You all would have seen the exciting promos on TV with Amitabh Bachchan roaring about the clash of the titans… yes, Champions League Twenty 20 is just around the corner and this time it is in South Africa – the wonderful venue of IPL 2!

I remember the excitement of meeting players during IPL 3 parties which I attended and covered for different blogs.  It was great to be shaking hands and chatting up with many wonderful players like Shane Warne,  Muralitharan, Symonds and of course also RCBians like Manish Pandey, Jacque Kallis, Virat Kohli and Praveen Kumar…

I was a part of many of the celebrations of the RCB team at the ITC royal gardenia lobby in Bangalore where they cut a cake and sprayed champagne all over their fans after every resounding win! The sound of the Royal Challengers’ anthem ‘game for more’ reverberated throughout the lobby of the amazing hotel.

There is now a chance for all you RCB fans to meet the RCB team and personally wish them good luck to bring back the Champions League trophy from South Africa!

RoyalChallengers.com has come out with an exciting contest called ‘The Royal Sendoff‘!  In the next 2 days (24th & 25th Aug 2010) , you can send your virtual gifts to your favourite player and be part of the elite chosen 50 at the Royal Send Off party on 28th Aug 2010! This can’t get bigger and better!

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and create some inspirational gift or message or poem which will motivate the team to move mountains and go for the kill in the rainbow nation! Hurry and participate here – http://bit.ly/cJnlyZ

All the best

I got delayed to the show and had to hurry to the hall. The people from Foster’s, including a guy named Bansi, were present at the INOX entrance itself only for me, and warmly welcomed me! They gave me my tickets, escorted me to the hall where the movie was playing and even guided us to our seats in the F-row! Very royal treatment indeed They also gave us a foster’s kit which included 2 face wipes, 1 bottle opener and a stress ball. I was instantly feeling like I was sitting at home and all my tension of missing the movie, had vanished!

Inception was excellent and really enjoyed the twists and turns in the movie. During the interval, I had the chance to try out the foot massager in the Foster’s lounge area which was exclusively for us in the F-row! I relaxed sitting in the easy chair, listening to music and getting my feet massaged by the foot massager. Enjoyed the entire movie watching experience and really hoping to go there sometime soon again If you want to win this experience too, check out this contest! All the best

Pictures of the chilled out experience (click on them to see a larger version of the same):

“ Fresh from our stupendous stay at Goa, me and my wife landed in Delhi on 30^th of June in the afternoon as part of the last leg of our vacation. We had booked Hotel Southern located at Karolbagh area in New Delhi (package of five days and four nights @ Rs.15,260/-) in Executive Suite room. We were promised a host of things during the package starting from welcome drink to tour package to Agra/Mathura and sightseeing in an AC car.

We were promptly picked up by the hotel guys and transported from the Airport to the hotel in an AC Innova. We thought our memorable tour of Goa will be continued in Delhi too but only to be disappointed thoroughly.  We were given a room full of mosquitoes and badly maintained linen (the room is supposedly called Executive Suite. We could not stay in that room even for a couple of minutes and request the reception guys to give us a different room. There was no welcome drink, no fruit basket, no slippers (we had to ask several times for these); they gave slippers of the same size to both of us and that too of very low quality. Surprisingly, they agreed and allotted us another room which was no better than the earlier but at least we thought we are safe from mosquito bites.  I thought of taking a shower and went inside the restroom only to come running out on seeing a centipede which was freely roaming inside the restroom. My wife became too agitated and immediately called the hotel guys. They sent one house keeping boy sometime later and he removed that centipede. When we went there to vent our frustration, the reception guys replied as though it is our fault and assured it will not come again as though they knew the future. This is the first trouble we encountered at the hotel. We later realized that in that room there are more centipedes which were roaming freely day and night. We had a nightmarish sleep on that night.

The next morning we had to proceed to Agra/Mathura package. To our dismay we found that the Volvo bus was leaking when it rained (Southern Travels was accorded the best Domestic Tour Operator a couple of years back…).

