Nico Icon Pondy

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

French Prof in Pondy!

Monsieur Jean-Baptiste taught French earlier this year to local students in Pondicherry. Is it possible for a French man who speaks no English or Tamil in class, to find success with students who have a very basic level in French?

Going by the testimony of his student, John Mourouguessin, it seems clearly possible.

First is a short impression of John followed by an interview with Jean Baptiste in English and French. Thanks Sylvain for the translation legend.

Our students were initially unable to understand Jean Baptiste's French accent as we were habituated to the Indian accent in French. Having done my schooling and college in standard institutions, I did not expect much from him, but got used to it over time...I was patient in my learning..I don't believe in marks secured during class tests..Its the way you implement the language practically....Learning not only depends upon the professor but also the way you work hard coming home everyday...

He was more than a professor to me in the class.The reason why I love him,respect him and have a good relationship with him still is because,he was friendly,loving,humble,selfless,patient,would discipline students with love and not a man who justifies..In my interactions with him, I never found a racist or French superiority complex. He was sincere and also a great inspiration to me personally. Since,God willing I might marry a French girl (born and brought up in France) but found it difficult to learn the language...

For your information,I was the last mark in the class." - John Mourouguessin (ex-student)

John Mourouguessin and Jean-Baptiste

Interview with Jean-Baptiste

Have you a base in pedagogy or FLE?

I have prepared two FLE units that I obtained by preparing the DAEFLE (Diplôme d’Aptitude à l’Enseignement du Français Langue Etrangère). It is the unit of Phonetic and Civilization history. For the pedagogical basis I have been trainer in France for different publics. I was in charge of the cultural opening.

The experience teaching Tamil students French in Pondicherry? Some students speak English and Tamil, some speak Tamil but not English, some English but not Tamil, some speak Hindi but not Tamil!! Wow, how do you manage?

I would say, it is more of a challenge nowadays than it would be in a different context. The experience would have been different if it was more free without obligation to follow the prescribed method. For me, being a teacher of French at the Alliance française has not allowed me to learn Tamil. Maybe it could have been possible to learn it with the beginners, but what is distorting the learning process is English.

For a French man to learn Tamil is equivalent to return to kindergarten, but the opposite is not always true. The students and the teachers have to play the game!

Class Exercise Given by Jean Baptiste

You taught level 2 and 5. How was it different?

The differences of levels are already pre-established by the Cadre Européen Commun de Référence de Langues. The challenges are in the acquisition of communication abilities and the capacity of applying this in the daily life. The constancy and motivation of the students in general is very positive in the two levels. I would say for the negative aspect that the coherence of the learning process with the the external world was not based on reality.

Activities the students love most and least?

In my experience, the activities that they do themselves are their favorites. Also the activities that deal with the daily life like the "reality theatre" or "role play". What can be boring for them is the framework of the methodology.

All teachers organised small activities to celebrate 'dix mots de la francophonie'. (bouquet, cache, coup-de-foudre, equipe, atelier, etc) And you?

I tried to animate a workshop on automatic writing with the students and the result was convincing because we succeeded to write a « break-up letter » which had actual sense. It was an interesting exercise which deserved to be worked again.

Most memorable moment in class you won't forget? What did you learn from your students?

I have received so many gifts from the students. I will never forget the moments of conviviality for a birthday for instance. Generally speaking, the students were very motivated, specifically for the morning class at 7 am. They were also very united between each other. I particularly remember a party we had in the class for a student who has just found a job. They also shared with me their personal lives, for instance I was invited to a partu manja thanir.

The students of Level 5 wrote their opinions of 'Capital Punishment'. Were you severe about controversial opinions?

The opinions were divided on this kind of topic, but I was not marking them according to their point of view. I tried to mark their French level (spelling, syntax, vocabulary, conjugation, etc). Some of them took the subject very seriously and I thank them for their outspokenness.

Are you satisfied when the students speak French well, and when they ask questions. And when you'll don't understand each other?

