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Tempest – Miranda House’s fest: A Curtain Raiser

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Tempest, the annual cultural festival of Miranda House will kick off tomorrow and promises to be bigger and better. Scheduled for the 23-24-25 February, Tempest is based on the theme ‘Apocalypse’. This year, a number of new competitions will be held during the fest. The ‘Rock Night’ will see a performance by the band Parikrama. The Hindi Metal band Nigambodh will open for Parikrama.

The day 1 of the fest will see a number of events happening back to back. The Entrepreneurship Cell of the college will for the first time since its inception hold competitions during the fest. Their signature event is the ‘End of Times Sales’. For the photography competition, the participants have to cover the fest and submit their best shots. The Rangoli making competition, environment base collage making competition, the quiz competition, the western music competition for solo category will all be held on the first day. The major event for the day will be ‘The Final Act’- the bilingual stage play competition. The day will conclude with the DJ night.

The day 2 will kick off with ‘Dhol Pitara’ the street play competition. The Indian Dance events, the poster making and the mask making competitions, the documentary film making competition and Shama Kohli Memorial debate will all be held on the second day. Another interesting event is the ‘Green Revival’ in which teams have to come prepared with an environmental problem along with the solution that they suggest for it. Other teams will get some time to suggest answers for each problem. Teams will be judged based on the problems they discuss, the solution they suggest for their own problem and for those of other teams. The highlight of the day will be the ‘The Last Step’, the western dance competition.

On the last day of the fest, a number of fun events will be held. The t-shirt designing, the tattoo making, the adventure club treasure hunt, ad-mad, film screening, the Indian and Western Music events will all be held on day 3. Along with the creative writing competition being organized by the Gandhi Study circle, a creative writing competition in Braille will also be held for the visually challenged students. In the Off-site choreography competition, teams will perform at 11 different spots in the Miranda House campus.

The fest will conclude with a performance by the bands Nigambodh and Parikrama. The music that Nigambodh plays has seen its lyrics in Hindi. They rely heavily on spiritual, classical Indian texts in order to churn out pieces of songs that speak of existential psychological dilemmas faced by the youth today. The root of their music lies in their ability to transcend genres and appeals to both, the posh and the local, the young and the old.

Talking about the unusual theme of the fest, Daisy the president of the Miranda House students’ union said “When we think of the year 2012, the end of the world flashes into our mind. So we decided to hold Tempest on this theme. We, however, are talking about it in a positive sense”.So get yourself registered for the fest or buy the passes before their run out of stock.

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Miranda House

Imtiaz Ali in Miranda House

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As a pre-Tempest event, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali came over to Miranda House campus today to meet his fans. Instead of making a back door entry to avoid the huge crowd of female fans, Imtiaz rather chose to walk down the college aisle and made his way into the college auditorium. Imtiaz who was accompanied by his friend from Hindu College was welcomed by a swarm of fans. They literally had to steer through the crowd to make way into the auditorium. “This was a grand welcome not every Hinduite gets the privilege to receive”, he later said.

His visit was organized by the Film Club of the college exclusively for current Miranda House students. Tempest, Miranda House’s fest kicks off tomorrow. The event started off with the students of the Indian Music society singing a medley of songs from his movies. The crowd couldn’t stop cheering when he took out his phone and started making a video of the crowd and the girls singing. Clips of scenes from his movies were shown to cite the offbeat characters the protagonists of his movies have.


Imtiaz started off by asking the audience about the popularity of his movies. Every statement of his was greeted with a round of cheers from the crowd. “Not every Hinduite gets the opportunity to have Miranda girls in such a frame, with all of them cheering. I am overwhelmed to be here today. In fact I have been here before. I came for the dramatics competition during Tempest when I was a student in Hindu College. My heart has always been here. In my college days I used to visit the Hostel gate of the college hoping to enter the college. But today I was welcomed by the college principal herself at the gate”, he said. This was followed by a question-answer session and Imtiaz did not disappoint his fans and answered every question that was thrown at him. Here are some excerpts from the session:

Q.: How did you find the selection of the clips you were shown?
(Scene: Deepika’s character Meera post her wedding realizes that she did a mistake by marrying)
I was intrigued by the scene you showed from Love Aaj Kal. Meera’s behavior in the scene was criticized by a number of people and I’m glad that a girls college has appreciated this scene.

