Cultural Blr

This time I don't really travel in India. I can just live here :-)  Of course, it's not a "daily life" but still I learn about other aspects of India. In Bglr it's about city life: shopping, transport, going out, but also garbage problem, cut of electricity, fight for the water with Tamil Nadu (neighboring state), etc. 

I indulge myself into cultural events of Blr. And I'm so happy what I'm discovering! 

I went to screening of 1 out of 3 films of a young, not at all professional, filmmaker Shree Venkatesh from Bengal. He was having his corporate life (like many young people here) and at some point he dropped everything and went toward what he always wanted to do... storytelling. He makes films to tell the stories that have been in his head forever... And he does it very well and successfully! It's interesting way of filming and interesting subjects. 
Have a look at his Hemlock Society - a film that teaches you how to commit suicide ;-)  Excellent!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_EXx5detmY

 Unfortunately the full version is on Youtube. I don't like it but I guess, it gives you possibility to see the film in Europe, so here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG1g-7SWJME

I went for screening of another amateur film about jazz in India! Fits very well into my interests :-) 
"Finding Carlton" tracks down the jazz musicians in early 70ties! Of course I didn't know that the jazz scene was booming here (mostly Kolkata and Mumbai) with Indian and foreign musicians. 
The following evening I had a chance to actually listen to Carlton life in one of the bars in Bglr. It was good piece of jazz!

The concert hall, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, I made my base for cultural events. 
Odissi Dance - one of the 8 classical dance forms of India. It exists for thousands years. That's the figures that you see sculptured on the monuments in India. And when they dance it really looks like the statues. It was mesmerizing to watch them! 2 to 4 dancers on the stage and you feel that you can't follow all the detailed movement that express the feeling, tells the story or gives the glory to the gods. Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwPtrEDSDnQ

Scottish Dance Theater - yes! I came all the way to India to watch the Scots on the stage :-)   And they were phenomenal! 3 pieces, completely different and very charged emotionally: 

http://sdt.new.previewsite.org.uk/index.php?pid=172

 I attended also a concert of classical singing performed by the best living singer, Pandit Jasraj, but I must admit, it was very unfortunate - the hall didn't do a good job on the sound, the VIPs started to walk out in the middle of the concert and the singer himself was not satisfied with his voice (would it be the age?). I tried to make an abstarction of all this and just enjoy the singing: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psZKJUVVSJo&noredirect=1

And finally we managed to go to... simple cinema. I've tried several times but a) I couldn't find the cinema, b) we were late because of the traffic, c) it was said on internet that the film is on... and it wasn't!!!  English Vinglish - sweet Indian story. I hope it will enter cinemas in Europe. The French guy was so crunchy and cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dWir9Q_Vek

Bangalore. Garden city.

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I'm staying in 5 star hotel - in Lizzy's fabulous apartment. There are terraces everywhere and I am surrounded by art and pretty things and most of all, by Lizz and her funclub – recent and old childhood friends and family.

Without stepping out of this paradise, we have people dropping by and entertaining, especially me, with elephants, snakes and rhinoceros stories dating back from the times of the tea plantation life in Assam, or more or less recent stories of a crazy life in Bangalore.

Being in India a good couple of times, I still try to pinpoint what draws me to this country so much. One of these “things” is definitely Indian connection. People here want to communicate and connect! About little or big things, they talk and relate to each other all the time. Even if the communication is difficult because of the language barrier, they want to establish relation. Hence constant questions “which country ma’me?”, “what’s your good name ma’me?”. Most of these people have no clue where is Poland or can’t repeat my name (it usually comes out as “Boleta”) but they want to interact, be somehow connected. Making the contact is easy, if you only wish to open and go for it. And I had wonderful moments of being accepted and belonging without knowing the people or being able to verbally exchange with them.

 Hindi are easy going and very casual in conversations. One feels welcomed and part of the company straight away without this initial shyness when you don’t know people. They ask about you and share their stories, they offer their company, their help, their house, certainly phone number “in case you need anything”. Connecting spreads and creates a big network of people. If you are in trouble or in need, certainly somebody knows somebody else who can be of a help. One feels like a member of a village and, I must admit, it gives me a precious sense of belonging and security.