December 11, 2011
Super Mario: A Brush-Stroke of Genius
His keen hand and eye co-ordinated in the most charmingly humourous way. If you see his paintings of his international travels, you'll see how masterfully he has captured the purest essence of the place - with , of course, the delightful twist of the comic. And his comic wasn't the poking fun, bringing you down kind, it was the comic that uplifted bogged-down human spirits. And when he recorded Goa, it was with such a fresh, honest and entirely unique perspective.
The detailing is down to the last twisted moustache and shine on the musician's shoe. You'll see the use of the labour intensive cross-hatching instead of merely shading the darker trusses of the church.
And in a way they are recordings of people and places, more powerful than photographs. Below are a few examples of the pure genius of the man.
Next time you're in Goa, I urge you to take a day off and visit his museum. I'm glad I asked Anjali and Annie to take me in the midst of my hectic shoot. I told Annie that maybe my next documentary should be about him, but after today, sadly, that won't be possible.
The one below is called Old Sailor in Hamburg below which he quips : A sea-wolf in ship's clothing.
The detailing is down to the last twisted moustache and shine on the musician's shoe. You'll see the use of the labour intensive cross-hatching instead of merely shading the darker trusses of the church.
And in a way they are recordings of people and places, more powerful than photographs. Below are a few examples of the pure genius of the man.
Next time you're in Goa, I urge you to take a day off and visit his museum. I'm glad I asked Anjali and Annie to take me in the midst of my hectic shoot. I told Annie that maybe my next documentary should be about him, but after today, sadly, that won't be possible.
The one below is called Old Sailor in Hamburg below which he quips : A sea-wolf in ship's clothing.
October 14, 2011
Who Shouts "Audience Pounce!" ?
I love this question from the Mega-Whatts Quiz in Bangalore.
The question is: Who shouts "Audience Pounce!" and later shouts out teh answer when it passes all 8 teams, which is surprising given the numerous clues in the question? Somehow everyone decided to take a seat.
The question is: Who shouts "Audience Pounce!" and later shouts out teh answer when it passes all 8 teams, which is surprising given the numerous clues in the question? Somehow everyone decided to take a seat.
October 10, 2011
Who Shot JR? I Did!
Which country are you?
Pune quizzers are famous for analysis. One of them actually wrote a computer simulation for Infinite Rebound v Direct-Pass. When I was in Pune, he wasn't around to share the results of this.
But luckily JR was around and he delighted us all with an impromptu analysis.
Pune quizzers are famous for analysis. One of them actually wrote a computer simulation for Infinite Rebound v Direct-Pass. When I was in Pune, he wasn't around to share the results of this.
But luckily JR was around and he delighted us all with an impromptu analysis.
Bulging Budget
If you've been following the blog since inception, you'd notice the budget increasing slowly.
There are of course truly valid and several reasons for this which I'd like to share with all of you who've supported the project
1. Extra travel like to Coimbatore, Guwahati and Kerala. And there's definitely gonna be a second trip to at least two centres. There are certain stories that cropped up while filming and I didnt have time to explore them fully.
2. Extra equipment - so it turns out for optimal editing, I require special 1 TB drives with fire-wires which aren't as cheap as normal USB hard-drives. And then I already have about 344 GB of material ( around 32 hours). Now the thing is, for editing , I'll need to convert the AVCHD files to a special format which makes new files which are 10X original! Thats over 3 TB!
3. Editing costs have increased.
4.Buying rights for some clips from channels.
But the great thing is despite the big jump in budget, you've helped me cover a large amount.
And there's still room for more support!
There are of course truly valid and several reasons for this which I'd like to share with all of you who've supported the project
1. Extra travel like to Coimbatore, Guwahati and Kerala. And there's definitely gonna be a second trip to at least two centres. There are certain stories that cropped up while filming and I didnt have time to explore them fully.
2. Extra equipment - so it turns out for optimal editing, I require special 1 TB drives with fire-wires which aren't as cheap as normal USB hard-drives. And then I already have about 344 GB of material ( around 32 hours). Now the thing is, for editing , I'll need to convert the AVCHD files to a special format which makes new files which are 10X original! Thats over 3 TB!
