PD Ponders

This name ವಾರಾನ್ನ (Vaaranna) is peculiar even to many Kannadiga’s now since the concept and tradition are long gone from the urban centres. This was an urban concept for most of its lifetime and the name literally means Weekly Rice. This was started by rich and good Samaritans who decided to give a day’s meal to poor kids who have come to the city for higher studies. The concept was very simple, the poor boy goes to home no one on Sunday, goes to home number two on Monday and home number seven on Saturday. These boys normally would spend time with the women folk who used to serve them their three square meals a day. The gossip of one house used to go around to the other and likewise. Extra gossip from the eighth house onwards was shared by Vaaranna boys used to join in their educational institutions and the gossip of the neighbourhood used to spread. We too are the Vaaranna boys of Bangalore, we not only will live out the old tradition but we shall in turn give you the weekly me...

BlueOcean Theater presents premier staging of their first production 4 PLAY A collection of 4 short plays in English and Gibberish IT'S OKAY! | PAYASAM | BRIDGE | THE BEAR based on the works of Anton Chekhov and Jayaprakash Kulur Enacted by cine and theater artists: Prakash Bare, Padmapriya, VK Prakash, Ann Augustine and others @7pm, Feb 18, 2012, at Alliance Francaise, Bangalore Directed by: Jayaprakash Kulur Contact: Thulasidhara Kurup - 9916458385, Vandana Prabhu - 7829902128 ITS OKAY! What can be the turning point in the day of an ordinary man? In this play based on Chekhov's "Death of a Clerk", set in Bangalore's Cubbon Park, our protagonist finds his life taking a turn beyond his wildest imaginations PAYASAM Based on Kulur's original play which was adapted in VKP's Kannada film Aidu Ondla Aidu. The play is about a newly wed couple, and how their lack of communication impacts the sweet beginnings of their marital bliss. BRIDGE What does a police ...

I have been writing on and off on topics ranging from performing arts to technology. I have written for periodicals, journals, newspapers and search engine optimisation content too. Why have I done all this too has many reasons. It all started way back in early 90's for academic reasons. I had to submit articles for my journalism assignments in graduation class. I started writing for 'collegeu ranga' youth section of Kannada Prabha (a famous Kannada daily run by the Goenka group). This was my first shot at professional writing. Post that I even served as reporter for The Hindu (the famous south Indian daily run by the Kasturi group). By this time I had realised that my fantasies of journalistic writing being the fourth estate was shattered. I was told in The Hindu by my chief editor that I should not use 'is' but have to use 'was' since it was the style of the paper. I remember while writing a review for a play on Ambedkar, I had trashed out the poor product...

I wrote this poem in 1992, for some unknown woman and I just found a piece of this sheet which had few words of a letter written to me by that girl. I did not want to translate it but most of you guys would not understand what it means since I wrote it in Kannada. Here it goes in Kannada first... ನೀನೊಂದು ಹೂವ ಆದರೆ ನಾನಿರುವೆ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಭೂಮಿ ಆಗಸಗಳ ಅಂತರ ಇರುವುದೇ ನಿರಂತರ? Translation You are a flower But I am with Stars The distance between sky and earth Will it last forever? Found more junk which amuse me about me... will post them too ASAP...

One fine day I opened my inbox to see a mail from a certain Miss Aygul. Nice interesting correspondence and even more interesting pictures. Am updating what I have done so far. On Sat, Aug 8, 2009 at 1:17 PM & at 1:21 PM (same mail sent twice) subject Re[2]: correspondence knowledge Hi my new friend Im glad to see that you have decided to reply,I see it is very short letter. It is all right because you are astonished to get my letter. I want you to know that I have only good intentions and I have not any secrets. The thing is that I will work in your country for three months or so and I would like to meet a nice man to fall in love or just be closest friends. I don't want to live in Russia because I have not any chances here, it is hardly possible to explain from first time but I want you to know my plans. I will work in any shop, bar or restaurant the agency that i am going through will suggest me some locations. It will be my choice in the end as to what option to go for. ...

Yesterday after a long time I had time and mood enough to watch the test match between Newzealand and India and got to witness one of the most funniest commentary ever by Mr.  Arun Lal who had a shorter stint with Indian National Cricket Team than Antara Mali in Bollywood (just watching MR ya MISS swappyily).    He and Charu Shamra were dissecting the NZ innings and Mr. Lal kept on blabbering about STROKING it in the right places by the first looks of Indian innings.   I shook myself up from the breakfast I was eating thinking that I heard something wrong or the channel has shifted to some channel not so U rated.   Again Mr. Lal continues to give gyan to Mr. Charu about STROKING. This was just the beginning of my hysterical laughter sessions.   Mr. Lal went on talking about STROKING it there STROKING it here.   STROKING the right ball, STROKING it in the gaps, STROKING it in between the fielders.   Thank god he did not STROKE the “LEATHER BALL”.   STROKING what was mentioned finally ...

Jai Shri Seeta samet Jai Ramchandra dev (Hail Lord Seeta and Hail Lord Ram)... Many wishes to all in love and to all of you a very joyful Valentines Day. .. With all the calamity of pink chaddi's and what not, I just figured that the first ever marriage done by Ram Sene (not led by Mr. Mutalik ) was of Mr. Ram and Ms. Sita .  Well those who talk about love being an offence and show of love in public a bigger offence have a lot of stories to learn from our mythology.  I think I should mention the name of Lord Krishna who was known for being an outright exhibitionist of love. There are many other instances which I can think of like birth of Karna, Hanuman's son Mritsanjaneya , Lakshmana and Shoorphanakhi list is endless and I have already had numerous debates with my acquaintances about each of this case. But I think what Hindutva has preached from years is the concept of freedom.   Hindutwa in technical terms is Open Source where as other book based religions (...