Whenever we understand each other it's easier. Myself, I don't speak a very good English and an even less good Tamil !! It's true that I appreciate when the students talked to me in French. Sometimes I confess that I do not understand the meaning of some questions ! I will try to answer as frankly as possible even if i have to say "I dont know" many times.

How do you deal with the difference in levels (learning abilities) of students in the same class?

I would try to harmonize the group according to their real level and not according to the diploma that they are trying to obtain.

Suggestion to improve oral comprehension of French?

Do not hesitate to listen to French music on Youtube and to try to translate the lyrics, to watch movies and to listen to the radio broadcast or the TV news (RFI or TV5), but also to chat on social networks, and above all, whenever its possible to talk to French people by making street interview. French people like that. Also there are a lot of tourists in Pondicherry.

You taught here during the Bonjour India festival? What spectacles you enjoyed most?

I found the concept of « Puce Muse » very original but I missed also a lot of events. The movie cycle on Tony Gatlif was very interesting.

Tony Gatlif's Transylvania screened for movie cycle

Places in Pondy for eating, shopping etc?

The tea kadai where you can have at each corner street, its awesome, and also the yelenir (coconut water), very refreshing and good for health, the fresh fruit juices etc. For eating simple food at a reasonable price the Indian Coffee House of Nehru street and Annapurna on Gandhi Street. I appreciated also the government shop on Nehru street Khadi kraft where you can have rice specialty (veg byriani , sambar rice etc) and the Amuda Surabi

and finally?

I would like to continue to teach French but in a different way with a sharing method that is evolving and performed by the students themselves. The purpose of the class will be to realize a specific method, I mean that the students themselves will be at the base of their own learning process. This can be the most fun way to learn.

Arrest a Tourist Carrying no ID?

This is the first-hand account of a 28 year old French tourist who was stopped on the night of May 10th 2012 by undercover policemen on ECR Road. As he forgot to carry his ID, he was taken to the police station and threatened to be jailed, passport confiscated and visa canceled. He knew that it's always advisable for a foreigner in India to carry a photo ID. However even at this point, he is not sure if forgetting to carry an ID on one night can warrant an arrest.

Also what happens if it is a female tourist who is alone and speaks no English, and is only carrying her credit card with her name on it but she forgot her photo ID.

Below is his account:

"Last night (May 10th 2013), around midnight I went to the bus station to take an ECR-direction Chennai bus back to my home which is 20km north of Pondicherry. Coming there, I saw nothing. I realised that no bus is there because of the mob strike of the past two weeks. Some ECR buses were targeted by people so for security reason the drivers are in strike waiting that the political situation is cooling down.

So I decided to took one rickshaw. I negotiated and we went. At the end of Multhialpet, at the cross road of Salai Street, the rickshaw was stopped by policemen ( they always there at night time); The driver and I went out of the ricshaw. One guy (a plainsclothes policeman) asked me my ID card. I was very relaxed as I did not know he was a policeman and I said "no, I don’t have".

He thought I was treating him like a fool I guess because he became very angry as if I insulted him. He said "How is it possible you have no Id, you are terrorist? Where you come from? France? What? Show you ID card now!"

He insisted more than ten times!! He was basically shouting at me. So I said that " I do not have on me. It is in my place that I'll bring it to you tomorrow. I can show you my ATM card there is my name on it. It is the only thing I have."

The second guy also with no policemen costume came to me and said: "Do you think you can roam around in India with no ID paper. You know you can go to jail for this?"

I said "Sir, I am sorry."

Firstly I did not know I was speaking to an officer. I said "You have no dress so…"

So he asked his collegues (ten policemen were there) to confirm his identity even if he did not show his ID!!

And then they took the rickshaw driver as a witness, by asking his paper ID and where he came from. He showed me and said, "Look he has his ID. Can you stay without your ID in France I don’t think so. If me Indian I go to your country and the policemen arrest me they will ask me my ID, am I right?

