Sunday, November 12, 2006
This weekend, 3rd I San Francisco is organizing the 2006 Annual South Asian Film Festival.
Yesterday, I watched two films - The Forsaken Land and Omkara - from a truly impressive lineup of films. Later today, I will write more on the films, especially on The Forsaken Land, a brilliant Sri Lankan montage of images and [...]
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King Bhoja has a simple desire. He wants his friend Kalidasa to sing Bhoja’s carama sloka, eulogy.
Bhoja knows that he is inviting death with his request. Overwhelming is that desire to hear how his dearest friend, the greatest poet to have ever lived, might express his sorrow. Naturally, Kalidasa refuses to oblige Bhoja, even at [...]
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
The film, Immadi Pulakeshi, revolves around the well known story of Chalukya emperor, Pulakeshi’s life, documented in his famous Aihole inscription: his early struggles to ascend the Chalukya throne, rightfully his but now occupied by his capable uncle Mangalesha; his troubled relationship with his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana, whom he established as the ruler of Vengi [...]
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Madhumalati has three suitors, and she likes them all. The nature of her feelings towards each of them isn’t clear to her but she has to choose one of them before she turns sixteen; otherwise, according to her astrological charts, she would die. Remember this is a pre-modern story and don’t shake your head in [...]
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Panels and the festivities at the Ronapalooza (especially my lousy paper) wore me out completely. Yesterday, I didn’t have the energy to post my conference notes nor did I feel like writing on Rajkumar’s historical film, Ranadhira Kanthirava. Today seems to be no better but this being a monday - and also a day filled [...]
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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
His songs play in the background, quietly, melodiously, hauntingly, from every corner of my apartment in Chicago. I am unable to go across the street, to my office in Judd Hall. Work will have to wait. Today and the days to come are about coming to terms with the passing of a man I liked [...]