Which Indian documentaries won Oscars?

Thanks to the Oscars, two documentaries from India- ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ and ‘All That Breathes’- have been in the news for a while now. But what exactly are documentaries? Let's find out.

‘The Elephant Whisperers’, set in an elephant camp in Tamil Nadu, follows tribal couple Bellie and Bomman. Their lives are deeply connected by their shared love for Raghu, an orphaned wild baby elephant who appears to have had no hope for survival till the two take him into their fold and ply him with food and generous doses of loving care. When it's time for Raghu to move on, he breaks those two hearts. But as it is with most things in life, the couple is left with Raghu's memories to hold on to and new love to look forward to. While documenting the life of Raghu, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ also allows us quiet glimpses of life in a tribal hamlet and the wildlife surrounding it-all in 40-odd minutes. Directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, this profoundly touching story was nominated for the Oscar under the Documentary Short Film category.

Set in our bustling national capital, ‘All That Breathes’ tells the story of brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud who have taken it upon themselves - for about two decades- to care for raptors, particularly black kites, suffering the city's notorious pollution. Even as it records how the brothers go about their task - without substantial help in cash or kind, ‘All That Breathes’ unobtrusively brings into focus social issues intersecting the duo's lives, outlining the fact that it's not just air that's toxic. And, despite everything that's going on, what dominates the tone of the film is the strength of compassion and the intrinsic interconnectedness in our world. Nominated for the Oscar under the Documentary Feature Film category, it has been directed by Shaunak Sen.

What is a documentary?

A documentary is a film either screened in cinema halls or telecast on television channels in one or many parts over a period of time Today documentaries are available for viewing on video streaming platforms too. The defining tenor of any documentary is its rootedness in truth and reality. While the director may take creative liberty with the work, a documentary always revolves around facts. It aims to bring together several aspects of the subject in focus. The subject could be anything from nature and society to social issues and personalities, the possibilities are endless. Importantly, since it strives to capture reality, any documentary-irrespective of its subject-involves a lot of research and reflects a tireless quest for accuracy.

How is it different from a film?

A film, or more precisely, a feature film, may or may not be anchored in reality. Invariably, feature films are fictitious, and cover a wide range of genres-from family drama, romance, and sci-fi to fantasy, action, and adventure. In fact, many of them created in India even involve song and dance sequences. Some such films may even feature characters doing what is impossible for individuals in real life. In short, feature films could be worlds of make-believe, a far cry from what a documentary feature film stands for. But, thanks to better reach, interest, and acceptance among film-goers over the years and constant advancement in technology, feature films moored in reality too are gaining increased endorsement the world over. Another factor of difference is that while feature films predominantly aspire to entertain, documentaries hope to inform and educate. (However, this does not suggest that feature films will not educate or that documentaries will not entertain.) The run time too is taken into account while defining a film particularly when it comes to award categories. For instance, a short documentary could be defined as one that runs for a certain duration, and anything running longer than that could be slotted under ‘Documentary Feature Film’.

Why are documentaries important?

Because they inform. And bring in varied perspectives on the subject they deal with. Especially with social issues, they help start conversations on topics that people have either forgotten about or are unwilling to talk about. They ask questions that many are uncomfortable asking. They seek to find answers on behalf of those who may not have the wherewithal to do so. Be it about our history, our culture, the natural world, or society in general, documentaries help kindle our interest/curiosity, call us to learn, inspire us to understand, and nudge us to act, if need be. They also have the social responsibility to be honest and balanced in what they put out to the world.

Picture Credit : Google 

What is Mise-en-scène?

Mise-en-scène is French for placing on stage. As a theatrical term it refers to scene composition or deciding what to include in a scene and how must it be placed on the stage.

Mise-en-scène is French for placing on stage. As a theatrical term it refers to scene composition or deciding what to include in a scene and how must it be placed on the stage. Essential to the visual appeal of a film, it entails set design, costumes, props, movement of the actors, lighting, and essentially everything that frames a scene and is captured on the camera. The French film critic Andre Bazin was one of the greatest proponents of this component and broadly divided filmmaking into two basic approaches, the montage and the mise-en-scène. The difference between the two is that a montage depends on layering and juxtaposing multiple images to create meaning whereas the latter concentrates on storytelling through a single image.

Modern Inclusivity

The traditional definition of this framing method only included the visual components that contributed to the imagery of a scene, but modern film critics argue that elements like background sounds and music, camera angles, and the types of lens used are also crucial for enhancing the overall cinematic experience and hence, must be considered a part of the mise-en-scène.

 As a directorial stylist component, the mise-en-scène of a film must align with the vision of the filmmaker and be representative of his or her artistry.

Masters of the Mise-en-scène

Some legendary directors from the world of cinema who are renowned for their stylistic mise-en-scène include Satyajit Ray, Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher and Stanley Kubrick.

Picture Credit : Google 

Which are the student’s favourite Indian language films?

Forget stereotypes, chase your dreams

I enjoyed watching the Tamil film "Kanaa." It revolves around the life of Kausalya, the daughter of a farmer. She takes up cricket at a young age, but is suppressed by the villagers. Yet, she ignores them, brushes off stereotypes and negativity and goes on to play for India. This film inspired me to never give up and chase my dream until I realise it.

Failures and success

I like the Hindi movie "Mission Mangal" starring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Kirti Kulhari, Sonakshi Sinha and Sharman Joshi in major roles. The movie is about a group of scientists who are working together in the Mars Orbiter Mission. The movie shows how each of these scientists battle with their own problems, overcome obstacles and work together despite personal conflicts.

I like this movie very much because it is a mix of emotions like comedy, motivation, sadness, happiness and many more. This movie taught me how to handle success and failure equally. It also taught me to remain positive and strong always and to never give up. I recommend this inspirational movie to all children.

