International year of Forests - 2011

It’s the UN time of the year and this year – 2011 has been officially announced as the international year of forests. The main aim of dedicating this year to the forests is to bring about an awareness of various activities which harm the forest environment as they form an essential part of the sustainable development. Sustainable development is nothing but using the available resource for human benefits by not harming the environment. Deforestation as we all know has been another major concern. The International year of Forests also has Deforestation as one of the main elements to create awareness about. The fight for forest began way back in the 1992 by the United Nations. One of the agendas, Agenda 21, adopted by the member states during the United Nations conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit in 1992 at Rio De Janerio was Deforestation. Following the Earth summit UN appointed the Intergovernmental panel on Forests (IPF) which was succeeded by the Intergovernmental forum for Forests (IFF) to implement what was adopted by the member states in Agenda 21. However the IPF/IFF was not a great success but did manage to change the scenario from worse to better if not the best. In the year 2000 United Nations Economic and Social Council established The United Nations Forum on Forest (UNFF) with the objective of fulfilling Agenda 21. The concept of sustainable forest management was introduced through UNFF. 

Now the transition from Year of Biodiversity to Forest is something which is itching everyone who cares as there has been very less impact. However the activities to promote the year of forests have been charted out well. Starting with the short film contest, the results of which was announced on the launch ceremony, played 11 International Forest Film Festival winners clips along with Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s FORESTS. The highlight policy was the Tree plantings policy adopted by Ethiopia, Georgia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Poland and Korea The major event planned out by the UN for this international year of forests, according to me, is the ENO (Environment Online) planning to organize a global forest conference for children in September at Finland. ENO is a virtual school for sustainable development in Finland. 

 The Agenda 21 setup by UN in 1992 still remains stagnant without much change to it. The real question is will the Year of Forests complete what year of Biodiversity etc has failed to do?

Know your trees – The Great Indian Banyan.

What many of us are ignorant about when the word environment is uttered are the trees. In a country like India, trees play a major role either to worship, a place to rest or the main element of almost all the ancient tales. So I thought why not have a ‘Know your trees’ post every month in which I share my knowledge about trees. This month its going to be about one of the oldest and much celebrated trees of India. Give it up for the great big Banyan Tree. Many are ignorant about the fact that the Banyan is India's National tree. This giant tree distinguished for its medicinal value and being part of every ancient folk tale has a dark side too. Before we understand the dark sides of the tree there are a few basic facts that one has to know about the plant world.


Let’s begin with Pollination - One of the important genetic process in a plant is Pollination. Production of an offspring and fruiting of a plant is entirely dependent on pollination.
Pollination is nothing but the process of transferring pollen grains from one flowering plant to another. These pollen grains are transferred with the help of pollinators - mostly the insects like Honey Bees, Bumble bees, Moths, flies etc. A very sad state that we humans have brought to the world of plants is by affecting the pollination process. We are killing these pollinators by using insect repellents and eventually leading to a stagnant position.  Well now that we know the basic concepts it will be easier to understand the murky side of the Banyan tree. The pollinators for a Banyan tree is a small needle top sized Wasp. Banyan trees have small fruits which act as main agent for pollination. These fruits have a very small hole for the wasp to enter. But the hole is so small that the wasp has to struggle its way in and by the time it drops in the seeds it dies. Now the real problem here is that there is a continuous decline in the number of wasps who are the pollinators which automatically disturbs the entire cycle. This however can only partially be the Banyans fault.

However the dark side of the tree is that if you have noticed carefully there aren’t many trees which grow around the Banyan. This is mainly because of the extended roots of the tree which twists the other trees roots and stops their growth. Research states that a Banyan can grow up and cover an entire planet with its extended roots. Also other trees growth is affected by the birds and animals which consume fruits from the Banyan tree on some other tree. The seeds or even the juice of the Banyan fruit is harmful for other trees as it stops their growth. And if you are wondering how on earth I managed to find out information about the Banyan it’s definitely not from Google but from tree walks arranged by a foundation called Nizhal.

Planting a green thought

As I entered my sisters house I heard my niece shriek and rush past me to the balcony. I ran behind her worried that she might be hurt. But little I did I understand the difference of a joyful shriek and painful shriek. Well my niece was indeed shrieking in joy about the development in the fenugreek plant she had planted a week back. She sat with me nearly for an hour listing out all the possible ways she can use the fenugreek for. This might sound like a cute story but what surprised me here was the ability of a nine year old to understand the importance of nurturing and caring for a tender plant. What we are looking forward with the next generation might be the compensation for  all the loss from the previous generations.

