Friday 24th June, 2011

should explore Cannes, to revive the association and fill the void. Bengal continues with the tradition of making quality films and there are talented film- makers producing good films. Gautam Ghose, Buddhadeb Dasgupta are some names to reckon with, who are constantly infusing visual poetry and life in cinematic art. The presence of earthy Paoli Dam in ethnic wear raised quite a few eyebrows here. Touring with her film, she made a subtle statement that beauty emerges from other parts of India as well, not just Bollywood where the likes of Mallika Sherawat wear bold Western outfits just to be like them. For a refreshing change, here is an Oriental beauty with long, cascading hair exuding sensuality and making a forceful statement about beauty that is equally appealing. Whether she manages to bag roles in foreign productions or not is a different issue, whether her work gets rave reviews or not is a different matter altogether, but what matters the most is the fact that she is emerging as the new face of beauty from India and showcases exotic variety for the foreign eye to feast on. Leggie beauties in Bollywood may crib at her bid to capitalise on Indian style and wear, but what matters is that she has grabbed eyeballs and it is to be seen whether she retains attention or not. Presence here will possibly cement ties and bring people from disparate backgrounds together, who want to make quality cinema. This is the best place to forge relationships, watch films and pursue artistic dreams. It is inspirational as well as a learning experi- ence. When the objective is of making cine- ma proud, the festival should not encour- age glamour. The truth is that the exchange of ideas and cinematic excel- lence will not suffer if there is an excess of glamour. It is an integral part of cinematic tradition to accord weigh- tage to glamour. It does not deviate or dilute intent. In fact, glamour is an add-on that brings the festival in the news in various countries as the local media finds it worth talking about the achievement of local celebrities on a globally respected platform, the place where art is venerat- ed irrespective of commercial fate and artistes are encouraged to live independently and work freely without political correctness. Cannes was always big; just because Asian presence is increasing, it is seen as a decline in standards. It is considered to have become a car- nival sort of an event, to party and freak out. The truth is that it is getting bigger because they have located areas from where good cinema has BUSTED: Bollywood film ‘Peepli Live’ emerged in the past and they are doing what it was India’s entry to the Oscars this takes to nurture the source. It should in a way year but it failed to make the cut weaken our urge to consider the Oscars as the best in cinema. Many great people have suffered and spent their lives in this belief and have secretly pined to lift the Oscar. Winning at Cannes should give a high, an equal, if not more than the Oscars. In some more years, permutations and combina- tions will change and many countries will perhaps come out of the spell of Hollywood and consider Cannes as the Mecca of films. Indian contribution in making this a reality will BY DEVRAJ SINGH KALSI IN MUMBAI fascinating, a place where those looking for artistic to be on the jury, be it Sharmila be significant. Perhaps then India will stop send- The Statesman / ANN satisfaction get an overdose and those sold on glam- Tagore or Nandita Das. It ing entries for Oscars. our get to hobnob with the best from across the means that Indian directors There are plenty of prizes elsewhere world. What Hollywood did not accord them, and actors have a say in and there is the Golden Globe. Stay espite repeated attempts over the years, Cannes provides it all. And in plenty. Hence the mad choosing the best. And happy with all that instead of being Bollywood has not been able to make the cut rush. the French believe in obsessed with the elusive Oscars Din Hollywood, leave aside impressing the Many Indian film personalities prefer to hang Indian aesthetic sensi- all the time. Oscar jury. It is frustrating when what we believe to around this place in May. They enjoy every moment bilities a lot more than because quality cinema is served here. Cannes what the Americans be good enough for the Oscars gets eliminated. EPIC: Aamir Right from Lagaan to Peepli Live, Indian entries do authorities appear keen on widening the platform do. Khan’s 2002 film not figure in the final list of nominations for the so that they can make the festival and awards more There are lessons grand prize. We keep guessing what kind of cinema prestigious in comparison to the Oscars. The most for those making