Inspires patriotism

One of my preferred movies in an Indian language is "Lagaan." This is a 2001 feature film, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan. The film is about an iconic cricket match played by the British and the villagers of Champaner of British India. This movie also induced patriotic feelings for those who watched it. The movie was skillfully and artfully taken. It showed the determination of the hero to succeed against all odds. Though the villagers, the king, and the British decided he would fail, the hero went ahead with grit achieve victory. Also the match against the British was excellent and thrilling. Though the British played the game for years, sheer determination was the reason for the Indian village team to win and the climax of the game was heart-stopping.

All about the choices we make

An Indian language movie which I like is "Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe" which is the biography of Bhagat Puran Singh. It is a 2015 Punjabi movie which won many hearts. The movie is very touching and inspirational. It shows all the struggles he went through and yet never missed a chance to serve others. Singh was a true angel. He opened a place for homeless disabled people which is still functional. The reason why I like this movie is because it reminds me that one always has a choice to serve humanity or do even a little good.

Gripping!

I like "Drishyam," written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. The original language of the film is Malayalam. It has been remade or dubbed in many languages including Chinese. The movie runs in two parts, and the thrill of the plot is sustained in both. It is a gripping film, because of which I don't want to give out the spoilers. I would like to recommend it to everyone.

Comic quotient

An Indian Language movie I like the most is Shah Rukh Khan's "Baadshah". The movie is directed by Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla. The movie is about Baadshah (SRK), a private detective trying to save Gayatri Bachchan (the chief minister) from the villain and his gang. The movie is a mixture of investigation, confusion and lots of comedy. Finally after lots of efforts, Baadshah saves Gayatri from the villain and his gang. I like the movie because of the comedy quotient. After every funny conversation in the film, I ended up rolling in laughter. "Baadshah" is the funniest movie I have ever seen and I suggest you watch it. I am also a fan of movies like "Chaachi 420," "Hera Pheri" and "Munnabhai MBBS."

Value of love

An Indian language movie I like is “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.”. it is a story about Prem who falls in love with Nisha. Rajesh is Prem’s brother and Pooja is Nisha’s sister. Rajesh weds Pooja. When Pooja dies in an accident; the family fixes her marriage with Rajesh, but Nisha thinks Prem is the groom. Just before the marriage day, Nisha comes to know that Rajesh is the groom and not Prem. There is twist when Tuffy their lovable dog gives the letter written by Nisha to Rajesh instead of Prem I like it because it is a fun-filled movie and the songs are melodious Pooja is my favourite character in the movie as she is very responsible and lovable. This story talks about the value of love in our families.

Magic of friendship

"Dhh" is a Gujarati comedy that revolves around three rambunctious fifth graders, Gungun, Bajrang and Vakil who are hopeless at studies and don't have a good reputation among their parents and teachers. Convinced that only magic can save them, the boys write a letter to a magician who sends them Birbal, a doll, to help them pass their exams. This film renews our belief in magic and friendship while letting us laugh out loud at the innocence of the kids. We end up appreciating their efforts to help each other improve.

A must-watch for students

An Indian language mo is "Kamali From Nadukaveri" presumed, by its name, that it was yet another piece of boredom However, I was proved wrong.

The story revolves around Kamali, a light-hearted school girl she is pulled into studies in search of her love. By chance, she comes across an interview of an IIT first year student Ashwin. At once, she falls for him. Yearning to meet him, she resolves to show up for the JEE examinations and make it to the IIT Despite scant resources, she manages to clear the exam through her determination and joins college Once she spots him, she drowns in a whirl of feelings for him and spends her time day-dreaming Eventually, she fails in all the tests and is left dejected. Later on, she visits her hometown. On meeting her coach, she realises his profound trust and hope in her and regrets her mistakes.

Though her progress and aim were right, the backbone for it was her love. This lack of clarity drove her off the path. Through this movie. I understood the need for a clear goal CUP (concentrate, understand, practice) - the acronym which helped her inspired me equally. This movie is a must-watch for all students.

Psychological cliffhanger

My all time favourite is the Malayalam thriller "Forensic", a Tovino Thomas starrer. Commencing with a terrific scene of a lad murdering his own father, this movie prompts you to watch it further. It's a riveting film since it follows the story of a forensic expert assisting a senior cop in unravelling some murder mysteries. This gripping movie with excellent scenes of investigation, is a psychological cliffhanger.

Women-centric "Sara"

I like is the Malayalam movie "Sara's". It is a movie by director Jude Anthany Joseph. This movie gives a message that women should pursue a career that they have dreamt about, especially after marriage. It also tells women to point out what they are uncomfortable about and achieve what they aim for. Anna Ben acts as the main character Sara. In the movie, Sara refuses to give up her dream career even though her family forces her to. In the end, she achieves her ambition and shows her family that she is capable of being successful despite facing many problems.

A good mix

An Indian movie that I like is "Minnal Murali" directed by Basil Joseph. The main characters of this movie are Jaison(Tovino Thomas), an ordinary tailor and Shibu (Guru Somasundaram), a waiter. Both get their powers from being struck by lightning. Jaison uses his powers for good, but Shibu is forced by his misfortune and the cruelty of a narrow-minded society to use his powers for revenge. At the end of the story, we feel sorry for the villain Shibu. This movie's cast contains exceptionally talented actors, especially Guru Somasundaram as Shibu. I like this movie because it has a balance of humour, emotion and horror. Instead of only focussing on and glorifying the hero, importance is given to other characters as well in the narrative. Also, the melodious songs and visual effects make the movie worth watching.

A masterpiece!

My favourite Indian movie is S.S.Rajamouli's masterpeice "Bahubali" starring Prabhas. This was an epic movie which became famous in various languages, Indian and foreign. It was one of the first Indian movies to use VFX editing and was also an inspiration for multiple movies that emerged later on. Various aspects like comedy, tragedy action and sentiment were equally emphasised and beautifully presented in the film. With such precision this movie is a perfect epitome of the real beauty of Indian cinema.

A message in the movie

My favorite Hindi movie is "Neerja". It is about the real hijacking that took place on the Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986. Neerja Bhanot, the protagonist, is a head purser who risked her life trying to save the passengers. The movie teaches us to overcome our fears and not give up. The hijackers look to kill many of the passengers but Neerja manages to stall their plan. I was moved by the way her parents and friends supported her throughout. Neerja's life was an inspiration to many. Neerja was presented the Ashoka Chakra award in 1987 and was also honoured by the Pakistani and American governments for her bravery.

