Placing Kochi on the world art map

The three-month long Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which will be inaugurated on December 12, will have the world’s top artists displaying their works 

Photos: Riyas Komu and Bose Krishnamachari; Aspinwall House   

By Shevlin Sebastian   

On May 30, 2010, MA Baby, the Education and Culture Minister of the LDF government in Kerala was enjoying a dinner with Bose Krishnamachari, one of India's leading artists, at the latter’s home in Mumbai. The others who were present included fellow artists Riyas Komu and Jyoti Basu.

“We were chatting about what we could do for Kerala,” says Bose. Then, finally, late at night, they came up with the concept of holding a biennale in Kochi.

Baby got very excited. He asked the artists to come to the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram and have an official discussion. The next day, Bose and Riyas got in touch with their contacts – museum directors, curators and artists – all around the globe and asked for ideas about setting up a Biennale.

Soon, they got some figures. The cost to hold the Biennale at Lyon, France, was $10 million, while the Gwanju Biennale in South Korea has a fund of $29 million.

A few days later, with the project proposal in hand, they flew to Thiruvananthapuram. But disappointment lay in store. The Tourism Secretary, Dr V. Venu, told the artists that the department did not have enough money to fund a biennale. Undeterred, Bose and Riyas went to Delhi and met with officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, who offered encouragement and hope, but no ready cash.  

Meanwhile, Benny Kuriakose, the chief consultant and conservation architect of the Muziris Heritage Project, which is funded by the Kerala state government, expressed his interest in being linked with the Biennale. Together, Bose and Benny met State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who, finally, sanctioned a sum of Rs 5 crore.

Others who chipped in later included the Australian High Commission, the Biennial Foundation, Netherlands, BMW (Global Cultural Engagement Fund) Germany, the DLF Limited, Gujral Foundation, the Farook Foundation from the United Arab Emirates, Goethe Institut, Brazil, and, not to forget, some of the local contributors: the Cochin Port Trust, Cochin Corporation, and Greater Cochin Development Authority.

In August, 2010, the Kochi Biennale Foundation was set up, with Bose as Artistic Director, and Riyas as Director of Programmes. They set about choosing a talented team, and as work gathered speed, people in Kerala and in other parts of India, asked Bose why the Biennale was being held in Kochi, and not in a metro city like Mumbai, where he lives, or Delhi.

Bose said that they had done a lot of research and discovered that most of the successful biennales were never placed in capital cities. “Paris or London does not have a Biennale,” says Riyas. “Biennales are not commercially oriented. We felt that Kochi would be the best place because it is a historical city.”

And indeed it is.

On a sunny, humid morning, Michelangelo Bendandi, the Director of Communication of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), leads the way into the Aspinwall House at Fort Kochi. A large, sea-facing building, it was built in 1867 by English trader John H. Aspinwall. Inside, there are large warehouses, smaller buildings and a residential bungalow.

Work is going on in full swing. A false ceiling on the first floor of a humungous hall is being broken down. A concrete installation, of a temple, by the artist Anant Joshi is being given the final touches by workmen. At another section, a river landscape by the Delhi-based artist Vivan Sundaram is taking shape. Vivan has used pottery pieces, which are more than a thousand years old, from the Muziris site, 30 kms from Kochi (see box).

At other places, the walls are being painted, and windows being boarded up. “This is a prime venue for us,” says Michelangelo. On the first floor, artist LN Tallur has created a massive roof indoors, using the traditional terracotta tiles from Mangalore. It is eye-catching and interesting. Other works in progress inside include those by Subodh Gupta and Nalini Malini.

Outside, the grass is growing wildly. And Michelangelo – as he leads the way to a concrete pier – thumps his boots on the ground. “This is to scare the snakes away,” he says. After a while, he bends and picks up something from the ground. “This is snake skin which has been shed recently,” he says, with a smile “Don't worry everything will be cleared and cleaned before the December 12 opening.”

At the pier, Michelangelo says, “This prime seafront area will be open to the public. It will be a great opportunity for everybody to enjoy the view.” 

Another place to enjoy the view is The Pepper House, on Kalavathi Road. There are two huge warehouses, one facing the road, and the other the sea. The rickety staircase has been replaced with new wooden steps. On the first floor, the balcony has no railings. So, you could slip and slide over. But Michelangelo points at the carpenters in the courtyard who are busy making new railings.

In a large hall, Kerala artist K.P. Reji is working on an untitled oil on canvas, a 10’ x 15’ tryptic, which shows a Navy ship lazily going past, as a few boys stand on the shore, beside a gaggle of geese. Reji holds a palette in his hand, and says, “I have been working on this for the past two months.” Through the windows, the sea can be seen and the sunlight falls gently on one side of the painting.

