arrive by passenger train Ahmedpur station and my belly is too much swelling with jackfruit. I am therefore went to privy. Just I doing the nuisance that guard making whistle blow for train to go off and I am running with ‘lotah’in one hand and ‘dhoti’ in the next when I am fall over and expose all my shocking to man and female women on plateform. I am got leaved at Ahmedpur station. This too much bad, if passenger go to make dung that dam guard not wait train five minutes for him. I am therefore pray your honour to make big fine on that guard for public sake. Otherwise I am making big report to papers.”

Okhil Chandra Sen wrote this letter to the Sahibganj divisional railway office in 1909. It is on display at the Railway Museum in New Delhi. It was also reproduced under the caption “Travellers’ Tales” in the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Any guesses why this letter is of historic value?
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It led to the introduction of TOILETS in trains!!!! J

So please don’t think any idea is stupid and discard it. Always Speak up J

-Rtr. Poonam Salekar (Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park)

A Foodie’s Take on Food

2011-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

What is it about food that can just make your stomach do a back flip?
Not in a nervous way but in a magical and excited way like Harry
Potter just jinxed my mid-section...

The thought of a hot Masala Dosa from Vidhyarthi Bhavan along with
some bisi bisi filter coffee makes my stomach start producing
digestive juices like a tsunami and then morosely, I realise I’m at
home and not in one of Bangalore’s best and oldest dosa places.
Thus speaks a foodie from Bangalore.

Bangalore is known as the Garden City, Silicon City as well as
Pensioners’ Paradise. Our fair city lives up to its wide variety of
nicknames in all ways. Despite the early nightlife (11p.m!)
restaurants continue to mushroom in every nook and cranny in our city.
Don’t believe me? There are nearly 1000 restaurants in Koramangala
itself ranging from five-star dining to the smallest darshini or bhel
puri bhaiyya. Many of them being around J.N.C (our college has the
best “canteens” ever!) but even such glorious benefits has its side
effects like the main decision of “What to eat?, Where to eat?” ; too
many choices is also a bane.

Bangalore has so many cuisines to choose from for a well developed
palate- not only Indian food but for a global palate as well. Most
restaurants are multi-cuisine ranging from continental to Vietnamese.
Being from a family of foodies (it’s in the genes!) I have been to a
wide variety of restaurants in Bangalore and have sampled almost all
cuisines and thanks to television’s innumerable cooking shows I fancy
myself an amateur food critic.

“A foodie is one who only eats” is what I’ve heard but this one also
likes to cook. Cooking is one my favourite hobbies, and though I
haven’t got Indian food quite right, I do love to bake. Another
question I can’t seem to answer is “What’s your favourite dish?” I
don’t have one favourite dish, I have several and I don’t think I
could place any dish at the #1 position.

Food isn’t just about the taste, although taste does play a very
important role in eating; all your senses are involved- sight, sound,
smell and touch (texture) and even those extra senses that some people
claim to have. The sight of food includes not only how a dish is
presented but the colour as well as the beauty of a dish no matter how
simple it is. The way the colours fuse here and there in a sort of
symphony, that’s how the sight of food should be, like a masterpiece.
When talking about the sounds it brings to mind the sizzling sound of
the frying pan and the rhythmic sounds of the knife on the cutting
board while chopping some fresh fruits or veggies. The crunch of
crispy goodies like papad or pakodas when hot can make your ears
tingle.

Next is the aroma... Oh! How the nose picks up the smell of ghee or
butter in the pan or the smell of the spices like mustard, cardamom,
cumin and fenugreek (a.k.a elaichi, jeera and methi). The smell of
freshly baked bread or a cake or pie...the list goes on; makes you
feel happy to have the sense of olfaction. To recognise smells of
different dishes comes to me in the same way a shark senses blood in
the water.

Taste is the sense we value the most while eating, but have you ever
tasted each and every ingredient of the dish in one bite? The way the
elements of the dish move on all the areas of your mouth and tongue-
sweet, salt, sour and bitter, engulfing every taste bud in its
goodness.

Texture of food is one of the senses people don’t really pay attention
to but is important nonetheless. When you bite into a ripe alphonso
mango, the pulp just melts into your mouth doesn’t it? A bite of a hot
slightly buttery paratha or the soothing feeling of drinking warm
rasam in cold weather brings back a lot of happy memories.
So I do hope next time you take a bite of something, you appreciate
everything about it and indulge your senses to the fullest so that you
hopefully experience something magical while doing the most mundane of
jobs like eating.

Article By: Rtr. Aditi
International Service Director
Rotaract Club of Jyoti Nivas College
RID 3190

Slurp & then Burp!!!

2011-10-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

RCMSP and food go hand in hand and so does Mumbai and food. Have you noticed that the number of restaurants a town would have might still be less than the number of restaurants in Bandra alone!
But a lot of times we want things which are “Tried and Tested”. So we end up going to the same restaurant, trying out the same dish all the time. But that’s not what I call a real foodie.
So for all you foodies here are some awesome restaurants where you can try out different cuisines, and keep slurping and burping and still be ready to try more!

For the love of Parsi Food- nothing can beat one of Mumbai’s oldest restaurants, Café Britania at CST. Old wooden furniture, and the love of two cute old Parsi uncles, this place is the most homely place I’ve ever been to. Try out the mutton/ chicken berry pulav and their inhouse raspberry drink. It’s unimaginably mouth watering! Mind you, it’s closed on Sundays and open only in the day till 4 pm on the other days!

Amaar Bangla- No no that’s not the name of the restaurant! It’s called Oh Calcutta! This restaurant in Tardeo serves authentic Bengali cuisine from Hilsa in mustard curry to Dhoi Maach, you also have some awesome vegetarian platter of ladies finger, brinjal, fried potatoes and typical Bengali drinks and desserts. Classy ambience with tinge of the Kolkatta feel and hospitable service.

Bengali dish- Hilsa in Shorshay ( mustard curry)

Oui, Oui- Yes, Yes! We have something for the French lovers too! Chez Moi at Bandra serves you French and European cuisine. Small yet spacious place with the perfect French ambience- candle lit tables with wine bottles kept on the side. It also has a television for sports lovers, It’s a subtly romantic place, amix of romance and fun. Good for both vegetarians and non vegetarians, try out to know what it is to have French cuisine! Bon Appétit!

Chez Moi- Artichokes ( french dish, bamboo paste on bread)

Go Mediterranean – It’s Pali Village Café or else Café Basilico at Pali Naka, Bandra. Pali Village Café is like a classy, old bunglow. Doesn’t feel like you’re in Mumbai. For veggies, try out the pepper broccoli pasta and the mushroom starters, it’s yummy. As for non veg eaters, try out the prawn starters and chicken with curd dip, it’s mind blowing. And at Café Basilico, cheese fondue is a must!