Picture Credit : Google

Did movie trailers originally play after the movie?

Movie trailers were originally shown at the end of a film which is why they were called "trailers". Part of a film's marketing, they are released months in advance of a movie's premiere. However, coming after the film, they proved rather ineffective as audiences would not stay around to watch them.

Many of these early official trailers by the studios had the same format that is used today; important eye-catching scenes from the movie while using dramatic voice-overs and text. Trailers seemed to get their name from where the extra piece of film was placed, which “trailed” the main feature. In the case of serials, it only made sense to put it after the main episode since this was what enticed people to come back to the theater to see the next episode the following week.

The trailer was also a tool to clear audiences out of the theater since movies that ran were shown in a loop, and patrons could simply stay for as long as they liked. For some people arriving at the theater, it appeared as if they were watching a clip about an upcoming movie before their main feature. This was because of the continuous loop of movies that were shown even though the trailer was placed after the main feature.

At some point, someone figured out that more people were more likely to see a clip about an upcoming attraction if it was placed before the main feature began. This became the preview set in the spot we know today, but the industry term for this type of movie clip continues to be referred to as a trailer.

Picture Credit : Google

Cannes returns after a year

The famed Cannes Film Festival returned in 2021 after it was cancelled in 2020. Though it is usually held in May every year, it was moved to July due to Covid related restrictions. This was the 74th edition of the film festival. The ten-day festival had American director Spike Lee as the head of the jury.

The Palme d'Or went to Titane, directed by French director Julia Ducourau, and the Honorany Palme d'or was awarded to American actress and filmmaker Jodie Foster, and Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio.

As always, posters of the festival decorate the town, from storefronts to the Croisette.

This year's poster features jury president Spike Lee looking out ironically through his large black glasses, framed by two palm trees. It's not only the first time a Black filmmaker presides over the jury, it's also the first time a jury head appears on the official festival poster.

Jury member Mati Diop also made history in 2019 when she became the first woman of color to have a film in competition at the festival with her feature Atlantics. This year's jury, which awards the the festival's highest honor the Palm D'or, also includes more women than men. At the opening day press conference, Diop and her fellow jurors emphasized the importance of greater equity and inclusion in legacy institutions like Cannes. When asked about her fellow jurors, American actor Maggie Gyllenhaal said, "I'm so curious to see what happens with this new formulation."

Cannes President Lescure says Spike Lee's presence over the festivities in such a moment — amidst a pandemic and worldwide calls for racial justice — is particularly meaningful. "Because of his filmography, because of his talent because of his political and social actions, because of who he is," says Lescure. "It seemed to us he was the right man, in the right place, at the right moment."

Picture Credit : Google

Which are children’s favourite documentaries?

We are not the mistakes we make

My favourite documentary among the ones that I have knowledge of is on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt titled To Hell and Back by BBC (1996).

In the documentary, he talks about how his mother Nargis death shook him, his history of drug abuse, alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and some other issues.

It teaches us a lot of life lessons that are usually not taught in school. It tells us how important it is to differentiate between good and bad people, to identify one's true intention. It shows us how talking to our parents might be the right thing to do even though it is difficult. Most importantly, it teaches us that we are not the mistakes we make. We can always improve and change for the better. It may seem hard but with the right people by our side, right circumstances and our loved ones support, it is always possible.

The longest written constitution

I used to think that documentaries are boring until I saw Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India. It is a ten-part series directed by Shyam Benegal. I saw it recently on YouTube.

This documentary brings out the effort that has gone into framing and drafting the historic document. All Indians must watch Samvidhaan to understand the making of the world's longest written constitution.

The rise of Taylor Swift

Even though I don't like watching documentaries that much, I think a documentary that I liked among the ones I have watched is 'Miss Americana. This is a documentary about the singer Taylor Swift and how she rose up after her big fall in her music career. I think her story is inspiring. I don't know whether everyone will like it, but if you like to hear her songs I am sure you will like it.

To space

My favourite documentary is 'Apollo 11' as it gives importance to space missions. I like space missions and this mission is related to the spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon. It is interesting that the NASA team took the initiative to send their team to the moon for exploration. I like the documentary as most of its facts are beyond our imagination and are extremely interesting. This documentary has made me research more about Space.

Compassion of Satyajit Ray

The documentary Two' by Satyajit Ray was stupendous. On a beautiful day when a boy was playing with his toys, just behind his house he saw a boy who lived in a kutcha house playing with a few toys. The two boys were of the same age but they were completely different from each other. One who was never satisfied with his toys and the other was always happy with the things he had. It shows how a poor boy happily shared his different toys with the rich boy. It was a good experience for both of the two boys and how others can enjoy it too.

From this documentary I understood that we should illuminate our life in any way.

K-pop all the way

My favourite documentary movie would be 'Blackpink: Light up the sky'. These days many people are falling in love with K-pop and one among the famous K-pop girl groups is Blackpink. There are four girls in the group-Lisa, Jennie, Rose and Jisoo. The eldest among them is Jisoo. In the movie they speak about auditions and their difficulties during their trainee days. Their fans are called Blinks. Blackpink's concerts have taken place in many countries. Their concerts are very beautiful, just like them.

Redesign my Brain!

My favourite documentary is 'Redesign My Brain hosted by Todd Sampson. The main focus of the documentary is to show brain plasticity, or how anyone can improve their brain for the better. I like the techniques he uses because they help in many different aspects of the brain. These techniques include visualisation, games for focus and reaction speed, juggling and memorisation hacks and can be used by everyone. I was amazed and impressed by how much it has helped Todd do amazing feats. I want to try these tricks myself, now!

