24 EYES

An affectionate teacher can never be emotionally sane. The real meaning of the word 'teacher' is always a question of debate in this fast world seeking academic excellence. Keisuke Kinoshita’s ‘24 Eyes’ is an evergreen craft of celluloid visualizing student-teacher relationship. Hideko Takamine and Chisher Ryu play the lead roles in this 154 min Japanese movie.The film also picturises the sufferings of ordinary people afflicted by the casualities of World War II.

Oishi in 24 Eyes is a teacher who finds meaning in keeping emotional attachment with her students. Hideko Takamine gives life to the character of Oishi. The 24 innocent eyes of her 6 year old students get imprinted in her heart. When all teachers taught the students to be patriotic and join the army, Oishi believes that it is better to live as a poor fisherman or store keeper. She prefers long life of her kids.As Oishi evolves from 'Miss Pebble' to 'Cry-Baby teacher', she finds new values and meanings of life which were absurdities during the time of hunger,war and tears.

The nursery rhymes and songs of the kids in the first part of the film evoke childhood memories in the minds of the viewers. A realistic approach to life gives a classical touch to this movie.

Extreme long shots are used in most touching scenes of the film. The serene village atmosphere used by Kinoshita merges with the purity of the theme. Sentimentality is used brilliantly in this film.

‘24 Eyes’ is a treasure for all those who atleast imagined about the fragrance of teacher-student relationship. The film is for all the students who crave to meet a teacher who can inspire,understand, care and love them..A teacher who is more happy to see you as a humanbeing-just an ordinary person who values living.

Luttu

We parted second time in our life.Though its painful,I was sure that it won't break me down.I'll forget about it in the busy schedule of practicals,internals,seminars and so on..

But a terrible thing waited for me here at the hostel.I saw sympathy in the eyes of her friends
When I came back from the prayer hall,her room-mate came near me and consoled ."It won't affect us.We tasted it once",I told her. "But you used to see her before and after your prayer.Don't get depressed",she patted at my shoulders.I reached my room somehow.When I opened the door,tears clouded my eyes.

Dews from my eyes..

If I can break it
Destroy it completely
And build a new one
Which is strong,
Strong from the basement..

EIGHT-HALF

Eight-half can be regarded as the autobiographical masterpiece of Federico Fellini

Fellini represents himself through the character of Guido, a reputed writer and film director experiencing writer’s block. As in the content of Guido’s film, this 133 minute film is also a chain of bizarre episodes which add to the ambivalent realism.8 1/2 is a confusing but fascinating mixture of childhood memories, nostalgia, guilty feeling, plans, dreams and muddle of the director.

“I thought my ideas were clear. I wanted to make an honest film , with no lies of any kind. I thought I had something so simple to say. A film that could be useful to everyone, that would help to bury all that’s dead inside us. But I don’t have the courage to bury anything. Now I have shambles in my head and this tower in my hands”, Guido says. He has absolutely nothing to say. But he makes a vain attempt to say it.
The film criticizes the Catholic church through the Cardinal who says, “Outside the church there is no salvation. Outside the church no one shall be saved.”

The black-and-white film switches from memories, dream and reality clarifying the confusion of Guido and Fellini himself. The viewers are plunged into same confusion that the director experiences. The startling originality with which thoughts, dreams and reality are mixed up spots his exceptional talent.

Eight-half is written by Ennion Flaiano,Tullio Pinelli,Federico Fellini and Brunello Rondi.Marcello Mastroianni,Claudia Cardinale ,Anouk Aimee and Sandra Milo play the lead roles.

APARAJITO--The Unvanquished

In Aparajito,Satyajith Ray tells about dogged persistance.Its about the determination demanded by traditional Indian situations to survive.

The film is adapted from' Aparajta',a novel written by Bibhutibhushan Banerjee. 'Aparajito' is the second in Satyajith Ray's 'Apu trilogy'--Pather Panchali,Aparajito and Apur Sansar
Each shot and the fim as a whole creates a feeling of serenity in viewers.

Aparajito deals with the chain of events that happens in a traditional Indian family which tries to rise up from abject poverty.The small family comprising Harihar,Sabojaya and their son Apu comes to Benaras with dreams of a simple life with financial security.

Harihar performs religious rituals at Ganges to earn their living.Their life goes on peacefully until Harihar dies .Since then the mother and son strives to continue their life.They donot give up confidence anywhere in their life.