Once we came back from the tour, the same night we approached the reception guys to help us out with a new room (third time we changed the room in two days); they gave us another room in another building. Fortunately, the room was not the home for centipedes though mosquitoes were having a gala time. We thought it is better to have a mosquito as our partner rather than a centipede.

Next day we were proceeding to Haridwar early morning and had requested them to make arrangements for hot water. They promised that it will be available but again the same story of disappointment; there was no hot water and we had to take cold water bath and rush to the railway station. It was a mad scramble even to get the taxi from the hotel which showed how disorganized they were.  In our five days of stay at the hotel, we could get hot water only once.

We need to ask several times for water, coffee and tea sachets (which were all promised as part of the package). There was no exhaust in the toilet too.

The last nail in the coffin was we were asked to go in a old maruti van after we vacated the hotel as against the promise of AC car drop to the Airport.

Overall I would say the stay at Southern Hotel was a nightmare for both of us and we will never ever again even step into that hotel. “

Foster’s Art of Chilling Party in Bangalore held on 20th Jun 2010 was one of the most anticipated parties of the season. It was one exclusive party where everyone who is anyone wanted to be present. Lot of people wanted the passes but very few lucky people got it.. and what a time they had! On a sultry afternoon, there was bucket loads of Foster’s beer, platefuls of yum BBQ & even coconut water to chill everyone off! And if someone wanted to chill out even more, they could always take a dip in the swimming pool!

The DJ was rocking the show with some wonderful techno beats, house numbers and also hip-hop numbers. He had a guitar connected to the console with which he was able to create some really wonderful sounds which pepped up the mood of everyone present there!

The crowd which consisted of some of the most happening party people in Bangalore, rocked the afternoon away by

mingling with lot of wonderful people and dancing away to glory with loads of Foster’s and cool drinks to keep them company!

The AOC party which was held at Ivy Unwind Island in Marathahalli, Bangalore was one of the most successful and happening parties of recent times & people just couldn’t get enough of the fun! They gorged on the BBQ treats like lamb, chicken kebabs and there was variety for vegetarians too!

More Foster’s Art of Chilling party pics available here!

4.35 pm – Ms. Vani took the stage again for the final session and sought insights from the participants. A couple of them aired their opinions and said the event was a great learning experience. Before the session came to an end, there was a group song on Sthree Shakti with very good lyrics.

I would like to infer here that the day long event turned out to be a great forum to learn/share and know about the rights of Women. It  is high time for women tormentors to give due respect to women folk and also change their attitude towards women. I sincerely hope that the world will not be same when that thinking comes to all.

Bye for now.

Gururaj Kodambahalli

4.10 pm – Talk from Ms. Merlin, Legal professional and Director of Deeds NGO,  – She recollected the proceedings of the whole day and asked the crowd to make introspection on whether a woman is the biggest enemy of a woman. She pointed out some of the daily issues any house wife or a working woman face everyday, be it in office or at home. Merlin went on record saying that as Anganawadi workers, they have the right decision making and judgment skills to provide counseling to the needy women. She wondered whether there is any good step mother is there in this earth or not taking one of the skits into account and suggested to show woman as not the enemy of other woman. She also spoke about the three orders/injunctions  which prohibits husbands to physically abuse the wife, throwing her out of the house and selling the house without her consent.  Speaking about upbringing of the children, she recommended to all the women present in the event to make their daughters to raise their voice wherever they experience or see injustice and not be just mute witness or undergo harassment. It was an inspiring speech for all and the crowd acknowledged by joining their hands together.