Into the wild

My favourite documentary is one by National Geographic titled Serengeti: The adventure. I personally love the African grasslands and the wildlife that inhabits them. The thing that makes the documentary unique and engrossing is the use of a special camera taking videos at 2000 frames per second! The photographers show clips of lions lazing in the sun, the wildebeest's hectic migration, exotic birds and flowers, cheetahs racing through the grasslands, and the ever patient crocodiles and hippos wallowing in the murky water. The documentary informs viewers about the benefits and drawbacks of tourists coming into the reserve. Serengeti: The adventure is a must watch for all animal lovers to dive into the excitement and magnificence of the grasslands.

A shocking documentary

Accidentally I came to watch the documentary named 'One Day in September while I was travelling during the Olympics which was held recently at Tokyo. This documentary is based on the incident of the killing of the Israeli Olympic team of the 1972 Summer Olympics which was hosted at Munich. This took place on 5th September- 6th September by a terrorist group named Black September. The terrorists attacked 11 members of the Israeli team at the Olympic Village. While two of them were killed on the spot, the other nine were taken as hostage and were killed in the shootout between the terrorists and the German police. This documentary was directed by Kevin Macdonald in 1999 and also won the 72nd Academy award for the best documentary feature on 26 March 2000. This racist attack crippled the Israeli team in the summer Olympics. It was a shocking documentary to watch especially during the Olympics for which love and get together was the motto.

A heartfelt documentary on nature

My favourite documentary is A Life on Our Planet, a nature documentary depicting Sir David Attenborough's life, right from his childhood. It was an outstanding documentary, which reveals 95 years of his experience living on the Earth. In the one-and-the-half hour documentary. David Attenborough's narration is accompanied by stunning high-quality visuals. Attenborough gives a vivid picture of how human activities have changed the world since the time when he was a child, till now. After this, he gives us a look into the future. In this section, he says that the Amazon rainforest will turn into a dry savannah, the Arctic will be ice-free during the summers, along with others, if humans continue to follow their destructive habits. After this series of heart-breaking visuals, he shows us the world getting destroyed. There, he says "This is our Garden of Eden." But he does not leave us there. He then shows us "how if we can act now, we can yet put it right." To conclude, 'A Life on Our Planet is a heart-touching documentary, where David Attenborough talks with his clear idea of how humans can act to harmonise with nature.

Picture Credit : Google

Why is the Titanic disaster so famous?

The RMS Titanic, a British luxury ship, sank on her maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912. It took three years to be constructed and cost a whopping $7.5 million. The Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was one of the first ships to have a telephone system and electric lights in all rooms, with four elevators, a heated swimming pool, a gym, two libraries and two barber shops. The sinking of the ship, which led to over 1500 fatalities, inspired the famous James Cameron film "Titanic' in 1997.

The ship had 16 watertight compartments designed to keep it afloat if damaged. This led to the belief that the ship was unsinkable. However, only four days into its maiden voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg near Newfoundland, Canada. The collision damaged the ship and its watertight compartments. With a limited number of lifeboats, many passengers could not escape the ship. Only hours after the collision, the Titanic sunk, taking about 1,500 passengers with her.

 The fate of the Titanic led to new international agreements to prevent future disasters, such as the creation of an International Ice Patrol that would alert ships of icebergs. In addition, the first International Convention of Safety of Life at Sea created new lifeboat regulations to protect the safety of passengers.

Credit : National Geographic Society

Picture Credit : Google

Which are children’s favourite science fiction movies?

The Martian

My favorite sci-fi movie would be the 2015 blockbuster The Martian. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, this is a story about an astronaut who is left stranded on Mars after being detached from his team due to a storm. Mark Watney's team is caught in a storm while exploring Mars. The team, assuming that Watney has been devoured by the storm, leave him behind. Watney is then left with limited resources and absolutely no way of communicating with Earth. On Earth, NASA realises that Watney might be alive, after seeing moved equipment through satellites, and start working on a way to bring him back. The Martian is an absolute thriller and leaves your spine tingling every time you watch it!

Star Wars

My favourite sci-fi movie is 'Star Wars Episode V- Empire Strikes Back. It is the second film in the Star Wars series but the fifth chronological chapter in the Skywalker Saga. It stars Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones and Harrison Ford among others. It is considered by many as one of the greatest movies ever made with the biggest plot twist of the millenium, for who would have thought that ruthless Darth Vader, the greatest villain of all time and kind Luke Skywalker would be bound in a relation as strong as that of father and son. Not only this, there are epic lightsaber duels, entrancing storylines and many other things to watch out for. The best thing about Star Wars is that it tells us that even the worst villain could be a hero if not for certain unfavourable circumstances. In my opinion, this movie and the entire Star Wars franchise is sci-fi at its best.

An attempt to save the world

The Sci-fi movie that enthralled and captivated me the most was 'Life' directed by Daniel Espinosa. The film starts when a crew of six astronauts discover a trace of extraterrestrial life on Mars. But fortuitously the creature escapes into the probe and wreaks havoc among the crew. It kills the members of the unit heinously. The last surviving crew member tries to steer it to deeper space but it goes in vain as he ends up sending it to earth. It is about biology and horror in thrilling scenarios.

My special liking for this film has also been built on the character Rory Adams portrayed by Ryan Reynolds who is the perfect fit for the role. Life is so far my favourite movie.

The dinosaurs are back!

My favourite sci-fi movie is definitely Jurassic Park. In this movie, some people visit a dinosaur park and have a series of adventures.

The animation of the dinosaurs is very convincing. I like the way they've shown information about the way dinosaurs lived, making the movie believable. And the scenes in which the dinosaurs attack the humans give me goosebumps. I also like the way the movie shows how the dinosaurs came back. Jurassic Park is the perfect movie for a dinosaur lover like me.

A heroic adventure

My favourite sci-fi movie is ‘Incredibles’. I love this movie because it is packed with adventures, has a family of brave superheroes, etc. Also, it teaches us important life lessons, such as not being afraid or ashamed to show your true identity, how to value your friendship with others. and that instead of avoiding villains(or bullies), we must stand up to them for what is right Also, when people watch the movie, we can be sure that at some point of the movie people will get excited with suspense. For example, when Mr. Incredible (one of the characters, and the main protagonist in the movie) is being held hostage by the villain and his cronies, I became shocked and excited at the same time. It makes me wonder what is going to happen next to the protagonist. If you watch this movie, you will love it!