“Around 16,000 sq. ft. of space at Pepper House will be used,” says Michelangelo.

Outside, Michelangelo goes towards Cabral Yard, a ground which once contained Aspinwall's hydraulic baling press for coir yarn. It is a place with plenty of trees. But right in the middle, the mud has been removed to form a large cavity. Afghan artist Amanullah Mojadidi is planning a mud installation which will depict one of his ancestors coming from Kabul to Delhi and then onwards to Fort Kochi. The grey-bearded artist sits on a rickety wooden chair and smokes a beedi.

“I love the ambience of Fort Kochi and the friendliness of the people,” he says. “The biennale will be a great show.”     

The other impressive venues are the David Hall, which was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1695, the 19^th century Cochin Club, and the Parade grounds. In Kochi city, the 150-year-old Durbar Hall gallery has been renovated at a cost of Rs 3 crore. “It is of a world class standard,” says Michelangelo. “And it is fitting, because the best artists are coming.”

To select them, Bose and Riyas travelled all over the world, visiting the studios of various artists, and assessing the work. “We must have visited around 200 studios, out of which 40 were selected,” says Bose. The duo studied the potential of the artists and whether their style would be suitable for the KMB.

Overall, 80 artists from 35 countries, including India, will be taking part. “The majority of the work will be installation art, videos, images, sculpture, new media, and paintings,” says Riyas.

And all this is going to be a brand-new experience for the people of Kerala. Agrees Bose: “For most people, this event is going to be a revelation. Many art-lovers have never seen a biennale, so this will also be an education of sorts.”

Apart from that, there is an economic component also. Bose happened to attend the last Biennale in Sydney in May, 2010. The chairman, Luca Belgiorno-Nettis AM, declared at a press conference that, thanks to the biennale, there was a benefit of 60 million dollars to the local economy.

“I am sure there will be a similar impact in Kochi,” says Bose. “It will be great for Kerala and India. The branding of Kochi has already begun: abroad, in the art world, it is now known as the Biennale city.”

And some of the more influential people in the art world will be in attendance. They include Chris Dercon, Director of Tate Modern, London, Sheena Wagstaff, Chairman of the Modern and Contemporary Art Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Sir Nicholas Serota of the Tate Art Gallery in London.

So, watch out for December 12, when Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the biennale and, at once, Kochi will be irrevocably placed on the art map. And for the next three months, there will be a sumptuous feast on show to warm the hearts of all art lovers, be it Indian or foreign.

About Biennales

‘Biennale’ is an Italian word and means every other year. So, a biennale takes place every two years. The first Biennale was set up in Venice in 1895. Some of the popular Biennales include those at Sao Paulo, Sydney, Lyon, Havana, Istanbul, Sharjah, Gwanju, Berlin, and Moscow. 

What is the Muziris?

The city of Muziris was once a prosperous port and financial centre in the 1^st century BC. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during a massive flooding of the Periyar River in 1341.

The city drew hordes of Romans, Greeks, Jewish and Arab traders because of its trade links, and they left their influences. The Muziris is home to India ’s first church (Mar Thomas church), first mosque (Cheraman Juma Masjid) and the oldest monument (Portuguese fort). Today, there are archaeological remains which are being excavated and restored by conservation architects.     

Some participating artists:

Hossein Valamanesh (Iran)

Ariel Hassan (Argentina)

Joseph Semah (Netherlands)

UBIK (Dubai)

Rigo 23 (Portugal)

Jonas Staal (Netherlands)

Dylan Martorell (Scotland)

Indians:

Atul Dodiya

Sudarshan Shetty

Jyoti Basu

PS Jalaja

Subodh Gupta

Quotable Quotes: 

Atul Dodiya: “The sites are amazing and fantastic. When I am showing my work in Germany, France, Japan, or the Moscow Biennale, these spaces are ultimately in a foreign land. But here, for the first time I will be showing a work in my own country. The walls, the floors, the smells, the lights, it is all so familiar and I am excited by it.”  

Amar Kanwar: “Don't forget that Krishnamachari Bose and Riyas Komu are artists and not professional managers. Most of the people who are working with them are artists and young people. Anybody, anywhere in the art world, would be envious and excited of what is happening here because it is not a corporation-run show.” 

(An abridged version appeared in the Sunday Magazine, South India and New Delhi)   

'Lord Krishna is a modern God'

From his childhood, Yadunath Mahodayshri has been extolling the virtues of the jovial deity with a flute in his hands 

Photo by Mithun Vinod 

By Shevlin Sebastian

In London, Kathy Smith was feeling depressed. She had just separated from her husband of twenty years. She wanted to kill herself. A phone call came. A worried friend suggested that she attend a talk on Lord Krishna by a Hindu preacher, Yadunath Mahodayshri. So she went. Unfortunately, for her, the talk was in Gujarati. She could not understand a word. Nevertheless, she stayed the whole day, and returned for the next two days.