Q: Have you ever dated a Mirandian?
My friend from college is here so I can’t lie in front of you all. Although I tried a number of times but could never succeed in dating one. I used to hang out a lot outside the Miranda House hostel gate. Even the guard knew me by face and I used to get him beedis.

Q: Jordan’s character in the movie Rockstar faced a number of hurdles. What hurdles did you face?
See, in life the choice to be happy or sad lies with you. Nothing should decide your happiness or sadness. You obviously can’t control the situations that life makes you face but the right to be happy or sad is with you. I chose to be on the better side of the fence.

Q: Why Nargis Fakhri in Rockstar?
Because I had not met you girls before.

Q: Give us Ranbir Kapoor’s number (more than a hundred girls, in unison)
981… Well leave it, you guys don’t seem much interested.

Q: What’s your next movie going to be about?
I don’t have a story in my mind yet.

Q: Which movie you didn’t direct but you wish that you did?
Sholay, Junoon, Big Fish.

Q: All your movies have been commercial ones, when will you get into Art House film making?
You make movies on things and the way you relate to life; as you growth up, your style of filmmaking changes. So as I grow old and become more grounded, I too will get into art house film making.

This wasn’t the end of his visit. Anukriti, the Hindi Dramatics of the college put up its street play for Imtiaz. After which he went around the campus, paid a visit to the college hostel to interact with his fans there, and had lunch with a few Miranda House students in the hostel mess. He stayed in the Miranda House campus till evening.

 

Photo Credits: Sonakshi Pandey

 

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Events

Quite a masquerade

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So, who doesn’t fancy a little drama in their life? At the risk of sounding slightly presumptuous, I would have to say that most of us do. For those who prefer their dose of it on stage rather than off, Hindu College’s annual theatre festival—Masquerade—was the place to be.

The two day event hosted by the English Dramatics Society, ‘Masque’, saw some of the finest colleges of DU showcasing their acting prowess. On day 1 of the fest, IP College for women, LSR, St. Stephen’s and SRCC proved their mettle as masters of nuanced expressions; while on day 2, Kirori Mal College, Hindu College, Sri Venkateswara College and Ramjas College gave them a run for their proverbial money.

To judge the participating teams were two distinguished members of the theatre fraternity. Ms. Amina Sherwani, a distinguished theatre person, journalist and sculptor. She has vast experience in people’s theatre and has performed all over the country as scriptwriter, director as well as light and set designer and has produced and directed over fifty plays. Mr. Milin Kapoor, renowned cinematographer and special effects editor. He has more than 28 years of experience in film, video design, interactivity and cyber space. He has worked on over 400 productions and with some of the biggest names in the Indian film industry.

 

The most striking performances on the first day were that of LSR and SRCC; wherein SRCC stole the limelight with their witty mystery piece titled ‘Three Blind Mice’. While each member of the SRCC team did a commendable job; it is noteworthy that the IP team consisted of only three members and their dedication was par excellence. Their play ‘Sonata’ explored the world of a writer as the events of one night that occur in the lives of these women are penned down. LSR presented ‘Skeleton Woman’, a story about two people who defeat fantastical odds to be together. St. Stephen’s had put together a play that dealt with the phenomenon of False Memory Syndrome called ‘Anna Weiss’.

On the 22nd of February, Sri Venkateswara college mesmerised the audience and the judges with their play ‘Pulp’, a  comical journey of two playwrights and their rushed attempt to churn out one decent play after another, in order to pacify their producers. Hindu College won many accolades for their production ‘Dead Man’s Testimony’—an adaptation of Ayn Rand’s ‘Night of January 16th’, although they did not compete. KMC presented ‘Line’– a story about five people attempting to reach the front of a queue using all kinds of strategies and Ramjas told us what happens when a joke goes awry in ‘Mr. Kolpert’.

