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Metrolife
YOUR BOND WITH BANGALORE
PROACTIVE CITIZENS LOOKING FORWARD

Actor Saif Ali Khan will be seen in an all-blonde look with tattoos in Go Goa Gone P4

Zero tolerance for teasing

ecently, two boys on a motorcycle allegedly eveteased a couple of girls in the City. A friend who was with them promptly whipped out his cellphone, snapped a picture of the two complete with the number plate of the bike and posted it on the Bangalore City Polices Facebook page. The picture quickly went viral on the social-networking site, spurring the police force to take immediate action. They soon traced the licence plate number to an area in Wilson Garden and a little later, apprehended the eveteasers. This is a far cry from the attitude of apathy that cases of eve-teasing were once rewarded with. Before the safety of the fairer sex became a hotly discussed issue a few months ago, majority of the Citys population treated eveteasing with a combination of mild contempt and weary resignation. It isnt that people approved of eve-teasing it was far from that, says Garima, a professional. But most of the time, it was considered something that girls just had to learn to deal with. Generally, girls were instructed to simply turn a blind eye if someone teased them and leave the area as soon as possible, adds Garima.But in recent months, it seems that the outrage against the Delhi gang-rape case and other similar incidents has trickled down to the streets of Bangalore as well even for cases of mild eveteasing. Pratul, a software engineer, points out, Earlier, people as-

The City is no stranger to me

H
e led the Royal Challengers Bangalore last season and this time around, New Zealand cricketer Daniel Vettori has stepped aside and given way for a younger person, Virat Kohli, to take the lead. But Daniel says that he has the confidence in Virat to lead the team well. And he has rightfully done so. He is a talented youngster and very committed to his job. He needs no advice on how to go about things, says Daniel, who was in the City shooting for a Kingfisher commercial. Though the team has played on other grounds as well, he says that playing in Bangalore has always been memorable one. We have always had a good record in Bangalore and the crowd too is fantastic. Playing on ones homeground has always been an added advantage, he adds. Playing for the Indian Premier League has been an experience that Daniel says he will never forget. Be it the parties, the entertainment or the promotions that happen on the side, the cricketer has enjoyed all of them. Its a part and parcel of the league now and we get to do different things and it is fun, he adds. Interestingly, Daniel has a soft spot for the City. I have been coming to India and even to Bangalore for many years now. Since the City is no stranger to me, it has been easy to make that transition, be it in terms of people or the food, he adds. While he hasnt had much time to explore the City, Daniel says that he does remember the various malls and hotels that he has visited over the years. The City is a great place and the weather is fantastic. I am looking forward to this season as well, he sums up.
MS

sumed that nothing could be done to stop eve-teasing. Now, though, citizens are becoming more pro-active. On one hand, I think the popularity of social media has led to that. These days, these forums give complaints a lot of visibility, which prompts the authorities to take action. On the other hand, he also feels that the quick action of the police force especially in the recent case ought to be lauded. If the citizens are more proactive, its because they have faith in the support of the police, he adds. Bindu Sastry, a professional, agrees that social-networking sites have allowed these issues to get the attention they deserve. Awareness has increased, especially after the gang-rape in Delhi last year. People know they need not keep their

Pratul

mouth shut about such behaviour. The fact that the City police are also so active on the internet is something that reassures the public, she states. Interestingly, she points out that many girls have stopped shying away from reporting such cases. The mindset is changing. Earlier, girls did feel an element of guilt they might be told that they were seeking attention by dressing in a particular way, which is why they were teased. Thats nonsense, of course, and people are realising that now, especially the younger generation, says Bindu. Whats particularly heartening is that it isnt just the

Bindu Sastry

fairer sex which is rebelling against the culture of eveteasing many young men have protested against it as well. Bindu admits to being pleasantly surprised while browsing the City polices Facebook page to see many

men commenting favourably on the forces prompt action and urging stricter punishment for such offenders. Gaurav Gupta, an engineer, says, Why should the men stand by while their friends are being teased? Eve-teasers and those who disrespect women arent the majority in fact, the protests against the Delhi gang-rape incident that were held in the City were heavily attended by men. Eve-teasing might pale in comparison to crimes like rape but I dont think it should be treated lightly we have to tackle the issue right at the grassroot level.
Kavya Balaraman