At the end of the programme, she came up to Yadunathji, with tears streaming down her face. “On the first day when I listened to the bhajans I experienced a force that made me come again and again,” she said. “Krishna has prevented me from committing suicide.”

Later Kathy became a follower of Lord Krishna. “When you connect with Krishna, you will feel that He is there for you,” says Yadunathji, while on a recent visit to Kochi. “He will always show you the right path. But to listen to Him, you must set aside your ego and keep your mind silent.”

Yadunathji is the 17^th descendant of Mahaprabhuji, the founder of the Ahmedabad-based Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabhacharya Pith. “My family have been preachers for 500 years,” he says. At his home, Yadunathji imbibed the atmosphere of spirituality, bhajans, and talks. “I grew up listening to the sermons of my father, Vrajeshkumarji,” says Yadunathji. “Thousands of Vaishnav devotees would come from all over the world to our home for advice and counselling. Later, they would tell my father that their lives have improved. So I felt inspired to do the same thing.”

Astonishingly, Yadhunathji, 37, gave his first speech when he was only five years old. And the family tradition continues. His son, who is seven, gave his first discourse recently.

Today, Yadunathji travels all over the world giving lectures. During the summer months of July-September, he is usually in Europe and America.  

When asked why he only talks about Lord Krishna and not the others, Yadunathji says, “Every God is holding a weapon in his hand, while Krishna is the only one who is holding a flute. He is a dancing God. He is trying to say you should enjoy every moment of your life.”

Unfortunately, most people are not enjoying every moment.. And Yadunathji has an explanation for that. “Happiness, peace, and joy are feelings,” he says. “So you cannot get them by chasing materialistic things. For enduring joy, you have to go within.”

One way is through meditation. “Spend some time with yourself,” he says. “All the time we are rushing about, here and there. As a result we forget our divine nature and feel unhappy and tense all the time.”

What is a great attraction for Yadunathji is that Krishna is a modern God. “Before the Kurukshetra war against the Kauravas, Arjuna was going through a depression,” says Yadunathji. “Many people in this fast-paced world of ours are facing the same situation. So the advice which Krishna gave Arjuna is relevant to us today also.”

Interestingly, the audience reaction is different in India and the West. In India, people are used to reading the scriptures, and have a deep faith in the Bhagwad Gita. But, abroad, they don't have much information about Lord Krishna and Hinduism. The children are studying in Western schools and colleges. “They are confused about their faith and don't have a proper grounding,” says Yadunathji. “So, they prefer talks based on reason and logic.”

And Yadunathji does that. For example, he has stated that English naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of evolution has already been mentioned in the Scriptures. “Contrary to what we think, more and more people are attracted to Lord Krishna and are coming closer to him,” says Yadunathji. 

(The New Indian Express, Sunday Magazine, South India, and New Delhi) 

What a wonderful voice!

Singer Sonam Kalra impressed a Kochi audience with her fluent rendition of classy jazz, romantic melodies, and evergreen hits

By Shevlin Sebastian

When singer Sonam Kalra began her ‘Notes from Here and There’ concert at the JT Pac, Kochi, it was with one of the great songs of American trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Called, 'What a Wonderful World', it hit the top of the charts when Louis was 66 years old. “This is proof that you can never be too old to hit the top of the charts,” says Sonam.

The song has simple but touching lyrics:

I see trees of green,

Red roses too,
I see them bloom

For me and for you
And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue

Clouds of white
Bright blessed days

Dark sacred nights
And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

There is an instrumental solo lasting a couple of minutes in the song, and ‘Treble Makers’ band member Antony Quadros lets it fly on the saxophone. And Sonam turns sideways, looks at him, and mouths the word, 'Beautiful'.

Yes, beautiful it was, one of the great hits of Armstrong, released in 1967, which gained renewed worldwide popularity when it was used as the soundtrack of the 1987 film, 'Good Morning, Vietnam'.

Sonam’s next song was a 1940 Spanish song called ‘Besame Mucho ('Kiss me a lot'), written by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velazquez. It is a song about kissing a boy but, interestingly, Consuelo wrote the song even though she had never kissed anybody at that time. It was an era where kissing was regarded as a sin.

But Sonam’s concert was no sin. In fact, it was a delightful mix of jazz, melodies and evergreen hits. They included Bob Dylan's 'Blowing in the wind', Eric Clapton's ‘Tears in Heaven’, and what Sonam called the most amazing Sufi song in the world: 'Imagine' by John Lennon. For these songs, she was accompanied by Anuj Bhatia, a corporate lawyer by day and a guitarist by night. Other hits included Frank Sinatra’s ‘Cheek to Cheek', ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow' from the ‘Wizard of Oz’, and ‘Summertime’ from the 1935 opera, 'Porgy and Bess'.