Barelysix  years old my nephew comes home with a sapling and asks me to accompany him in planting the sapling.This is the homework they are given these days.At a fragile age the kids are made to understand every step in the process of growing and protecting the plants. Gone are the days when kids used to swing with the banyan root. Kids these days are pointing out scientific reasons to why one should not swing with the banyan roots- swinging stops their growth. Surprising isn't it? Well partially we have to appreciate the role of schools played in helping the kids gain insight into the such complicated concepts in an easy way. The process of photosynthesis which I learnt through diagrammatic representations is know being taught to kids by asking them to grown a plant. Like always getting messy is fun for kids. Its like a little adventure and it doesn't stop there. They question and try to understand every bit of the process. They also go back and google to find more information about the plants.

Like learning about photosynthesis by actually growing a plant was not enough they only plant Tulsi, Mint and other such plants with medicinal properties. They have the tendency to observe and intake the information at one go and immediately they want to practically test it out. Its like they are being trained to be Ayurveda doctors as they already know what is the purpose of Tulsi and likes. The kind of activities they are involved also surrounds the topic of going green. A visit to the Vedanthangal to understand and study the various kinds of birds which migrate to Chennai. This is a mere weekend get away. If its summer vacation a visit to Nagarhole in Karnataka to walk in the dense jungle and understand the kind of environment the wild animals live in and also the occasional woos and awws at the colourful birds, butterflies and animals is worth every bit. And I learnt the types of wild animals through charts. The next time I meet my niece I wont be surprised if she feeds me with a spoon full of Kashayam for  bad cold.

It's a maaaaall wonder..

A city’s cool status has always been graded with the number of malls. Bangalore , Bombay, Gurgaon and our very own capital New Delhi has a mall in every street corner just like the petty shops in Chennai. But behold! We are no less cooler now. With the recent Express Avenue's (EA) vast land area and every international brand name splashed across the windows Chennai is now giving every other city malls a run for their money. Not to forget the stiff competition from emerging landmark of Nelson Manickam road - Ampa Skywalk. This five storied building captivates every passer by with big brands like W, Biba, Hush puppies and of course every woman's favorite - the Body shop. If these brands dont sound inviting then there is multiplex's like Escape and PVR cinemas which is sure to make you grab a tub of popcorn and tickets for your favorite movie. The chains of food stalls varying in cuisines lined up in the food court is sure a treat for your taste buds.

Growing up with this city has its advantages. Ten years back the only mall anyone ever related Chennai with was the good old Spencer plaza which till today stays as the one of the popular hangouts for the Chennaiites. This landmark build in the 1985 which was in the beginning a mere super market  is now  one of the oldest malls in India and has become the face of the city. Following this trend many malls like Alsa mall, Pattni plaza, Prince plaza etc dotted across the city. Though not the house hold of popular brands, these malls defined the city in a special way. These malls are definitely the birth mark of Chennai as they have developed with this city. Its hard to imagine Chennai without these landmarks. However Chennaiites have to thank Citi Centre for bringing into the big picture the amalgamation of shopping, food and cinema under one roof. Barely three years since its establishment the mall has been every Chennaiites favorite hangout spot.

Not to be satisfied with the presence of all this big and small malls the Chennaiites hunger for more malls will be met by another 15 malls likely to be built in the city in the near future. Almost near completion is the 48,000 square feet Chennai Central at Kadhar Nawaz Khan road which is a joint venture of SSPDL (Srinivas shipping and property development)  Ltd and Pantaloon. Chennai considered to be one of the conservative city of the metros is slowly starting to accommodate the modern temples of mall.

Licensed to chill

"You know? This whole ice age thing is getting old. You know what I could go for? A global warming." Sid, the sloth (voice by John Leguizamo)

The movie Ice age is all about the adventures of a giant ground sloth - Sid, a mammoth - Manny and a smilodon - Diego.This commputer animated movie by Blue Sky Studios, was directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge adapted from a story by Michael J. Wilson. The movie was followed up with two sequels Ice age 2 or Ice age : The Melt Down and Ice age 3 or Ice age : Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The three movies showcase the journey Sid, Manny and Diego through three different eras. The Ice Age movies, which revolve around environment related problems have helped set a bench mark for other computer animated movies. Much critically appreciated and one of the biggest box office hits, this movie has wooed kids and adults alike.

