Wonderful tool for getting to know your way around Mumbai. It would be nice to have a map though.
August 22, 2003
July 26, 2003
Penguin Books India
Excellent listing of Indian, and India-themed books published by Penguin. I have used this site often to find books that are hard to find in bookstores in the US. These can be bought online at the few sites that are mentioned under the "how to buy" section. I especially like the India Book Club site modeled after Amazon. The only issue: Book prices here are quite high.
July 17, 2003
Kishore Kumar
I just read the definitive biography of Kishore Kumar, written by Kishore Valicha, and published by Penguin India. Very analytical (given that the author has a PhD in Film Studies, that was to be expected), but contains a good number of anecdotes about Kishore-da. It also contains excellent background information on the Hindi film industry. The emergence of the stars in the 1950s (Raj Kapoor - Dilip Kumar - Dev Anand) and the differing themes and subjects of films are explored.
In the context of Kishore Kumar as a comic actor, Valecha argues that prior to Raj Kapoor's integration of the comic with the main ccharacter, "comedy" was not seen as mainstream Hindi cinema. He also goes on to describe Kishore Kumar's unique comic talents, and spontaneous energy.
In the most significant part of the book, Valecha traces Kishore Kumar as a singer through the 1950s to the 1980s. In the process, he presents nice analysis of the evolution of Hindi film music, from its classical/ folk Indian roots, to the influence of western music and orchestration. He also describes in detail the musical styles and inspirations of various music directors through those decades. Kishore Kumar's unique, untrained voice, and ability to express emotion through his voice, and improvisational skills are also mentioned in great detail, with several examples of his best songs.
Valecha also describes Kishore Kumar's personality and its various contrasting traits. The child in him that possesses boundless energy, the loneliness, the longing for the simple life of Khandwa and other uniquely Kishore facts creates a nice portait.
On the whole, it is an excellent book. I found it to be a bit too analytical for my taste.
In the context of Kishore Kumar as a comic actor, Valecha argues that prior to Raj Kapoor's integration of the comic with the main ccharacter, "comedy" was not seen as mainstream Hindi cinema. He also goes on to describe Kishore Kumar's unique comic talents, and spontaneous energy.
In the most significant part of the book, Valecha traces Kishore Kumar as a singer through the 1950s to the 1980s. In the process, he presents nice analysis of the evolution of Hindi film music, from its classical/ folk Indian roots, to the influence of western music and orchestration. He also describes in detail the musical styles and inspirations of various music directors through those decades. Kishore Kumar's unique, untrained voice, and ability to express emotion through his voice, and improvisational skills are also mentioned in great detail, with several examples of his best songs.
Valecha also describes Kishore Kumar's personality and its various contrasting traits. The child in him that possesses boundless energy, the loneliness, the longing for the simple life of Khandwa and other uniquely Kishore facts creates a nice portait.
On the whole, it is an excellent book. I found it to be a bit too analytical for my taste.
June 24, 2003
Reputations Research in the News!
Today, the New York Times featured the research project that I worked on while at the University of Michigan. And carried a nice picture of my advisor, Prof. Paul Resnick. It's great to see the research featured in NYTimes, even though the only quote from Paul was "The data are a researcher's playground"!
Online markets are certainly growing in size, and also maturing as they grow. Economic studies of these markets are certainly vital to the field. Do check out the website: Reputations Research Network.
There are several excellent research papers listed at the site. For a gentle introduction, read the Reputation Systems article.
Online markets are certainly growing in size, and also maturing as they grow. Economic studies of these markets are certainly vital to the field. Do check out the website: Reputations Research Network.
There are several excellent research papers listed at the site. For a gentle introduction, read the Reputation Systems article.
June 16, 2003
Laughable Loves
Milan Kundera is a very strange writer. I don't really know what to make of his stories. I like the stories, the characters and the narration. There is a lot of subtle humor. However, I can't really say I enjoyed the book. Its strangely paradoxical just like most of the stories in "Laughable Loves".
This book is truly a collection of short stories. The stories are all built around the same theme, and are in some way connected with each other. The first few stories build up the intensity, while the later seem to focus more deeply on what Kundera wants to convey. They are delightful and at the same time, quite sad. To some extent, the plot seems to be extraneous to the story.
Read it, and you'll probably know!
This book is truly a collection of short stories. The stories are all built around the same theme, and are in some way connected with each other. The first few stories build up the intensity, while the later seem to focus more deeply on what Kundera wants to convey. They are delightful and at the same time, quite sad. To some extent, the plot seems to be extraneous to the story.
Read it, and you'll probably know!
June 11, 2003
Mukhawataa ("The Mask" - in Marathi)
I was looking forward to reading "Mukhawata" by Arun Sadhu for quite some time. Laid my hands on it thanks to the University of Michigan library.
Mukhawata is set in Maharashtra in two time-periods, the 14th century and through the mid-to-late 20th century. It tracks a Brahmin family over the pre-independennce, and post-independence period. The 14th century portion runs as the background story of the family, its particular traditions, and a reference as to how certain rituals come to be. It is a plot device that, while running in the past, connects strongly with the present, and sets up the stage for the goings-on.