Regarding her selection, Sonam says, “I like voices that tell a story. I like voices that have lived, that are big and deep and can express pain and happiness.”

This desire to express feelings through songs was instilled by her mother, Aneeta. “She made me sit on her lap and listen to songs by Begum Akhtar,” says Sonam. When Sonam exhibited a vocal talent, Aneeta Kalra ensured that she received proper training. 

Later, Sonam would train under Hindustani classical music singers Shubha Mudgal and Sarathi Chatterjee in India and from gospel singer Ashley Clement in Singapore. She had been a TV anchor as well as into advertising before she took the plunge to be a full-time musician in 2000. “It was a conscious decision,” she says. And Sonam’s aim was clear from the beginning: “I wanted to find peace through my music and make my mother proud of me.”

Today, Sonam has sung in numerous concerts all over India, and in Johannesburg, Toronto and Muscat. And one of the most memorable moments occurred at the conclusion of a concert in Delhi, when a woman walked up to the edge of the stage, and said, “My dear this is straight from your lips to God’s heart.” Sonam was overwhelmed by what the lady said. “If I am able to touch the audience, it means that they have felt my truth and understood what I have been trying to say,” she says. 

And the Kochi audience was equally moved. “I received quite a few appreciative e-mails” says Sonam. One was from Roy George (name changed) “Congratulations for the wonderful concert,” he wrote. “Keep going on, and God will continue to bless you.”

Sonam had been worried about her Kochi performance. “It was my first time here and nobody had heard of me,” she says. On stage, she has a low-key style. Wearing a knee-length black dress, she stood at one place behind the lectern and sang with a crystal-clear and resonant voice.

The band included Alex Fernandes on the keyboard, Brennon Denfer on upright bass, Anthony Quadros on the saxophone, and Joshua Grant on the drums.

For most, especially those who are steeped in Western music, it was a Saturday evening well-spent. 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) 

'Man is the Architect of his own Life'

Gracy Mathew Ancheri, a veteran teacher, recalls the speech of the late N. Krishnan Nair, a former DGP

Illustration by Vineeth S. Pillai

By Shevlin Sebastian

Years ago, when Gracy Mathew Ancheri was working as a lecturer at the TKM College of Arts and Science, Quilon, she was invited to be a speaker for the anniversary function of a nearby school. In those days, two speeches were a must: one by a man and the other by a woman.

It was not a problem to locate a male speaker, as the locality was dotted with several educational institutions. But it was a tough job to pick a lady speaker, as all the lady teachers hastened home soon after work. However, being an elderly woman, Gracie was chosen to speak.

Having made a few talks earlier, Gracie was not nervous at all. But when she arrived at the venue, she was shocked to see a police jeep on the premises. It turned out that the male speaker was none other N Krishnan Nair, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kollam.

“My heart sank, as he was an outstanding orator, who could mesmerise the audience and keep them spell-bound,” said Gracie. “Compared to him, I was a novice. For a split second, I thought of sneaking home, but that would have been cowardly.”

Then an idea dawned in Gracie's mind. She requested the organisers to allow her to talk first. They agreed. “I stood behind the microphone and somehow managed to say something,” she said.

Soon, it was the turn of Nair. “One day, at about noon, while I was working in my office, some policemen brought a hand-cuffed man, with ruffled hair and soiled clothes, to the station. As this was an everyday sight, I did not pay much attention.”

Soon, the policemen recounted the various sins of the man: smoking in public, gambling, pick pocketing, eve-teasing, and drug abuse. Much to the surprise of the people present, the accused did not deny any of the allegations and kept on looking at Nair. “I found this strange, as usually, they refute the charges and keep looking down all the time,” he said.

Suddenly, the prisoner said, “May I ask you something?”

Nair told him to go ahead.

“Sir, were you a student of Sasthamangalam School”? said the prisoner.

Nair nodded. Then came the next question.

“Were you in the 'A' batch in Class 10? Do you remember your class teacher and the batch mates”?” said the accused

Nair said he remembered most of his batch mates.

Then came the pertinent question.

“Do you remember the boy Balan (Balachandran), who sat next to you?” said the prisoner.

Replied Nair: “How can anyone forget him? He was the best student of the school and a rank-holder too. Where is he now? Must be occupying a high position. Do you have any idea?”

Pausing briefly, the prisoner said, “Right in front of you.”

Nair shouted, “What? No!”

The prisoner said, “Yes sir, unfortunately.”

Nair felt disturbed. So, he asked the policeman to bring the accused to Nair's private chamber after 5 pm.