Ice Age, the first movie was released in 2002. The new concept of mammals trying to save a human baby and to take him back to his father was not only accepted well by kids but also gave an insight to the idea that animals and humans can share a bond. The movie pictures the journey of Manny the mammoth’s migration to the north with a ground sloth named Sid following him and their adventures together when they find a human baby. During this journey they are joined by a Diego the smilodon who initially plans to lead them into a ambush setup by his herd but changes his mind when saved by Manny.  The movie ends by the three returning the baby to the humans.

This  movie, about the connection between three mammals and their connection with the humans, acts as an eyeopener about the ice age era brought alive through computer animation. The sub story of Scart, the squirrel and his efforts to save an prized acorn adds humor to the story. Everyone will agree to the fact that Scart is the silent hero of the movie who has simply impressed the audience purely with his actions.

The sequels take us through the meltdown (Ice Age 2) and the world of Dinosaurs (Ice Age 3). Ice Age 2 shows the meltdown of glaciers and ice which the animals don’t realize to be a harmful and just enjoy the pleasant sunny weather. A vulture tells them that a giant tree can save them and the animals set a journey in search of the tree. During this the three main characters Sid, Manny and Diego are joined by another three characters. Two opossum and Ellie, a mammoth who thinks she is a opossum. The journey is filled with action, love and overcoming fear and the flood situation together. However the third part of the movie The Dawn of the Dinosaurs surprised everyone with the ice age heroes finding out a world of Dinosaurs. Sid the sloth adopts three abandoned eggs and they hatch into baby Tyrannosaurus in the morning. Soon the mother of Tyrannosaurus takes her babies and kidnaps Sid. Manny and Ellie decide to save Sid and in the process discover a whole new world of Dinosaurs. The additional character, an one eyed insane weasel called Buck adds humor to the already funny movie.

Through out the three movies the audience is taken through the three different phases of the world from the past and are given an insight to what harm they have done to earth and its inhabitants. Ice Age has helped the kids understand complex problems in an easy and a funny way. Choosing three extinct animals as the main protagonists of the movie clearly states the purpose. The sub zero heroes are indeed the real heroes. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the movie

Freaky Mammal: Well, why don't they call it The Big Chill? Or The Nippy Era? I'm just sayin', how do we know it's an Ice Age?

Freaky Mammal: Because of all...

[ shouts]

Freaky Mammal: The *ice*!

Freaky Mammal: Well, things just got a little chillier.

[passing a Stonehenge-like structure]

Manfred: Modern architecture. It'll never last. 

Manfred: Mammoths can't go extinct; we're the biggest animals on Earth.

Diatryma Mom: Uh, what about the dinosaurs?

Manfred: The dinosaurs got cocky. They made enemies.  

Emerging Realtiy Of The Reel World

Tamil cinema world has continued to set an example of how movies can be used as a mirror to reflect the happenings in the society and this can be credited solely to the writers. From the days of Annadurai Tamil cinema has been influenced by great writers and their works .This trend set off in the early 1940’s. Velakari (1949), a movie based on class conflicts, written by Annadurai was not just a box office hit but the reception by the audience and the impact it created was strong. Each dialogue from the movie showcased the ill treatment of the poor by the rich. The famous “Sattam Oru Iruttarai. athiley vakkilin vaathamoru vilakku. anaal athu ezhaikku ettaatha vilakku" (The law is a dark room. In which the lawyer's arguments are like the lamp light, but the poor cannot get it) sums up the predicaments of the society in just two meaningful lines.

It will be apt to say that movies penned by writers like Kalaingar Karunanidhi has brought into light the black marks of society and has also influenced the audience to understand the complications in it. The movie Parasakthi’s climax dialogue delivered by Sivaji Ganesan not only provoked the emotional feelings of the audience but also conveyed the various forms of cruel elements in the society. The metaphor used by Kalaignar ‘Kodiyorgalin Kudaram’ to refer the state of society in the same movie clearly identifies the talent of a writer to put in the hard view in beautiful words.

