KRITHI

Back in 2017, on September 5th, gunfire erupted at a house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. On that day, along with Pansare and Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh too became a martyr of free speech. That was not the end, attacks on journalists, known and unknown have seriously escalated in the recent years. From January 1st of this year , to this juncture,I pen this, several journalists had been jailed and one journalist killed.Where? Right in the world's largest democracy, Why? For accomplishing their duty! For lashing out at the bitter truth. The history of Indian media which went conjointly with the British history always made a revolutionary impact with its valiant efforts to uncover the brutalities of the then rule. It was in 1780, the first newspaper ' Bengal Gazette' started, paving the way for many other dailies. These newspapers had a critical approach to the government and brought into light the faults of those in power. It enabled extensive discussions among the public and forged b...

                      Indian Weavers                                         - Sarojini Naidu                                         Sarojini Naidu, poet, playwright, Indian independence activist was the first woman to become the president of Indian National Congress(1925).Her first poetry collection 'The Golden Threshold' was published in 1905.This work as a poet conferred her the sobriquet ''Nightingale of India" or "Bharat Khokila" by Mahatma Gandhi. The poem 'Indian Weavers' sheds light on the craft and skill of the Indian weavers and the three phases of human life:birth, youth and death. Stanza-1 Weavers, with the arrival of dawn, start their laborious work.Newborn rays of sun bring the readers' attention to the begin...

            Caste has always been a subject of debate and discussion in academic and theatrical realms and the reasons behind this can be social, political or commercial. Nevertheless, the perpetual contemporaneity pertaining to this topic is, indubitably, owing to the discrimination and stigma associated with caste. Fortunately, the young, inquisitive bunch of artists and writers have come forward to question the normalcy with which Indians perceive the ramifications of Caste System. Jana Gana Mana  by Dijo Jose Antony is one such attempt to portray, question and reveal the normalcy with which democratic society penalizes dalits. This movie also questions the rationale behind attributing innate criminality to this sect based on their physical, academic and social background. Though the movie discusses various issues like injudicious and unwarranted encounters, rebellious campus mobs, political manipulation and intervention in social issues...

                        The  Teetotaller' Padmaprabha,the beloved of Ishwar Ram.Its been seven years since they started off their journey as Mr Ishwar and Mrs Ishwar.The year 2002 was a red-letter day in their life as they embarked on their new journey of being for each other, after five years of sincere relationship .Ishwar is a professor at a prestigious college in the city.As a well respected professor, he always enjoys his teaching career. It was his childhood dream to be a professor. Since his father, Hydhor, was in the government sector, he got all the support from his father as well as from the entire family to accomplish his goal.Padma, was also from an affluent family.They always enjoyed a harmony, caring, sharing and after all they always tried to develop a good rapport by opening their heart completely to each other.After their marriage, they made a journey to Mussoorie, the paradise of tour...

Wreathing in your wrath, Frothing in your love, Hither lies a heart Awaiting accord. Thine feigned oblivion Suspends mine inculpable petition; Intangible presence of a foe’s woe Ought to pervade thine dying days Waste not the love, Take not the blame. Hence, stone-hearted beloved Thence, reside forever Engulfed in my love Enthralled by my charm Ensnared by my tress Enshrined in my heart! -Santhwana Thomas

Why is Dalit Literature abound with victimized Dalit portrayals and why are there hardly any self-assertive stories of Dalits? For any Dalit to be self-assertive and self-confident, it is imperative for him to possess Dalit Consciousness, which is compelled by an immense impulsion. This driving force is typified by various internal and external means. Many factors  come into the formulation and solidification of Dalit Consciousness. Critics like Sharankumar Limbale talked at length about Dalit Consciousness, the impulse which stimulates every Dalit to accept his beingness as a Dalit and to be mindful of his subjugation and combat it, to demand respect and secure it. Being humiliated at a wedding made Phule cognizant of his Dalit being and aroused his Dalit consciousness.  As for Ambedkar this moment arrived when he was insulted initially at school and later at workplace. Reading the impassioned suicide note of Rohith Vemula made Yashica Dutt -a Dalit scholar consci...

            MARTIN LUTHER KING.JR          Blacks are discriminated on the basis of their colour and so are Dalits. Nevertheless, a group of scholars tend to ignore the prejudice against Dravidians on the basis of their skintone. Dalits and Blacks share similar disparaging experiences and are forced to face the same bane. This statement can be validated by the examples of Ambedkar and Martin Luther King Jr, the demi gods of the respective sections. Ambedkar and Martin Luther King Jr dedicated their entire lives for the progress of their corresponding communities. Both were men of immense intellect and unrestrainable zeal. The oppressive crises encountered by the duo had certain similitude. Education which is the sole emancipatory force of every subaltern community is not accorded to them for free in their respective countries. Ambedkar had to encounter deprecatory circumstances during his schooling in India and Luth...

The Bridge on the River Kwai The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the greatest movies ever made. This epic War movie was directed by David Lean was based on the 1952 novel written by Pierre Boulle. the film uses the historical setting of the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–1943. But it is important to note that the characters and events that happen in the movie are entirely fictional. Most war movies are either for or against their wars. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) is one of the few that focuses not on larger rights and wrongs but on individuals (Ebert). It stars prolific actors like William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, and Sessue Hayakawa. The Bridge on the River Kwai is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. The seven academy awards in its name itself is a testament to the genius of the director and the plot. David lean elaborated on his process of writing in an interview given to BBC. He says “I try to imagine wh...