3. Editing costs have increased.
4.Buying rights for some clips from channels.
But the great thing is despite the big jump in budget, you've helped me cover a large amount.
And there's still room for more support!
September 15, 2011
Dr. Navin Jayakumar's 1st Quiz Question
The Landmark Quiz has been around for the past 25 years. Over the past few years teams from Pune, Mumbai, Banagalore and Chennai have been battling it out for the most coveted general open quiz. Now it's tentacles are out to tickle the quizzer in Hyderabad and Delhi, thus making it the biggest All-India general quiz.
It was started and conducted for most of its years by Dr. Navin Jayakumar. Eye-surgeon, pianist, quizzer & quizmaster. And more. Surely you will be struck by how inhumanly humble he is.
Mrs. Saranya Jayajumar, considered by many to be one of the best quizzers of India, has been quizzing since the 70s. She helps her son in making questions for the Landmark Quiz and has maintained her enthusiasm for quizzing till date.
After about 3 decades of quizzing, Dr. Navin Jayakumar shares with us his 1st quiz question! Also, see if you can answer Mrs. Jayakumar's question.
Where is Ramesh, founder of QFI?
Dr. Jayakumar poses a more fundamental question. And in the process draws a marvellous parallel between Quizzing and Religion!
It was started and conducted for most of its years by Dr. Navin Jayakumar. Eye-surgeon, pianist, quizzer & quizmaster. And more. Surely you will be struck by how inhumanly humble he is.
Mrs. Saranya Jayajumar, considered by many to be one of the best quizzers of India, has been quizzing since the 70s. She helps her son in making questions for the Landmark Quiz and has maintained her enthusiasm for quizzing till date.
After about 3 decades of quizzing, Dr. Navin Jayakumar shares with us his 1st quiz question! Also, see if you can answer Mrs. Jayakumar's question.
Where is Ramesh, founder of QFI?
Dr. Jayakumar poses a more fundamental question. And in the process draws a marvellous parallel between Quizzing and Religion!
September 14, 2011
30 seconds 3 continents
Govind "Greenko"/"Bubbles" Grewal gave me the idea. It was at Francis' Wedding in May and quizzers were sitting around doing what they do best (even when they're drunk), put fundaes.
Also, sources close to me, have mentioned that there seems to be a lot of emphasis on the Earl and his friends. I told them they're an integral part of the film, as I'd like to follow the young team. Fair enough, they said, but don't I think it's about time, I met The King?
I knew who they meant and said I was saving up my interview with Rajiv Rai. So here you are, a small peek at how the many travels of Rajiv Rai have helped him set quiz questions! And, according to Govind "Greenko"/"Bubbles" , answer them as well.
Also, sources close to me, have mentioned that there seems to be a lot of emphasis on the Earl and his friends. I told them they're an integral part of the film, as I'd like to follow the young team. Fair enough, they said, but don't I think it's about time, I met The King?
I knew who they meant and said I was saving up my interview with Rajiv Rai. So here you are, a small peek at how the many travels of Rajiv Rai have helped him set quiz questions! And, according to Govind "Greenko"/"Bubbles" , answer them as well.
August 30, 2011
A Yard-stick to measure the Earth!
At first, Kalidasa was a dunce....
It was a recent rainy afternoon when I finally met the Duke at his sea-side palace; where he was, as you would have seen in the last two references, with "his folks".
Like one of those sessions where a Grandmaster plays thirty chessboards successively, Srinath kept flipping between sports channels, mindful of all the moves. Yes he did regularly revert to what he called "an awesome spectator sport" - golf.
And then we got-a-talking about his deep admiration for Imran Khan and somehow came around to his proficiency in Sanskrit. He is one level below the highest which, interestingly, is called Pravesham or The Entry - because, I suppose, it is one's entry into a world of erudition, as you shall see....
... while Ilaiyaraaja was always a genius
I love the way he gets so emotional and passionate while talking about Ilaiyaraaja! Don't miss the way his mouth goes dry when he talks about the Carnatic vidvaan's!
It was a recent rainy afternoon when I finally met the Duke at his sea-side palace; where he was, as you would have seen in the last two references, with "his folks".