Bhaskhar Sakthi, script writer of Vennila Kabadi Kulu, whose short novel is being made into a movie, Azhagar Samy Kuthirai voiced his opinion on a writer’s role in cinema by saying “A script is the back bone of a cinema. Cinema is a way for us to express and share our thoughts and lessons from life and this is what cinema is also about. However, perceptions differ from one writer to another and also the style of writing.” He also added his comment on books being adapted into movies by saying “Adaptation of books into movie takes the novel to the next higher step. It gives the book another dimension and certain areas are developed in the process of making the movie”.

The very first time Padma Bhushan ,Tamil literature winner,writer Jayakanthan’s Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal was adapted intoa  movie with the same title. Crazy Mohan who has penned lots of humors dramas and dialogues for movies has conveyed messages with a tone of humor. Also women writers like Anu Radha and Shiva Shankri having been contributing to the glory of Tamil Cinema.This clearly shows the growth time line of Tamil cinema world.From portraying a small issue like family conflicts to social problems like class and status conflicts up to the recent technologically sound movies like Endhiran Tamil cinema continues to prove itself as the hub of cinema and is growing towards the point of becoming an icon internationally.  Along with this phenomenal growth is the new found recognition and celebration of writers. Be it a lyricist or a script writers they are all getting their rightful share in the title credits.

Through the green lens

An ace cinematographer, an environmental activist, an Emmy award winner and a socially committed individual. Alphonse Roy is all this and more. He is the man behind many path breaking documentaries that we've seen in BBC and National Geography. He opens up about his 23 years of wildlife journey, the passion it takes to be a part of it and the future of it all.

Having studied at the Film and TV institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai what made you take up wildlife cinematography?

I always wanted to be a Wildlife cinematographer. My father was a photographer for the railways and during my childhood days he used to take me to wildlife sanctuaries. So at a tender age I started developing an interest towards wild life. As a film institute student I was exposed to the technical aspects. This merger of interest and education in the field paved way for my successful career.

What is your opinion about wildlife cinematography as a career in India?

Wildlife Cinematography is a great career opportunity. To specialize in this patience is very important. I took nearly four years for me to complete my first movie on tigers. The viewership is good in India but what we are lacking is encouragement and the passion towards the field. How many of us have been to wildlife sanctuaries and spent a night or two there?  A very few of us and we give it minimum importance.  The kind of passion to go out and understand their world is the fundamental need for a wildlife cinematographer. If you have the passion for it you can do it.

Can you elaborate on the various special cameras you have used in your works? Especially about the Red Camera.

I started out with using the basic cameras. Then I moved on to High Definition cameras and I can tell you that Digital is the future. Red camera was used in one of my films ‘Anything for you’, directed by Anand Algappan. A red camera has an incredible resolution of 4 K.

What is the history behind the 14 feet tall Elephant Tripod?

The story of Elephant tripod is interesting. A wildlife cinematographer faces challenges everyday on field. One such challenge was to shoot tigers sitting on elephant backs. Tigers can’t be shot from ground level we have to do with the help of elephants. During this the shoots would get shaky as they constantly keep moving. I tried befriending an elephant and I would sit under its four legs and shoot. But this proved difficult for the long run. So thus I invented the 14 feet tall stool- the Elephant Tripod. I would climb on the elephant and shift to the 14 feet stool.

An AIDS awareness movie with the granddaughter of John F Kennedy, Rory Kennedy. A bit of a shift from wildlife, how did it feel?

It is a real life story and for this movie we watched the AIDS patients go through this. We had the whole story developed around a married couple where the husband is an AIDS patient and how they decide on having a baby and how their baby was born with AIDS too. The movie also contained the new drug developed which was given to the wife during her pregnancy and before her operation. It was a good experience overall.

You are a winner of the prestigious Emmy awards for the one-hour film ‘Tibet: The End of Time’. How was the experience?

I was quiet young when I received the award. To be quite honest I was not very excited and I dint know the value of it then. But thanks to my Friends in the USA, who started making noise about the award and t told me that an Emmy Award is equal to an Oscar. So it was after then I started hanging it up.

Your opinion about Green media?

I call it  flying in on borrowed feathers. Projecting the problems is great effort but what happens after that  is my real question? There should be some realistic activities. What is essential for the media to cover and inform is about the people who live near the sanctuaries. They are economically very backward and their state of livelihood is very sad. If you ask me why it is important to know about them it is simple. They are the people who live close to nature and they know how to protect it. So for us to protect them is important.