Narcissius stood glumfaced, listening to Echo’s outburst. Her entreaties perplexed him; Yet her stern denial of his devotion, disheartened the reserved admirer.  “Are thou mine Echo?” Asked he  “Never thine, Dear Narcissius”, Replied she,eluding his intense eyes Omitting the pronoun ‘my’ from between thine and dear Implying her disownment. Echo receeded from the cliff Losing herself to a soliloquy “Who was he to me? The Good Narcissius” she pondered “Was not the elixir of my soul But the venom in my vein, The fire in my flesh and The blemish in my being!” Adoring him felt suicidal Or rather masochist Parting from him meant  Letting go of the torment Which he caused her inadvertently True! He loved her Nonetheless, he loved himself more She never loved her ‘self’ She loved him, him alone She heard him from behind “Echo!” Oblivious of the impulse passing through her She went on pursuing eternity She heard him shouting from yonder “Echo, Art thou mine?” She whisp...

തിങ്കളാഴ്ചയാണ്, നഗരം നെട്ടോട്ടത്തിലാണ്, ശീതീകരിച്ച ഈ ഷോപ്പിംഗ് മാളിൽ, ആകുലതകളാൽ ഉള്ള് പൊള്ളി ഞാനും. ഏറെ സ്വപ്‌നങ്ങൾ പേറി കൊണ്ടായിരുന്നു ഈ മരുഭൂമിയിലേക്ക് കാൽ കുത്തിയത്. ജീവിതം ഞാൻ വരച്ച വരയിലൂടെ നീങ്ങുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നത് കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ഉള്ളിൽ കൊതികളുടെ കാട് പൂക്കുന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പക്ഷെ വഴിയിൽ വെച്ച് കാലൊന്നിടറി, കൂരാകൂരിരുട്ടിലാണ് ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ. എന്ത് ചെയ്യണം? എങ്ങോട്ട് പോകണം എന്നൊന്നും അറിയില്ല, ഇവിടെ ഈ ഫുഡ്‌ കോർട്ടിൽ വിശപ്പും രുചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. പെട്ടെന്നൊരാൾ എന്റെ അടുത്തേക്ക് വന്നു. മനസ്സിന് തീരെ സുഖം ഇല്ലെന്നും അല്പനേരമെങ്കിലും ഞാൻ തങ്ങളോട് സംസാരിച്ചോട്ടെ? എന്നും ചോദിച്ചു. ഏകാന്തതയുടെ ദാഹം അറിയുന്നത് കൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ സമ്മതിച്ചു. പക്ഷെ അദ്ദേഹം എന്റെ വിശേഷങ്ങളാണ് തിരക്കിയത്. പരാതി തീരാത്ത കുട്ടിയെ പോലെ ഞാൻ എന്റെ ദുഃഖങ്ങൾ പങ്കു വെച്ചു, ഒടുവിൽ എന്റെ കണ്ണീരിന്റെ ഉറവ പൊട്ടി. ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കെട്ടി പിടിച്ചു കരഞ്ഞു. അദ്ദേഹം ഇരുവർക്കും ഭക്ഷണം വരുത്തിച്ചു. "നാട്ടിൽ പോയിട്ട് ഒരുപാട് നാൾ ആയില്ലേ" എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ എനിക്ക് അല്പം പണവും തന്നു. ഞാൻ ഒരു നിമിഷം നിർവികാരനായി തീർന്നു. ഇതൊരു സ്വപ്നം അല്...

 “Today we can say that at last the director writes in film. The image-its plastic composition and the way it is set in time, because it is founded on a much higher degree of realism-has at its disposal more means of manipulating reality and of modifying it from within. The film-maker is no longer the competitor of the painter and the playwright, he is, at last, the equal of the novelist.”(Bazin 40)       The pre-eminent film theorist and the founder of the magazine Cahiers du Cinema(1951), Andre Bazin became an inextricable presence in the theoretical world with his distinguished seminal work The Evolution of the Language of Cinema. In his work, this critic who hailed from France contrasted Montage with the movies which employed Realism. He led the debate on authorship with the Cahiers group and argued that the director is the sole possessor of the film. The critics belonged to this group ventured to prove their contention by analysing the idiosyncrasies...

- Kavya Manoj

-KAVYA MANOJ

- Kavya Manoj

 “It is helpful to understand what the cinema has been, how its magic has worked in the past, while attempting a theory and a practice which will challenge this cinema of the past. Psychoanalytic Theory is thus appropriate here as a political weapon, demonstrating the way the unconscious of patriarchal society has structured the film form.”(Mulvey 803) One of the major revolutionary moments in Film Theory came about when Psychoanalysis  amalgamated with  Feminism to question the status quo of the Phallocentric Mainstream. The seminal text which brought about this radical advancement is Laura Mulvey’s  path-breaking essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Mulvey  constructed her arguments by grounding them on the foundations established by certain other theorists like Christian Metz and Jean-Louis Baudry. Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema was originally written in 1973 and was subsequently published by a leading British journal Screen in 1975. ...