Statement of Purpose- FTII FAC May 2018

 Growing up in the pre-television era, cinema was the only audio-visual entertainment available. But then, watching a film was in the theatre was a privilege to be earned by acing the academics-‘get first rank and be rewarded with movie tickets’, was the family rule. Thus, though I did not realize it then, movies steered me towards academic excellence.

Cinema to me meant not just entertainment but education and awareness as well. It was my window to the world of literature, aesthetics and performing arts. Fascinated by my mother’s recounting of scenes from the movie Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind, I would binge-read the novels. That marked the beginning of my voracious reading habit leading to a degree in literature. I developed an ear for music too, thanks to Binaca Geetmala on Vividh Bharati. Encouraged by a family that allowed me to watch ‘good’ films and discuss them at the dinner table, anecdotes of our movie experiences are part of the family lore. A family that sees movies together, stays together for sure!

Why study film appreciation at all? Why study something that I enjoy anyway? Well, it’s an organic growth process to want to understand the creative energy and passion that goes into the making of the final product. Maybe that’s the reason I attend events like Padharpan at FTII and talk sessions with technicians, music directors and movie makers with fervour. There is so much one can learn about the art and craft of the silver screen. I perceive cinema to be the only inter-disciplinary and consummate form of entertainment available to the common man and the most affordable irrespective of one’s personal, social or political identity. Enchanted by its universal appeal, I have always wondered- why and how are certain shots/frames conceived in a particular way? How can one even conceive of themes like Inception, Jurassic Park or Avatar- leave alone transform it onto the silver screen? What’s the need for the song sequence- to break the monotony or to shift the focus? Why do our desi film makers see movies as two halves with an interval in between and not as a whole? And many such questions. I have noticed with interest how films of the 50s and 60s appealed to certain angst and concerns of the common man, the rise of the experimental art/parallel cinema in the 70s and 80s and the romance- driven 90s. Today, with the advent of technology like 3D, 4D, VFX and VR, the magic of cinema is breaking new grounds. Platforms like the internet, NETFLIX and Amazon Prime impact the content, style and grammar of film-making. Whatever be the format or genre, films are here to stay as a favoured channel of creative entertainment. My strongest desire to not just to have a clinical understanding of films but also to sharpen and nurture the cinephile in me. A course on film appreciation will certainly enlighten me on the development of this art form and its journey to the modern times through lectures, film viewings, discussions and interactions with stalwarts from the industry. I’m sure to discover subtle charms and nuances in films that I had not even noticed before and to appreciate how technology aids the creative flights of fancy in modern day masterpieces. And which better institution from, than FTII to learn it all? The Institute is a formidable brand as a school of cinema, given the pantheon of its illustrious alumni who never fail to credit their alma mater for nurturing and honing their talent. It’s a legitimate desire to walk the corridors that they inhabited and be enlightened by its curriculum.

 I have been a regular delegate at the Pune International Film Festival for several years now and have enjoyed watching regional and international films. What I enjoy, I value and wish to share the joy wherever and whenever possible. As a soft skills trainer and English Language Instructor, I have incorporated snippets from movies to embellish my training sessions on interpersonal skills, office etiquette, gender sensitivity, body language, ethics, confidence and team building, language proficiency and the like. Going beyond an enduring interest, my love for cinema has proved to be a support. I maintain a bilingual blog with musings on movies among other things. I also host quizzes on movie trivia in social gatherings. Efforts are on o launch a YouTube channel exclusively on movie reviews as an amateur critic (if I may dare call myself so). There’s also the possibility of having discussions around movies with the participants of my training workshops by helping them understand and analyse their own perceptions and personalities through their reaction to the movies. There is so much to look backward to with pride and so much to look forward to with hope. The anticipation of embarking on the Film Appreciation Course is exciting because picture abhi bhi bakki hai, dost!

