too much to write on

SIR why dont you blog?
ask the student.
hmm
no time
i replied

there are so much happening around
and it is difficult to be honest and truthful

if you can not afford to be truthful
why do you write?

yes!
i wanted to write about the institute- i just left.
i wanted to write about the youth-who feel being diplomatic
is important for so many reasons.
i wanted to write about the girl - who accepted my love. (and chats with me on phone endlessly)
i wanted to write about the great films i saw recently.
(like ROMA of felini, GREAT DICTATOR of chaplin, PATHER PANCHALI of Ray)

i wanted to write about the group show at canon gallery atria mall worlie,
where few of my pictures are on display (and i do not know which one!)
i wanted to write about my friend SUDHARAK OLWE, who always manage to take me with him to the places.
(this time we are going to kashmir for the photography workshop)

i wanted to write about my workshop in kashmir valley.
i wish to write the whole experience of visiting kashmir valley
after more than 22 years.

i wish to write about ANHAK SCHOOL of MEDIA STUDIES who are trying to teach people film making in the kashmir valley.

i wish to write about ABEER GUPTA,
he is a great person to be with.
loads of experience and very sensitive friend.

i wish to write about the beautiful kashmir valley and army every where,
which has inspired mani ratnam to make ROJA,
i could feel- exactly- what these film makers ( who made films with the backdrop of kashmir and terror felt when you drive passing 3.5 km JAWAHAR TUNNEL and enter the valley.)

i wish to write about the 5 hour long wait out side jawahar tunnel (2.30am to 8am)
i wish to write about the sms MUMBAI MIRROR's kasmir correspondent ANIL RAINA wrote to us that night-
'welcome to KASHMIR!
the most beautiful place on earth
and most dangerous too!'

i wish to write about our beautiful drive in to the the kasmir valley in the morning sunlight. it was worth all night wait in the dark jungle.
thank god we did not drive in night passing this beautiful landscape.

i wish to write about the 10 days long curfew we faced during the stay in srinagar.
5 of our kashmir based students did not turn-up for the workshop.
two boys- ROBIN and GOVIND travelled from gujarat to attainend the photography workshop.
Billal Ahemad from BARAMULA, was the most open sincere students of the lot.
Gabrial, the student from kanyakumari, learning film making in srinagar.

i wish to write about PRIYANKA BORPUJARI, the crime reporter, journalist from MUMBAI MIRROR, who is travelling with us.

i wish to write about the night we spend at pahalgam 5 degree centigrade.
the horse ride to meadow where all the bollywood films were shot.
our journey to chandanvadi to walk on snow passing betab valley, (where film Betab was shot- remember JAB HAM JAWAN HONGE!)

i always wanted to ask-
why does the long distance trains need to wait just out side the destination for half an hour?
why do the airconditioned compartments re-create 'winter' inside?
why new delhi railway station does not allow selling quality food on the platforms?
why veg cutlet is the only snack available in side the journey.

now
i need to sit on the computer and work on all the digital photos i enjoyed clicking there.
in good old days- we use to retur from the journey and send the roll to the lab and relax.
now it is hell of the job.
because i click too much.

Photography workshop with Shankar

Photography promotion Trust conducts photography workshops with children of different
age groups.
this time Mr. Shankar Ramchandran asked us to do the workshop at Chembur.
Children were enthusiastic and curious to learn.
here is the pictures of the workshop.
workshop was conducted by
Ravi Shekhar and Sudharak olwe and Pooja Gund near Dimond graden chembur on saurday on 25th April 2009.
this workshopis also connected to the Rights bytes Project which is coordinated in India by CDE.

more pictures of the workshop with Shahidul Alam

 The room was filled with lense persons. Prints were displayed on the table and all of us were around. I was constantly clicking pictures.

i am aware many persons present in this event are going to make name in the field of visual arts.

here is your pictures guys!

and do come for the next workshop too!

we are going to announce soon!

 

Vivek vilasini

I met Vivek Vilasini at Bose krishnamachari's studio.
I was making the film for his GHOST TRANSMEMOIRE show.
And Vivek was helping us in the research process.

we sat in a resturant at santacruze, to drink beer.
and that was the longest meeting I had with him.
he is well read person like most of the Kerala born artists.
that time I did not know- what he is up to...

I met him couple of times and find him a very intresting and intelligent person.
Today, I got the information that his pictures are the part of Sothebey's auction in New York.
Congratulations Vivek!
here is the picture titled -LAST SUPPER