 

The results declared were as follows:

1st place – Sri Venkateswara College for ‘Pulp’

2nd place – LSR for ‘Skeleton Woman’

3d place – KMC for ‘Line’

Outlaw Award (For the team which did something different)  – St. Stephens for ‘Anna Weiss’

 

 

 

 

 

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Campus Central

SVC Nexus 2012: Curtain Raiser

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[/caption]   In continuance with the festival season in the University, next in line is the annual cultural festival of Sri Venkateswara College: Nexus 2012. This year the theme of the fest, as evident in its poster, is based on Delhi completing 100 years as the capital. The fest is scheduled from 23rd to 25th February and boasts of an exciting lineup of star performers and celebrities. After witnessing a mild response from the audience for the past two years, the organizers decided to take the event a notch higher with as many as five pro shows scheduled in the span of three days. ‘Guillotine’, who had opened for Metallica in India, will grab the limelight on Day 1 with their Metal show while Parikrama will deliver the Rock show on Day 2. The final day promises to be the icing on the cake with Advaita and Shibani Kashyap slated to perform in the Celeb Show. Before that, Nizami Khusrau brothers, the hereditary Qawwals of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, will deliver a morning of Sufi Qawwali: MANZIL-E-SUFI. Day one will also host hugely popular competitions such as Western Dance (solo and group) and Western Vocals (solo and duet). Those who think they can sing (or not), Karaoke will lighten up the mood. Also keeping with the Delhi based theme, the Delhi Quiz offers an opportunity to test your knowledge about the capital. The second day will kick start with the finals of Mr. and Mrs. Nexus, and entertainment is certainly guaranteed in that. This will be followed by the Street Plays and the main Quiz. After this get ready for some head banging with the Battle of the Bands competition followed by the Choreography contest. You could even try your hand at Graffiti Designing or even Dumbcharades. With regards to security, Rachit Bhatnagar, Cultural Secretary of Fine Arts Association of Venky says, “Security is not a concern as far NEXUS is concerned. DSP and Asst. DSP will be present at the festival, along with 200 policemen. 100 in civil dress, to take care even of even last minute things.” Also, with the Cultural festivals of other colleges clashing with that of Nexus, he adds, “We are not worried about other DU fests clashing with us, because we have a loyal fan base and with a Pro Show on each day, the crowd will surely pour in.” The entry for the first two days will be on the basis of College ID cards while on the third day passes for outsiders’ will be issued to Venky students, so this should be a good time to rekindle that long lost friendship or you risk missing the spectacle. Here’s the detailed schedule: ]]>

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News

ABVP, BSKS protest Kashmir documentary screening

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In another act of right-wing protestation, members of the ABVP and BSKS threatened to disrupt the screening of Jashn-e-Azadi, a documentary on Kashmir earlier this Thursday over its alleged delineation of a pro Kashmir independence sentiment. The screening was organised by the Delhi School of Economics’ Sociology department.

In previous incidents, Pune’s Symbiosis University cancelled the screening of the film after protests from the RSS-aligned Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. ABVP even protested the teaching of the Ramanujan text in 2008 by vandalizing the office of Prof. S.Z.H.Jafri, the then history department head. The Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena (BSKS), infamous for one of its members attacking Prashant Bhushan over his statement on Jammu and Kashmir, tweeted “Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena & other Nationalist’s Groups will stop today Sanjay Kak’s Jashn-e-Azadi (anti Army & pro Kashmir azadi movie) screening at Delhi School of Economics, DU(sic).”

Rohit Chahal, Pradesh Mantri of ABVP Delhi, who was incarcerated temporarily in 2008 for his involvement in the violence outside Prof. S.Z.H. Jafri’s office in protest of the teaching of the Ramanujan text said, “The permission for the movie screening was cancelled by the University, also Jashn-e-Azadi hasn’t even got clearance from the Censor Board, so how can they show it. The movie hurts regional sentiments, depicts the Army to be responsible for the tribulations in Kashmir”

Denying reports of any ABVP protesters barging into the screening and breaking the police cordon, he further went on to say, “The police allowed us to go in. There were ABVP members who were already inside and we peacefully protested in the campus. We would have anyway been permitted to go in as the screening was organised by the All India Students’ Association”

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Tibetan DU Students arrested for protesting outside Chinese Embassy

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48 Tibetan students of Delhi University were arrested and sent in custody to Tihar Jail for protesting in front of the Chinese Embassy in Chanakya Puri . The protest was aimed at condemning the human rights violation and Chinese crackdown on Tibetans and culture and religious repression in Tibet.