Like one of those sessions where a Grandmaster plays thirty chessboards successively, Srinath kept flipping between sports channels, mindful of all the moves. Yes he did regularly revert to what he called "an awesome spectator sport" - golf.
And then we got-a-talking about his deep admiration for Imran Khan and somehow came around to his proficiency in Sanskrit. He is one level below the highest which, interestingly, is called Pravesham or The Entry - because, I suppose, it is one's entry into a world of erudition, as you shall see....
... while Ilaiyaraaja was always a genius
I love the way he gets so emotional and passionate while talking about Ilaiyaraaja! Don't miss the way his mouth goes dry when he talks about the Carnatic vidvaan's!
August 25, 2011
The Earl Digs Graves
The Paths of Glory
I happened to catch The Earl one evening in his humble Castle and I don't know if it was the gloomy weather or the rather depressing prospect of an impending Monday, but somehow the discussion turned rather grim. However, my camera and I, were taken by surprise when we soon saw an uncanny transformation take over. Indeed, in talking about Death , The Earl's demeanour took upon a most lively form. Just see how he laughs in an almost mocking manner at the thought of "the inevitable hour".
I happened to catch The Earl one evening in his humble Castle and I don't know if it was the gloomy weather or the rather depressing prospect of an impending Monday, but somehow the discussion turned rather grim. However, my camera and I, were taken by surprise when we soon saw an uncanny transformation take over. Indeed, in talking about Death , The Earl's demeanour took upon a most lively form. Just see how he laughs in an almost mocking manner at the thought of "the inevitable hour".
August 23, 2011
August 9, 2011
Landmark Defending Champions think Duke, Earl and Baron "swing Wildly both ways"
Mocha for Muka
In a rare interview, I managed to capture the defending Landmark Champions Konga, Muka and Vik hobnobbing with Royalty! The Duke was once again with his folks but their team received much praise for their recent performances in Hyderabad. One may attribute it to a feeling of being at home in an erstwhile princely state.
The amiable banter was followed by some refreshments. While the "rest of them" had banal blueberry muffins, the Earl smugly had an Irish caramel frappe
In a rare interview, I managed to capture the defending Landmark Champions Konga, Muka and Vik hobnobbing with Royalty! The Duke was once again with his folks but their team received much praise for their recent performances in Hyderabad. One may attribute it to a feeling of being at home in an erstwhile princely state.
The amiable banter was followed by some refreshments. While the "rest of them" had banal blueberry muffins, the Earl smugly had an Irish caramel frappe
August 3, 2011
Option 44 in Gurgaon
Option 44 is the quiz club in Gurgaon, lets have a look at why its called so and a question from one of their sessions
You'll see four photos of some men making something, you just have to say what it is they're making.
You'll see four photos of some men making something, you just have to say what it is they're making.
August 1, 2011
Card Carrying Official
Foul is Fair
Meet Paul Gatward, who when we met in Bangalore, told me proudly that "I am probably one of the few people in the world to have quizzed in five continents!"
He's also been a football referee in the same five continents. And I've seen him show a red card to a boisterous quizzer.
See him awarding a free kick, though not at a quiz ( what would that mean anyway??)
Meet Paul Gatward, who when we met in Bangalore, told me proudly that "I am probably one of the few people in the world to have quizzed in five continents!"
He's also been a football referee in the same five continents. And I've seen him show a red card to a boisterous quizzer.
See him awarding a free kick, though not at a quiz ( what would that mean anyway??)
Let Sleeping Dogs ( & Man ) Lie
Dogs: ( in order of appearance )
Chipku, Bhaloo, Hero, Sungta, Soul-kadi & Jaya
Humans ( in order of appearance )
Annie & Anjali, my wonderful hosts in Goa!
Chipku, Bhaloo, Hero, Sungta, Soul-kadi & Jaya
Humans ( in order of appearance )
Annie & Anjali, my wonderful hosts in Goa!
A Picnic from the Mahabharata
Food from the Forest
"While watching Mastermind, the only specialized topic where I scored higher than the contestant was on food", beamed the delightfully dignified Archana Garodia-Gupta. In 2001, she became the Mastermind India and later in 2002 won the Champion of Champions as well.