I said "I don’t know, yes probably."

Then he said, "You know I was staying long time in singapour and there policeman asked my ID and I gave him because its compulsory. You understand. You can go to jail. I'll make a report to your embassy and let see what happened!! Your visa can be cancelled!"

I was not so sure of myself anymore, but these guys seems to have very rough night to speak to me like if I was a thief or something like this. I tried to justify that I had no idea about it and it won’t make the same mistake but they were pissed off already saying "Do you think in India you can do whatever you want? At this moment I called my Tamil colleague because he is from the neighbourhood., I asked this officer to talk to him but he refused. Then he said "Ok we go to the police station we make a report."

I told my friend where I was and where we were going. This guy was listening so he told me afterwards, "Oh , you know very well the neighbourhood"

I answered "yes I know little bit."

He shouted "Ah suddenly you know something hein! Where were you before?"

I said that I was with a friend having a diner in Karthik hotel. He said that it is not what the driver said. He said that you come from the bus station,.

I say "Yes of course but before…"

"You are lying!" he shouted!

I was fed up already! So we arrived to the police station they make me write my information on a paper. Not even a register book or something; just to show my passport information and where I am living now. What am I doing here and in france.

He said "So I will write a report tomorrow to your embassy and they will deal with it; you cannot round like this with no ID"

I asked if there is any reason because it is the first time it happened to me and it been 1 year almost I am living here. He answered strongly, "Read the newspapers!"

I kept quiet this time even if I knew very well about the situation. My friend called me and said he asked our common friend working as police officer to come to the police station. Then, between five minutes they asked what am I doing here? Where have I been?

I answered gently. Afterwards, some minutes after, I don’t know what changed him but he asked me to go and to come back tomorrow to the office to show my identity before 9 am. I said ok no problem. But he wanted to keep my credit card.

I did not understand so I told him that I thought it was no use for you when I earlier showed it.

He said, "No I need something to prove you will come back"

I answered, "But you told me you will send a report to the embassy if I won't come back tomorrow, I don’t understand."

It seems enough. I was going a bit crazy, so I was taking my phone to make another call and then he said "Ok you keep and come back tomorrow."

By taking my stuff, a young policeman, said to me, "You come before 9 am or you will have some problem!"

I answered by moving my head from right to left meaning that I understood this already. He said "What , are you fooling me!!??"

I was completely fed up with this. So I went. And I came back next morning another officer was there, some guys told him about the story in Tamil, even saying that I was lying to them about the place I was coming from ( I understood some words), . so he checked my passport; asking me my information to check.

What I am doing here.? What did I know of Pondicherry and what I did in pondicherry.

I said that most of the time I stay in the village I don’t go so often to Pondy. I came there just to meet friends. He said "That's all? No other place around?"

I said that I didn't like Auroville, so I prefer to go further so not in villupuram district.

He asked, "Why you don’t like Auroville?

I said I don’t like the mentality. He was laughing and reporting this to the policemen around.
"Ok have a nice day, but don’t forget to have your id always on you."

The point I want to make by narrating this experience is that I never knew that I could be arrested, my passport confiscated and my visa canceled if I did not have an ID card on me. I am not sure if every French citizen in Pondicherry knows this rules.

I think that even without the phone calls to my colleague and the Tamil policeman friend, the same things would happened with the same end.

The important point is that they wanted to afraid me for showing that in India you cannot do whatever you want and there is rules that foreigners have to respect and you have to respect the policeman."

Saturday, 4 May 2013

Miss Sonik in India - In Conversation (In English and French)

Bonjour India 2013 enjoyed a good sojourn in Pondicherry with so many unforgettable performances such as Miss Sonik's set by the waterfront. And I confess that I've never seen Pondy's locals execute a series of such manic, disoriented but simultaneously militaristic, marching dance moves. Was it the ocean salt in the air from across the Bay of Bengal or the eclectic sounds floating through?