Article By: Rtr Alvina Panjikar - Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park

Food for Thought

2011-10-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

On a warm summer afternoon I was sitting in the company’s canteen where I was undergoing my project. It was a crowded place since all the workers, staff and managers come down for their lunch. It’s just like any other company canteen where you pick up a plate and move on to serve your self with whatever you want. You can take as much as you want since that is the lunch provided by the company or rather as the Company Act say, that the employer should provide basic facilities like food to its employees. I was amazed at the fact that food of this quantity is provided and really good taste as well. But there was a board placed just above the food counter around 9 feet up so that everyone can read it. On it was written this very thought provoking line “Don’t waste food, millions are still hungry”.

That day I kept wondering how easy it is for us to just go, pick up a plate and start eating till we are full, but yes there are people for whom getting one meal a day is a big task. Despite placing the board there, I found that still some people were not able to fully consume their food. May be they had to hurry back to workplace or took more than they can consume. I compared this with similar other situations. When I visit weddings there too a grand fest is kept with a variety of food. And I observe the same situation. Firstly people go with the starters even before the wedding starts. Then when its actually time for food, they are already half full. Then they go for main course and want to have a taste of every item that is available. One can find plates full with all kinds of items that are available and then you really can’t distinguish what got mixed up with what… and while eating the flavours are lost and then you get fed up and can’t eat more and so keep away the plate. This is one thing observed not only at weddings but also at parties. It amuses me a lot and I also feel sorry for it. You put in a hard effort standing in a long queue, then some how you get a chance to pick up the food and by the time you start eating you are half tired, or are busy talking to someone else. It also happens that if a person with you is done with his/her food you too just keep away your plate without completely finishing it.

If we talk of economics, ours is an agrarian economy. Producing a variety of food crops in a huge quantity not only to meet the demand of local population but also capable to export the surplus produce. However in recent times our economy was hit by food inflation and it touched double digits. The immediate impact was on the so called ‘Common Man’ that is you and me. But frankly speaking do we ever think upon it when we consume food. We only listen to our taste buds. Food is a resource whose basic function is to meet body’s energy needs. But the way lifestyle of ‘Common Man’ has changed food too has become an object of fashion. It is need of the hour when one should think beyond the present and look in the future. When I look into my school days there is one particular lesson from my English text book I’ll never forget. It’s ‘The ants and the grasshopper’ in which the ants work hard and collect food and store it for winter. The point here is that how you conserve what you have and use it at the time of need. It’s not just the people around us that we see daily and neglect but there are many poorer countries where people travel miles in search of food, they starve, they are hit by bad climatic conditions or even the economy of their country is poor. We need to have a holistic view on this matter.

I’m not a big follower of ritual scripts or what is said and advised, but it does make a sense that one should have a balance diet. We find our schedule very tight and it’s a fact that we do skip meal time or eat whatever and whenever we find time. And one important thing is that one should eat moderately, not too much nor too little. And we should spread awareness that “Don’t waste food, Millions are still hungry”.

Rtr. Aditya Awathare

Secretary/ Dir. International Services

R. C. Pune, Kalyaninagar

I Live to Eat

2011-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

When you’re tired, whet your appetite with an assortment of scrumptious dishes from the various parts of India. There’s something here for everyone. But before you bite into that piping hot ‘wada’ or chilled ‘gulab jamun’, here are some fun facts that will help you see food from India in a different light altogether.

Ø       Traditional Indian food has only ONE main course. Instead of a number of courses, food is based around a single main dish (rice or bread) served with a collection of savory side dishes.

Ø       The Paneer, or cottage cheese, is a famous Indian delicacy. Cooked with gravy, fried, or added as a garnish over pilafs, paneer is the heartthrob of many yummy North Indian dishes.

Ø       Traditionally, rice is cooked in water and the excess water with the excess starch is drained away. This is a healthy way of cooking rice. However, when it comes to the aromatic and delicious Basmati, the quantity of rice is balanced with the water used for cooking so that there is no water left to strain away once the rice is cooked. This preserves the rich flavor and taste of Basmati.

Ø       Indians use a variety of milk products in their diet. Fresh, creamy yoghurt is added to vegetable curries. It is also used to make the ‘Lassi’, which is nothing more than milk, er, yoghurt shake!

Ø       All Indian cooking is carried out in a variety of vegetable oils like sunflower oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil and coconut oil. Animal fat is never used in cooking.

Ø       Almost all recipes from India are rich in nutrients. Ranging from the heavily spiced curries to the rich desserts and ‘halwas’, these recipes make use of local vegetables and fruits.

Ø       Indians use gur or jaggery instead of sugar. Known as ‘medicinal sugar’, this contains minerals, vitamins and iron. Thus, it is one of the most wholesome and healthy forms of sugar known to man.

Ø       Ever wonder why the Indian curry is so spicy? Well, it’s stuffed with a lot of stuff like turmeric, chilly, garlic, ginger and mint which is good for you.

Ø       The flatbreads from India (chapattis and Naans) can be made without oil or yeast. When they are made from whole grains, these items are rich in vitamins and fibers.

Indian food is tailor-made to suit the requirements of the body. If cooked properly, it is both healthy and delicious – a rare combination indeed!

Pakistani and Indian cuisine are very similar and with this similarity may peace prevail keeping our stomachs happy with the rich cuisine both countries possess!

Article By: Rtr. Husena Painter (District Joint International Service Director)

Hariyali chand kebab

2011-10-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Indo Pak Partition is now 64 years old. With unabated and growing enmity between the two, the only solution for a brighter tomorrow is a truce between the two as soon as possible. India and Pakistan share a common past and are strikingly similar in terms of cuisine, culture, languages, etc.

India and Pakistan have made umpteen attempts to make relations between them friendly. Along with the orthodox measures of confidence building, like trade, people to people contact etc, what is required now is some unorthodox and innovative measures that can rekindle faith and love in the hearts of the people of both countries for each other. With Cricket Diplomacy giving a momentous push forward to enhance the goodwill ties and break the impasse between the two countries, now is the turn of Food Diplomacy to further that effort leading the way to nurturing friendly bilateral ties and wiping out the invisible lines that separate us by developing warm relations.

Talking about Pakistani cuisine, the flavours have influences and their roots from a lot of Indian state cuisines. The flavours are a blend of Kashmiri, Sidhi and Punjabi cuisines. There are a number of regional cuisines but the taste are similar all over. A few parts like the western region of Pakistan have influences from Gujarat. India has diversified eating habits. Our eating traditions vary from state to state. The cuisines in north of India are completely different from the ones in the south and the ones in the east are different from the ones in the west.

