With the birds and butterflies...

Escaping from the load noises of crackers, a small group of guys from MCC, as part of a program by OSLE India went into the woods nearby Medavakam Kootu Road (Chennai) to explore and experience the company of birds, on this Diwali. I joined the journey because of my good friends Rayson, Susan and Sachin who belongs to the OSLE India team, and trust me it just became a memorable day in my life. What I have seen only in Animal Planet, (in fact that’s probably one among the very few channels I am in craze of) I experienced the same in the company of our own Steve Irvin, Hopeland from Zoology department Madras Christian College.

I always liked listening to the birds, in fact I had 2 pigeons and quite a few lovebirds at home back in Kerala. There used to be a cage in common for rabbits and love birds. But this time it was way different. Watching a being in its own habitat is quite a joy. They talks to you in the language of freedom. I guess my love birds might have also sounded different in their own habitat. At the forest we came across only a few rare specis, in fact other birds were familiar ones. But I don’t think I have ever watched or understood any of them this clear before…. even our very on Cookoo, Maina, Crow or Kingfisher. Hopeland clearly ‘re-introduced’ each of those species to all of us that each of them gained a different status in our minds. I and Sachin went around taking videos of all of them and the group while Hopeland took his breaks and kept explaining things. Whenever he heard a familiar or unfamiliar call of a bird he would stop immediately and get hold of his binoculars. What fascinated us was his knowledge of other beings too along with the birds. He knew every butterfly in the area and their mode of living. On the way he showed us an agonizing Skelton of a dog, but now it is the home of a colorful beetle. He came out and looked at his guests explaining silently the tyranny and irony of life.

I had a great time videographing a rare Brahminical Maina following it quietly keeping my slippers away, and of course the adventure in the pond further inside the forest. As soon as we reached the pond side, Hopeland asked us to be quite so that he can get an Owl in his binoculars. Sad... he was hiding somewhere. But yet the pond kept us happy with a vivid view. We saw a few water snakes and two rare species of Kingfishers. Hopeland was so excited watching the snakes and he said that he can try catching one and examine it close. In no time three of us went down to the pond. Hopeland was on one side of the pond and I was trying to focus my camera on him standing on the other side. Hearing our footsteps, quite a few frogs busy in their sun-bath did a quick plunge into the water… it was a great show. I slowly stepped into the water from one side and Hopeland from the opposite side. I guess the water at that side got disturbed and I saw a snake approaching me. It was really fast reached almost my legs. I got the shock of my life and tried to move out. I guess the sounds and the ripples made it equally scared. Sensing the presence of a foreign body, in few seconds it took a U-turn and went in a different direction. Meanwhile Hopeland’s leg caught in the mud which he finally struggled his way out and then cautioning me to carry a stick to identify the depth at each level. He tried his best to catch one snake. Guess the whole noise made them too cautious that they smartly hid themselves in the muddy bottom. So we too came out.

On the way back we saw few other birds and some interesting plants. Nirmal sir (English department, MCC) was guiding us in the whole trip, explaining each species and plant with their actual literature connection. He showed as ‘Kunni-mani’ seeds and said that even a few decades back people used it for weighing gold. Rayson kept recording the whole conversations on his phone and others made short notes. We entered the forest land around 8 AM and it took almost 3 hours to just make one small circle of excavation. All thanks to Hopeland who guided us and described the beauty of the bird's kingdom. Though, I don’t really remember the names of all the species he showed us, we are planning to make it a shot docu film with the details ...of course with the help of our own ‘Steve Irvin’.

A Dusi Day - Last month I was in Dusi, a small village situated at a distance of ‘4 rupee bus fare’ from Kanchipuram to video archive the well known Tamil folk art form Therukoothu…a dance-drama-song-story telling art form. The event went on for 10 days…in fact 10 colorful nights. It gave me an exposure to quite a lot unexpected events that are, since then ‘archived’ as unforgettable-nostalgic experiences. Thinking about this, I can’t be but speak about the cold ghostly touch of a cyclone that left us stay the whole night without any light, soaked in rain at the ground of Drupadi Amman temple.