I have been a regular delegate at the Pune International Film Festival for several years now and have enjoyed watching regional and international films. What I enjoy, I value and wish to share the joy wherever and whenever possible. As a soft skills trainer and English Language Instructor, I have incorporated snippets from movies to embellish my training sessions on interpersonal skills, office etiquette, gender sensitivity, body language, ethics, confidence and team building, language proficiency and the like. Going beyond an enduring interest, my love for cinema has proved to be a support. I maintain a bilingual blog with musings on movies among other things. I also host quizzes on movie trivia in social gatherings. Efforts are on o launch a YouTube channel exclusively on movie reviews as an amateur critic (if I may dare call myself so). There’s also the possibility of having discussions around movies with the participants of my training workshops by helping them understand and analyse their own perceptions and personalities through their reaction to the movies. There is so much to look backward to with pride and so much to look forward to with hope. The anticipation of embarking on the Film Appreciation Course is exciting because picture abhi bhi bakki hai, dost!

LET'S COME CLOSER

 What would you say about the workshop on parenthood organized by the Chinmaya Foundation? That it was Educative, entertaining and much more.

Shri Kulpathi Balakrishna Joshi, in his inaugural speech at the Andhra Mahila Sabha on 6^th August, defined parenthood as a ‘sacred responsibility’. In phrases felicitous he remarked how unwittingly modern parents ape the cuckoo that deposits its eggs elsewhere, thus bidding farewell to its duty all so conveniently. This is often so, for the creche and the school have succeeded-though they can never replace-the home as citadels of culture. He called for a social warfare against demoralizing cinema and strikes that corrode a child’s morality. Mrs. Y G Parthasarathy hit the nail on the head when she emphasized the embodiment of values over their enforcement. Being an educationist herself, she decried the pity of television taking over the mantle of surrogate parents. Like a calculator-cultured mind that has forgotten the numerical tables, she opined, we would rather push the child towards TV and Video games than share with him the magic of the waves or the music of a cataract. Perhaps Kamla Das was just too correct: ‘your rooms are always lit by artificial lights and your windows always shut’.

Here is a word of advice to indulgent parents from DR Papakumari – feed restriction and control too in childhood, though in a mild dosage; this would make the child stoic in the face of shocks and disappointments, later. She condemned the present-day-pupil’s routine: music, dance, sports, class work and the inevitable home work which make life a ‘rigorous rigmarole’. She was quick to point out how this tension makes the child’s entity more of a drill than a thrill.

The next day dawned with the Bala Vihar activities being outlined by two Sevikas. Bala Vihar catches the ‘giggling things’ young and imbibes in them traits of honesty and courage. Charity in Chinmaya Foundation begins with children. The fore-noon session saw a lecture rid of awesome jargon by MS. Shyamala Nagarajan on nutrition. She proved to be a connoisseur at that and the audience eventually became gourmets. Mrs. Padma Narasimhan had everyone spellbound with her talk on the relevance of Gita. Karma Yoga, she prescribed is a vitamin forte for the mind. Benefit we did, and we will by that panacea.

In the modern world, where generation gap has become the burning problem, the group discussions proved most assuring. Transactional Analysis, as expounded by Ms Lily Neelankavil, treated the ‘parent effect’ in a logical way. Her clarion call was, ‘don’t dwarf the child’s identity beneath your monstrous ego; give him a sense of belonging, not of possessing’. Mr Gary Miller’s ‘effective communication’ was everything of a grand treat. What with live demonstrations and self-evaluation tests, it was a pleasure to be reminded of our values. Mr Miller denounced the dichotomy between ‘do as I do’ and ‘do as I say’. The catchy poster ‘ I would rather you walk with me than point the way’ was his focal point.

The open session which was something of an epilogue, dispelled what few doubts there could have been. There weren’t any ‘resolutions galore’, yet a consensus was reached. All parents agreed to spare the rod- thank you dears, we too would spare you the bother. Here are a few points to ponder-what if the child is a bit dim or naughty? Roses do have thorns, yet isn’t the rose sweet? Childhood is a symbolic dreamland, your care and caress will enhance the sweetness-like a dimple on a smiling cheek…..