Triple monster fight

My favourite sci-fi movie is Godzilla 2014 because Godzilla looks awesome. He fights against two Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms (MUTO), and the movie's name is amazing. I also like Godzilla's atomic breath. The MUTOS did a good job as villains and their powers were shown in detail.

Spielberg's best

My favorite sci-fi movie is Jurassic Park', one of Steven Spielberg's best films. It is about experts in various fields who are invited to a Dinosaur Theme Park that features real Dinosaurs brought back through technology using DNA. It is well known for its groundbreaking visual effects and brings up philosophical views including the dangers of tampering too much with nature.

This Sci-fi movie is an endlessly thrilling adventure with Spielberg as the master creator. He somehow conjures big screen beasts that still look and feel Incredibly real.

One movie, many lessons

Although I have watched many movies, my favourite is the sci-fi movie Raya and the Last Dragon'. This movie depicts a warrior Princess who sought out for the fabled last dragon with hopes of restoring the dragon gem that would bring her father back and banish the evil spirits from the land of Kumandra. This movie teaches us to help everyone in their difficulties. It tells us that not everyone has good intentions but that doesn't mean you shouldn't trust people. It also shows the importance of learning how to work with people you disagree with, which is invaluable. I got inspired by watching this movie so I suggest everyone should watch this movie.

A scientific reason

I am not a typical avenger fan, but my favourite sci-fi movie is 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'. The main reason is the scientific base on which the movie was based, which according to me is necessary for any good science fiction story or movie. It showed how dangerous a robot with its own thinking capabilities can become if it is not controlled. This is also a major concern raised by scientists nowadays as we are trying to make self-taught robots with special abilities. Plus, the movie also showed how a villain also has logic behind his actions and that everything has dual nature a good side and a bad side.

The Tomorrow War

The science-fiction movie that I consider the best among the ones that I have watched so far is The Tomorrow War of 2021. The title of the movie itself prompts the audience to dive in, watch and know more. It is entirely based on a time travel to the future, where devastating creatures create havoc all around. The protagonist, along with a group of people, goes to the future and tries to resist those wild beings. The hero also sees his own young daughter grown up and being a reputed officer. Finally he realises that the creatures emerged from the past and travels back to the present era and kills them at the early stage. Thus, this movie is my favourite, due to its fictional time travel and emotional clip.

Picture Credit : Google

Which are the children’s favourite movies that adapted from books?

The Wimpy movie

My favorite movie adapted from a book is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" by Jeff Kinney. This movie opens with Greg's family starting on a road trip to attend Meemaw's birthday, but Greg and Rodrick seem to have other plans of their own. Greg's encounter with the Beardos in the hotel, Manny's win in the country fair, the Heffley family's revenge against the Beardos after their things get stolen are some hilarious incidents that made me laugh out loud.

This movie had a mix of emotions such as happiness, confusion, and sadness. Its blend of comedy and sentiment made it very interesting to watch. This movie has also taught me lots of morals that I should follow in life.

Never give up

My favorite movie adapted from a book is 'The Life of Pi". In the film,  a boy named Pi Patel along with his family sell their zoo and are going to Canada via sea with some of their animals. Due to a shipwreck, Pi and a Bengal Tiger are forced to escape on a lifeboat along with an emergency kit and other small animals. In the end, only Pi and the Bengal tiger remain. They face several adventures and overcome them. Eventually, they become friends. From the movie I learned to never give up.

Tales of friendship

My favorite movie adapted from a book is the Harry Potter series. The first reason for loving the book and the movies is the friendship between Harry, Hermione and Ron. They are so funny and amazing. Hermione and Ron were ready to help Harry even though they knew that their life was in danger. That is real friendship. If they were not with Harry, he may not have been able to win against Voldemort.

And the second reason I love Harry Potter is Hogwarts. When I saw this school, I wished to study there. The teachers, the magic portraits, the sorting hat, and the surroundings all look really good.

What a Wonder!

Auggie from the book Wonder is one of those characters that swiftly drives through the pages to your heart and makes a place forever. R. J. Palacio couldn't have done a better job in accumulating a story of hope, of life, of struggle-turned-into-happiness, and of relationships. Stephen Chobsky didn't fail to do the same on screen. Both the book and the movie are about a 5-year-old boy suffering from a rare facial deformity disease, Treacher Collins syndrome. It isn't easy for him to face daily struggles of people teasing him or getting scared of him. But Auggie is Auggie and I learned a lot from him. He is strong and has a loving personality. His family is the strength behind his journey through this world. Every page of the book and every scene of the movie is filled with optimism and hope, reminding us that darkness will certainly fade away and the sun will shine again.

Mystery solved in an interesting way

My favorite film adaptation of a book is 'Da Vinci Code. The book is written by Dan Brown, and the film was directed by Ron Howard. The film is all about two people Robert Langdon, a symbologist, played by Tom Hanks, and Sophie Neveu, a cryptologist of the Paris Police force - who embark on a journey to find the Sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene. The film portrays their adventures in a dramatic way. I like the film for two reasons. One, I liked the way the actors played their roles to perfection. Every actor had understood what they were supposed to do, and they had all comprehended the inner meaning of the book, which would have been a challenge to them (If it's so hard for us to understand the film, imagine how difficult it would have been to be in it!). Secondly, the film gives a deep insight about the Christian society and its orthodox communities (The 'Opus Dei' and The Priory of Sion, for instance). It gives us a big picture on how sincere and loyal members of these religious communities can be towards their culture and faith. The film was nominated for many awards, and it was internationally acclaimed. As a whole, Da Vinci Code was a well researched, mind capturing film, which everyone will like.

A thrilling adventure

My favorite   movie adaptation is The Adventures of Tintin, the 2011 animated film. This movie was directed by Steven Spielberg. I like this movie because of the near-death escapades, ingenious ways to solve massive problems, and a classic plot. I also loved the historical connections between the hero and the villain.