Bibliophile, businesswoman and brilliant, she is currently working on a book about Food in early 20th Century Delhi. Part of the book looks at what elements have changed and what have remained through time. She allowed me a little whiff of her book...
"While watching Mastermind, the only specialized topic where I scored higher than the contestant was on food", beamed the delightfully dignified Archana Garodia-Gupta. In 2001, she became the Mastermind India and later in 2002 won the Champion of Champions as well.
Bibliophile, businesswoman and brilliant, she is currently working on a book about Food in early 20th Century Delhi. Part of the book looks at what elements have changed and what have remained through time. She allowed me a little whiff of her book...
July 12, 2011
Who says Quizzing only keeps you mentally fit?
The secret of Rajiv Rai's fitness
Don't you just love the way Sumo gently goads him to "Go for it" ? But, as you can see, Sumo's gentle touch can engender a fairly high quantum of momentum.
Don't you just love the way Sumo gently goads him to "Go for it" ? But, as you can see, Sumo's gentle touch can engender a fairly high quantum of momentum.
Green on Top in Tipperary Hill, Syracuse NY
This question from the Travel Quiz had some interesting guesses, and the maximum applause
Still ( more ) Life
Sumant tells me to Rock On
The Baron and The Earl profess their Glove Love
This team from Thrissur wants to consult a spirit for the answer
Gopal and Rajiv totally relaxed during the Travel Quiz
The Baron and The Earl profess their Glove Love
This team from Thrissur wants to consult a spirit for the answer
Gopal and Rajiv totally relaxed during the Travel Quiz
July 5, 2011
Some Questions from Mega-Whats Finals
The Mega-Whats is an all-India quiz for teams of four conducted by the Karnataka Quiz Association.
Here are some questions from the finals.
1. If you can;t hear the question, pause at the ppt or read here: basically there's this cross-word setter of the Guardian who is fascinated by the monkey puzzle tree ( picture shown) and he uses its Latin genus name, Araucaria as a pseudonym while setting the crossword. So, how is his pseudonym Cinephile, while setting cryptic crosswords for The Financial Times apt?
2. Part of the Nobel Prize ceremony is the Grand Dinner. Over 250 guests are invited including royalty. In the 70's it was canceled for the first time. Why?
You have sufficient time to work this one out, as I'm showing you all the guesses. It's amazing how Samanth pronounces The-Unpronounceable-Icelandic-Volcano in one breath. The Norrmalmstorg bank robbery which gave birth to the Stockholm Syndrome happened in 1973, so that was a good guess.
But the final answer is the kind of thing that makes you go "Of Course! (pause, hit forehead softly with base of your palm) Why didn't I think of that?" thus making it a good quiz question.
July 3, 2011
Marriage Wows! 2
As Christina mentioned in the earlier post, 20th June was the wedding. And from what I've heard, it was great fun.Here's wishing you guys a great time together, to years of Happiness and Quizzing
July 1, 2011
Roadside Royalty
Isn't this lovely?
followed by the harsh Graffiti , thus bringing you both sides of the story... see how they've painted right down to the last inch of the divider. And then Wham... the Graffiti!
And Finally Dont miss
The traffic directions before the royal procession at 0:22.. its like they've stopped there scratching their bristly chins wondering where to go now.
"Just B'Coz you speak English your genitic make-up won't change Speak Kannada" !
followed by the harsh Graffiti , thus bringing you both sides of the story... see how they've painted right down to the last inch of the divider. And then Wham... the Graffiti!
And Finally Dont miss
The traffic directions before the royal procession at 0:22.. its like they've stopped there scratching their bristly chins wondering where to go now.
"Just B'Coz you speak English your genitic make-up won't change Speak Kannada" !
June 22, 2011
Of Ducks, Dons and Detergent
It was a most exciting Quiz Adda in Calcutta! I had to share this with everyone, a quick round--up of the spoils of quizzing.
The thing about the live ducks is true. Dalhousie Institute. Mid 70s. Confirmed by Mr. Neil O'Brien.
The thing about the live ducks is true. Dalhousie Institute. Mid 70s. Confirmed by Mr. Neil O'Brien.