Either way, this gig was a living testament to Mr François Richier's speech about Bonjour India 2013 where he said, "We want it to be an exchange of ideas, cultural inspiration between French and Indian artists. We want to reach out to all groups in the Indian society, so all events will be free."

Held on promenade, the festival was open to all sections of the public -- Pondicherrians, French expats, passing tourists, families with children, beggars, policemen, hawkers, students. Everyone was having a good time, - just like in a Brave New World...

Here we are in conversation with the French DJ/Producer herself -- Miss Sonik as she speaks about her music, time in India and impressions of Pondy. First an interview in English and then in French. Thank you Hedi for the translations!

You call yourself Miss Sonik and not DJ Sonik. How are you different from a regular DJ?

Actually, a Dj generally mixes tracks created by somebody else. He is on turn tables (vinyl or cd) For my part, I am playing my own compositions live, and on devices such as sequencers, synthesizers, samplers, etc. I am developing them live by interacting with the audience.

And the transition from a rock guitarist to a DJ composer? Is there a rock band you would consider playing for again ?

This transition happened initially because in a band , all the members don't necessarily have the same motivations and the same desires. I found myself with the desire to compose which has led me to the world of electronic music which itself could offer me the possibility to write drums tracks, even if I am not a drummer. I involved myself in this way with no pre-conceived ideas and I began composing electronic music on machines. Nowadays, i am in agreement with this dynamics, i want to continue alone this way and I am not in the idea to join a band as a guitar player.

Edith Piaf and Gainsbourg are synonymous with French music.However several Indians (especially those in Mumbai) are huge fans of AIR, Emmanuel Santarromana and Stephane Pompougnac (Hotel Costes) who have been resampling old tracks and even making new ones. What do you think of these guys?

They are indeed artists that cannot be ignored in the French electronic music scene from the last 10 years. Their work is interesting but they are not particularly part of my major influences..

Has house, trip hop, chillout or minimal music interested you? Do you ever sample your own vocals. Your musical influences while growing up.

I don't stop myself on a particular genre...All that you mention is in my listening catalog but I have a very wide approach of the music.. Having grown up in Western Africa, I have been listening a lot of reggae music and afro-beat music. I have always been inspired by 70's music , as well as psychedelic and blues music. Metal and hip hop are still feeding me today. As a guitar player in a band, I was inspired by more hardcore elements. However my coming in the electronic world opened me to this very rich and fascinating music style.

Concerning sampling my own voice , it has sometimes happened but today my voice is brought during the live in my music set by using a vocoder.

You performed in Pondy, a former French colony. The students here just love 'Savoir Aimer' - Florent Pagny. Are you surprised or amused or horrified to know this? Many French people I know can't endure him.

(Laughs !!) I don't know "savoir aimer" and I never listen to this french singer..Actually, i am very surprised because I have already had this kind of question in Brazil. Many young people liked his songs, they even asked me to translate them !!

You've played in Chennai and Pondichery? How were the gigs different from each other?

The places in which I played Chennai and Pondichery was extremely varied, so that we met an audience very different.. The Hilton Hotel roof top in Chennai seemed much more reserved to a particular social class who nevertheless has danced a lot on techno music I compose.. We were much more on a clubbing audience.. ISAI festival team which was the after-party planner was very nice.

The meeting with the audience in Pondichery and in particular on this Alliance Française stage in front of the seaside will stay an unforgettable memory. Open stage for all, it permitted to whoever wanted to stop and dance. This public has taken whatever i gave and more it has been so very generous which has led to give a real exchange between us.. People were dancing, jumping, screaming, rising hands up .. Such a happiness !!!

Did you see sights in Pondy? Tourism brochures describe Pondicherry as a 'Slice of France in India?' Did you feel that?