“All afternoon, I could not set my heart on any serious work,” said Nair. “My mind was jolted and I kept on thinking of Balan, who had been the pride of the school. I kept walking up and down.”

After 5 p.m, the hand-cuffed Balan was brought to Nair's chamber. Nair offered Balan a seat but he refused to sit. “So I forced him to sit,” said Nair.

Then he asked Balan to tell his story. “Sir, after leaving school with flying colours, I got admission in the best college of the town,” said Balan. “My family lived in a nearby village. My father had gone to the Gulf to do a job. In his absence, I became the master of the house with no one to discipline me. In college I breathed the air of freedom for the first time. I realised that school was just a jail and the teachers were like watch-dogs.”

At the college Balan became a free bird with no one to restrict him. Unfortunately, he fell into the company of a few undesirable boys, who did not believe in education or a honest life. He bunked classes, and enjoyed vices like smoking, drinking and gambling.

The inevitable happened: he could not sit for the final examination because of a poor attendance record. “I became a full-time reveller,” said Balan. “Merriment was my motto. Discipline had no space in my life. By the time my father returned and tried his best to drag me out of the dark pit I was in, it was too late. Now I am unable to get away from my vices.”

Nair shouted, “You can, if you want to, and make a whole-hearted effort. A man is the architect of his own life!”

Nair came to the end of his speech. He put a question to the audience: “Who is responsible for Balan’s discomfiture? Who ruined his career? His family, friends, teachers or himself? Please go home, think about this, and let us all try to save boys who will grow up to become Balans.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)  

A dream team

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn  

Bobby George talks about his life with the illustrious long jumper Anju

Photo by A. Sanesh

By Shevlin Sebastian

At 9.p.m., on Saturday, August 30, 2003, the weather in Paris was cool, thanks to a slight drizzle. About 80,000 spectators at the Stade De France were watching the long jump finals of the world athletics championships. In the stands was Bobby George, the husband and coach of Anju.

In the first jump, Anju shot into the lead with a leap of 6.61m. But in the second round, she came third. In the fourth, she had a huge jump. “It was probably close to 7 metres, and would have won her the gold,” says Bobby. Unfortunately, while the first official raised the white flag saying the jump was legal, a second official noticed that the marker was slightly disturbed, and raised the red jump. So, it was a no-jump.

“At this level of competition, if you take an early lead and then lose it, athletes tend to give up, feeling dejected,” says Bobby. “But I told Anju to stay strong. I could see from the look on her face that she was not ready to give up.”

Just before the fifth jump, Bobby told Anju to jump 20 centimetres before the marker, to ensure that it is a correct leap, and to give it all she got. And Anju did just that, hitting 6.70 metres, which was enough for her to get the bronze, the first athlete in India's sporting history to win a medal at a world championship.

“It was the greatest moment of our lives,” says Bobby. “This girl from Changanacherry had made an impact on the global stage. Our journey has been a long one.”

Bobby met Anju for the first time at the Sports Authority of India stadium in Bangalore in 1996. He was a national level triple jumper, while Anju was training under veteran coach T.P. Ouseph, along with fellow athletes Bobby Aloysius and Lekha Thomas for the Junior Asian championships.

“It was not love at first sight,” says Bobby, from his parents' home at Peravoor in Kannur district. The Bangalore-based couple had come to attend the 25th death anniversary function of Jimmy George, Bobby’s elder brother, the legendary volleyball player. “I don't know how the chemistry works, but, overall, I liked her.”

And when Bobby saw her jump, he knew instinctively that she had lots of talent. They went their different ways and would meet occasionally at different meets. But when Ouseph returned to Kerala in 1998, Bobby became the full-time coach of Anju.

And over a period of time, they fell in love. Bobby got married to Anju on April 24, 2000, at St. Joseph's Church, Peravoor. “We could not go for a honeymoon, as we were both in training,” he says. Anju went on to have a stellar career: she has won medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, Asian Athletics Championships, Asian Indoor championships, and numerous national and international meets. She has also won the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.

Thanks to their intense collaboration, Bobby has a good idea about Anju's character.

“From the very beginning, I knew she was a fighter,” she says. “Anju does not give up and has been willing to work hard. And she took the load in training without any complaints.”

Apart from that, he likes the fact that she is a dedicated homemaker and makes wonderful Kerala as well as continental dishes. “She is also a very good mother,” he says. “Our son [Aaron, 2 1/2] is very attached to her.”

But perhaps the one drawback is that Anju can be casual, at times. “She forgets many things before a competition,” he says. “I have to make a separate list for her. No matter how many times I tell her, she tends to slip up.”

If they are going to a competition where there is a possibility of rain, then they have to take two shoes, singlets, shorts, and tracksuits. “Sometimes, she is not serious about all that,” he says.