June 21, 2011
The "Calcutta Gharana of Quizzing"
The short and short of it
The first year of Mastermind India was exciting. the rush, the black chair, the completist slogan "i've started so I'll finish" and the amazing diversity of interests of a diverse range of people. I am proud to personally know so many who sat in the black chair. The first finals had a gentleman who over the years became someone I grew to revere. Over a decade later, it's an honour to shoot in his house. He called the Calcutta style of quizzing with short pithy questions the Calcutta Gharana.
Jayshree di, one of the best quizzers in the country, agrees and Shouvik da, again , one of the best quizzers in the country provides an example of a question.
Many of you have asked me the answer: I left it for you to find out, but here goes: It's The Yugoslav Partisans under Josip Broz Tito.
"I wish there were more women quizzers!"
There's no reason to believe that men are better quizzers than women. While there are few women quizzers, the ones who do quiz regularly are exceptionally brilliant. In fact most of the winners of the Mastermnd India were women!
Quiz Moms!
Soubhadra da invents a new term - the Quiz Mom
The first year of Mastermind India was exciting. the rush, the black chair, the completist slogan "i've started so I'll finish" and the amazing diversity of interests of a diverse range of people. I am proud to personally know so many who sat in the black chair. The first finals had a gentleman who over the years became someone I grew to revere. Over a decade later, it's an honour to shoot in his house. He called the Calcutta style of quizzing with short pithy questions the Calcutta Gharana.
Jayshree di, one of the best quizzers in the country, agrees and Shouvik da, again , one of the best quizzers in the country provides an example of a question.
Many of you have asked me the answer: I left it for you to find out, but here goes: It's The Yugoslav Partisans under Josip Broz Tito.
"I wish there were more women quizzers!"
There's no reason to believe that men are better quizzers than women. While there are few women quizzers, the ones who do quiz regularly are exceptionally brilliant. In fact most of the winners of the Mastermnd India were women!
Quiz Moms!
Soubhadra da invents a new term - the Quiz Mom
June 15, 2011
Seattle Area Quizzers
ok so the other day I was chatting with an avid quizzer from India who now is a software engineer in Seattle. We were using Skype. And I for a second, wondered , lucky bugger, gets to use Skype in office.
He works for Microsoft.
Anyways, a bunch of Indians have started the Seattle Area Quizzers and they meet in the Microsoft Office on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. One yawnful morning I will catch them over Skype at one of their sessions and film what kind of fun they have!
It seems they do an India Quiz and a Bollywood Quiz. Subroutine homesick blues anyone?
He works for Microsoft.
Anyways, a bunch of Indians have started the Seattle Area Quizzers and they meet in the Microsoft Office on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. One yawnful morning I will catch them over Skype at one of their sessions and film what kind of fun they have!
It seems they do an India Quiz and a Bollywood Quiz. Subroutine homesick blues anyone?
Generously Curious!
2 generous gestures in one day!
QFI & SEQC.
If you thought the former was the Quest For Immortality and the latter a spelling mistake, then I can safely say you haven't been quizzing for too long or don't at all. ( If that is the case, you are on the right blog, this is where you 'll get a glimpse of a sub-culture! )
Thanks to the Quiz Foundation of India from Chennai and the Sunday Evening Quiz Club from Goa, the progress bar has taken that perceptibly gleeful step ahead.
June 11, 2011
Marriage Wows! Christina reconciled to Konga's quizzing addiction
That's true! See what Christina has to say about when they're getting married... more on this very soon
June 8, 2011
Francis , A Quizzer gets married!!
Francis dances with Chelsia!
Being May 14th its truly a Midsummer's Night's Dream...
while The Earl gets slightly drunk on good ol Goan port ...
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
-from Monty Python's Life of Brian
Being May 14th its truly a Midsummer's Night's Dream...
while The Earl gets slightly drunk on good ol Goan port ...
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
-from Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Duke, the Earl and the Baron
This team is hot! Qualifying for Landmark Mumbai after like 3 attempts, they won! They were rather surprised by it. Shubhankar ( The Baron )recalls the almost divine joy with which he released the inordinate pressure on his urinary bladder during the last round. "I knew we'd win when some other team got an answer correct and so I let him go", said a beaming Abhinav ( The Earl )Srinath, The Duke, was wildly excited and apparently ran home to have dinner with "my folks". He ran away with the trophy. The other two didnt even get to see their beaming reflections in it.