I also like the movie because of its thrilling suspense and the very vivid clues given to find the treasure. I loved the way Tintin found out the clues successfully. From the movie, I understood that we should be wary of money-minded people. Money is needed, but greediness for too much can cause grief.

An inspiring journey

Journey to a mysterious place would always be my desire and destiny. I venture to be an explorer and an adventurer. I derived this inspiration from two books written by my favorite, Joules Verne - Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island'. These are the best books I have read and the best films I have ever watched. Sean Anderson, and the other Andersons, fuelled my imagination and became my inspiration. The stories taught me never to lose hope.

The chocolate factory

Imagine you are so poor that you have to eat cabbage soup for all meals and your father lost his job. But you get a chocolate that changes your life forever. I am talking about 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’. It is adapted from a book by Roald Dahl. This movie is about a poor boy named Charlie who wins one out of five tickets for a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the most renowned chocolate factory. My favorite part was definitely when Charlie got the golden ticket. The look on his face was priceless. Also I loved the parts when Mr. Willy Wonka was touring the chocolate factory. So if you are a fantasy lover, do watch this movie.

Hobbit tales

My favorite book that is adapted into a movie is The Hobbit.: The Desolation of Smaug. It is the story of a young  , unambitious hobbit who is dragged into a journey by a wizard friend and a pack of dwarves. I like it because it is an action, adventure, and super cool movie. The book is a must read and the movie is a must watch because the book shows everything in a detailed way while the movie displays the fight and action amazingly.

A realistic adaptation

My favorite movie adapted from a book is the Harry Potter series. At first I had read the books and by the time I finished half of the first book, I had turned into a potter head. Though the movie didn't have all the scenes which were in the book, they had made sure that they included many parts and it came out wonderfully. All the effort they had put to bring to life the moving portraits, jumbled staircases, interesting classes and most of all  the Hogwarts castle was just exemplary for me. Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson fit perfectly into their roles and enthralled me till the end like my favorite book.

Picture Credit : Google

This 8-hour film on grazing sheep could put you to sleep – and its makers want that

Baa Baa Land, an epic 8-hour movie, features nothing but sheep! With no dialogue, no plot and no human actors, just slow motion shots of sheep in a field, the "world's dullest movie" scheduled for release this month is designed to put viewers to sleep. Filmed in Essex, England, and produced by Calm, a company that produces mindfulness meditation products, Baa Baa Land is being advertised as "the ultimate insomnia cure" and "better than a sleeping pill".

The first cut in Baa Baa Land comes after 77 minutes. The sheep are still there, eating grass and bleating and it is still a bright sunny day, the camera merely switches positions from one long shot to another. Anything remotely resembling an action sequence is the rare mid shot, five and a half hours into the film, when some of the sheep drink water.

Yes, Baa Baa Land could put you to sleep – and that’s exactly what the film’s makers want, at a time when rising stress and anxiety levels are constant exposure to stimuli is affecting sleep patterns. “It’s better than any sleeping pill”, executive producer Alex Tew is quoted as saying on the film’s website. Freedman, who also doubles up as the film’s “writer”, hopes the film to inspire research papers and have a cult following. “I hope that in future years, students of cinema will write PhDs and doctoral theses about [Baa Baa Land], saying what it all means,” he said.

Picture Credit : Google

Which are the children’s favourite animated movies from where they learned lessons?

Embrace our emotions

My most favourite animated movie is Inside Out. This movie contains a core lesson which is important in life - appearing happy outside doesn't mean that we are happy inside. Yes, this is what I learned. At times we need to show our emotions, which are like the colours of a rainbow where every colour counts. The movie portrays these in the most beautiful way. It tells what happens inside us in the most magical and creative way in which one could say. The climax literally brings us to tears. Inside Out reminds us to embrace the wholeness of ourselves. So, this is the lesson which I learnt - all emotions are good, there is no one to say that joy is good and anger and sadness are bad. We need everything in our life without which life would be boring!

An inspiration to young girls

With her wild, frizzy, red locks and confident, headstrong attitude, Merida is one of the most unforgettable princesses to grace the world of animated films. She, and her story, make the movie 'Brave' a must-watch for all. One of the reasons that I love this movie is because of the various lessons and messages it leaves behind. Merida is one of the first Disney princesses that doesn't rely on a prince to sweep her off her feet. She stands for what she believes in and never backs down or gives up when the going gets tough. Her independent, fearless and determined character continues to inspire many girls like me around the globe and is the one lesson that stands out to me from the movie 'Brave'.

Learn to accept oneself

From my favourite animation movie 'Luca', I learnt that one should always be proud of his identity and never hide it no matter what people say. The movie Luca is about a sea monster named Luca who makes friends with Alberto who is also a sea monster. They run away from their underworld homes and reach a town where they enter a triathlon to win a Vespa. Along the way, they befriend Giulia and learn new things. With Luca's parents after them and their identities almost discovered, will they win the competition and reveal the truth is what forms the plot.

This story was very inspirational and moving and almost brought me to tears in the end. I suggest this movie for all children so that every single child understands the concept of equality and friendship.

The Super Penguins

My favourite animated movie would be Penguins of Madagascar. I like the movie because one of the protagonists of the movie is similar to me. His name is Private. In the movie, Private tries to say something really useful, but the other penguins ignore him thinking he is a kid who just wants attention. In the end, however, Private saves the other penguins from Dave the octopus. The movie taught me that even if someone ignores me, they might need me in the end.

This will rebuild the friendship and make it much stronger than before.

Revenge is not the answer

If there's one thing I learned from my favourite Disney animated movie, 'Big Hero 6', it's that revenge should never be an option, no matter how bad a person has hurt you. In the movie, when 14-year old Hiro Hamada (the protagonist) learns that his brother died in a massive fire that was purposely started by Prof. Callaghan, the head of the robotics program at a prestigious institution, his anger gets the better of him, and he tries to kill Callaghan. But in the end, he realises that getting revenge wouldn't do any good to anyone but would only make him feel much worse than before. All we can do is to forgive that person and let their actions find a way of coming back to them. And that's exactly what happens in the movie. Hiro eventually forgives Prof. Callaghan, and the latter is taken away by the higher authorities.