After the death of husband,Sarbojaya works as a housemaid and earns money to live.Later the mother and son goes back to their remote village with Apu's grand uncle.The boy starts working as a priest and also attends the afternoon classes in a nearby school.

Apu gets a scolarship for higher studies in Calcutta.Though Sarbojaya refuses at first ,she allows his son to continue his studies.She gives him money that she saved while working at Benaras.

When Apu goes to Calcutta,Sarbojaya feels desperately lonely.She tries to hide the aches of both her body and mind from her son.

Through Sarbojaya,Ray gives a flash of a 'strong' Indian mother with all tender feelings.She worries about her husbands health,smiles at good comments on her cooking,dreams about the success of son and sighs in loneliness.But she strengthens herself and smiles at all adversities.She doesn't give up hope in terrible poverty or in the death of her husband or daughter.

Apu cries like a baby when he comes to know about the death of his mother.But he remains persistant in that terrible reality also.He returns to Calcutta to continue his studies in the last part of the film.

Aparajito is presented by Sony Pictures Classics in association with The Merchant And Ivory Foundation Ltd.Pinaki Sen Gupte,Samaran Ghosal and Karana Banerji play the lead roles.

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

'Somethings are best left unsaid'.But in Swashank Redemption, Frank Darabont says such things with a matchless perfection.The film is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella.

The film finely carves the life of institutionalized prisoners in the minds of viewers.

Andy Dufresne,the main character is an innocent banker convicted for murdering his wife and her lover.
Red,an Irish prisoner narrates the life in Shawashank State Prison.Red is known in Shwashank as a man who knows to get things.

In the film Red tells about Andy Dufresne,his icy character and his prison life in Shawshank.."He looked as if a sniff breeze would blow him over.That was my first impression of that man",Red recollects.

Red gives a clear picture of the terrible experiences that a prisoner goes through."The first night is the toughest.No doubt about it.They march you naked as the day you were born,skin burning and half blind from that delousing shit",he says.Shawshank also gives a thumb-nail sketch of homosexuality in prison life.

Andy welcomed his misfortune with a meaningful silence.Red and others were sure that Andy would open his mouth to somebody within two weeks.Red became surprised when that somebody turned out to be him.In the first conversation Andy told Red that he needed a rock hammer.

In 1949 Andy asked Red to smuggle Rita Hayworth into the prison.Since then he hanged girlies on the wall.
Later Andy became an unusual pet for the prison authorities.He used his comprehensive knowledge in banking to channel the river of dirty money for the jail authorities,especially for the warden Samuel Norton.

Red recollects Andy's words about the 'silent' silent partner whom he made up to save Norton's money.. One Randall Stevens from the air with an ID card,driving liscense and security card.
"The funny thing is that outside I was an honest man,straight as an arrow.I had came to the prison to be a crook",Andy told Red.

Through the film Darabont tells about institutionalization in a touching way.He does this through Haywood's character.Authorities released Haywood after a 50 year jail-life in Shawshank.Unable to adjust with the outside world,he commits suicide.

"These walls are funny.First you hate them.Then you get used to them.Enough time passes.So you depend on them",Red says.

Andy discussed his dream about a free life in Zihuataneijo,an island in the Pacific which is free from memories.Red warned his friend that hope is a dangerous thing which will make man insane.

In 1966 the day after the discussion with Red,Andy escaped from Swashank.Rita was hiding Andy's secret.The jail autorities got confused at the disappearence of the man from the cell.With a rock hammer that would need 600 years for a man to make a tunnel to the outside world,Andy made a tunnel and crawled to freedom with less than 20 years.

Red says that in prison a man will do almost anything to keep his mind occupied.Andy built a good library in the jail,carved stones using rock hammer,hang girlies on the wall,trained Tommy Williams for the exams,did free bank work for jail authorities..But his favourite pass time was digging his tunnel of freedom.

Later Red is released from the jail.Then he goes through the real torture that an institutionalized prisoner faces in the outside world.It was even difficult for him to piss without permission.Sleepless nights and a deep haunting fear waited for him.Red also decides to die at the same place where Heywood committed suicide.

But Red couldnot leave his life without going to the Hayfield near Buxon.It was a promise to Andy at their last meeting.There he finds a letter from his friend and some money."Remember Red,hope is a good thing and may be the best of things.and no good thing ever dies",Andy wrote .He informed Red that he was waiting at his dreamland for a man who knows to get things.