But the couple is serious about Anju making a comeback to international athletics. “She had wanted to participate at this year's London Olympics, but got injured,” says Bobby. “We will try for one more year.”

When asked about the secret of a good marriage, Bobby says, “For a common goal, you have to shed your personal ambitions,” he says. “There has to be adjustments on both sides. In a marriage, you cannot live as individuals. You have to always work as a team.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) 

Religious book sales are on the rise

This is the latest trend, say organisers of the International book festival at Kochi

By Shevlin Sebastian

In 1997, the members of the Antharashtra Pusthakotsava Samithi decided to hold an international book festival. It was the first of its kind in Kochi. And the Samithi's reasoning was simple. “Kochi is regarded as the commercial capital of Kerala,” says E.N. Nandakumar, festival director. “There was an impression that people were only interested in business and not in reading or literary matters. We wanted to change that.”

What the members felt was that there are many educational institutions, apart from several writers, who lived in Kochi. However, in the first year, they could put up only 30 stalls. But fifteen years later, the festival is a grand success. For the December 1-10 event this year, which is being held at the Ernakulathappan Ground, there are 200 stalls, with 300 state and national-level publishers taking part. During the festival, numerous cultural and children's programmes will take place every day, apart from writing workshops. Among the eminent people taking part are MT Vasudevan Nair, ONV Kurup, Justice K. Sukumaran, M.K. Sanoo, Sugathakumari, K.L. Mohana Varma, Thomas Mathew and Chammanam Chacko.

Other attractions: there is a photo exhibition on the life of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, as well as a stall highlighting national integration by the Union Government's Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. The festival will be inaugurated by Shashi Tharoor, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, while the keynote address will be delivered by writer C. Radhakrishnan.

“The festival has become a major event in Kochi,” says Nandakumar. “Around 1 lakh people are expected to come from all over Kerala. Schools make it a point to bring their students during class hours.”

Not surprisingly, the visitors come from all sections of society; they include judges, bureaucrats, bank employees, doctors, advocates, students and members of the working class. What is an eye opener is that many MLAs and MPs are also in attendance. “MI Shanavas [MP from Wayanad], a regular visitor, reads social, historical, and political books,” says T. Satish, a member of the media committee. “C.S. Sujatha, [the former MP from Mavelikara] also likes to read.”

Sujatha says that all politicians should read, to have a better understanding of life. “I like fiction, poetry and politics,” she says. “However, I have to admit that I should read much more.”

In recent times, there have been two significant trends. One is the rise in the participation of women. “The majority of women these days are involved in jobs or small businesses,” says Satish. “So they meet a lot of people, and feel the need to have more knowledge. Hence, they have developed a reading habit. Also, the excitement of watching the multiple channels on television has waned.”

Another development is the rise in the sale of religious books. “One reason could be the increasing stress in daily life,” says Satish. “People want a way out, so they turn to religious books. In the 1950s and 60s, atheism was a fad among the youth. These days youngsters consider it a fashion to go to temples, churches and mosques.”

Adds Nandakumar: “Contrary to what the doomsayers have been saying, the reading habit is definitely going up.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kerala)  

Living with 'My Boss'

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn 

Linta talks about life with her film director-husband Jeethu Joseph

Photo of Linta by Mithun Vinod 

By Shevlin Sebastian

One day, in 2000, film director Jeethu Joseph and his wife Linta went to visit a cousin of Jeethu's, Geeta Joy, in Thiruvananthapuram. On a table in the living room there was a brochure of a film, 'Karunam', directed by Jayaraj. “When I saw the brochure, I asked Geeta how she had got it, since she has no links with the film industry,” says Linta. Geeta told her that they have a house in Thrissur, which Jayaraj had taken on rent.

Linta told Geeta that her husband was keen to join films. So, Geeta arranged for the introductions. “At their initial meeting, Jayaraj Sir asked whether we had any other means of income and Jeethu said he had,” says Linta. “That was the only way to survive, since it is a field where you don't get success immediately.”

Jeethu began working with Jayaraj as an assistant. At that time, Jayaraj was working on a Hindi film, 'Beebatsa' which starred Atul Kulkarni and Seema Biswas. Jeethu also worked on 'Thilakkam', (2003). During this time, Jeethu wrote his first script, and a producer, Mahe, agreed to make the film. Called 'Detective', it was released in 2007, with Suresh Gopi playing a double role. Jeethu also made 'Mummy and Me' (2010), which did well, as well as the recent hit, 'My Boss'.

Responding to the charges that 'My Boss' is a lift from the Hollywood movie, 'The Proposal', Linta says, “The initial inspiration may have come from that film, but it is not a frame-to-frame copy. Jeethu has put in a lot of effort in the script. The characterisation and the cultural scenarios are completely different. Basically, you can get inspired from anywhere.”