Like all the other days, my partner Sundar and I arrived at the temple around 7 pm with the camera, tripod and other equipments. Usually I have this weird way of carrying camera ‘just’ wrapped in a bathroom towel. My definition for this gentle act is that I have no time to unzip the camera bag, take it out and then put the battery- tape followed by an easy shoot. Carrying it in towel- fully loaded like a soldier’s gun- gives me all kind of flexibility with her - feeling her tight on my arms ready for action. Having said this I assure that I am not a camera person for planned actions but for a ‘hiding animal’ movement. May be I can fit for the role of a wildlife-news-sports cinematographer than a filmer. But on that specific day, for some strange reason I felt like carrying the cam in the bag itself. As Vinod sir once said, just follow self-intutions…it works for your good, in a way everyone’s.
It was the 6th night of Therukoothu. Koothu normally starts at 10-11pm and will continue to the next day morning 7-8 am. The ground is always crowded with village women and children; mostly grand moms with the tiny ones of family. Like every other Indian village art form, Theru koothu also happens during the summer time. It used to be the only source of entertainment for the village lot out of the dirty summer heat. During koothu we can find the entire village crowds present there as early as possible marking their own territory on the ground with mats or plastic sheets, finally ending up sleeping there enjoying the gentle breeze of the open space. For that weather it’s better to keep ourselves close to the sand in the ground coz that’s really ‘Kewl’.

Being in the village for 12 days made me realize a few things. My life in Kerala, and then in metro’s like Hyd, Chennai, Pune or Mumbai failed to teach me anything about India. Now I really do understand why Gandhi said that the heart of India beats in the villages. India is not a city – it is a big village. Every single person of Dusi have this Qn for you whether u r a known or unknown, “Sapitingala ?” ( Had food?). I heard the same Qn from each of them- one person repeating it as many number of times as possible and at almost any hour of the day when they see you. The people there live on bare minimums. I had 2 rupee tea and 1 rupee idly for first time. Capitalism is eating these places too. It was very obvious. U find all handsets and connections there but no toilets.

A cyclone and rain during the summer, was so unexpected. Suddenly it became so windy around 9 pm and Dusi (Dusi means Dust) started flying. Along with the Koothu artists, Sunder and I, got into a school building where the villagers provide us with a good dinner. For our bad luck the dust fell all over our body and the plates. The doors and windows started behaving so rude with the wind. If I have had taken an ariel shot of the whole place, I am sure, the school would’ve been like a huge insect waving it’s wings. The power went off and it became pitch dark. For a while we felt like there is an earth quake and the whole building is shaking. The ‘Koothu’ of the weather went on for half an hour. Finally Vayu (God of wind) gave way to Indra (God of rain and the King of all). The winds stopped and it started raining heavily.

The Therukoothu of the night got cancelled. We went back to the temple side and lied down on the floor. Late night, when the rain stopped for a while, villagers started with a few interesting rituals. Leaving Sundar back to take care of equipments, I got into one of the bullock carts with the camera. Naughty Indra, after his Kit-kat break, continued to shower ‘blessings’ soaking my camera. The only solution was to continue shooting, covering her with my T-shirt. So did I, in no time removed my t-shirt and covered the cam keeping it's mouth alone exposed for shoot. Well, i guess being a male has one such advantage. :)

I saw the first animal sacrifice in my life and people getting processed and all. Came back half naked, fully drenched with camera half covered with the t-shirt. T-shirt tricks always worked well with me. Just thought of a similar experience happened while studying in Madras Christian College. While editing a college project at MRC editing suit, the cooler started leaking. (There was no AC then, I guess a cooler was hired). It was late at night 2 or 3am and I was all alone. The water spread all over and I was doubtful whether it will spoil the equipments. Guess what, the editor was found on the floor wiping the whole editing suit with t-shirt.

Well, leaving all that...a lot is there to speak about the village Dusi, probably I must retire from everything on day and scribble these memories.

Day for Night

A good friend from Hexaware once said, “Never let an Army man open his mouth about War or Army life and Arun about Cinema or MCC life. I’m saving you from a big trouble”. Well, dear friend, I can understand your feelings… but, it’s tuff for both me and my beloved companion (comparison) not to talk about our passion and identity. Well, Cinema was always been my love of life and MCC (Madras Christian College)…my life of love.