I have been here a short while but I have walked around the streets and I have been to see the Ashram , having read some writings of Sri Aurobindo, it would have been unthinkable to not go there.. We have been to Auroville too.. I was able to massaged in the Ayurvedik centre, it was fabulous. The French have left an undeniable marks on Pondicherry but it is not for what I tried to see or to feel.

And our beloved Indian cuisine?

India is fantastic for a vegetarian who is quite unfortunate in France. France boasts of its gastronomy but it is a daily bad adventure of food in this country of carnivores!! They never worried about vegetarians who have to make themselves quite small when they ask if they can eat something without meat or fish... As a matter of fact , I have loved everything I have eaten in India !!

An Indian song you adore and why?

"Bhimpalasi" from Ravi Shankar, I have been listening to it since I am a teenager.. Why? It makes me vibrate..

One French song, musician/band that everyone should know.

Zenzile, a French band I am listening to for many years and whom I was lucky to play with in a festival..

The 1st Six words that come to mind when you hear the word 'India'

Beauty - Colors- Spirituality - Caste - Noise - Silence

Thank you Miss Sonik for sharing your experiences about India and music.

Below are a few links where you can follow Miss Sonik:

www.misssonik.com
http://soundcloud.com/miss-sonik
https://www.facebook.com/misssonik.producer

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

En français

Bonjour Miss Sonik!

Tu es Miss Sonik et non DJ Sonik. Qu'est-ce qui te différencie des autres DJ ?

En effet, un Dj mixe généralement les morceaux de quelqu'un d'autre, il est sur platines (vinyl ou cd..). Pour ma part, je joue mes propres compositions en direct et sur machines (séquenceur, synthétiseur, sampler..). Je les fais évoluer sur scène en interaction avec le public.

Et le passage de guitariste à compositeur de musique électronique?

Cette transition s'est faite dans un premier temps car dans un groupe les différents membres n'ont pas forcément les mêmes envies et les mêmes motivations. Je me suis donc retrouvée avec un désir de composition ce qui m'a amenée à me tourner vers le monde électronique qui m'ouvrait la possibilité d'écrire des séquences de batterie par exemple, n'étant pourtant pas batteur. Je me suis engagée dans cette voie sans aucune idée préconçue et me suis mise à élaborer de la musique électronique sur machines.

Pour le moment, je suis en accord avec cette dynamique, j'ai l'envie de poursuivre seule dans cette voie et non pas de me réengager auprès d'un groupe en tant que guitariste..

Édith Piaf et Gainsbourg sont synonymes de la musique Française. Pourtant, de nombreux Indiens (surtout ceux de Mumbai) sont de grands fans de AIR et Emmanuel Santarromana et Stephane Pompougnac (Hôtel Costes) qui ont remixe de vieux tubes et créés de nouveaux. Que penses-tu de leur travail?

Ils sont en effet incontournables dans la musique électronique française des 10 dernières années. Leur travail est intéressant mais il ne font pas particulièrement partie de mes principales références..

Est-ce que la house, le trip hop, le chill out ou le minimal t’a intéressé ? Comment as-tu finalement choisi ton style ? Tes influences musicales...

Je ne m'arrête pas à un style musical spécifique.. Tous ceux que tu cites font partie de mon catalogue d'écoute mais j'ai une approche très large de la musique.. Ayant grandi en Afrique de l'ouest, j'ai écouté beaucoup de reggae et d'afrobeats. J'ai toujours été très inspirée par la musique des années 70 aussi bien en rock psychédélique que le blues. Le métal et le hip hop me nourrissent encore aujourd'hui. En tant que guitariste j'ai fait partie de groupes sur un versant plutôt hardcore mélodique et mon arrivée dans le monde électronique m'a ouvert à ce pan musical très riche et fascinant.

Est-ce que tu samples quelquefois ta propre voix ?

Pour ce qui est de sampler ma voix, cela m'est arrivé mais elle est amenée aujourd’hui en direct dans mon set par le biais d'un vocoder.

