*NEIGHBOURHOOD DIARIES *
presents our next episode of our Blackpally Diaries chapter****
****
*'TRADE - OFF?'*****
A short film on Russel Market by Saythu and Jaaga Media Center ****
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*DATE & VENUE:*
28th April 2012 7:00pm sharp at Russel Market, Shivajinagar
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*PROGRAMME:*
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Introduction to the place and project - Krupa Rajangam
Screening of 'Lost Sequel' - our first instalment of Blackpally Diaries****
Screening of 'Trade-Off?' - our focus of the evening****
Meet Film-maker Clemence Barret after the screenings ****
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*FILM SYNOPSIS:* ****
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One of the few remaining historic covered markets of Bangalore, a recent
fire that destroyed a section of the market has brought it into public
focus. BBMP would like to demolish the structure and re-use the site for a
mall while traders have gone ahead and restored it. ****
** **
The stand-off between authority and traders and the discussion on whether
this site is heritage or not remain - So will the rebirth of the market
prove to be temporary? Well, thats not what Parvez, a 4th generation market
vendor feels - he remains optimistic about its future while telling us the
story of the market...
** **
This film is part of a larger idea "Neighbourhood Diaries"...stories and
histories of neighbourhoods - short films that describe a neighbourhood's
tangible and intangible heritage, its significant socio-cultural centres
and their present relevance or otherwise through personal narratives.****
****
*SYNOPSIS ON BLACKPALLY i.e. SHIVAJINAGAR:*
* *
Shivajinagar or Blackpally was a barren region when Kempegowda founded
modern Bangalore. The first settlers in the area were farmers and it is
believed that the name Blackpally came from the bili akki (white rice) that
they grew in their fields. ****
** **
As the British Cantonment was established to its south and east, Blackpally
gradually became a native settlement servicing the needs of ‘native’
residents. Interestingly, the bazaar became popular with the Europeans as
well, as they couldn’t resist the possibility of finding a bargain! ****
** **
Though much has altered now, Russel Market is still the main market,
opposite one can still see the spires of St Mary’s Basilica. Numerous
stalls and different kinds of bazaars, co-exist, along with the shop
houses. Beside these remain lone remnants of typologies like the mews,
choultries (community halls), cinemas and hospitals, which once served the
influx of visitors and residents alike. All are now united in their
struggle for existence and relevance.
****
*ABOUT NEIGHBOURHOOD DIARIES:*
Neighbourhood Diaries is a collaborative project conceived
by Krupa Rajangam of Saythu (www.saythu.com) and Archana Prasad of Jaaga (
www.jaaga.in). Based in Bangalore, the two of them initially collaborated
on an open-to-public initiative by Max Mueller Bhavan – the Bangalore City
Project (www.bcp.wikidot.com). Whilst working on this project they realised
the importance of neighbourhood histories. Of involving the residents of a
locality and engaging them in discovering secrets, truths and novelties
that made their area special. Neighbourhood Diaries was a natural
continuation of this idea seeded in the Bangalore City Project. Thus, the
notion of documenting the oral, tangible and intangible heritage of
neighbourhoods using the short film format began to take shape. ****
Clemence Barret, our film maker is a French film maker and artist based in
Bangalore (www.clemencebarret.com). She has made many documentaries for
French TV channels as Canal + and Arte and has been actively collaborating
with Jaaga Media Center and Saythu on directing Whitefield and Blackpally
Diaries episodes.
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