3.55 pm – Play by Eight Circle -  The play starts with a school kid Chenni coming to home only to find her mother eloped with her paramour. Hearing this news, Jenny’s father also dies.  Chenni becomes an orphan all of a sudden. Her Uncle takes her home. Her Uncle’s wife and children does not like this but eventually allows her to stay but like a servant.  She is ill-treated to the core and made to eat left-overs. Her Uncle starts seeing her with an ulterior motive.  One day suddenly Uncle’s wife dies and this makes him more drawn towards Chenni. One day when nobody is in home, Chenni’s Uncle goes beyond the limit and takes undue advantage.  Uncle’s son, who was secretly loving Jenny comes to know of  her father’s and Chenini’s relationship becomes very desperate and starts ill-treating Chenni more and more.  One day Chenni’s Uncle decides to marry her and ties the nuptial knot forcibly which is witnessed by his son. He gets so dejected and becomes a drunkard. Jenny could not take this and tries to commit suicide only to be stopped by Uncle’s daughter at the right time. She then approaches Anganawadi Teachers/counselors to find a solution on this. They assure her and ask to bring Uncle, his son and Chenni to the Center.  They counsel all of them and make them strike the right chord.

3.45 pm – Dance by Ninth Circle – Scintillating dance performance by all of different age . The steps are uniform, the dress very striking and the song, very meaningful in the context of today’s event. It seems to me that all the events today are very meticulously planned and sends a strong message to the society about the Women Power.

3.30 pm -  Tulu Skit from Fourth Circle -  This depicts the struggles of a housewife, Savita who wanted to be self reliant but always ridiculed  by husband and mother in law.  She comes out of her husband’s house and start business on her own and prosper through her hard work. She also gives jobs and guides other ladies, destitute women towards self reliance. She propspers so much that she drives her own car, takes orders through her cell and becomes extremly busy and famous.   Seeking constant guidance from Break Through she zooms past everybody and becomes rich.

Seeing her richness, her husband and mother in law comes to her acting very good and showing that they are repenting. But Savita is aware of their greedy character and doubtful credentials, she refuse to live with them and sends them out of her house after a fitting reply.

3.20 pm – Now the new skit is more of social maladies like female infanticide, dowry, child marriage, prostitution, alcohol, AIDS.  The skit was done in a highly articulated  way and earned huge applause.

3.15pm – Wonderful ‘Yakshagana’ performance ends.  True to the Women Centric event today, the performance was more of a women oriented and as the organizers themselves said ‘This is an attempt to give more scope to Women and their thoughts and work.’

Credit should be given to the children who acted like thorough professionals.

1.50pm – ‘Yakshagana’ performance starts with an all-women cast (a first!) and not about mythology but about ‘domestic violence’ (another first!)

1.37 pm – Lunch Break which will be followed by an ‘Yakshagana’ performance.

1.20 pm – Now a play on ‘Spandana’ by the Anganawadi First Circle  – A typical day for an anganawadi worker who also has lot of family commitments.  She goes back to her house a bit late after a greuelling day of survey work and is questioned as though she had committed a crime and is beaten black and blue.

A girl who could not get a job despite her good qualifications is seen  walking on the road near a Bar. She encounters a lady whose background appears to be dubious.  She shows sympathy and brings the girl to the owner of the bar and restaurant and sells her without her knowledge. The Bar owner coerces her to do dance  and get involved in immoral trafficking.  The girl pleads with the owner to leave her but to no avail.

At the same time, a police official appears and inquires with the owner about the license and the girl in tatters.  After not getting any convincing reply from the owner,  she arrests him and advises the girl not to trust anybody blindly. The play ends on a happy note with the girl getting out of the bar and reunite with the parents.

12.45 pm – Ms. Shanta of ‘Vimochana’ addressed the crowd and emphasized the need of Anganawadi workers to work towards Domestic Violence. She recollected how ‘Vimochana’ was started. She also spoke in length about Female Infanticide happening all over India.  She called for the starting of ‘Mahila Nyaayalaya’ meaning ‘Female Court ” where all the cases dealing with women can be tried.  She also mentioned that as per the survey conducted on ‘Dowry Death Cases’, very few cases accounted for conviction and majority of the cases were derailed during the course.  Ms. Shanta dealt with the differences between ‘Varopachara’ and ‘Varadakshine’. She was very vocal on the derailment of dowry deaths that happens with the collusion of the authorities.