Tu t’es produite à Pondy, une ancienne colonie française. Les étudiants qui y vivent adorent "Savoir Aimer" de Florent Pagny. Es-tu étonnée ou amusée ou horrifiée de le savoir ? La plupart des français que je connais ne le supporte pas...

Rires !! Je ne connais pas "savoir aimer" et n'écoute jamais ce chanteur français.. Je suis en effet très étonnée car on m'a déjà posé ce genre de question au Brésil. Beaucoup de jeunes aimaient ses chansons, ils m'avaient même demandé de la leur traduire !!

Tu as joué à Chennai et à Pondichéry ? En quoi les concerts étaient-ils différents l'un de l'autre ?

Les endroits dans lesquels j'ai joué à Chennai et Pondichery étaient extrêmement variés, on y rencontrait du coup un public très différent.. Le toit du Hilton à Chennai semblait plus réservé à une certaine classe sociale qui a pas mal dansé sur la techno que je compose.. On était sur un public plutôt club malgré tout.. L'équipe du ISAI festival qui était l'organisateur de cet after était très sympa.

La rencontre avec le public de Pondichery et notamment sur cette scène de l'Alliance Française face à la mer restera un souvenir inoubliable.. Scène ouverte à tous, elle permettait à chacun de s'arrêter sans entrave.. Ce public à pris tout ce que je donnais et il a en plus été extrêmement généreux donnant place à un vrai échange.. Les gens dansaient, sautaient, hurlaient, les mains levées.. Que du bonheur !!

Pondy est aussi appelé "un morceau de France en Inde". Qu’en penses-tu?

Je suis restée peu de temps sur place mais je me suis baladée dans les rues et suis allée voir l'Ashram, ayant lu certains écrits de Sri Aurobindo, il était impensable de ne pas m'y rendre.. Nous avons fait un tour à Auroville aussi.. J'ai pu être massée dans le centre Ayurvedik, c'était fabuleux.. Les français ont laissé une empreinte indéniable mais ce n'est pas ce que j'ai cherché à voir ou ressentir.

Et notre cuisine Indienne ?

Fantastique pour une végétarienne culinairement malheureuse en France. Celle-ci se vante de sa gastronomie mais c'est une galère quotidienne de manger dans ce pays de carnassiers!! On ne pense jamais aux végétariens qui doivent se faire tout petit lorsqu'ils demandent à pouvoir manger quelque chose qui soit sans viande ou poisson.. Donc j'ai adoré tout ce que j'ai mangé en Inde !!

Un morceau ou une chanson indienne que tu aimes?

Bimpalashi de Ravi Shankar, je l'écoute depuis l'adolescence.. Pourquoi? Je rentre en résonance avec..

Un artiste/un groupe français que l’on devrait connaitre

Zenzile, groupe français que j'écoute depuis des années et avec qui j'ai eu la chance de jouer dans un festival..

Les 6 premiers mots qui viennent à l'esprit quand tu entends le mot INDE

Beauté - Couleurs - Spiritualité - Castes - Bruit - Silence

Merci Miss Sonik pour partager tes expériences de l'Inde et de la musique.

Rejoignez Miss Sonik et écoutez-la au lien ci-dessous

www.misssonik.com
http://soundcloud.com/miss-sonik
https://www.facebook.com/misssonik.producer

Saturday, 6 April 2013

Life After Pi - In Conversation With Bagalavan Perier

The former French enclave of Pondicherry on India's south coast shot into the limelight internationally, following the runaway success of Tiger-Boy story, 'Life of Pi'. Directed by the Oscar-winning Ang Lee, and partly filmed in Pondy where the protagonist Pi grew up, the film took home four Academy Awards this year including Best Director (Ang Lee), Best Cinematographer (Claudio Miranda), Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score.

Meanwhile back home, as Pondicherry's tourism officials scramble about in an opportunistic bid to capitalize on the worldwide success of the film, our very own Pondicherrian Bagalavan Perier relives his experience working on the sets of the film.

