On my photography

Photography is...

Photography is an easy activity. It is a record of perception and memory. As memory fades, perception changes to accommodate that which is forgotten. These memories take on a new meaning. They become unreal images from a world of real things. My photography is a means towards creating an archive of my memories - one that can be revisited at will. As such, memory is fleeting, and the human mind is fickle, but nature endures - beyond the accumulation of all things beautiful, synthetic or artificial. Only the human eye can instantaneously capture the real glory of nature, but the moment lasts only for that instance before it ages, perhaps becomes memorable. Photography is a cheap substitute to extend that moment - a means to slow down to the speed of the world and revel in its silence and beauty.

I photograph many things. People, nature, objects...the artist in me wants to believe that I create art, but all I really do is create a record of what I see today, may not see tomorrow and want to remember from yesterday.

Photography requires a discerning eye and devotion to the God of small things. I believe it is in this devotion lies the zen of photography.

Architecture is ...

Architecture is...

Architecture is the confluence of the rational and the abstract - a practice of logic mediated by whimsy, which makes everyday inhabitation an interesting experience. It is what elevates a space from being mere refuge from the elements to a place of being. The architect designs this place. He holds the ability to bring a vast array of complex systems together that combine and converge into a whole that takes on a life of its own, almost like an organism.

Architecture is an adventure, an almost dangerous one at that. Architects walk the fine line between art and science, between originality and memory, between modernity and tradition. We have to be exceptionally brave individuals to straddle this knife-edge that threatens to cut one way or the other at every given instance. We do this on an everyday basis with nonchalant ability. This is one of the many reasons I find myself to be proud of this community.

Architecture is, perhaps, the finest job in the world. In a time when our world has taken on a frenetic pace and almost everything is already a memory by the time you begin to understand it, architecture is one of the few discoveries possible that can enthrall and hold promise for an extended period of time. It is essentially a cerebral quest, that can bring anxiety, bewilderment, fear, excitement, adventure and fulfillment. I try to undertake this quest in everything that I do - fear, anxiety and all.

Architecture is a journey. We set off to find, to learn, to anticipate the unexpected. To find beautiful things, to discover new ways and means. To adapt to changing terrains and climate. To engage in dialogue with strangers in strange lands, understand and convince them to become part of a vision that may not seem apparent. To find new ways to sustain and resuscitate this planet, which can only give so much.

We live, breathe and exist as architects. With a discerning eye and the knowledge to create, we make life easier to live in a world that is a better place because of our actions.

Architecture is life.

Slumdog wins 8 Oscars

Slumdog Millionaire is made to appeal to western audiences. That which is run-of-the-mill to locals is highlighted and spotlit in the movie. As far as movies go, it is fair entertainment, but it makes pointed exhibition of poverty and adversity in Mumbai, using the Bollywood-staple song and dance to provide tasty morsels for foreign audiences.
It is the same criticism I have for "Monsoon Wedding"...if you want to make a movie about India, Indian culture or Indian ethos, try to be authentic without trying to pander to the West.
I feel a lot of pride for A.R.Rahman, who scored the music for the movie. He is a maestro, and a complete magician at bringing eastern and western influences together.
If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend watching Sir Richard Attenborough's epic, "Gandhi"...which is very authentic and closely representative of the man and the freedom struggle in mid-century India.