Andy passes 'hope' to Red also.Red decides to 'get a busy living or a busy dying'.His decision to lick the juice of freedom to the lees instills a passion for life in the minds of viewers .

'Shawshank Redemption' is presented by Castle Rock Entertainment.Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman play the lead roles brilliantly.

The Passion of Anna...

'You spoke about truth.Think about truth.You are in such a gastly deception .When you talk about happiness a love you leave a trail of lies behind..All are lies'



In Ingmar Bergman's 'Passion of Anna' we can feel the touch of a creative genious once again.As in other Bergman magics, a novelty in narration is waiting for the viewers.



'The Passion of Anna' revolves around Anna,who reiterates about truth but goes on with the 'trail of lies' and violence.The other characters in the film are Andreas,Elis ,Eva and Anderson.



The film goes on piercing deeper and deeper into the heart of each character.In the interludes sprinkled throughout the film,the actors explain their opinion about the inner self of their characters.


Novelty lies in the narrative style of presentation.In the first part of the film,Andreas Winkelman repairing the roof of the house is introduced with a narration."His name is Andreas Winkelman and he is 48.He lives alone in an island out at the sea.The roof is in despair and is leaking in earnest after the autumn rains."

Anna always recollects love and passion in the married life with Andreas,who died in an accident.Later she marries Andreas Winkelman accepting the suggestion of Elis,the husband of Anna's best friend Eva.

The married life of Anna and Andreas is also narrated with originality."Andreas and Anna lived happily.There were a few violent quarrels also..''.........

Even after the marriage with the second Andreas,Anna continues with her hypocrisy.According to Andreas Anna's life is a 'God-damn acting'.Whenever Anna refers to the love and truthfulness of her both married lives ,the lines from the letter of Anna's late husband flashes through the mind of Andreas... ........ 'I will not give in as it will only lead to new complications,which in heir turn will bring terrible mental disturbances..physical and psychological acts of violence..'

Andreas lives humiliated at heart without self respect."Can we be sick with humiliation.We talk much about freedom.Is that a drug a humiliated uses to endure?",he asks.

Eva is a tender lady who can be influenced by anyone.She loves her husband from the depth of her heart but regrets that she is a burden to her husband.Elis also loves his wife but he tries to remain dispassionate to all his relations.He likes to be indifferent to his own and other's life.

John Anderson's character wets the eyes of the viewers.He is accused as the brutal animal killer of the island.People attack him and piss on his face.As in other Bergman films,Passion of Anna also gives a silent message of nonviolence through Anderson's character.

Anna's passion throws Andreas' life also in ruins.At the end Anna and Andreas part.The film ends with a thought provoking narration."This time he was called Andreas Winkelman"

Three Colour :BLUE

She left her house,relations and all possessions.She took only a chandelier..a chandelier of blue beads.But she failed to free herself from the golden chains of attachments...

Krzysztof Kieslowskie's 'BLUE' tells about liberty,emotional liberty if pointed precisely.The film is first among Kieslowskie's trilogy-BLUE WHITE and RED based on French revolutionary ideas.

The director warms to the theme throughJulie,the widow of a famous composer Patrice de Courcy.Julie loses her husband and daughter in an accident.When she realizes that she doesnot have the courage to commmit suicide,Julie wishes to be free from all emotions ."I dont want friends ,money or love anymore.They are all traps",she hugs detachment to save herself from the trauma.

She also gets rid of Olivier who loves her.She does this in a strange way.After inviting Olivier to her house one night,Julie bids farewell to him next morning saying,"Now you understood that Iam like others and you will not miss me"

She destroys her husbands composition for the concert for 'the unification of Europe' before leaving.She starts a new life as a stranger in a new place.

Julie tries to be reticent about her feelings and thoughts,though that was not her real character

In the new place also Julie fails to resist new attachments.The discovery of the love affair of Patrice leads to a recoil in Julie's decision and provokes her to go back to normal life.Relations pull her back with the string of love

At the last part of the film the composition for the 'Unity of Europe 'is played and the faces of the people who beckoned Julie back to the awesome world of attachments appear in the screen.