I have been coming to India and even to Bangalore for many years now. Since the City is no stranger to me, it has been easy to make that transition, be it in terms of people or the food. DANIEL

CONFIDENT Daniel Vettori

INTELLIGENT FILM-MAKER

FOREIGN VIEW

Short films dont work in India

S
hort films, served standalone in theatres, are unlikely to find takers in the country, says filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, who has helmed a 25minute movie, Bombay Talkies, a compilation of four short films celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema. Zoya, who has directed true-blue Bollywood movies like Luck By Chance and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in the past, joined forces with talents like Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibaker Banerjee to put together Bombay Talkies. It has four stories all different in content and flavour. The movie is hitting theatres on May 3, but will its release open the doors for a theatrical culture for short films? I don't think this will ever happen, Zoya maintained. There might have been three or four different film-makers coming together, but as a theatrical concept, (individual) short films dont work (here). Now you dont need it (a theatrical release). With internet, digital platforms and film festivals, you have so much that you can do. But I dont think short film will be a huge theatrical culture, Zoya said. Zoya is, however, more than anything else, proud that she got to collaborate with such experienced directors. I am the youngest in this lot and I am proud to be
BOWLED OVER Standing (from left): Denise, Jeff, Jenny, Alex, Steve, Julie and Geezie. Sitting: Daniel and Lisa. NOVEL EXPERIENCE Punkita, Navi, Andrew and Anne.

The atmosphere is electrifying

T
SPEAKING OUT Zoya Akhtar

sharing the credits with them. They are three amazing filmmakers, so I am really proud. I am actually the least experienced in the lot, she said, adding that Bombay Talkies is a good package. For her part in Bombay Talkies, Zoya worked around a slim budget of Rs 1.5 crore. And she managed, even with an actress like Katrina Kaif in it. Did she have to make a lot

of compromises? Compromises here and there, but not really! I am lucky that I am with producers like Excel Entertainment. They said, Do whatever, just stay in budget. I liked it because it was a great exercise for me. I think it was a pretty good budget for a short film. I was lucky, and even Katrina didn't charge me. She did it for free, she added.

he popular adage, When in Rome, do as the Romans do, holds good for the ever growing expatriate community in the City. The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has attracted a lot of expats and tourists. Though most of them dont really watch or play the sport back home, they say that their stay is not complete without a visit to the stadium during the IPL season. From understanding the nuances of the game to soaking in the IPL experience most say that they havent had anything to complain about. And those who didnt understand too much of what was happening on the field were making the most of the night by enjoying the festive atmosphere inside the lounges. The expats say that the IPL

I came to see it for myself and I think I am hooked to it already, says Russ, who is a big fan of Chris Gayle. It was also the first time for Andrew, Anne and Navi from United States. Back home, we have a craze for either baseball or soccer but even in that, the energy is nothing compared to what we are seeing here, says Andrew. Anne chips in, I am still trying to understand the game. But over time, I think its more to do with the atmosphere and the cheering than HOOKED ON Kim and Russ with their Indian friends. the game itself. experience is one-of-a-kind dom, we have cricket matches Punkita Patel, a Canadian, event and quite unlike what but nothing like this one. I real- says, I feel a trip to India is not theyve seen and experienced ly enjoyed myself and the ener- complete without a visit to the before. They love it and dont gy is infectious, she says. IPL match. Its so infectious want to miss a single match in Russ from the UK had come that within few minutes, you the City. with a couple of his Indian end picking up a flag and For Kim, a professional in friends. All my friends out screaming your lungs out for the City, this was the first time here have been talking about your favourite team. she was watching an IPL the IPL ever since I landed Madlen Miserius from Gerhere. Now that it is happening, many was stunned at the enmatch. In the United King-

thusiasm of the people in the stadium. People here are so into cricket. I dont know much about cricket but I am enjoying the atmosphere and the food, she adds. One of the IPL lounges had a big group of expats, who were wearing red t-shirts, and cheering for RCB. Almost all the matches are so intense and the atmosphere is truly electrifying, says Lisa. Jeff pitches in, Its nothing short of a party and we just come out here to have fun because we dont get to see anything like this back in our country. Jenny, another expat, concludes, Ive heard that Indians are crazy about cricket but its only when I got to see it for myself that I realised how much time and energy people here devote to the game.
Megha Shenoy and Nina C George