The 48 students including 19 boys and 29 girls gathered to protest at around 11am on 16th February. The protest lasted for 20 minutes. During the protest, the police carried out a lathi charge, because of which many students got beaten up and one girl was injured and had to be hospitalized. They were all arrested and sent to the Chanakya Puri Police station and around 7pm, they were sent to Tihar Jail. They were released only on the evening of 18th February.

There have been 25 self-immolations since 2009 in Tibet, and most of them wereteenagers. They torched their bodies for the freedom of the Tibetan people and the independence of Tibet (as some of the self-immolators expressly stated). “Even the call by most of the self-immolators for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet must be interpreted as a call for the restoration of an independent Tibet, as the Dalai Lama”, says a Tibetan student in the University.

“The recent self-immolations are a sign of the frustration and outburst of resentment that the Tibetans have suppressed in their heart for more than 50 long years against Chinese communist regime. And the DU students who protested in front of the Chinese embassy wanted to bring forth the message that enough is enough and that the Communist government should stop their inhumane actions which compels the innocent Tibetans back in Tibet to take such drastic steps. It’s a grave time in Tibet and the whole world needs to be awared of the current situation in Tibet. Right now Tibetan parts of China have been put under even tighter security than normal ahead of the Tibetan new year, which falls on February 22nd. Free Tibet”, says Rinzin Choedon, a DU student and coordinator of Delhi Chapter of the Students for a free Tibet.

Students for a Free Tibet, Delhi is a Delhi based network of students working in solidarity with the Tibetans in their struggle for freedom.

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Events

Unusual Sightings at Crossroads 2012

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If you thought that the rodeo bull ride or a tambola of environmental terms were the most unusual things about the SRCC festival think again. We bring to you some out of ordinary sights at this much talked about festival.

  • The Tata Nano kiosk was the centre of a lot of dancing and revelry. The men gyrating to ‘chikni chameli’ presented a ‘jaanlewa jalwa’ that would have given Katrina Kaif a run for her money with their jhatkas – matkas and the sheer feel with which they danced to the uncouth anthem of 2012.
  • After dancing for an entire minute on a current Honey Singh chartbuster like a mentally unstable person as was asked of her by the emcee a girl was rewarded not with a Tata Nano but a 4 days and 3 night’s stay at the Wazirpur Depo.
  • The hefty prize money delighted all the winners. The winner of the 3rd position in the pottery painting competition was thrilled to have won Rs.600 for painting geometrical patterns on her pot with great flourish and was seen indulging herself with some crispy Jalebis.
  •  Things got wild at the wild stone kiosk, taking the battle of the sexes to a whole new level, gender roles were reversed and girls were spotted applying make-up on the face of their better half with dedicated precision.
  • Taking inspiration from Zarine Khan, who was the showstopper at the fashion show, men got in touch with their feminine side by walking the ramp while wearing crazy coloured wigs usually sported by clowns at Ajanta Circus. After all the consumers of wild stone products are wild by nature.
  • Men competing to generate the maximum amount of foam by shampooing their hair the fastest at the fest were also spotted at the same kiosk. The winners were rewarded with wild stone merchandize.
  • While leaving the venue we witnessed the endearing sight of a father holding his infant child and jumping on the trampoline. This scene reminiscent of a Jeevan Bima advertisement made us believe that Crossroads was home to some of the most extraordinary delights.

    Pragya Lal
    [email protected]

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Interview with Nitin Gupta (Rivaldo)

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Nitin Gupta performed at the Comedy Concert on Day 2 of SRCC’s Crossroads. DU Beat caught up with him in an exclusive interview at SRCC

Q: Were you a stand-up comedian in college?

A: Yes. I started in my final year in IIT- Bombay. I was preparing for GRE at that time and I was getting very bored.

Q: Why stand-up comedy?

A: IIT organizes a lot of cultural activities and out of all of them I preferred stand-up comedy because for that, all you need is a mic and some space. The other art forms require equipment, dressing up etc. and more often than not, they’re group activities. I feel stand-up comedy is easier to monitor.

Q: Is stand-up a part-time or a full-time job for you?

A: Full time. I work with a company called Entertainment Engineers.

Q: From IIT to stand-up. How did that happen?

A: I was teaching for a year after IIT but then I decided to move into tv shows and pursue stand-up and from there on it’s just been that for me.

Q: What kind of audiences do you get in India?