mid- ‘Lagaan’ also did- actually wins favour. It is strange that when Indian coveted statuette may not remain so covetous if dle cinema. If they n’t get the Oscar technicians work in films made by British directors other countries get to participate and represent well make good movies and jury’s approval. or American directors, they win awards in the US. here. showcase it here, they This anomaly is beyond explanation. Cannes is relatively new ground for Bollywood. stand a good chance of When one door closes, another one opens. This But the French know Indian cinema because of getting it seen by peo- has proved true in case of Bollywood. Brush aside Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen. Their films have been ple who enjoy good cine- the harrowing experiences in the US, we have much honoured and these filmmakers have won awards ma. They can reach out to celebrate as Indian cinema has made inroads during their lifetime for contribution to cinema. with their films. The elsewhere. The French were well aware of the quality of same goes for Cannes is the hottest destination where Indian regional cinema and the wide reach of Bengali films Bollywood seems to be accorded a warm, enthusias- Bollywood. which tic welcome. For several years, Aishwarya Rai has Earlier, only parallel cinema created a buzz. walked the red carpet in alluring dresses for shut- Now, many Indian commercial directors like terbugs to go click, click, click. Many other actors Mani Ratnam utilise the opportunity to pro- have joined her to make a statement that heroines mote their films here. A surprise winner in Bollywood are glamorous and at par with beau- last year was Udaan, made by Motwane ties from other parts of the world. While they make and Anurag Kashyap, and this boosted a fashion statement, pose with European master Indian filmmakers’ confidence. Our films filmmakers, the focus shifts to the kind of films can be appreciated, feted abroad and since they act in. They consider their work to be in no Bollywood is now making offbeat films, way inferior as Bollywood makes films for the mass- there is a good chance of winning at es, for pure entertainment. Cannes. Indian directors—like Shekhar Kapur—who left Cannes has been a favourite for other India to make films abroad find this festival to be reasons. Many Indian film people are chosen WHY HAMMOCKS ARE BEST FOR AN AFTERNOON NAP The mystery of why it is virtually impossi- with sleep. The swaying motion of the bed was found ble to lie in a gently rocking hammock without Sophie Schwartz, of the University of to increase the duration of N2 sleep, a form of falling asleep has been solved by scientists. Geneva, one of the study's co-authors, said: "It non-rapid eye movement sleep that normally An analysis of the brain waves of sleeping is a common belief that rocking induces sleep: accounts for about half of a good night's rest. subjects revealed that a slow swinging motion we irresistibly fall asleep in a rocking chair While in the swaying bed participants also both helps us fall asleep faster and slip into a and, since immemorial times, we cradle our recorded more slow oscillations in the brain deeper sleep than in a stationary bed. babies to sleep. and flurries of activity known as sleep spin- The findings also help to explain the age- "Yet, how this works had remained a mys- dles, which correspond with a deeper level of old belief that cradling a baby will send it off tery. The goal of our study was twofold: to test sleep. to sleep, and why it is so difficult to stay awake whether rocking does indeed soothe sleep, and Dr Michael Mühlethaler, another co-author, in a rocking chair. to understand how this might work at the said: "We observed a faster transition to sleep The study, published in the Current brain level." in each and every subject in the swinging con- Biology journal, found that lying on a slowly Twelve volunteers were asked to take an dition, a result that supports the intuitive rocking bed helped each subject in a small test afternoon nap on a custom-made bed or notion of facilitation of sleep associated with group fall asleep more easily, and spend longer "experimental hammock" that could either this procedure. in a deeper stage of sleep. remain still or be made to rock gently. "Surprisingly, we also observed a dramatic The Swiss scientists who carried out the During two 45-minute naps, one with the boosting of certain types of sleep-related research suggested that the swinging motion's bed stationary and one with it swaying, their [brain wave] oscillations." effect on our senses could help synchronise brain activity was monitored by electroen- © The Telegraph Group our brain activity into a pattern associated cephalogram (EEG). London 2011