You can do anything

The Disney princesses never fail to entertain me but when it comes to the movie which gives me an unforgettable lesson, my favorite movie will always be 'Moana'.

The story is of a princess who is also the heiress of her father's kingdom. She teaches me that no matter what, I can accomplish anything with my determination. The way she sailed a boat and travelled around the ocean, I learned that I can do new and different things without leaving behind my true identity. She is brave, courageous, passionate and strong. She teaches me that a princess is not always supposed to be delicate and sweet. Now that I rewatch the movie, I realise why my 7-year-old self adored her.

I won't give up, I won't give in

Our world has become one in which peer pressure and injunctions often affect a person's career choice more than their own dreams. In such an environment, it becomes important to value the message of following one's passion, no matter what those around you say. The movie 'Zootopia" does just that.

The protagonist, Judy Hopps, is a rabbit with big dreams of becoming a police officer in the city of Zootopia, where anyone can be anything. From her parents and childhood acquaintances to her Police Academy instructors, Judy is faced with doubtful and scornful remarks about her capability to become a police officer, since she'd be the first rabbit to do so. But Judy has always been a 'tryer and makes up her mind to pursue her career, without letting stubborn Chiefs or infuriating foxes get in her way.

In the words of Gazelle, "I won't give in without reaching the end."

Look ahead

From the movie 'Lion King' I learnt one lesson; look at the future, not the past. Failures will come our way but we should not think that it is the end. Simba, the lion cub, is heir to the throne after his father, Mufasa is killed by Scar, his uncle. But, Scar convinces Simba that he is responsible for his father's death and gets him to run away from home completely broken and lost. Scar takes over the throne and begins a reign of terror with hyenas by his side. Simba's friends help him eventually get back his confidence and win back his place in the pride. Simba realises who he is and what his role is in the pride.

Empathetic heroes

My favourite animation movie definitely has to be "Big Hero 6". How Hiro teams up with Baymax and his Robotic University friends to avenge his brother's death forms the whole story. This movie has taught me not one but many lessons like true friends always stick together, revenge is never an answer to problems, and determination is the key. But the most important one was empathy. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of one another. From Tadashi sacrificing his life to save others during a fire to Hiro and Baymax rescuing the villain's daughter, all of these scenes showcase how being selfless and empathetic could change the way we look at the world and make us a better individual. Hence, I find it to be one movie whose motive was not only entertainment but also imbibing values.

One movie, many lessons

The animation movie which taught me multiple valuable lessons is the anime movie 'Ponyo', the seventh movie directed and created by Hayao Miyazaki. Just like his other movies, this movie has the wildest possible ideas. The movie is all about Ponyo, daughter of the wizard-scientist Fujimoto, who lives at the bottom of the sea in a huge castle. Ponyo escapes from her father's abode and meets Sosuke, a small boy who lives with his mother in their home near the seashore. The movie is about the adventures of the fish (who turns into a human as the movie progresses) and Sosuke. The movie is very thought provoking, and it leaves us in deep thought even after it ends. I learnt that the power of grit and determination is the driving force - the 'electricity' which powers the 'motors' of aspiring people, young and old. I also learnt about the power of tolerance from the endeavours of Fujimoto, Ponyo's father, in restoring her into her original form and keeping her with him. But, at the end, he lets Ponyo live with Sosuke in her human form and feels intense joy in doing so. From that, I learnt that we will be happy living without something we want so badly, rather than trying hard to succeed in getting it. Like this, watching 'Ponyo' has been a life-changing event, which I'll never forget.

Picture Credit : Google

Which are the movies that are sure to make you fall in love with science fiction?

Wall-E

Wall-E is a popular movie with a robot at its centre that packs an important message for its viewers. This animated movie, released in 2008, follows the journey of Wall-E, the last robot on Earth, responsible for cleaning up the garbage left behind by humans. Humans have abandoned Earth as it is filled with trash. They send back a space probe with robots periodically to check if life is back to being sustainable. One fine day, when a space probe arrives on Earth, Wall-E instantly connects with a robot on the probe - Eve. Wall-E shows her a plant he found on Earth and Eve freezes. A space probe comes to collect her later and a worried Wall-E follows her. The rest of the story follows Wall-E and Eve's journey as friends and how they bring humans back to Earth.

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 is a 2014 animated movie which tells the story of a teenage boy and a robot designed to help people. When San Fransokyo is under threat by devious humans and nanobots, Hiro, his robot Baymax and four other friends decide to upgrade themselves and save the city, the process, Hiro deals with the grief of losing his brother. The movie shows the good and the bad side of robots (when under the wrong hands) and focuses on the bond between Hiro and Baymax.

The Incredibles

One of the most popular movies of its time, The Incredibles is a 2004 animated superhero movie which sees a family of superheroes fight against an army of robots led by a fan-turned-foe. The family is laying low due to a government directive, but Mr. Incredible wants to return to his superhero life and finds someone who can facilitate the same. He ends up dealing with the wrong guy and his family and close friend try to save him, and in the process, save the world. How they manage to do so is what forms the rest of the story.

The Iron Giant

This 1999 animated science fiction movie features a gigantic alien robot who crash lands in the city of Maine in the United States during the Cold War. It follows the story of the giant and a nine-year-old boy. Hogarth, as they become friends and discover things about life. Meanwhile, the U.S. Military is looking for the Giant and wants to destroy it. Hogarth tries his best to protect the giant. The rest of the story focuses on whether or not the military finds the Giant and if the Giant espaces from them. The movie breaks stereotypes about aliens and portrays the power of friendship.

Robots

A 2005 animated movie, Robots is the story of Rodney, a robot who leaves his hometown for the big city to fulfil his dreams. Rodney is an inventor and wants to work with Bigweld Industries, which hires inventors and provides robots with spare parts. However when he reaches there, he realises that Bigweld has been away and his second-in-command. Ratchet, has stopped supplying spare parts and instead provides upgrades which are too expensive. Rodney, together with friends he makes in the new, city, decides to fight Ratchet.