A: They’re good. They’re very receptive. But there’s a difference in the kind of jokes guys and girls enjoy. At boys’ colleges I prefer political themes whereas in co-ed or girls’ colleges, I talk about romance or dating.

Q: Aren’t you being very stereotypical?!?

A: Haha…no. It’s from experience. I’ve seen it myself.

Q: Who inspires you to do what you do?

A: Raju Srivastava, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais and a few more.

Q: How are you in your daily life? Do you usually joke around like this?

A: I’m actually very shy and stand-up comedy is my way of expressing my thoughts to others.

Q: Your thoughts on Crossroads…

A: I’ve always wanted to be a part of DU. Couldn’t, as a student, but I’m happy to be here as a guest.

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SRCC Crossroads Day 1

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The gargantuan line in front of the SRCC gates today morning was testimony to the fact that Crossroads, the much anticipated cultural fest of SRCC had finally begun. The popularity of the fest was attested by the fact that swarms of people were converging in on the college from all directions.


Day 1 served to be a curtain raiser of sorts loaded with fun events from across the spectrum. For the adventure sport lovers, Travelers Society events – rock climbing, zorbing, dodge ball proved to be irresistible.

The Rodeo continued to be a crowd puller through the entire day with the strong hearted being unable to keep away and the weak hearted caught in a to-be-or-not-to-be dilemma of sorts. Obviously the food aspect of the fest did not disappoint. Every possible cuisine was up on display to indulge the foodie in you. Gully cricket, which went on for the major part of the day paid tribute to the inherent cricket lover within all in the current generation.

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Campus Central

Interview with Sohan

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SOHAN (Sohan is one of the most prominent and recognizable faces of this generation. From humble beginnings, he has risen to the heights of popularity, inviting adoring fans and world-wide acclaim. An entertainer, an environmentalist and a Good Samaritan, he truly is a model turned role-model for today’s youth. Despite his celebrity status, he finds time for himself, his fans and DU Beat. ) FAQZ Q How many girlfriends does Sohan have? Sohan has had many multiple unique gfs. As you know JK rolling is writing my biografy, it start with quote “Galz will come and galz will go but sohan will go on forever”…lolz No I not gay. Q How can I be cool like Sohan? You can’t…lolz…no I serious. Q What is Sohan’s fitness regime? How does he stay fit?  Sohan’s gifted with goodlooks and good body and best mind (thenks to godz grace and mothers blassings). Sohan need no fitness, all fitness done at nite…lolz Q What is Sohan’s favourite holiday destination? I travel a lot in my private jet, with private pilot. I party a lot on plane part of mile high club. Every place like LA NY TOKYO NOIDA Europe is nice BUT best place is Sohan face…I poet n not know it. lolz Q Who is Sohan’s role-model? Let mathematics do explanation (taught to me by Mark Zuckerberg (origin of facebook)) Sohan role-model of world. Sohan belong to world. => Sohan role-model of Sohan. Q Does Sohan read Sex Amma? Does he have any advice for her? Yas. Sex amma do good job…lolz. Good advice to youth and old alike. Only tip I have for her is to not use coco nut oil, it smell bad. Turn of. Q What are Sohan’s favourite pastimes? Sohan likes adreneline rush, like skydiving, stage performance infront of billionz fans, falling in lou. Sohan is also like hanging out with frands, buddiz and bappi da (respact) Q One word that describes you best. Attitude. Q How can we stop global warming? Global warming big fraud urban legend started by ma homie Al Gore…Kool guy, funny name, but say weird things when drunk…lolz Q What are Sohan’s views on the following? (i) Recent oil spills. 3 words – Washing….Powder….Nirma! (ii) Protest in Egypt They should all go back to their mummies…lolz (iii) Recent price rise/inflation. Sohan not effected…Kanta bai buy wedgies, Driver Sharma (of my Rolls Roy Fantom, limited edition, exclusive) buy petrol (xtra premium) PUT THIS IN A BOX- Sohan’s Valentine Message “Why celebrat lou on singular dayz in year – such as valentine day, chocolate day, rose day, republic day, fathers day. Tru lou is everyday every moments. 24+7” (As told to Hunar Katoch. You can catch Sohan on youtube www.youtube.com/user/sohan2kool, or you can email him at [email protected])]]>

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