Bagalavan Perier

It was late 2010, when the film's pre production team visited Pondicherry University to recruit students for the set. Perier sailed through the interviews, and soon found himself working with one of cinema's greatest living legends, Ang Lee, in the capacity of a production set assistant, translator and a background artist.

Here are excerpts of an interesting conversation with Perier.

For how many days did 'Life in Pi' play in Pondichery, and in which theatres?

I am disappointed to say that this film which has put our city on an international map, was screened for just a week in Pondicherry at Raja theatre. That too in a normal 2-D mode with many technical problems in sound, aspect ratio of the screening size, etc. They could not screen the 3D version because they didn’t have that facility. Moreover, the film wasn't even advertised properly here. Audiences who did come to Raja Theater were bored after the first 30 minutes when they realized that Pondy wasn't coming back again on screen. If the film was shown in 3D, their attention would have been retained until the end. The film was also a visual treat and not just a matter of Pondicherry being featured in it.

Pondy in general faces an issue whenever a 3D movie is released. We used to have some really good theatres earlier however they were converted into hotels and marriage halls because of DVD piracy issues and lack of co-operation from the government.

Memories of the teenage Pi (Suraj Sharma) on the sets.

Yes, he was here in Pondy to shoot certain scenes such as the dance class, the market scene, the final goodbye with his sweetheart Anandi on the pier and a few others. Apart from his scenes, he would sometimes visit the set and closely watch the shoot. At times, he would go up and speak to the camera man, editor and other technicians. I witnessed first-hand on the sets, the chemistry between Suraj and Ang Lee which was unbelievable. This is one of the biggest reasons why the film turned out so beautifully.

Ang Lee explaining the scene to Suraj at Kezhoor Set

Photo - Peter Sorel

And Tabu (Pi's mother) and Irfaan Khan (adult Pi)?

Tabu would finish her shot and then go into her caravan. It was quite rare to see her on the sets if she wasn't shooting. However the day we were shooting inside the Pondicherry Botanical Gardens, was the same day the Padma Shri awards were announced. As luck would have it, on that day itself I was asked to call her on the set. When she emerged from her caravan, I congratulated her. She accepted my wishes with a smile I'll never forget no matter how hard I try. With regards to Irfaan Khan, though he did not have any scenes to shoots in Pondy, he was still present on the sets observing everything for a couple of days.

Pi's parents at the Pondicherry Botanical Gardens
Photo- Peter Sorel

In previous interviews, you mentioned Ang Lee being a humble perfectionist. Are these qualities difficult to find in the Indian film industry in general?

Obviously. It's very rare to see both qualities together in the Indian film industry. We have very good perfectionists, but they are not necessarily humble and kind. This is my opinion after personally witnessing some Indian film shoots. Usually people try to rationalize saying that since the director is the captain of the ship he is naturally tensed at all times. Ang Lee was in fact cool at all times.

Another interesting point is that most directors in India try to take over other areas of the filmmaking process such as screenplay, story, script, sometimes even music and lyrics. This is why when directors write for their films, you'll find similarities across all their films. This happens because they follow a particular ideology that spills over into all aspects of their work. It is quite rare to find a director who will direct another persons story.

In contrast, in Hollywood, each department is micro managed by its own teams. The director will only direct the film; in some cases he could co-write it. But very often, the story, script and even the screenplay will be written by separate entities with no interference from the director who will do just what he is supposed to do - Direct! Perhaps this explains why some directors are cool on the sets.

As for humility, this has to come by birth.

Ang Lee during the shoot at Calve College School - Mission Street

Have you watched any of Ang Lee's films?

I watched Brokeback Mountain, Hulk & Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. One needs guts to make films like Brokeback Mountain (2005), because in those days when the film was released, even the west had not completely accepted gay relationships. However he portrayed the relationship between two men tastefully without a trace of crudeness or discomfort. About Hulk, the excellent screenplay made it an action-packed entertainer however in my opinion I think they could have worked more on the graphics of the character. I watched Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon only once, and I don't remember too much except for the flying fight scenes.