I have chosen this recipe to honour the world food day and the colour green depicts our earth. I want that we all consciously make efforts to conserve our food and nature.

Hariyali chand kebab

This is a simple festive recipe.. It has 3 different layer compiled on one stick.. It looks extreme beautiful and tastes super.

Cottage cheese layer
1 cup scrambled paneer
2 tbsp corriander chopped
1/2 chilli chopped
Black pepper and salt (to taste)

Potato layer
3 potatoes, boiled and mashed
1/2 cup spinach puree
1/2 cup ground bread
3 tsp dry mint powder
1 tsp red chilli
Maida (to bind)
Salt (to taste)

Corn layer
Frozen / fresh corn, ground in grinder

Oil for shallow frying

4 Satay sticks

Method

For cottage cheese layer
Mix all the ingredients to make the cottage cheese layer

For hariyali layer
Mix all the ingredient to make the hariyali layer

Take 4 satay sticks and press the cottage cheese mixture on it to make the most interior layer

On this press the hariyali layer completely covering the paneer layer

Press some ground corn on this layer just like how we coat a cutlet with breadcrumbs

Take a grill pan or a non stick tawa and heat it. Pour some oil ad place these satay sticks. Keep turning to cook the entire surface.

The hariyali chand kebab is ready to be served. You can serve this with any chutney with a little accompanying salad

Recipe By: Neha Deepak Shah

Recipe for Sheer Korma with Apple Compote and Caramel Sauce

2011-10-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

For sheer korma:

50 gm sevai ( vermicilli)
750 ml milk
2 tbsp ghee
Dry fruits ( optional )
Sugar - as per sweetness desired ( apple compote and caramel sauce are also sweet so keep the sweetness optimal )

Note - keep the flavour of the sheer korma as neutral as possible as the apple compote and caramel sauce have their own flavour)

Apple compote
2 apple diced ( without skin)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp cinnamom powder ( you can use some pieces of ground cinnamon )

Caramel sauce
1 cup sugar
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup cream

Method of Preparation

Sheer korma
Roast the sevai in ghee till golden brown.. Add the milk and sugar and cook till the mixture thickens.. And keep cooking till the milk is half the quantity on low flame for about 15 - 20 minutes

Apple compote
Make the sugar syrup and cook till the syrup thickens. Add the apples and cinnamon and cook and keep aside

Caramel sauce
In a heavy bottom pan ( kadhai ) take the sugar and heat in on slow flame. It will melt and turn golden brown. Add the butter and cream and keep stirring for 5 - 7 minutes ( make sure all the ingredients are near u)

For compilation -
First spoon apple compote and thn sheer korma. And top with caramel sauce. You can make designs and swirls with caramel sauce and garnish with caramelized apple ( glazed )

Serve Hot.

Recipe by: Rtr. Sanket Shah (Rotaract Club Caduceus)

Sarhad Paar Documentary

2011-09-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here's Presenting the Documentary which showcases how each city celebrates Independence Day!

Sarhad Paar is a project aimed at promoting Indo-Pak youth interaction!

The Release of the Documentary is a Joint Initiative by the Rotaract Clubs of Mumbai Shivaji Park, Pune Kalyaninagar, Bangalore Koramangala, Jyoti Nivas College and Karachi Bay!

Send your feedback and suggestions to aakash@rcmsp.org

MUSIC

2011-08-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Whether you admit it or not, music imbeds our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. So if you're interested in music theory, music appreciation, Beethoven, Mozart, or other composers, artists and performers, we hope you'll spend some time with here and learn from these music articles of note for all ages and tastes.
When I first started studying the history of music, I did not realize what I was getting into. I had thought that music history was somewhat of a trivial pursuit. In fact, I only took my history of classical music class because I needed the credits. I did not realize how completely fascinating music history is. You see, in our culture many of us do not really learn to understand music. For much of the world, music is a language, but for us it is something that we consumed passively. When I began to learn about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. I have had some experience playing musical instruments, but I have never mastered one enough to really understand what music is all about. This class showed me.

When most of us think about the history of music, we think of the history of rock music. We assume that the history is simple because the music is simple. In fact, neither is the case. The history of music, whether you're talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is always complicated. New chord structures are introduced bringing with them new ways of understanding the world. New rhythmic patterns are introduced, bringing with them new ways of understanding time. And music reflects all of it.

Even when the class was over, I could not stop learning about the history of music. It had whetted my appetite, and I wanted more. I got all the music history books that I could find. I even began to research forms of music that had not interested me before in the hopes of enhancing my musical knowledge further. Although I was in school studying toward something very different – a degree in engineering – I had thought about giving it up and going back to get a degree in musicology. That is how much I am fascinated by the subject.

If you have never taken a course in the history of music, you don't know what you are missing out on. The radio will never sound the same to you again. Everything will seem much more rich, much more luminous, and much more important. A new song can reflect a new way of being, and a new way of imagining life in the world. This is what learning about the history of music means to many of us.

THE GRAND PIANO

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the world's most familiar musical instruments.

Pressing a key on the piano's keyboard causes a felt-covered hammer to strike steel strings. The hammers rebound, allowing the strings to continue vibrating at their resonant frequency.^[1] These vibrations are transmitted through a bridge to a sounding board that more efficiently couples the acoustic energy to the air. The sound would otherwise be no louder than that directly produced by the strings. When the key is released, a damper stops the string's vibration. See the article on Piano key frequencies for a picture of the piano keyboard and the location of middle-C. In the Hornbostel-Sachs system of instrument classification, pianos are considered chordophones.

The word piano is a shortened form of pianoforte, the Italian word for the instrument (which in turn derives from the previous terms "gravicembalo col piano e forte" and fortepiano). The musical terms "piano" and "forte" mean "quiet" and "loud," and in this context refers to the variations in volume of sound the instrument produces in response to a pianist's touch on the keys: the greater a key press's velocity, the greater the force of the hammer hitting the string(s), and the louder the note produced.

Rtr. Sushruth

Rotaract Club of Banglore Kormangla

MUSIC OF INDIA

2011-08-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, classical music and R&B. India's classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, it remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of spiritual inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. India is made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects, having very distinct cultural traditions.

Classical music

The two main traditions of classical music are Carnatic music, found predominantly in the peninsular regions, and Hindustani music, found in the northern and central regions. Both traditions claim Vedic origin, and history indicates that they diverged from a common musical root since about the 13th century.