'If I can talk like an angel
And I have no love
I will be a copper ringing
If I can prophesy
And I have no love
I will be nothing
Love is patient
Love is kind
It bears all things
And knows everything
If never ends
Prophecy gone
If languages silent,
Knowledge nothing
Languages silent
And only stays
Faith hope and love.
But the biggest one
from the three
Is LOVE'

The film ends leaving reverberations of the theme and Kieslowskie's visual feast in the minds of viewers...

COSMOS

Part 13-Who Speaks For Earth?
Since time immemorial our ancestors started thinking about life and death...blessing and curse...They nourished a passion for intelligence.From that they developed tools to survive,prosper and to search other civilizations.

This passion helped them to develop nuclear weapons.But after a nuclear war there will be no more big questions..no more answers..no more voyages to stars..no more song from the earth..

In 'Who speaks For Earth',Carl Sagan points out the threats posed by nuclear weapons."Every thinking person knows about nuclear war and its effects.Every technological naton plans it.Everyone knows about its madness.But every country has an excuse",he says.

Every year a trillion dollar is spend for wars.Nuclear weapons speak for natons.Who speaks for earth?Who speaks for human species?

The documentary visualises the flourish of human civilization-the story of Greeks,Romans,Alexandria and the fate of the great library in Alexandria.History is full of people who feared ignorance.The lust for knowledge and power decided the destiny of civilizations.

To instill the awefulness of of the destruction due to wars,the beginning of the universe is explained.The clouds of Hydrogen gas formed due to the Big Bang formed the galaxies.The ash formed by the fusion of Hydrogen became the raw material for life.Life evolved gradually..

We are creatures of 'cosmos ' who are curious about our origin and relation with the universe.There may be different civilizations.But we are one species.

'The sacred truth of science is that there is no sacred truth' Science is the best tool to explore the cosmos.'Who speaks for Earth' underlines that our duty is to wonder about the cosmos..not to fight eachother.
The documentary is written by Carl Sagan,Aan Druyan and Steven Soter.The series is directed by Adrian Malone.

COSMOS

part 9 -Lives Of The Stars

We are made of the star's elements! Carl Sagan's Life Of The Stars reveals the mystery of the Cosmos.Its vastness...its majesty...

The beauty of the natural world is made of 92 chemically distinct elements .A change in the number of protons and neutrons forms a new element.

An atom is the key to the puzzle of the universe.Its just an empty space with electrons revolving around the nucleus-a small model of solar system.With similar forces working on it.Its gravitational force in solar system,but attractive and nuclear forces in an atom.

'Lives Of Stars' predicts the fate of our sun and ofcourse 'our fate'.The documentary foretells the death of earth after 500 years.Then the 'red gaint' of our sun will engulf neighbouring planets including our earth.The ash from todays fusion will be the fuel for the sun in its final days.

The red gaints will form supernovas.The star will become a single massive atomic nucleus.Then the star will turn to a 'black hole' where even light is imprisoned.

Carl Sagan assumes that a black hole leads to another reality-another universe.'The Cosmos is riding The Gravity Express'.

The documentary is by Carl Sagan ,Aan Druyan and Steven Soter.The series is directed by Adrian Malone

MYTH BUSTERS

Man's anxiety to chase the secret behind explosions is dissolved in his blood.Explosions are not new for life.The starting point of life and universe is an explosion-a Big Bang! The reason for the constant eagerness about explosions may be this fact.

Myth Busters gives a brave effort to reveal the mysteries behind some explosions.The documentary unviels the puzzle behind gasoline explosions,bursts due to implants and exploding CD's.

The truth is found out by experimenting each assumption.The critical examination of the assumptions gives a clear conclusion.

Assumptions may not be the truth.But they can show the door to truth.Science is the chase after assumptions!

The documentary is hosted by Tamie Hyneman and Adam Savage and is edited by Philippa Rowlands.The production is by Beyond Production Pvt Ltd for Discovery Channel

FREEDOM OR LIFE?

---Tale Of Two Girls

They were two seperate individuals..With different views,dreams and aspirations.Twenty eight years they lived together,with a deep desire for getting seperated.

Their 'pain of life' brought them fame.The whole world watched them as the eldest siamese twins.But they wished to be seperated.

Ladan and Laleh sighed looking at their fused heads in the mirror.They flew to Singapore when they heard about the successful seperation of conjoined twins at Raffles Hospital,Singapore by Dr.Keith Goh."