Incidentally, it took some time for Linta to be inspired by Jeethu. In 1994, Jeethu saw Linta at the St. Sebastian's church in their home town of Elanji, and was smitten. During Linta's final-year English literature course at the Dev Matha College in Kuravilangad, Jeethu proposed to her. “I told him it is an infatuation,” says Linta. “But he said it was much more than that. Apparently, he had pointed me out to his parents and sister Mini. I said, 'Let me finish my studies. Please do not talk or try to speak to me on the phone.'”

But Jeethu got permission from Linta's parents to talk to her on the phone. They agreed because Jeethu was the son of VV Joseph, who was the MLA from Muvattupuzha, and the Josephs were a prominent family of the area. “Jeethu would talk about films and told me he wanted to be a director,” says Linta. “I asked whether he could find another profession, since I knew the risks of a career in the film industry.”

Anyway, the couple tied the knot on June 1, 1996. And Jeethu became a businessman and set up a shopping complex in Elanji. “But as time went on, I realised that in his heart of hearts he always wanted to be a director,” she says. And, thankfully, fate played a role in fulfilling Jeethu's dreams.

As the couple is basking in the success of 'My Boss', Linta says her husband consults her frequently, when he is working on a script. “The moment he gets the thread of an idea, he will tell me,” says Linta. “When he writes one page of dialogue, he will read out to me. Then he will ask me how he should move forward. Jeethu is always asking for suggestions, but it is not necessary that he will follow what I say.”

In fact, because she came to know the characters of ‘My Boss’ so well, Linta helped in selecting the costumes. “Jeethu encouraged me to be a costume designer,” she says. “For [actress] Mamta's western-style dresses, I got the trousers, a Diana suit, formal shirts, and even a swimsuit from the malls in Bangalore. The rest we got from Ernakulam.”

It has been an exciting partnership with Jeethu, but there are ups and down. “He has a lot of positive energy,” she says. “On the other hand, I have a tendency to look at life in a negative way. His one drawback is that he gets angry very fast. But within minutes he cools down and asks for forgiveness. But I find it difficult to forget what Jeethu tells me when he is angry.”

And there are practical difficulties also. She has to oversee the children's education [daughters Catherine, 15, and Katina 11], pay the household bills, and do all the banking work. Nevertheless, it is a close and intense partnership, and, as Linta says, with a smile, “At the end of the day, Jeethu is 'My Boss' and I like that.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) 

Feisty, smart and sexy

That's Mamta Mohandas for you. She's revelling in her recent superhit, 'My Boss', a far cry from the dark days of mid-2010, when she had Hodgkins Lymphoma

By Shevlin Sebastian

In the Malayalam film, 'My Boss', actress Mamta Mohandas, plays Priya S. Nair, the boss of a software firm in Mumbai. One morning, she strides into her office with long, bold steps. All the employees, both men and women, start quaking. Soon, people are called in, including superstar Dileep, who plays her assistant. She flings a bunch of papers at his face, telling him that he is no good. Others too receive a tongue-lashing. She swivels on her chair, picks up her phone, and talks to a client in impeccable English. After all, Priya, even though she is a Malayali, grew up in Australia, and is a confident and smart career woman.

“I was attracted to the role of the bossy Priya Nair because in real life I am like that,” says Mamta. “I am perhaps the only actress in the Malayalam film industry who could have carried off this role. Although this sounds arrogant, it is true.”

Like Priya, Mamta grew up in Bahrain. And like her character, she is feisty, intelligent, sexy, and charming. So charming that cobras become docile and meek in front of her.

This happened during a shoot in a slushy paddy field in Palakkad in July this year. A comely-looking Mamata, in a white sleeveless top and brown shorts, was playing football with Dileep and a few others in a scene from 'My Boss'. 

“It was so slushy, that I would run for two minutes and have barely moved an inch,” she says. The shoot lasted for three hours, and when the director Jeethu Joseph shouted, “Pack up time,” the crew noticed a long cobra lying in the water. “I guess, it realised that I was a female cobra and decided not to do anything,” says Mamta, with a laugh.

The actress is in a happy mood because 'My Boss' has become a super-hit. “One reason for its success could be that the dialogues, situations, and clothing are fresh and contemporary,” she says. “Priya, my character, does have a heart, although in the first half it would seem as if she is a heartless bitch in the way that she treats her employees, always shouting and screaming.”

There was a time when Mamta was also screaming, but it was in shock and sadness. On June 21, 2010, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. Fortunately, for her, it was at stage 2 B. “When I initially heard the news, I just cried and cried,” she says, “I asked God, 'Why me?' Because I am an only child, my mother was going mad with sorrow.”