Hindustani music

Hindustani music is an Indian classical music tradition that goes back to Vedic times around 1000 BC, and further developed circa the 13th and 14th centuries AD with Persian influences and from existing religious and folk music. The practice of singing based on notes was popular even from the Vedic times where the hymns in Sama Veda, a sacred text, was sung as Samagana and not chanted. Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries, it has contemporary traditions established primarily in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In contrast to Carnatic music, the other main Indian classical music tradition originating from the South, Hindustani music was not only influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions, historical Vedic philosophy and native Indian sounds but also enriched by the Persian performance practices of the Mughals.During the Medivel age especially in Mughals era various Gharana got famous due to excellence and class in type of musics like raga.Tansen is one of the navratna of Mughals Admiral Akbar.Besides pure classical, there are also several semi-classical forms such as thumri, dadra and tappa.

Carnatic music

The present form of Carnatic music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th - 16th centuries AD and thereafter. From the ancient Sanskrit works available, and the epigraphical evidence, the history of classical musical traditions can be traced back about 2500 years.

Carnatic music is completely melodic, with improvised variations. The main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style (known as gāyaki). Like Hindustani music, Carnatic music rests on two main elements: rāga', the modes or melodic formulæ, and tāḷa, the rhythmic cycles.

It is foundation for most music in South India, including folk music, festival music and in last 100 years in film music.

Folk music

Bihu of Assam

Bihu is the festival of New Year of Assam falling on mid April. This is a festival of nature and mother earth where the first day is for the cows and buffalos. Second day is for the man. Bihu dancesand songs accompanied by traditional drums and wind instruments are essential part of this festival.

Bauls

The Bauls of Bengal are an order of musicians dating back to the 17th century, who play a form of Vaishnava music using a khamak, ektara and dotara. The word Baul comes from Sanskrit batul meaning divinely inspired insanity. They are a group of mystic minstrels with a syncretic form of Vaishnavism influenced by Sufism and Buddhism. They are itinerant singer-poets whose music is earthy, and reflects on the infinite amid quotidian contexts of work and love. They have also been influenced by Hindu tantric sect of the Kartabhajas and also by Sufi sects. Bauls travel in search of the internal ideal, Maner Manush (Man of the Heart).

Bhangra

[Bhangra] are a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region to celebrate Vaisakhi, the festival of the Sikhs.Knowledge of Punjabi history offers important insights into the meaning of the music. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae, and in such forms it has become a pop

Dandiya

Dandiya is a form of dance-oriented folk music that has also been adapted for pop music. The present musical style is derived from the traditional musical accompaniment to the folk dance. It is practised in (mainly) the state of Gujrat. Actually Dandiya is a kind of dance rather than a music, the music is called a Garba in local language.

Ganasangeet

Ganasangeet is generally sung in chorus carrying some social message.[2] The songs are usually about Freedom, community strength, patriotism. Due to the British occupation in India, a lot of protest songs about anti-imperialism/pro-socialism have been written in India. Examples: Apni Azadi Ko Hum Hargis Mita Sakte Nahin, ajadee hoyni tor, Kadam kadam badhaye jaa, Vande Mataram, etc.

Uttarakhandi Music

Uttarakhandi folk music had its root in the lap of nature. The pure and blessed music have the feel and the touch of nature and subjects related to nature. The folk music primarily is related to the various festivals, religious traditions, folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand. Thus the songs of Uttarakhand are a true reflection of the Cultural Heritage and the way people lives their lives in the Himalayas. Musical instruments used in Uttarakhand music include the dhol, damoun, turri, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali, bhankora and masakbhaja. Tabla and harmonium are also used, but to a lesser extent. The main languages are Kumaoni and Garhwali.

Lavani

Lavani comes from the word Lavanya which means beauty. This is one of the most popular forms of dance and music that is practiced all over Maharashtra. It has in fact become a necessary part of the Maharashtrian folk dance performances. Traditionally, the songs are sung by female artistes, but male artistes may occasionally sing Lavanis. The dance format associated with Lavani is known as Tamasha. Lavani is a combination of traditional song and dance, which particularly performed to the enchanting beats of 'Dholak', an drum like instrument. Dance performed by attractive women wearing nine-yard saris. They are sung in a quick tempo. The verve, the enthusiasm, the rhythm and above all the very beat of India finds an expressive declaration amidst the folk music of India, which has somewhat, redefined the term "bliss". Lavani originated in the arid region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Popular music

The biggest form of Indian popular music is filmi, or songs from Indian films, it makes up 72% of the music sales in India.[1] The film industry of India supported music by according reverence to classical music while utilizing the western orchestration to support Indian melodies. Music composers like Naushad, C. Ramchandra, S D Batish, Salil Chowdhury, A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraja and S. D. Burman employed the principles of harmony while retaining classical and folk flavor. Reputed names in the domain of Indian classical music like Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Ali Akbar Khan and Ram Narayan have also composed music for films. Independent pop acts such as Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan, Alisha Chinai, Shaan, Madhushree, Shreya Ghoshal, Nihira Joshi, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alka Yagnik and rock bands like Indus Creed, Indian Ocean, and Euphoria exist and have gained some mass appeal with the advent of cable music television.

Rabindra Sangeet

Rabindranath Tagore was a towering figure in Indian music. Writing in Bengali, he created a library of over 2,000 songs now known by Bengalis as 'rabindra sangeet' whose form is primarily influenced by Hindustani classical, sub-classicals, Karnatic, western, bauls, bhatiyali and different folk songs of India. Many singers in West Bengal and Bangladesh base their entire careers on the singing of Tagore musical masterpieces. The national anthem of India and national anthem of Bangladesh are Rabindra Sangeets.

Music of Rajasthan

Rajasthan has a very diverse cultural collection of musician castes, including Langas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi and Manganiyar (lit. the ones who ask/beg). Rajasthan Diary quotes it as a soulful, full-throated music with Harmonious diversity. The haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a variety of delightfully primitive looking instruments. The stringed variety include the Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha, Morsing and Ektara. Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny Damrus. The Daf and Chang are a big favourite of Holi (the festival of colours) revellers. Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavours such as Shehnai, Poongi, Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia.

The essence of Rajasthani music is derived from the creative symphony of string instruments, percussion instruments and wind instruments accompanied by melodious renditions of folk singers. It enjoys a respectable presence in Bollywood music as well.