Bagalavan Perier & translator on the sets at Pondicherry Helipad

How long in total did you work on the Life of Pi? Punctuality issues?

I worked with them for nearly 40 days which includes 16 days of shoot in Pondicherry. They were strict about keeping time. Call sheets were distributed to each and every crew member at the end of the day regarding the next days shoot. Those sheets would mention the name of the person, at what time he would be picked up and what time he'd have to report to the set.

I was in charge of the background artists, and things were not always smooth. The background artists who are not professionals from the industry did not understand the importance of time on a film set where production costs soar as the clock ticks. I was supposed to be picked up early in the morning and then either reach the set or take a vehicle to various areas. But mostly the drivers would reach my home late. It was quite normal for the background artists to reach the sets after the actual reporting time.

Some locations in Pondy where the sequences were shot?

The school sequences were shot in Calve College Higher Secondary School, Government Girls French School (in front of Dumas Church) and Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School on M.G Road. The scene where Pi speaks to the priest in the church was shot at Rosary Church, Muthialpet. Other locations include the Botanical Gardens, the Goubert Flower Market, Mullah Street, the PWD office (Rue Romain Rolland), Kezhoor Market, Tirukameshwarar Temple (Villianur), the pier, etc.

Wardrobe Base - Sets of Life of Pi (Pondicherry Helipad)
Photo - Bagalavan Perier

Based on your experience, what are the differences between our homegrown productions and those from Hollywood.

I've observed Tamil ad film shoots and feature film shoots in Pondicherry, both of which do not stress that much on pre production work. In contrast, the Life of Pi crew started pre production work in Pondy more than six months before the actual shoot commenced. Great attention to detail was given even to background artists.

The temple scene had 2500 background artists. Several women turned up wearing heavy makeup (lipstick, etc). All of that had to be taken off to give them a clean, natural 1960s look. Boys with spiky gelled hair had their hair oiled and flattened.

Cinematographer Claudio Miranda often changed frames even after the camera was fixed, citing his reasons to Ang Lee for the change.

Suraj is ecstatic

The shooting of Life of Pi is over. Oscars have been won. Life goes on. What's next for you.

I currently work as an audio assistant for a radio station. I would like to move into the academic line and teach students of mass media. When I was a student, we suffered for a lack of practical sessions as it was mostly theory-based. This needs to change. I will continue to make documentary films alongside as it won't disturb my teaching career. There are no 200 page scripts to follow and no actors to cast. Just research and follow through.

Images embed from 'Life of Pi Movie' photostream on Flickr.
Thanks to Bagalavan Perier for other pics.

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Rain on you Pondy : March 6th 2013

Pondi~cherry, you moody little town with a mind of its own. I've seen you in all your avatars, at least seasonally. This early March, joggers on the waterfront were not happy with how you drenched them in sweat even before daybreak.

Yes, summer had descended, and soon those quaint boulevards would be set ablaze with a quiet, white heat. A sinister heat that would soon turn animals into the walking dead. And then we saw your capricious side again.

March 6th. 5:30am.

Awakening to dark grey skies. In the fishing village, word has already gotten around that something was not quite right. Angry grey clouds racing across the eastern skies bewildered even the normally astute animals. The day wore on under a thick cloud cover and frequent bursts of rain. In the evening, we walked down the promenade.

My God.

At one point, the waves were growling in contempt. Trying in vain to spill onto the promenade only to be warded off by the rocks. And that sky changing colors manically. Pink, pinkish red, pinkish orange, pinkish blue. Everybody was in a good mood; finding excuses to chat each other up.

What a flirtatious waterfront!

Heavy blue skies, a deep dark horizon slowly lightening into confused layers of color. The closer to the shore the uglier the hues. But this is my opinion, Pondy. Here are a few pictures of you that evening.