Evolution of photography

Recently I heard Kodak - the pioneer of the cameras and film technology filed for bankruptcy.

Was really a shock.

Then realized how much the process of taking pictures has changed over time.

Earlier they were the black and white cameras which only a few had, and then came coloured ones. Both had a reel of film of 36. I used to remember my mom telling me to use it conservatively so as not to finish the reel.

Then with the advent of technology came the Digital Cameras of the "Digicams"as they are known today. And with increasing number of megapixel and zoom technology its becoming almost affordable for everyone.

Now you can take unlimited photographs (not worried about finishing the reel), can store them in your hard disk, no need to give to the studio to print, and due to large megapixel pictures can get it enlarged without blurring.

So, just like that an entire industry went out of business including - reel manufacturing, printing photographs from negatives, and outdated cameras. They were replaced by cyber shots, memory cards and recently DSLRs.

So with the filing of bankruptcy of the Pioneer of the Camera industry, we definitely learn something. Its not enough to just have the first mover advantage - we have to change with the times else perish. (Confirming Darwin's Rule of Evolution)

random movies which i like - Alaipayuthey (Tamil)

Most of us have seen Saathiya (2002) starring Rani Mukherji and Vivek Oberoi. It did quite well at the box office.

Recently I saw the movie it was remade from - Alaipayuthey(2000) starring R.Madhavan and Shalini. Must say I was really floored by it.

Don't know what made me like it so much. Was it seeing Madhavan so young and fresh, amazing chemistry between the pair, mesmerizing songs which had meaningful lyrics, or the simple middle class life shown so simply yet beautifully.

It uses the Chennai suburban trains as the background and the story is presented so beautifully doesnt even seem like a movie.

Songs are beautiful -be it festive "yaaro yaarodi", colourful "Pachai Nirame"(Green Colour), mischievious "Kadhal Sadugudu"or seductive "Snehagidhane".

Story goes where most stories end -showing married life and all the ups and downs that come with it.

Hats off to Mani Rathnam, and can say no amount of writing or anything can do justice to this movie (not even its remake - Saathiya)

Google Plus

Most of us, well most people my age definitely spend a substantial amount of time on the popular social networking site - Facebook.

We use it for different purposes - tracking down old school friends, people who we lost touch with, sharing pictures, chatting etc.

Basically its an adda or a common platform for everyone to get in touch.

Google - the world's most popular search engine and inventor of many innovative products like gmail (which introduced unlimited storage and integrated chat at a time when it was unheard of), blogger etc had made social networking popular in India through its network - orkut.

Orkut popularized social networking in India and facebook cashed in on it.

Then Google came back with the much awaited google plus which eveyone joined in with full gusto. In the first week itself, people signed up for it.

But after that ?? after making our display pics and all we left. It was like a gym membership we all join but didnt go.

Guess it takes time for our old habits to die.

Chandalika - esque syndrome

There is a Tagore short story "Chandalika" which has been frequently adapted into plays and dance dramas. The protagonist of the story is a girl from a lower caste and who is so often demeaned for her status - which becomes her way of life- cannot stand the shock when a Brahmin asks her for water that she goes into shock and dies.

When I was small, i found the story very meaningless and couldnt make much sense out of it.

Now, when I think of it, I think of it in a deeper realm.

A person who is so used to a certain way of life especially which one doesnt like or appreciate comes to accept it anyhow; and if that status is elevated, that person becomes so overwhelmed with emotions cannot come to terms with it.

A person who has seen so much failure in life - professional setback, low self-esteem or continuous lack of success in spite of trying hard - comes to accept it and live with it..

Suddenly, if that person is given a promotion or a rise in self esteem due to some compliment or just faced with success after years of failure becomes so overwhelmed with emotion and finds difficulty in coming to terms with it.. hence we see tears of joy, sudden thankfulness and some people dont know how to handle it and go ballistic..

It is amazzing how Tagore's story from over a century ago still rings true today..

my sojourn in Calcutta

Had gone to Calcutta in April for 2 and a half days.. Really njoyed.. U know - when u go to a new city you usually feel alien.. but here was a city in which everyone was speaking my mother tongue(Bengali) and greeting everyone as "Dada" and "Boudi" which is different and a relief from the typical Delhi - "bhaiya" and "bhabhiji"

Infrastructure has improved tremendously since i last saw it (10 years back).. roads much better and expansion of the metro.. (first in India)..

Kolkatta has a rich history.. The British came here and made their capital here till 1910 so people from this region tend to think and act intellectually.. i mean West Bengal is the only place that can boast of people like Amartya Sen, J.C Bose, Satyajit Ray (one of the few Indians to win and oscar) and many of the like..

Went to a lot of my relatives place whose children are apparently my second cousins and had a really nice time getting to know them and exchanging pleasantries..

Must say was really nice to have some new fresh faces of relatives..

Almost all our relatives fed us something .. so we ended up having a lot of maach (fish), mishti (sweets) and in all kinds of preparations..

Just luvved the feel of the place - the "Bengaliness"

I feel no Bengali person can ever feel like an outsider in this city.. The city just embraces you and takes you within it till u feel like you're a part of it..

FESTIVE SEASON

The festive season I feel, is very necessary. It breaks the monotony of our regular lives, and gives us something to look forward to throughout the year stuck in our mundane jobs. Time for get-togethers and merriment among cousins and relatives whom we harldy get to meet in our otherwise busy schedules..

It begins with "Mahalaya" (invoking of Goddess Durga) and ends with Bhai Dooj.

The mere mention of the festive season brings a smile to our faces.. One remembers the spirit of togetherness, meeting relatives, exchange of gifts and of course delicious food including "mooh meetha" or "meeshti mukh"

Starting with Durga Puja- the time of "anondo" and new clothes for Bengalis.. then the festival of lights - Deepawali.. One's spirits get energized looking at the bright diyas and candles.. not to mention the large amounts of "kaju burfee" and dry fruits!! And Kali Pujo synonymous with staying up late, catching up with old friends and having "bhog".

Bhai dooj - 2 days after diwali is the celebration of the relationship between brothers and sisters in most parts of the country. This day is also synonymous with lots of sweets in addition to gifts, cash and meeting cousins, and loads of merriment..

I feel its great to have this whole season coming at a suitable time from weather point of view to enjoy and get rejuvenated for the rest of the year.

DURGA PUJA

Like every year, this year "PUJO" was an awaited affair.. Shopping, Getting ready, synchronizing what to wear with what jewellery etc was going on at full swing..

Then a thought crossed my mind - what makes Pujo so special??

Was it just the new clothes, and jewellery, and trying to look our best?? or was there more??

I had read an article a couple of years back by a girl who didn't like Durga Puja days that much as she felt there was more of showing off by women about their sarees and jewellery rather than concentrating on the Puja.

But I feel, its definitely more than that. Its a time for family and friends and now at this stage in life I can understand it more.. My Dad who more often stays out of Delhi comes every year so the whole family is together.. I get to meet old tution, school and college friends in person where nowadays interaction is mostly through orkut/facebook- remembering the good old times.. Getting to see people who rarely come out and catch up.. lots of nostalgia attached to it..

And of course, the eating out and the time where everyone splurges their "PUJO SAVINGS"..

I feel really lucky to be Bengali and be a part of this great tradition handed over by our forefathers..

Yes, maybe it has been modified a bit.. like instead of a single new pair of new clothes (like shown in Pather Panchali) we get several, and more of modern dressing rather than traditional.. But the basic spirit of togetherness and "anondo" is surely timeless and exquisite..

And it always ends on the note - "ASCHE BOCHOR AABAR HOBE!!" (Will Happen again next year)