Asides

M-Pod: new episode

M-Pod, the Malayalam podcast, has a new episode discussing the recent news related to Kerala. Following are the topics I discuss in this episode:

1) Kerala’s Kashmir connection
2) Malayalam movies in Indian panorama
3) Barack Obama’s presidency and it’s impact on us
4) Mamootty getting into politics?
5) Malayala Manorama spreading false news

Hop over to M-Pod, the Malayalam podcast.

Quantum Cello

I recently got introduced to the podcasts of WNYC’s Radio Lab by my colleague/friend Nikhil and got hooked to a couple of episodes. Those of you who have been listening to NPR podcasts might have listened to this program already. There is this one episode where Radio Lab’s Jad Abumrad (BTW, this guy has got a good voice that it alone will hook you up to the episode) talking with Zoë Keating, a Cellist who uses live electronic sampling and repetition in order to layer the sound of her cello, creating rhythmically dense musical structures. So the end result is an effect of a full piece orchestra using a single Cello. This is a perfect example of how technology can help creative artists. Check out the interview or download the episode.

(Image courtesy: kk+, Flickr)

PS: Nikhil also has a post on his favorite podcasts. Check it out if you would like to get introduced to some good podcasts.

4th ViBGYOR Film Festival – Call for entries

ViBGYOR Film Festival ThrissurViBGYOR is an initiative of the ViBGYOR Film Collective, which is an open coalition of various networks and groups, representing indigenous people, dalits, youth, and sexual minorities and addressing issues of war, conflict and peace, human rights, environment and development, culture and media and globalization.

Mazhavilmela
4th ViBGYOR International Film Festival
Date: February 4-8, 2009
Venue: Regional Theatre Campus, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

We are happy to announce the 4th Edition of ViBGYOR Short & Documentary Film Festival to be held from February 4th to 8th, 2009 in Thrissur, Kerala, India.

We invite for PREVIEW your Documentaries, Short Fiction, Music Videos, Animation, Spots & Experimental films (Micro films, Mobilephone films etc) for the upcoming edition. You may send the works made in the past 3years but not been entered at ViBGYOR before.

Documentaries are invited to the following categories:
1. ViBGYOR Theme Packages
 Gender and Sexuality  Dalit Reality  Indigenous People  Globalisation
 Nation State  Fundamentalism v/s Diversity  Region Focus –Pakistan
2. Focus of the Year: FOOD SOVERIGNTY
3. Global Concerns:  Human Rights  Health & HIV/AIDS  Migration

Last Date for film submission–NOVEMBER 30, 2008 Continue reading 4th ViBGYOR Film Festival – Call for entries

The Green Corporates

A group of people from Chennai have started a forum and a community blog to discuss/preach/rave/write about Energy, Ecology and Environment related things. The team also includes Mr. T Jayaraman, who is a renowned expert on Energy saving Concepts and Controls. In one of their posts, Don points out to the hypocrisy of Citibank who says this on their website: Save Trees ! Say No to Paper ! Get your statement on e-mail.

BarCamp Kerala 3


BarCamp Kerala‘s 3rd chapter is to happen on December 7, 2008 at CUSAT Campus, Kochi (Exact location and maps will be up in the website soon). The organizers say that the exact time will be announced later. Go to their website to register and check out the list of attendees and sessions. A colleague of mine, Praseed Pai, will be taking a session on Programming Paradigms.

(Image courtesy: BarCampKerala.org)

Jaaneman Jaaneman (cover)

It has been a long time since I have sung a song with Vidyu, who is an amazing singer and one of the very few people whom I met through Internet in the initial days of music blogging. Our first original duet, Mella Mella – which was done for Blogswara, still remains at the top of all Blogswara albums (BTW, did I tell you that Blogswara’s version 5 is coming up soon? More details will be followed in this blog in the coming days). Here is our new cover song.

Song: Jaaneman Jaaneman
Music: Salil Chowdhary
Original singers: Yesudas, Asha Bhosle
Cover by: Jo & Vidyu

Download this song’s MP3 file here. To download all my cover songs, click here.


Jaaneman Jaaneman (cover) | Upload Music

Sr. Abhaya Case – Arrests made

It looks like justice is finally being done in the Sr. Abhaya murder case. After 16 years, the CBI has arrested and remanded two priests and a nun on Nov 18th and 19th. The CBI joint director Ashok Kumar said the arrests were made on strong evidence. It was evident from the news came out in May 2008 that the narco analysis points at Thomas Kottoor, Jose Poothrikkayil and Stephy as the culprits.

The arrest also renews my faith in our country’s judicial system. Reportedly, there were serious tampering of evidence right from the beginning of the case inquiry. The case was initially taken by Kerala Police and then moved to Crime Branch and finally to several teams of CBI. The Court intervened and severly criticized CBI and closely followed up the case. If not for the Kerala High Court and the latest CBI team, the case would have been lost forever and the arrests would never have been made.

Continue reading Sr. Abhaya Case – Arrests made