Modern music

Indi-pop music

Main article: Indian pop

Indian pop music, often known as Indipop or Indi-pop, is based on an amalgamation of Indian folk and classical music, and modern beats from different parts of the world. Pop music really started in the South Asian region with the famous playback singer Ahmed Rushdi's song ‘Ko-Ko-Korina’ in 1966.[3]

After that, much of Indian Pop music comes from the Indian Film Industry, and until the 1990s, few singers like Usha Uthup, Sharon Prabhakar, and Peenaz Masani outside it were popular. Since then, pop singers in the latter group have included K.K, Baba Sehgal, Alisha Chinai, Shantanu Mukherjee aka Shaan, Sagarika, Colonial Cousins (Hariharan, Leslie Lewis), Lucky Ali, and Sonu Nigam, and music composers like Jawahar Wattal, who made top selling albums with, Daler Mehndi, Shubha Mudgal, Baba Sehgal, Swetha Shetty and Hans Raj Hans[4]

Besides those listed above, popular Indi-Pop singers include Zubeen Garg, Daler Mehndi, Raghav Sachar Rageshwari, Devika Chawla, Bombay Vikings, Asha Bhosle, Sunidhi Chauhan, Bombay Rockers, Anu Malik, Jazzy B, Malkit Singh, Hans Raj Hans, Raghav, Jay Sean, Juggy D, Rishi Rich, Sheila Chandra, Bally Sagoo, Punjabi MC, Bhangra Knights, Mehnaz, and Sanober.

Recently, Indian pop has taken an interesting turn with the "remixing" of songs from past Indian movie songs, new beats being added to them.

Rock & metal music

Indian rock

The rock music "scene" in India is extremely small when compared to filmi or fusion musicality "scenes" but has of recent years come into its own, achieving a cult status of sorts. Rock music in India has its origins in 1960s and 70s when international stars such as The Beatles visited India and brought their music with them. These artists' collaboration with Indian musicians such as Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain have led to the development of Raga Rock. International short wave radio stations such as The Voice of America, BBC, and Radio Ceylon played a major part in bringing Western pop, folk, and rock music to the masses. You can hear some of the songs that were heard over these stations during the 1960s here. However, Indian rock bands began to gain prominence only much later, around the late 1980s. It was around this time that the rock band Indus Creed formerly known as The Rock Machine got itself noticed on the international stage with hits like Rock N Roll Renegade. Other bands quickly followed. As of now, the rock music scene in India is quietly growing day by day and gathering more support. With the introduction of MTV in the early 1990s, Indians began to be exposed to various forms of rock such as grunge and speed metal. This influence can be clearly seen in many Indian bands today. The cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore have emerged as major melting pots for rock and metal enthusiasts. Bangalore has been the hub for rock and metal movement in India. Some prominent bands include Indian Ocean, Kryptos, Dementra, Pentagram, Reverrse Polarity, Hologram, Kashish, Inner Sanctum, Thermal and a Quarter, Abandoned Agony, No Idea, Zero, Half Step Down, Scribe, Eastern Fare, Indus Creed, Demonic Resurrection, Zygnema [Born Of Unity], Belial Bhoomi, Infernal Wrath, Thor, Prithvi, Agni, Exiled, Cassini's Division, The Supersonics, Span, Camouflage, Five Little Indians and Nexus. The future looks encouraging thanks to entities such as Green Ozone, DogmaTone Records, Eastern Fare Music Foundation, that are dedicated to promoting and supporting Indian rock.

One of the most famous rock musicians in the world is the late Freddie Mercury of Queen. Born Farrokh Bomi Bulsara to Indian parents in Zanzibar, he was raised in Panchgani near Mumbai. Mercury was influenced early on by the Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar along with western influences such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and The Beatles.

Dance music

Goa trance, Psychedelic trance, Charanjit Singh (musician), and Electronica

Indian Hip Hop

Indian Hip Hop music introduced in 1986 by Maestro ILAYARAJA. The first Indian rap song is Vanitha Mani Vana Mohini (Tamil) Song from Movie Vikram. Sung by S.P.B. and S.Janaki where rap bit delivered by Kamalhasan.

Hip Hop music in India had started at around 1990 and Baba Sehgal is credited as India's first Rapper. Hip Hop music became all the more famous with the song 'Pettai Rap' from the Tamil movie Kadhalan starring Prabhu Deva for which the Music Director was A.R Rahman. The song catapulted Suresh Peters as a rapper and a Music Director. Rap/Hip Hop was often used in the regional movies as fillers in between songs and off late has started to become main stream songs. London based The Rishi Rich Project, Bally Sagoo and Canadian based Raghav further laid steady foundations for Hip Hop/RnB music in India. California based Punjabi rapper Bohemia became one of the most well known pioneers of Punjabi Rap in the country after producing tracks like 'Kali Denali' and 'Ek tera Pyar'. He became the first Hip Hop artist to launch a full Desi Rap album signed to Universal Music India. He has also produced songs for Bollywood movies like Chandni Chowk to China. Canadian based Hip Hop artist Ishq Bector became an outrage after the release of his superhit single 'Aye Hip Hopper'. Malaysian based Yogi B and Natchatra brought in the culture of Tamil Rap in India. After receiving various awards in Malaysia, now they are the most sorted out rappers in Kollywood(Tamil Movie Industry). International artists like 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, The Black Eyed Peas etc. have performed in India. Snoop Dogg appeared in a song from the film Singh Is Kinng in 2008 which popularized Hip Hop music amongst the people of India.

Western classical music

The spread and following of Western classical music in India is almost entirely non-existent. It is mainly patronized by the Indian Zoroastrian community and small esoteric groups with historical exposure to Western classical music. Another esoteric group with significant patronage is the Protestant Christian community in Chennai and Bangalore. St Andrews and St Georges in Chennai and St Marks in Bangalore are churches with regular pipe organ recitals. Western Music education is also severely neglected and pretty rare in India. Western keyboard, drums and guitar instruction being an exception as it has found some interest; mainly in an effort to create musicians to service contemporary popular Indian music. Many reasons have been citied for the obscurity of Western classical music in India, a country rich in its musical heritage by its own right, however the two main reasons are an utter lack of exposure and a passive disinterest in what is considered esoteric at best. Also, the difficulty in importing Western musical instruments and their rarity has also contributed to the obscurity of classical Western music.

Despite more than a century of exposure to Western classical music and two centuries of British colonialism, classical music in India has never gained more than 'fringe' popularity. Many attempts to popularize Western classical music in India have failed in the past due to disinterest and lack of sustained efforts. Today, Western classical music education has improved with the help of numerous institutions in India. Institutions like Calcutta School of Music, Bangalore School of Music, Eastern Fare Music Foundation,[5] Delhi School of Music, Delhi Music Academy, Mehli Mehta Music Foundation and many others are dedicated to contributing to the progress or growth and supporting Western classical music. In 1930, notable Mehli Mehta set up the Bombay Symphony Orchestra.

The Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO) was founded in 1962. Now it is the only Indian symphony orchestra that functions and performs on a regular basis with a concert standard of performance. Besides providing Mumbai’s music-lovers the opportunity to enjoy music produced by their city orchestra, the BCO Society serves the dual purpose of filling in, to some extent, the great void created by the lack of a school or academy of music in the city of Mumbai. In 2006, the Symphony Orchestra of India was founded, housed at the NCPA in Mumbai. It has since presented two short concert seasons per year.