12.30 pm – Circle 7 will be presenting a skit ‘Varadakshine’ meaning ‘Dowry’

The skit is about how the parents of a girl married to a rich family gets into the whirlpool of debts. It also deals with 1961 Dowry act. The mother in law gives a time of one month to settle the dowry. Even after one month, when she does not receive the dowry as promised, the Mother in Law sends the daughter in law back to her house insulting her and abusing her physically. It ends on a happy note after counseling about the Dowry Act.

12.15 pm – Circle 3 presented a Tulu skit  ‘Kannirina Thelike’ meaning ‘Laughter in the midst of tears’

The play is about a blind girl who is tormented to no end by her step mother. The step mother’s son also ill treats the blind girl though the father tries to advise both of them not to trouble her.  To put an end to her sufferings, he plans to marry her but was not sure whether anybody accepts her. Fortunately, one guy with a good heart accepts the proposal because of the girl’s good character. The skit ends in a happy note.

11.55 am – Now the Circle 9  of Dakshina Kannada Anganawadi is performing  Tulu skit on the theme ‘Ponnu, Samsarada Kannu’ which effectively means ‘A Lady is the eye of a Family.’ The skit is based on a real life incident where the wife faced perinneal harassment from the husband who never respected his wife and belittles his own daughter when she happily shows her marks sheet.  He again admonishes his wife and leaves to drink alcohol. Once he is back, the wife chides him but he beats and kicks her and sends her out of home. She approaches the elders, teachers and counsellors and requests them to advise her husband suitably. They effectively counsels him and he repents a lot and becomes a changed man.

11.45 am – A video clip of Shobha Mugdal’s  ‘Man ki Manjire’ focusing on the women’s rights, their entry into new horizons, the dreams, the awakening , their belief in themselves.

Drawing parallels between Shamshad and another harrasment case, she called up on the crowd to take courage in every aspect and face the issues as it comes and have a never say die attitude.

11.30 am – Ms. Kanmani, working as Trainer in CART told a heart rending story of Shamshad who commited suicide on Dec 3, 2009 unable to bear the torture  is a victim of both extreme domestic violence along with police dereliction of duty.  In a video which was taken on her when she was alive, she(Shamshad)  narrated the trials and tribulations she underwent in the form of domestic violence. She told how her husband tried to burn her by pouring kerosene on her on more than one occasion.

Ms. Vani Periodi called upon the crowd to muster courage to fight against these evils and also find a solution rather than going for suicide.  She listed out a new charter in the form of the below bulleted points to enable such situations do not arise.

• there should be a full time officer to look into these sensitive issues
• Police, Advocates should be sensitized
• A separate law should come into effect
• Time should be the essence of this law and suitable action should be taken within a short time

Taking these issues into account, there will be a signature campaign to support the charter to enable it to expediate

Ms. Kanmani expressed thanks for the Break Through for their constant support .

11.25 am – Mr. Venugopal in his Vote of thanks expressed his heart felt thanks to  Ms. Shobha Rani, Ms. Neelam and all others who graced the occasion as Chief Guests.

11.15 am – Ms. Shobha Rani, in her presidential address recalled the efforts that were put in to hold the event. She felt sad for those who could not attend the event due to the transport strike. She spoke about the trainings that are available for the Anganawadi workers. She stressed on the awareness related to domestic violence, how to find a concrete solution for the various harrassment.  All the legal aid that needs to be given to the the women suffering all types of harrassment are being provided with the help of a advocate who will be present always for the needy. She cited a scenario where the husband is a high earner and  subjugate his wife for various types of insults and at the time of divorce or breakup, the husband will get the custody of the child though as per the law, the child should always stay with the mother.

11.10 am – Ms. Neelam, a legal luminary who was involved with the External Affairs Ministry is now addressing the crowd. She emphasized on the dimension of the domestic violence more from a violence on children perspective. She quoted a report on Child Abuse which stated  70% of children are abused, both physically and mentally which is  a startling find. Summing up, 2 out of 3 children are abused. She recollected her proud moment when her daughter did her PhD.  ‘Men will not stop the domestic violence until Women resists’ was her mantra. She congratulated all the people involved for working on the cause of domestic violence.