The smiling gentleman is The Earl and the man on the top right is the leader of the team, The Duke. This was at the Mahaquizzer on 29th May, 2011 at Landmark bookstore in Mumbai. Where then was their third member, The Baron? Its not that he's shy and doesn't like smiling for the camera. It was so hot the sweata nd therubbery material sort of coagulated and the helmet refsed to come off. Finally after reaching Mount Abu, Shubhankar was able to finally scrath that horrendous itch at the back of his head. That's him posing true to his philosophy, "A life on two wheel is twice lived."
( Marvelous photographs courtesy Madhuri Agrawal )
The Philosophy of Quizzing
Let’s face it, randomness is overwhelming. We need patterns, we need meaning. And we need a narrative. In fact, storytelling appears as an anthropological “universal”.
In this context, everything has a history. Even words. Unless it’s say Ernest Hemmingway’s, a pencil can be a dull everyday object. However, the pencil has a story to itself. Around 1565, large deposits of graphite were found in Cumbria, England. They discovered it was good for marking surfaces and was easily cut into sticks. However, chemists thought it to be a form of lead and it was called plumbago (Latin for “lead ore”). Ah, so now you needn’t wonder why it’s called lead pencils when it’s actually graphite.
But wonder has not been reduced. Indeed, it has emerged like a pearl from investigating an oyster of ignorance. Curiosity lies at the heart of knowing the universe. Questions are raised like flags half-way. Answers take the flags to their full fluttering height. And quizzing is interesting presentation of knowledge via questions and answers. It is therefore at the very heart of what makes us human. Yes, it reveals knowledge and ignorance.
Go ahead, sharpen the pencils of your minds.
To Begin at the Beginning
Over the years of quizzing and having quizzer friends, I realized, that many of them were and are characters. And when characters get on stage, anything can happen.
If you've quizzed long enough, you 'd have seen it all. Upsets, downturns, the fast and the furious, the cool and the perturbed, the esoteric and the banal, the camaraderie and the intense rivalry. Ah the sheer drama of it all.
And that's when it struck me.
But there's a lot happening off-stage as well. And through the documentary I intend to peek into the lives of some quizzers so that we may have a better understanding of what makes them the characters on-stage. Whether its a sport that actually builds character is a different issue.
I hope it ends up being a fairly enjoyable documentation of a rather quirky sub-culture. its been over 40 years and the stage is now inhabited by a wonderful spectrum of characters. It is the right time for a documentary on Quizzing in India.
I've chosen the name 'Furiously Curious' as it goes direct to the heart of the psyche of any quizzer. Knowledge obtained through the internal mechanism of an over-powering curiosity is well-remembered and well-enjoyed. the moment you Test this knowledge, a certain competitive potential is set up. Soon enough sparks are bound to fly!
This blog will have regular updates on how the shoots and interviews are going and I plan to post pics and some clips. And of course how can a blog about quizzing not have any trivia?
If you've quizzed long enough, you 'd have seen it all. Upsets, downturns, the fast and the furious, the cool and the perturbed, the esoteric and the banal, the camaraderie and the intense rivalry. Ah the sheer drama of it all.
And that's when it struck me.
But there's a lot happening off-stage as well. And through the documentary I intend to peek into the lives of some quizzers so that we may have a better understanding of what makes them the characters on-stage. Whether its a sport that actually builds character is a different issue.
I hope it ends up being a fairly enjoyable documentation of a rather quirky sub-culture. its been over 40 years and the stage is now inhabited by a wonderful spectrum of characters. It is the right time for a documentary on Quizzing in India.
I've chosen the name 'Furiously Curious' as it goes direct to the heart of the psyche of any quizzer. Knowledge obtained through the internal mechanism of an over-powering curiosity is well-remembered and well-enjoyed. the moment you Test this knowledge, a certain competitive potential is set up. Soon enough sparks are bound to fly!
This blog will have regular updates on how the shoots and interviews are going and I plan to post pics and some clips. And of course how can a blog about quizzing not have any trivia?
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