Selective Amnesia

Friday, May 16th, 2008

The Wedding Movie

Is this new, or am I the last one to see it?

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Proclamation

Give me life, or give me death!

Monday, May 12th, 2008

The world is what it is: the authorized biography of Sir V.S. Naipaul

In Patrick French’s biography of Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul appears the words “big, popular, well-researched biographies” describing Antonia Fraser’s work.

Perhaps they apply to Mr. French’s own book?

“The World Is What It Is” is definitely well researched. Dipping into letters, diaries, published interviews and exploiting to the full direct access to the man himself, Patrick French covers the rise, and rise, of the nobel-winning author.

Mr. French’s sources – family members, close friends, associates and editors and the world’s most famous people – each tell us one side of Naipaul and it is up to the biographer to piece these many sides together to create something of a whole. Which he does very well indeed.

And it is big enough a read. Written almost like a screenplay, with action shifting places, dates and stages in the author’s life, characters coming in, going out only to be recalled later.

The jury is out on its popularity, but I am sure the verdict will be guilty. For, you see, it has all the ingredients to do that. Romance, intrigue, suffering and celebrity endorsement. As well as sex, though a bit late in the day.

In pages where V.S. Naipaul’s letters to Shiva or other writers are reproduced, there are good, quick lessons for new writers. Like Stephen King in his part-memoir, part tutorial On Writing, these lessons are simple and have come from years of honing one’s craft.

But those pages are few. Talking about which, they don’t turn fast. There are places where the story told (for isn’t that what a biography is? A story of a person.) feels heavy and laboured. Even the torrid affair of Naipaul and Margaret sometimes feels boring.

Through all of this, the author ensures that the genius of Naipaul shines through brightly. While that might be stating the obvious, it is difficult to do that with a person who is caustic, caring, eccentric, weird and the many other adjectives that will easily fit Naipaul.

For somebody who’s never read Sir Vidia’s books, this biography has snatches that will intrigue, and reviews that will tempt. He, Mr. French, does not pass judgement on work of a fellow writer. Patrick French is rarely felt in this, only the people he taps for information.

But I cannot be Patrick French and therefore will let my prejudice seep through this piece.

I’ll admit I am not a fan of the biography as a genre of writing. The ones I’ve read seek to glorify (in some cases the opposite is also true) the person being written about. A single brush and one single colour, chosen long before, is used to paint the picture. Which is something I find used in this book as well, but sparingly. There are repeated references to Vidia’s ‘deracination’ and his depression, as if great writing comes only from a deep mental anguish. (Perhaps it is true, and perhaps that is why I can never be a great writer.)

But those are not deal breakers.

In the end, this book, while not exactly something you will read from beginning to end in one stretch, offers a close look at the East Indian author from West Indies, sorry, Trinidad.

(This review appeared in the Sunday Indian Express’s book section, yesterday 11th May 2008. Unable to find a link online, so I suppose you have to buy the paper or just take my word for it.)

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

The new Samsung TV commercial.

“The beauty of an original, is in the originality of its beauty. Full HD performance on the Samsung HD TV will leave you wondering, is it art or is it television”

Samsung/Cheil communication – smashing job of copywriting, I must say.

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

The seventh Chennai Photowalk

Hello folks. And non-folks too.

I don’t, and am unable to, believe that Chennai Photowalk has actually had 6 outings, and each bigger than the one before it. Chennai Photowalk has also spawned a Bangalore chapter, and talks are on to launch a London one soon. Meanwhile, there’s some press interest, some TV and Radio interest in the whole movement (pun intended). So, yay!

Which is why, I am majorly happy to say that religion, politics, food and architecture, (staples of Indian media) along with History (rare-once-in-a-blue-moon dessert) shall be on the agenda for the seventh Chennai Photowalk.

Alright then. To business. On the 11th of May, 2008 is the seventh photowalk. It begins where the first one did. In Mylapore. But the seventh photowalk will not begin when the first one did. For one, a gap of 6 months separates the two walks. For two, the first walk was in coughwinter-timecough Madras and could afford to start at 9. 9 AM of peak-fire-star-summer in Madras is suicide for me and murder when it comes to ya’ll.

So, we will start the seventh Chennai Photowalk at a much cooler, much better time – 6 Am. And will most likely end at 10 Am.
Also so, this will ensure that atleast some of us manage to shake a deep-rooted habit: of waking up at a time the rest of Madras goes to sleep.

So then – teh route.

The idea is to go from what is currently the location of the Mylapore Kapaleswara (which is in Mylapore) to what is (allegedly) (also means not sure, disclaimers and conditions apply) the original location of the above temple – present day Santhome Basilica.

Quick route – Mylapore tank – Kapaleswara Temple – Bazaar Street – Kutchery Road – Santhome Basilica in Santhome. This route is perhaps the oldest route in Madras, with St. Thomas himself said to walk it. Also, Mylapore and Santhome together are probably the oldest settlement in the city, pre-dating even the city. Said route has loads of photo-ops and loads-er-more of history. Including a garden house in which the decision to first form the Indian National Congress was arrived at.

So that’s it. To recap – seventh Chennai Photowalk begins at 6 AM on the 11th of May, at Mylapore tank. Ends around 10 AM at Santhome church. See you all there. I hope.

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Home truth

In Tamilnadu, commerce is as commonplace as history. And as varied.

Monday, April 21st, 2008

Three poems

The new gods.
iambic pentameter and rhyme
17 syllables at a time.
pace and metaphor
emotions and other.
asking me for trust, faith and feeling
prose offers reason.
down, I say, with the new gods.
Of poetry.

(Written for the Blasphemy reading. )

The other two are Chenthil’s – but translated by me.

#1
That moment of quiet
between your first words
and your last moan
shall forever be silenced by my kiss.
(Original)

#2

I believe. Not in stone idols or atheistic words.
I believe. Not in blind faith and mythical fate.

I believe. In the words. Of the One who said “The sky can be had, here on earth.”
I believe. In Bharathi.

(Original)