Having said this, you can imagine what could be the situation when MCC invite such a person for a Film Review and Talk on Cinema. Well, you are free to enquire with the victims of such a destiny…the young and energetic Film Club from MCC, REELITY BITES and the audience of the session. It happened last week…and from heart guys…you made my day. I was asked to review the French film “Day for Night” directed by celebrated filmmaker Francois Truffaut who triggered the French New Wave Movement in cinema. It was a moment of nostalgia and pride, for a very normal Heber Hall guy who used to envy ex-mccians, coming as guests for various events, during his college days. Thanks for Reelity Bites especially Alan and both the Sachins, faculties and students of Department of Communication, Department of Journalism and each and everyone who attended the session...it was undoubtedly one the most beautiful moments I cherish for this life time.

I reached much early to the event time and kept roaming inside the campus reading the changes, tree by tree…plant by plant. Finally at the Selaiyur hall guest room I met, Alan and Sachin standing in a sad mood. With a tone of apology Sachin said “So sorry, we tried our best to campaign this.” As I walked into the room, I could see more empty seats and few dull faces. I said “Guys, I know you did your best. Neither wasn’t I expected a great crowd. Film is a very responsible affair and I am happy if I find at least one or two who genuinely feel it true. So let’s start…” But as the session went on, seats started filling in and after the event, Alan said “It was awesome, guess what, this time we had lot many people and a few ppl had to go back coz of lack of space.” Three Cheers to Truffaut.

He was called the “Gravedigger of French Film” for his brutal and unforgiving criticism of cinema and was banned from Cannes Film Fest in the year 1958. Ironically the same “Gravedigger” was recognized as the Best Director by the same Fest for his film “The 400 Blows” in 1959, accepting his grammar of cinema a new identity for the fantasy and reality captured on Silver Nitrate. Francois Truffaut’s article “A Certain Trends in French Cinema” published in the year 1954, Cahiers du Cinema magazine, still stand as the backbone of Auther Theory. (I never had a chance to read it)

Auther Theory says that a Director’s Film reflect that director’s personal vision, as if he or she were the primary “Auther” (Author). Another key element of Auther theory comes from Alexandre Astruc’s (French Film Critic and Filmmaker) notion of the camera-stylo or “camera pen” and the idea that directors should wield their camera like writers use their pens and they need not hindered by traditional storytelling. (courtsy Wikipedia).

“Day for Night”(1974, La Nuit Americaine in French ) is considered to be one of Truffaut’s greatest films. This film along with his “The 400 Blows”(1959) were listed among the top 100 best films of this century by Time magazine. Day for Night also won the 1974 BAFTA Award for best film and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. ‘Nuit Americane’or American Night is a technical process whereby sequences shot during the daytime are made to appear as if they are taking place at night.

As the director himself said - Many a times it’s not the story of film but the whole process of its making becomes the best experience of film. In “Day for Night”, Truffaut introduce us a film crew in the process of shooting a film called “Meet Pamila” (with lot of high expectations) and there goes lot of funny-crazy-wild moments in the process of fulfilling it. “Day for Night” starts with the first day of shoot and ends with the last day of it. We meet a lot of interesting characters from the Director of the film to the producer to the actors to the line controller’s wife, all speaking their own ethics. The film keep on ‘asking as well as thinking’ the question, whether or not movies are more important than life of those who make it.

Assistant girl says “I can DITCH a guy for film but not the film for a guy.”
Director says “Finally what is important is THE FILM.”
Producer says, “COMPROMISE with the pregnant secretary.”
Art Director says, “That task is not in my CALL SHEET.”
Insurance guy says, “Just FINISH it by this time”.
Etc etc….and…
Truffaut says “This is THE END of films like ‘Meet Pamila’. Lets shoot films on roads, streets…etc..etc"

As the film got over, I discovered an intelligent set of viewers open for discussion. Guys I really mean it, I was surprised to see you all staying back after the film to share your thoughts. Believe me, it is a difficult task even in a Film Fest to make the crowd glued to the seats after one and a half hour of film show for a fruitful discussion on the same. I was lucky to have a THINKING CROWD.I triggered the discussion with the comment “Now that was ‘Day for Night’, Guys...I guess in filmmaking we have solutions for everything but not in personal life. So what would you think is important...film or life? ” The response was great, with some people supporting 'cinema' and some the 'life'...But in you all what I felt was....a set of responsible social beings.

Proud to see sensible-strong-intelligent MCCians who trusts the Art of cinema above loving the Art of cinema. Proud to see u admiring the PASSION of cinema than mere PROFESSION of cinema. And Three Cheers to Reelity Bites. Keep going. All the best.

Btwn thanks for that cute gift. I liked the logo of MCC on that.
Regards,
Cockroach