Film Making : A Learning Experience

Arun Vaidyanathan, filmmaker, is the director of the critically acclaimed Tamil feature film,’ Achchamundu! Achchamundu!’ (There’s fear! There’s fear!) that deals with the burning issue of child abuse. He also has many award-winning short films to his credit. Arun Vaidyanathan talks to me about his journey as a filmmaker – right from his inspirations, memories of his early filmmaking years and his stint in the Tamil television industry, to the making of ‘Achachamundu! Achchamundu!’ and memorable moments while directing his debut feature film.

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Categories: Interviews

Some Stories and Some Lessons

In December 2004, as a student of journalism, I embarked on a week-long visit to a village I had never ever heard about in my life till then. Only later did I realise that it was a trip that would set me thinking. It was soon followed by another revealing experience – the Tsunami. Reporting on the Tsunami threw the doors open to a different kind of experience – one that gave way to a very crucial question – what was it like to face a disaster? Presented here, the diary entries of an awe-struck journalism student.

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Categories: Essays

Anamika to Anamika

In notes to her fourteen-year-old self, thirty-year-old Anamika writes about the various shades of love that she has witnessed and the little lessons of life that she has learnt through the sixteen years. Anupama Krishnakumar tells you the story.

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Categories: Fiction

Mothers and Daughters

This story will probably be my first step to writing a novel/novella. It remains the longest short story that I have ever written. There is a whole lot packed into this story – the relationship between mothers and daughters, a wife and her husband, Carnatic Music, human nature and realisation. It’s the story of Jhanavi, Leela and Vaidehi – women belonging to three different generations.

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Categories: Fiction

Jasmine Memories

The tradition of arranged marriage is quite an old one in India. It’s a practice that raises many eyebrows these days but I do believe that magic can be found in an arranged marriage. The story of Vasundara and Sankaran was written to put forth this point of view. Vasundara is one of my favourite creations and she epitomises the balance between respect for traditional values and a rare and beautiful kind of courage in a woman. This is Vasu’s story.

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Categories: Fiction