Some prominent Indians in Western classical music are:

• A.R.Rahman, Renowed music composer who won 2 Academy awards in 2009

• Andre de Quadros, Conductor and Music Educator.

• Zubin Mehta, Renowned music conductor.

• Mehli Mehta, Father of Zubin, violinist and founding conductor of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra.

• Ilaiyaraaja, the first Asian to compose a full symphony performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London's Walthamstow Town Hall.

• Naresh Sohal, British Indian-born composer.

• Param Vir, British Indian-born composer.

• Karishmeh Felfeli, Indian-born Irani pianist and radio broadcaster.

• Sandee Bhagwati, German Indian-born composer.

• Opera singers: Amar Muchhala, Patrizia Rosario

- Rtr. Dinesh Pal

Dir. Professional development

Rotaract Club of Pune, Kalyaninagar.

INDIAN FOLK MUSIC

2011-08-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

India has a very rich tradition of folk music. The extreme cultural diversity creates endless varieties of folk styles. Each region has its own particular style.

There is a tendency to lump folk music along with tribal music. There is actually a difference. Where folk music is a mere rustic reflection of the larger Indian society, tribal music often represents cultures that are very different. Some of these tribal cultures are throwbacks to cultural conditions as they were thousands of years ago.

Tribal and folk music is not taught in the same way that Indian classical music is taught. There is no formal period of apprenticeship where the student is able to devote their entire life to learning the music, the economics of rural life does not permit this sort of thing. The musical practitioners must still attend to their normal duties of hunting, agriculture or whatever their chosen profession is.

Music in the villages is learned almost by osmosis. From childhood the music is heard and imbibed along with ones mother's milk. There are numerous public activities that allow the villagers to practice and hone their skills. These are the normal functions which syncronize village life with the universe.

The music is an indispensable component of functions such as weddings, engagements, and births. There is a plethora of songs for such occasions. There are also many songs associated with planting and harvesting. In these activities the villagers routinely sing of their hopes, fears and aspirations.

Musical instruments are often different from those found in classical music. Although instruments like the tabla may sometimes be found it is more likely that cruder drums such as daf, dholak, or nal will be used. The sitar and sarod which are so common in the classical genre are absent in the folk music. One often finds instruments such as the ektar, dotar, saringda, rabab, and santur. Quite often they will not even be called these names, but may be named according to their local dialect. There are also instruments which are used only in particular folk styles in particular regions. These instruments are innumerable.

The instruments that folk musicians use are generally not as refined as the classical musicians use. The instruments of classical music are crafted by artisans whose only job is the fabrication of musical instruments. In contrast the folk instruments are commonly crafted by the musicians themselves.

It is very common to find folk instruments that have been fabricated of commonly available materials. Skin, peritoneum, bamboo, coconut shells, and pots are but a few commonly available materials used to make musical instruments.

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Rtr. SHREYA

Rotaract Club of Koramangala

Delhi Belly - Review

2011-08-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

After a long time I have seen a movie which has really described a true “Delhiite”. The movie was full of some real bad boy language and kick ass scenes. This is a movie which actually makes you feel alive. If you are a person who has lived in a hostel or grown up in a sturdy neighbourhood or is absolutely blunt and crude you will definitely love this movie. The movie revolves around the life of 3 boys who get into trouble for unknowingly delivering diamonds to a hardcore criminal.

There is a moment in the film when a young boy finds a reason to blackmail his landlord for rent. Well I would love to blackmail my boss for something or the other. Oh well everybody wants to blackmail someone. Only a delhite can think of such things though. The word “Jugaad” was invented in Delhi it means finding a way out by hook or crook. Delhi sure should be known as the Jugaad city. It’s a city where everything is possible!

Another moment is in a house party where a frustrated husband open fires on one the boys for talking to his wife. This is also a very common thing in Delhi, an argument leads to a fight and a fight leads to a gun firing. In Delhi it’s either his head or yours, people take argument’s very seriously here. It’s not a place for the weak hearted. It has to be a tough city. It’s the capital of India. Delhi has to set an example for the others. Don’t get scared now it’s much better.

There is imaginary song in the movie which features one the boys as Elvis Presley dancing to insult his girlfriend for marrying someone else. The song uses various derogatory slangs. Well you have to watch the song as it’s out of the world. It takes insulting to a whole new level! All I can say is that you will never cheat on anybody after hearing the song.

Even the title song of the movie is very catchy. It goes Bhag Bhag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose. It means keep running u jackass. You have to keep moving or just run. Amir Khan had directed the movie superbly. He has added an Austin power side to the movie which makes it fun to watch. The three idiots have acted well. Especially Kunal Roy Kapoor. He uses the bad boy language very well. Don’t miss the acting of the girl who is madly in love with Imraan. Though she isn’t very pretty she has a raw appeal in her acting which attracts you to her.

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Rtr. Viraj Shah

Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park

Discovering Pakistan- Through Movies and Music

2011-08-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

My interest in Pakistani music began several years ago, when Sufi music became a rage of sorts among my friends. Today, quite a few years later, it is obvious to just about everyone that Pakistan has made a niche for itself in the entertainment industry what with the success of bands like Jal or Strings, and the popularity of artistes ranging from Atif Aslam to Shehzad Roy. Personally, the way I view Pakistan and it’s culture has changed quite a bit since I discovered it’s music.

Music has this amazing ability to create connections. What started with a passing interest in Sufi and Qawwali, picked up from a few random Bollywood movies here and there, slowly grew into a lasting respect for the genre and one artist in particular- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Of course, my exposure to his nephew, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s compositions has been greater, and due to the fact that though he remains primarily a Quawwali singer, he does perform lighter genres of music, like Ghazals, I find Rahat Fateh Ali Khan much easier to enjoy. The fact still remains that these amazingly talented and dedicated artistes have made me much more appreciative of the cultural richness of Pakistan.

Another medium that has made a difference to the way I viewed Pakistan, is the Bollywood movie industry. Movies like Veer Zaara went a long way in showing us how similar we are as a nation, and as a people. With time, there has been an increase in the number of movies which have tried to portray the various facets of our neighboring nation, one with whom we share so much in common. Tere Bin Laden, for example, depicted the ambitious, street-smart journalist played by Ali Zafar wonderfully, and displayed that Pakistanis can be just as canny as we pride ourselves to be. Such movies go a long way in changing our perceptions of a country that we’re just beginning to learn more about.