11.05 am – She further spoke about the domestic violence prevailing and sought a solution once for all on the burning issue. She also let the crowd know about the list of events that will happen throught the day culminating in a Yakshagana performance and thoughts from the people assembled.

Now the traditional lighting of the lamp is on with the revered guests lighting the lamp one by one with the background of some soothing music. The mood is ecstatic in the hall.

11.00am – The much awaited event organized by Break Through – Sashakta Hejje – Mahila Mela is now on at Mangalore’s Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Braving the Bus strike which is the lifeline of DK, it is heartening to see Anganawadi workers assembled in large numbers.

The event started with a customary prayer and continued with the falicitating the Chief Guests assembled on the dias. The Chief guests have done commendable work in their fields and deserve all the praise.

Ms. Vani in her speech expressed speculation in the beginning about organizing the event. She related Anganawadi as the ‘Jeevanandi’ which can be called as Life Line when translated to English.

(in chronological order)

• Hyderabad short film fest #hsff organized very well at the prasad preview theatre by cinephiles. Worldclass thtr. http://mypict.me/pCyy
• first up is CLASH a short on college gang wars. Reminds me of rgv’s blog
• 2nd short is ‘eve’s letter to adam’ about woman’s side on sexual harassment
• nxt up is ‘shor’ – 3 friends and a bomb! Set in mumbai local trains.
• SHOR is interesting mumbai slum style shrt abt 3frnds trying to blast a bomb to prove that the RDX is good fun!
• just realized why SHOR is so gud – directrd by directors of 99. No wonder its so well made
• short playing now is ‘closed doors’ by pondfreaks.com entertainment.
• ‘closed doors’ has non linear track. Good attempt by the rookie directors.
• very sensitive short film JASMINE abt how a 10yr old who was playing wid her friends, can’t go to school as she is flwr sellr
• I liked the analogy of showing a jasmine flower being crushed by bike and the girl selling jasmines’ dreams being crushed
• neelakanta director of telugu parallel movies like show, missamma, mr.medhavi talking abt how he took up filmmaking
• neelakanta has offered to help aspiring filmmakers by getting in touch wid him through cinephiles. Nice gesture
• ramana gogula the maverick music directr talking abt him being a live musician first, and then getting into films. He was in sybase!
• just met with @rishabhkaul’s mom who helpd in getting this wonderful venue. Miss u rishabh at this event
• Ramana gogula talked abt how he met a girl called ‘lovely dylan’ in US on whm the song ‘ye pilla nee peru lovely’ in Tammudu was based
• awesome quote by ramana gogula ‘ I hate the music that most people love’
• rahul nambiar talking abt how the best visual effects are what go unnoticed, and have human emotion in it. Well said.
• nice quote saying its not imprtnt to know software but use ur imagination and creativeness to use the software
• rahul nambiar honest to admit that they copied the drum special effects sequence in ARUNDHATI movie as he cudnt help it
• demo of special effects by pixelloid for the telugu movie ‘oy’ @crhemanth shocked to see how most scenes had spcl effcts!
• pixelloid talking abt how accident scene of a merc was recreated in the movie ‘nenu meeku telusa’ mind blowing!!!
• pixelloid talking abt how telugu and indian directors don’t give time for postproduction which reduces quality
• short films shown at cannes being shown right now! 1st up is ‘birju’ abt a 5yr old discvrng lot of sights n sounds in small town
• special thanks to vlc media player for being able to play any kind of format films it got a lot of mileage here )
• nxt film ‘A silent plea’ is abt a kathakali dancer in kerala’s turmoil when his son decides to go to US rathr than continue the tradition. Well actd!
• nice marathi short abt a kid and his elder sis who wants to study after 12th std but father doesn’t allow her. Kid’s perspctv.
• short film on a muslim woman in search of her husband who is later revealed to hav been killed in riots, through a policeman’s acct
• thanks to the wonderful organization by all http://mypict.me/pJVr

Create your own visited map of The World