Their case was very complicated.A part of the brains of Ladan and Laleh was fused at the central part.I told them about the risk of the surgery",says Dr.Keith.The girls asked for a few days to think.Their decision was to face any risk.They prefered death to a long life without individuality..They waited patiently for that event.

As the days passed,the girls started showing difference even in their behaviour.Ladan became more talkative but Laleh was more reserved.Infact Ladan was more tensed.Though the girls dreamed a free life,there was a fear in the depthof their hearts.The girls started wearing clothes of different colours.They wanted to scream to the world that they were seperate individuals.

During that long waiting they celebrated their 29th birthday.A huge cake was ready for the celebration--a cake in the shape of two hearts,joined at the middle.Three of them-Ladan,Laleh and Dr.Keith cut the cake at the middle and seperated the two hearts.

"The most pathetic fact was that it was very difficult for them to sleep.When one felt sleepy, the other wished to lie in darkness with opened eyes.But they managed it 29years",Dr.Keith recollects.

The challenge faced by Dr.Keith was enormous.But their desire gave him encouragement.They knew that the surgery would decide their destiny and their whole life was to accomplish that destiny.He knew that sometimes the result would be blindness, paralysis or even death of one or both of the girl.

The twins became more and more optimistic as the days passed.They dreamed of sitting in different chairs and doing what eachone liked.A huge bed entered the Operation Theatre carrying the twins."She kissed me before the operation and said 'bye..' ",says Ladan's friend.

A team of doctors including Neurosurgeons and Anesthestists from different parts of the world attended the surgery.Dr.Keith Goh and Dr.Ben Carson lead the team."We are your kids.Take care of us as you care your own children.They told us before the operation",says Dr Ben.

After a few hours Ladan died of hemorrage.It was a shocking news to friends and relatives who believed that they would live as two energetic twins after the operation.They knew that it would be terrible for Laleh to live without Ladan.After 5 hours Laleh also followed her sister...

Dr.Keith remained silent for 24 hours after the surgery.The next day he cried to relieve his pain.It is not good for a doctor to do so.Yet he wept.

a flashback.................

Laleh:Will you go away from me after the surgery?

Ladan:I will get rid of you and escape.

Laleh:hmmm..

Ladan:I was just kidding.Even after the surgery,noone will be able to seperate us..

wandering through the snowfilled peaks for peace!

I am in search of the most consistant state of mind.
Some says that love remains forever..
will it?
No!
Hatred?
Never!
Its in between the two.
The art of viewing things and incidents as a mere observer-its too far from me..
A stage without any emotions and attachments.
Relations-just like a flower, momentary beauty and fragrance.
Satisfaction?
Lasts just for days.
I wish to see a snake just as a 'snake'
no fear.. no hatred..
That one-fourth of each second is the crucial challenge.
Who am I??
What is my role in this play?
Darkness..
Atleast I want to be the mistress of my mind.

Presidential elections..

The leader of the nation can change
the destiny of the nation.
An efficient leader can show
the path for the progress of the nation.
Is it right to mix election of the President of India
with political affairs?
Politics has the power to save a nation.
But it can also destroy the nation.
Think of INDIA
without poverty and unemployment..
Think about the
HARDWORKING INDIANS(we can bid farewell to laziness)
CELEBRATING LIFE!!

botanical minutes...

Onam celebrations.The campus is in a festive mood.Laughter and colours all around.Winning 'attapookkalam' competition is very important for Botany department(plants and flowers are our property.Others beware!)

Students are busy in making model pookkalam.The Botany professor is giving them instructions.He says,"Place 'Calotropus' at the margins and 'Ixora' inside the circle.The young botanists blinks.The teacher looks at the young botanists staring at him.His eyes pleads,"Oh God when will you save me"

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Practical hour.
Students are sitting inside the lab.Microscopes,needles,stains etc above each table.
Young Botanist:Look friends.Hanuman is arriving carrying Marutvamala.
Oh KK is also with him.
(The lab assistant enters the room with a handful of stems and roots.Teacher is also with him).Small pieces of stems and roots are ready for practicals.

Teacher looks through the microscope and asks,"Where is the epidermis"

Young botanist replies,"sir..it is at the centre"

The teacher's face turns red with anger.He shouts,"Coming for practicals without knowing the 'basic' facts!"

The youg botanist gives a victorious smile and answers,"It is at the 'base' sir"

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