Indeed, it is this interest, created by intelligent and talented artistes, whether Indian or Pakistani, that will enable us to truly understand and appreciate each other’s countries, customs and cultures.

Mythreyi R.

Rotaract Club of Jyoti Nivas College

Pop Music in Pakistan

2011-08-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Pakistani pop music has had a long and illustrious history. Not only has Pakistani pop entertained the masses for years, it has also served to promote and improve the India-pakistan relationship. Names like Alamgir, Zoheb Hassan, and Nazia Hassan immediately come to mind when one delves into the origins of Pakistani pop. Also belonging to this industry are world famous names such as Vital Signs, Junoon, Strings, etc. With a track record like this, Pakistani pop has without a doubt become the most dominant pop music industry in South Asia.

With India producing hit after hit in terms of movies, the subcontinent was very much accustomed to playback singing. Therefore, when Pakistani singers like Alamgir began mixing western tunes with traditional subcontinent music, the youth readily embraced the new-born genre and made it an instant rage.

If the Pakistani Pop industry was only beginning to warm up during Alamgir’s time, the legendary duo of Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan set it on fire! The siblings produced some magical hits that remain all-time favorites to date. Some of these songs are “Disco Deewanay”, “Aap Jaisa Koi”, and “Dosti”. Zoheb & Nazia did not only shine at home, but gained international fame as well. Their songs did exceptionally well in Europe, South America, South Africa, and even as far away as Africa.

Later on, Vital Signs became the voice of the new generation and produced what may well be called Pakistan’s second national anthem, “Dil Dil Pakistan”. Pop music was truly on a roll in Pakistan. Many bands and artists followed suit and became icons for the youth in no time including Strings, Junoon, Awaz, Jupiters, etc.

During the Zia regime (1981-89), severe restrictions were put on the music industry, depriving the youth of quality entertainment. This hurt the local pop scene pretty bad and resulted in an exodus of artists to foreign lands in search of greener pastures. India provided an ideal platform for many of these singers and the Indian music and film industry readily welcomed Pakistani talent with open arms. Brands like Junoon, Ali Haider, Sajjad Ali, and others gained immense popularity in India mostly owing to MTV India and Channel V.

After Zia’s regime ended, even Lollywood started hiring Indian singers for some of their movie songs. This exchange of talent became a way for people from both sides of the border to connect and develop a mutual understanding. Music became a platform for people to people contact. Indian singers held concerts in Pakistan and vice versa.

Music has played a vital role over the years in finding common ground between Pakistan and India. As a result of open exchange of talent, a lot of Bollywood movies today feature songs by Pakistani singers such as Atif Aslam, Strings, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, etc. Similarly, Pakistani cinemas are now screening Bollywood movies as well with the Government’s approval. The theme song for an India-Pakistan peace project called “Aman ki Aasha” rightly says, “Nazar mein rehtay ho jab tum nazar nahin aatay, ye sur milatay hain, jab tum idhar nahin aatay”.

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Athar Ali Khan

Rotaract Club of Karachi Bay

The Indian Cinema

2011-08-14T14:12:00.001-07:00

Indian cinema industry made its foot print by the release of first full-length motion picture ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913 produced and released by Dadasaheb Phalke. It was a silent film, in which even the female characters were played by male actors. With the release of this film, saw the birth of the Indian film industry. Ever since, the Indian cinema has undergone a revolution, which has brought quality cinema to the audience world wide. It is the largest producer of movies and produces movies in around 24 regional languages. The Indian film industry is popularly known as ‘Bollywood’. It has showcased its cinemas at various international film festivals and won accolades worldwide. The Government of India also gives prestigious awards in recognition of the contribution made by cinemas in showcasing the culture and exceptionally good work in the field of arts. However, the way cinemas are progressing these days, a question is raised, ‘Cinemas portraying the reality or cinemas changing the reality?’

Many a times there are movies which are based on real life situations. Such movies try to analyse a situation, and portray it in such a way that they try to recreate the real life situation, for example movies like; ‘No one killed Jessica’, ‘Sardar’, ‘Gandhi’, etc. All these movies showcased the actual reality and made the audience aware of the reality. These movies sometimes play a vital role in motivating an individual or atleast creates a long lasting impression. These movies cover all the important aspects and the subject very well. But there are some movies which are based on social issues, but they sometimes propagate a wrong message. On one side they claim that the audience is changing and accepting new age cinemas and so such movies show larger than life picture. Some things in such movies are superficially placed and they are highlighted as the central theme of the movie.

Indian cinema thus has brought the much needed change in the society and handled some very sensitive issues in the most dramatic way that the audience has accepted. It has been competitive and grabbed attention of the audience worldwide. It has not just attracted audience but also investments from powerful foreign production houses. But there has been a threat to Indian cinema in the form of piracy, which is hampering the movie makers as the movie loses its charm and audience refrain from going to theatres. It’s in fact killing the originality and promoting unfair means of distribution. In coming years it is expected that Indian cinemas will give its audience a wide variety of entertainment and will establish itself as an industry with a mix of culture and heritage.

Rtr Aditya Awathare

Rotaract Club of Pune, Kalyaninagar.

LOLLYWOOD!

2011-08-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

akistani Cinema has seen its ups and downs since its inception but has clearly shown its strengths and talents to the world. Starting from 1950’s to 2000, several movies made a significant impact not only at the box office but also on the Pakistani society. The 50s were marked by the debut of Syed Shoukat Husain Rizvi, W.Z. Ahmed, Noor Jehan, Sibtain Fazli, Shamim Bano and others. They devoted not only their time, money and energy to establish and develop film industry in Pakistan but also completed Pakistan’s first full length feature film Teri Yaad with Nasir Khan (younger brother of Dilip Kumar) and Asha Posley in the romantic lead followed by some other hits including Ghulam, Shehri Babu, Sasi, Qatil, Inteqam & Gumnaam.

1956-1966, which is termed as a golden era for Pakistani movies, saw the debut of Nayyar Sultana including some of the greatest hits such as Ghoonghat, Anarkali, Wadah, Shaheed & Baji. Many Indian artists including Shiela Ramani and Timir Baran Bhattacharya came to Pakistan to work in Pakistani Films. This period also saw the birth of Bengali and Sindhi cinema in 1956, and marked the addition of Karachi and Dhaka film centers in the country though film centers were only restricted to Lahore at that time. Jago Hua Savera (1959) earned Pakistan whatever international prestige it has in the realm of cinema when it won gold medal at Moscow Film Festival. 70’s was more influenced by the development of the movies in regional languages as Pakistan lost its Eastern wing (Bangladesh now). It brought the famous actor of all time Rani and her husband Hasan Tariq to the forefront of the Pakistani Cinema and they were able to produce movies like Anjuman, Umrao Jan Ada etc. The era also observed the greatest hit Aina which created history by running in Karachi Cinema’s for 250 weeks. Last but not least the era cannot be mentioned without mentioning the name of the legends like Waheed Murand (Chocolate Hero), Nadeem, Muhammad Ali, Rangeela, and the singing legend Ahmed Rushdi. Pakistani Cinema became loud in the 80’s with the emergence of legends such as Sultan Rahi & Mustafa Qureshi and more Punjabi films focusing the rural culture prevalent at that time.