The novel is set in rural Maharashtra, in the Vidarbha region. The local references - towns, culture and language are very detailed and wonderfully written. The everyday life in the village- agriculture routines, meals, pooja and the annual Paalakhee - are all wonderfully described. The ritualistic nature of religious practice, devoid of any real connection to a God, and the reality of the surroundings creates questions in the minds of the practitioning Brahmins. This doubt leads the different men, responsible for performing these rituals, in search of truths. Some break the rituals, others try to find its meaning in alcohol, some others see virtue in giving, and some try to find it in the family history and the deep-rooted traditions. Some break all ties with the family, and chose to run away.
While describing a patriarchal society, where the family tree is centered on the Man of the family in that generation, the author actually throws up a contradiction that is novel. He tries to identify the meaning of "family" and shows the real identifiers to be the family traditions, language, food and other issues, most of which take place at home. He notes then that its the women, who are married into the family who are responsible for continuing with and at the same time modifying, modernizing these traditions. Their influence, whichever families they come from, are responsible for the continuation of tradition as well as all changes, small and large, in the way the family lives. It is these women, who adopt the family as their own, and give it meaning.
The novel thus presents a rich new look at the known facts. The caste politics, changing climate of education, rising cities, and redcued dependence on agriculture are all part of the fabric of the story. In the novel's peak moment, which you feel coming all through reading it, the author ties these themes together. The traditional views on caste, education, religion, and human life are thus challenged and layers are peeled off to reveal the richness underlying mundane everyday existence.
Arun Sadhu is one of my favorite novelists. This is undoubtedly one of his best books.
Mukhawata is set in Maharashtra in two time-periods, the 14th century and through the mid-to-late 20th century. It tracks a Brahmin family over the pre-independennce, and post-independence period. The 14th century portion runs as the background story of the family, its particular traditions, and a reference as to how certain rituals come to be. It is a plot device that, while running in the past, connects strongly with the present, and sets up the stage for the goings-on.
The novel is set in rural Maharashtra, in the Vidarbha region. The local references - towns, culture and language are very detailed and wonderfully written. The everyday life in the village- agriculture routines, meals, pooja and the annual Paalakhee - are all wonderfully described. The ritualistic nature of religious practice, devoid of any real connection to a God, and the reality of the surroundings creates questions in the minds of the practitioning Brahmins. This doubt leads the different men, responsible for performing these rituals, in search of truths. Some break the rituals, others try to find its meaning in alcohol, some others see virtue in giving, and some try to find it in the family history and the deep-rooted traditions. Some break all ties with the family, and chose to run away.
While describing a patriarchal society, where the family tree is centered on the Man of the family in that generation, the author actually throws up a contradiction that is novel. He tries to identify the meaning of "family" and shows the real identifiers to be the family traditions, language, food and other issues, most of which take place at home. He notes then that its the women, who are married into the family who are responsible for continuing with and at the same time modifying, modernizing these traditions. Their influence, whichever families they come from, are responsible for the continuation of tradition as well as all changes, small and large, in the way the family lives. It is these women, who adopt the family as their own, and give it meaning.
The novel thus presents a rich new look at the known facts. The caste politics, changing climate of education, rising cities, and redcued dependence on agriculture are all part of the fabric of the story. In the novel's peak moment, which you feel coming all through reading it, the author ties these themes together. The traditional views on caste, education, religion, and human life are thus challenged and layers are peeled off to reveal the richness underlying mundane everyday existence.
Arun Sadhu is one of my favorite novelists. This is undoubtedly one of his best books.
March 17, 2003
Bend It Like Beckham
And while we are on the subject, of strong women characters in movies, here's another one! This one is wildly entertaining and fun film!
Last year, Bend It.. was so popular back home in India, I watched it thrice in two months! And I have never seen so many girls in a movie theater, shouting, whistling, and generally having a great time!!
Last year, Bend It.. was so popular back home in India, I watched it thrice in two months! And I have never seen so many girls in a movie theater, shouting, whistling, and generally having a great time!!
March 12, 2003
The Pianist
Came back a couple hours ago from watching this film.. based on a true story of a jewish pianist (Wladyslaw Szpilman) caught in World War II Poland.. Adrien Brody is excellent in the title role, showing the varying degrees of extreme emotions nicely.. rest of the cast is also very good, as are all the crowd scenes, war scenes and locations.. since its based on a true story, there are not that many "cinematic" moments, but the film still had a lot of impact..
There were too many cuts jumping the screenplay from one time to the next, and the storyline was harder to make out.. I was not "moved" by the film in the same way as I was by "Life is Beautiful" or "Schindler's List".. It was a very good film nonetheless, especially in the currently emerging "war" scenario...
Other similarly themed movies I liked:
World War II: Life is Beautiful| Schindler's List
Ethnic/ religious disputes: Ulysses' Gaze| 1947-Earth
War-themed: No Man's Land
There were too many cuts jumping the screenplay from one time to the next, and the storyline was harder to make out.. I was not "moved" by the film in the same way as I was by "Life is Beautiful" or "Schindler's List".. It was a very good film nonetheless, especially in the currently emerging "war" scenario...
Other similarly themed movies I liked:
World War II: Life is Beautiful| Schindler's List
Ethnic/ religious disputes: Ulysses' Gaze| 1947-Earth
War-themed: No Man's Land
March 03, 2003
Sad Shaun: So near and yet so far
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"Tied matches and rain: the ghosts of World Cup past converged on South Africa in the most warped manner imaginable."
Heartbreak | Pollock: We Miscalculated | South Africa have only themselves to blame
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