The movie passes on the message of doing good for others and encourages people to pursue their dreams.

Picture Credit : Google

Russia races us to become first country to shoot in space

From the depths of the ocean floor to the freezing glaciers of the Antarctica, you may have heard of films being shot in the most extreme locations on the planet. And now for the first time, a Russian film crew-racing ahead of Hollywood-is attempting to shoot a feature film in space, aboard the actual International Space Station, which orbits the Earth at about 400 km above its surface.

A Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov along with the film crew actor Yulia Peresild and film producer Klim Shipenko rocketed to space on October 5 aboard Russia's MS-19 Soyuz spacecraft to shoot what might become the first feature film in t orbit.

History in the making

While space has often been portrayed on the silver screen using advanced computer graphics, there has never been a full-length film shot and directed in space. Hence, the mission if successful will truly become an important landmark in cinematic history.

What it's about

The film named "The Challenge" is about a surgeon, played by Peresild, who goes on an emergency mission to the space station to treat an injured cosmonaut.

Since the crew has to travel light they are not carrying any heavy cameras and equipment Instead, the scenes will be shot using hand-held cameras. The film will include about 35 to 40 minutes of scenes made on the station.

The crew has only two weeks to complete shooting the film, before making their return to Earth on October 17. Obviously, once the shoot wraps up, there will be no retakes!

The space race

During the Cold War, the US and the then Soviet Union were caught in a space race, with both the countries wanting to be the first to make forays into space. In 1957, the Soviet Union beat the US by sending Laika the dog aboard Sputnik 2. Laika became the first living creature to be shot into space and orbit Earth

Similarly Russia's Yuri Gagarin became the first kuuman to rocket into the Earthy orbit just a few days before American Alan Shepard. And with the latest space film mission, the space race seems to have taken a cinematic turn.

In 2020, it was reported that Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise plans to fly to space aboard one of Spacers Crew Dragon capsules for an action-adventure film directed by Doug Liman However, it is unclear when this will happen.

Space tourism

A few years back, it was unimaginable for anyone but a trained astronaut to travel to space. However, over the year concerted efforts are being made to promote space tourism. In July 2021, the nearly 71-year-old Richard Branson and five crewmates from his space-tourism company Virgin Galactic flew to an altitude of about 88 km over the New Mexico desert. They experienced three to four minutes of weightlessness and saw the curvature of the Earth before making a safe landing. Not to be left behind, few days later, billionaire Jeff Bezos too made a quick sojourn to space on his rocket ship, New Shepard. His company, Blue Origin plans to carry William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the popular "Star Trek" series on October 12.

Did you know?

Some of the films shot in space:

  • In 2008, Richard Gamott, a private astronaut shot a short sci-film in space named "Apogee of Fear The film was only eight minutes long. Garriott paid $30 million to travel on the Soyuz spacecraft
  • In 2002, IMAX productions used videos shot aboard the space station in its documentary "Space Station 3D".

Picture Credit : Google

What movie does the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious come from?

For many people, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and the 1964 movie Mary Poppins are inextricably linked. Indeed, it was this movie that popularized the word. The songwriters, brothers Richard and Robert Sherman, have explained the word as originating in the same way they, like many others, used to make up humorously big, nonsensical words as children.

Coincidentally, there was also a song called Supercalafajalistickespeealadojus that was written in 1949, and the authors of the song brought a suit against the Sherman brothers for copyright infringement. In the end, the court decided in the Shermans’ favor because, among other things, affidavits were produced that claimed that variants of the word were known many years prior to 1949, making the plaintiffs' claim unfounded.

In fact, the earliest known written record of a variant is for supercaliflawjalisticexpialidoshus from an "A-muse-ings" column by Helen Herman in The Syracuse Daily Orange (Syracuse University), March 10, 1931. The columnist muses about her made-up word, describing it as including "all words in the category of something wonderful" and "though rather long and tiring before one reaches its conclusion, ... once you arrive at the end, you have said in one word what it would ordinarily take four paragraphs to explain."

The word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in Mary Poppins is said to be simply a word used as "something to say when you have nothing to say," but the mouthful of nonsensical syllables certainly has brought cheer to audiences for decades. That cheer has inspired people to use it, like Helen Herman used her word, for things that are extraordinarily good or wonderful.

People also began to use a shortened adjective form, supercalifragilistic, as well as the adverbial supercalifragilistically. These forms don't appear often, but when they do, they mean something along the lines of "wonderful" or "amazing,"

Finally, what of the claim made in Mary Poppins that saying the word loud enough will cause the speaker to sound precocious? We do not have sufficient evidence to support that conclusion at this time.

Credit : Merriam Webster

Picture Credit : Google

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy Gale lived on a farm located where?

Dorothy is a young girl who lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog, Toto, on a farm on the Kansas prairie. One day, she and Toto are caught up in a cyclone that deposits them and the farmhouse into Munchkin Country in the magical Land of Oz.

Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum, author and creator of the Oz Legacy. She is the orphan protagonist and adolescent heroine of Baum's first Oz book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900 and which is considered one of the earliest American Fairytales written. The story begins with Dorothy, her name being the very first word of the very first chapter titled "The Cyclone".

Dorothy's name is a loosely based version of "Theodore" which means "Gift of the Gods". "Dorothy", therefore, as a female companion to Theodore would translate to "Goddess of Gifts". The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in 1900, so Dorothy was born before the twentieth century, in the late 1800s. In Baum's Oz series it states she was on June 10th. Coincidently, she shares her birthday with her iconic 1939 movie musical counterpart portrayed by Judy Garland. Like Garland, her Zodiac sign is Gemini. Surprisingly, her last name "Gale" isn't revealed in Baum's original novel. In fact, it was not mentioned until the 1902 stage version of the story Baum created a few years after the book's publication and subsequent success; "My name is Dorothy Gale. I'm one of the Kansas Gales." To which the Scarecrow replies, "Well, that explains your breezy manner. " In the later Oz books, Baum kept the last name but mercifully spared his readers the pun.

Credit :  Fandom 

Picture Credit : Google