Cinema Industry in 90’s produced a chunk of film actors which we see on screen these days including Shaan, Reema, Resham , Babar Ali, Maumar Rana, Saud, Rambo, Saiba, Sana, Noor, Meera and directors such as Sangeeta, Syeed Noor, Javed Sheikh & Ajab gul who not only directed & produced some blockbuster hits like Choorian, Sangam, Daku Rani, Khilona, Deewanay Teray Pyar Kay and Ghoonghat but also played a vital role in the development of new talent and also bringing back the audience to the cinema houses.

The decade of 2000 is overwhelmed with the production of Movies such as Ramchand Pakistani by Mehreen Jabbar, and Khuda Kay Liay, Bol by a renowned director Shoaib Mansoor featuring some of the all time favorite celebs like Shaan, Emaan Ali, Atif Aslam and also some new talent like Humaima Malik, Fawad Khan & Maira Khan. The movies were not only able to create a buzz among the cinema goers but also attracted the young Pakistani audience to cinema along with the establishment of movie theatres like Cineplex ( Karachi ) , Cinepax ( Islamabad ) and opening of 3D Cinemas like Atrium in Karachi. The cinema has gone through difficult times but no doubt it has clearly shown its elegance with the production of wonderful blockbuster hits and with more in the pipeline such as Love Mein Gum featuring both Pakistani and Indian actors.

________________

Sheikh Hammad Amjad

Rotaract Club of Karachi Bay

HISTORY OF BOLLYWOOD

2011-08-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

The first films India watched were not made in Bollywood but cinema had indeed arrived on India’s shores. The year was 1896, and thanks to the country’s colonial rulers, it was the Lumiere Brothers who introduced the art of cinema to the sub-continent. Bombay, as it was then called, was the first Indian city to screen Cinematography, six short films by these cinematic pioneers.

But it was a portrait photographer called Harischandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar who made Indian ‘motion picture' history. His short ‘reality’ film screened in 1899 was called The Wrestlers and was a simple recording of a local wrestling match.

SILENT ERA TO TALKIES

It was only after the turn of the century that Indian entertainment underwent a sea change when the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, released his pathbreaking film of the Silent Era, Raja Harishchandra. The film, based on a mythological character, was released in 1913 and was India’s first full-length feature film. Yes, Bollywood had finally arrived!
The growth of technology and the excitement it generated the world over eventually gave birth of India’s first ‘talking and singing’ film – Alam Ara made by Ardeshir Irani and screened in Bombay in 1931.
Finally, India’s actors had found a voice. They could talk, they could shout, they could even cry, and they could do one more thing – sing for their audiences! It was a gift that remains the signature of the quintessential Hindi film to date.
Developments in the world of Indian cinema were rapid and the 1930s and 1940s saw the rise of film personalities such as Debaki Bose, Chetan Anand, S S Vasan and Nitin Bose, among others.
In the meantime, the film industry had made rapid strides in the South, where Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films were taking South India by storm. By the late 1940s, films were being made in various Indian languages with religion being the dominant theme.

GOLDEN AGE

India’s struggle for independence in the 1950s finally parted the curtain on the Golden Age of Indian cinema. This historic period provided a strong impetus to the industry, with themes changing to social issues relevant at the time. Sure they were entertaining but the movies were now also a potent medium to educate the masses.

But it was the Golden Age – 1950s and 1960s – that produced some of India’s most critically acclaimed films and memorable actors of all time. Among those in Bollywood’s hall of fame are Guru Dutt, Mehboob Khan, Raj Kapoor, Balraj Sahani, Nargis, Bimal Roy, Meena Kumari, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar.

So while the Guru Dutts and Bimal Roys held audiences in a trance, Indian cinema moved one step further with the release of K Asif`s Mughal-e-Azam in 1960. The film kickstarted a trail of romantic movies all over India.

While Indian commercial cinema enjoyed popularity among movie-goers, Indian art cinema did not go unnoticed. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ritwik Ghatak, Aravindan, Satyajit Ray, Shaji Karun and several other art film directors were making movies that took India to international fame and glory.

THE MASALA MOVIE

The masala film – the quintessential Bollywood entertainer – burst onto the scene only in the 1970s. And audiences were enthralled by the histrionics of actors such as Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Asha Parekh, Tanuja and others.

This was Bollywood’s heyday, a time when director Ramesh Sippy gave us his iconoclastic Sholay (1975). The film, which has been internationally acclaimed, also clinched the title of ‘superstar’ for Amitabh Bachchan, who already had well over 30 films under his belt by then.

The 1980s saw the rise of several woman directors such as Aparna Sen, Prema Karnath and Meera Nair. It was also the decade when sultry siren Rekha wooed audiences with her stunning performance in Umrao Jaan (1981).

TECHNOLOGY RULES

The 1990s ushered in a mixed genre of romantic films, thrillers, action movies and comedy films. Gradually, the face of Indian cinema was changing once again. Technology now gave us Dolby digital sound effects, advanced special effects, choreography and international appeal. This brought investments from the corporate sector along with finer scripts and performances.

It was time to shift focus to aesthetic appeal. And stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Rajnikanth, Madhuri Dixit, Aamir Khan, Chiranjeevi, Juhi Chawla and Hrithik Roshan began to explore ways to use new techniques to enrich Indian cinema with their performances.

GLOBAL APPEAL

Indian cinema finally found global mass appeal at the turn of the 21st century. As the world became a global village, the industry reached out further to international audiences.

Apart from regular screenings at major international film festivals, the overseas market contributes a sizeable chunk to Bollywood’s box office collections. Investments made by major global studios such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros was confirmation that Bollywood had etched itself on the global psyche.

Prominent Indian corporate firms such as Zee, UTV and Adlabs also jumped onto the Bollywood bandwagon, to both produce and distribute films. This coupled with the multiplex boom across India made fame and fortune soar to new heights.

Such was the excitement in the industry that by 2003, as many as 30 film production companies had been listed on the National Stock Exchange.

Cinema in India remains the single largest entertainer to date. And despite technology such as Direct-to-Home TV bringing the movies straight into the living room, the marquee still rules.

Rtr. Puja Vora

Rotaract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park