But the good news for Mamta was when the doctors said it was curable. She began chemotherapy at the Apollo Speciality Hospital at Chennai and it lasted for seven months. “Today my cancer is not in complete remission,” she says. So, Mamta has to do check-ups often. But, at the same time, she has been having an intense film career. 

Some of the films in which she has made a mark, includes the 'Big B' with Mammooty, 'Passenger', with Sreenivasan, and Sathyan Anthikad's 'Kadha Thurannu'. She also acted in the Telugu superhit, 'Yamadonga' as well as in the Tamil film, 'Guru En Aalu'.

Her attitude has changed because of her cancer. “Life is precious,” says Mamta. “It makes you realise that relationships, time, the air you breathe, the sun that you see in the morning, all things in nature, everything has to be deeply appreciated. The illness has ignited a hunger for life and to act my best.”   

(The Sunday Magazine, New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)  

“Processed food is harmful for the body”

Says N. Venkita Krishnan Potty, a proponent of nature foods

By Shevlin Sebastian

“Sugar is not a food,” says N. Venkita Krishnan Potty, the director of the Kottayam-based Amrutham – Nature Health Foundation. “Sugar does not have starch, protein, vitamins, or minerals. We remove all the nutrients from the sugarcane, like calcium, sulphur and nitrates, and only the sweet part is extracted. Thereafter, through a chemical process it is bleached white. Essentially, sugar is a chemical which is harmful for the body. ”

Robert H. Lustig, of the Centre for Obesity Assessment, Study and Treatment at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote an article, ‘The Toxic Truth about Sugar’ in ‘Nature’ magazine: “A growing body of research argues that excessive sugar consumption affects human health. Sugar causes hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and damage to the liver. Sugar is also addictive, like tobacco and alcohol, and it acts on the brain to encourage subsequent intake. There are now numerous studies examining the dependence-producing properties of sugar in humans.”

The same could be said about processed foods. A quick definition of processed foods: “They are foods which have been altered from their natural state – to ensure a longer shelf life and ease of transportation,” says US-based dietician Carolyn Brown. To achieve this, more than 3000 chemicals are added to processed food.

Many processed foods contain trans-fatty acids (TFA), a dangerous type of fat. “TFAs tend to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good),” says Tim Lang, professor of food policy at the City University, London. “These changes increase the risk of heart disease."

Some of the processed foods, which are harmful, include oats, cornflakes, biscuits, cheese, jam, butter, cakes, chips, fried items, all health and soft drinks, soyabean-based products, and even ice-creams.

Milk is also harmful. “Apart from human beings, no animal drinks the milk of others,” says Venkita. “If milk is not digested, it calcifies in the stomach. We drink milk from plastic packets, which are a few days old. How can it benefit us?”

Even processed oil is not good. “We don't eat cottonseed, but we have no problems of using oil from it,” says Venkita. “The same is the case with sunflower and soyabean.” Soyabean had been used as cow fodder. When the production of soyabeans became too much, the manufacturers looked for a way to have a commercial outlet. “Hence, oil was made,” says Venkita. “But this contains preservatives which are harmful for the body.”

So what is good food? “Anything that is given by nature,” says Venkita. “These include fruits, vegetables, cereals, sprouts and coconuts. It can be steam cooked, using a low quantity of water and oil. By this, you can preserve the nutritional value of the food you are eating.”

The naturapath suggests having meals only three times a day. But one meal should consist of fruits only. “That is because fruits, which consists of vitamins and minerals, cleanses the body,” he says. “Along with fruits, you can take nuts. The best and the most easily available is coconuts. Everything natural should be eaten as it is.”

The immediate benefit of having natural food is an increase in mental satisfaction and physical health. “If you are taking any tablets, you will stop taking it within two weeks,” says Venikta. He remembers a sixty-year old woman who had attended a seminar on natural food, which he had organised. Two weeks later, she called Venkita, and told him that her husband, who was angry all the time, had turned into a mild person. “His anger has gone down,” says Venkita. “This has been the result of the changes in his diet. He used to eat a lot of meat, fish, and chicken, but once he started eating fruits and vegetables, his mind also turned positive.”

Venkita also turned positive about natural food when he attended a talk in 1986 by Nature Cure proponent, CRR Varma (1925-99). Known as Varmaji, CRR was a disciple of Acharya S. Swaminathan, a well-known nature cure expert. Varmaji left his job in Delhi and returned to Kerala and dedicated his life to propagating the benefits of eating natural food. He travelled throughout Kerala conducting talks, seminars and camps. “He was my guru,” says Venkita. “I have decided to follow his path.” Now, Venkita, with his Amrutham Nature Health Foundation, is giving seminars on 'Lifestyle Diseases and Healthy Food Habits' in different parts of Kerala. 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)