WHICH TYPE OF FILMY STUDENT ARE YOU?

By Revathi Sunil (Team Creative)

Our popular culture has celebrated being ‘young’, more than being‘human’ for as long as I remember. The obsession with the idea of youth is also reflected in our popular movies, among other things. The fact that Shah Rukh Khan at 51 can transform into a man in his 20's, romancing Anushka Sharma (who is at least 22 years younger than him) on screen is truly unbelievable. His eternal youthfulness must be truly driving his fans ecstatic.

However, Shah Rukh is not alone in this boat, as most of the movies we come across both in Hollywood and Bollywood are either centered around the lives of young people or it celebrates certain notions of being young. As being young also indicates the fact that you’re still in a formative period of becoming an adult, a large number of these movies deal with students’ lives.

Many of us have religiously watched movies like the High School Musical series, John Tucker Must Die, Mean Girls, etc. Although these movies transport us to lands of fascination and madness, they are also well known for their classification of students into neat little groups of:

1) Popular girls(Usually Cheerleaders)

These girls, generally considered cool, are skinny, pretty and arrogant. The plastics in Mean Girls are a perfect example of this.

2) Jocks

They are generally very conventionally handsome and good looking. They treat the ‘nerds’ like dirt and are desired by all the girls. No example other than John Tucker fits this category with accuracy and perfection.

3) Nerds

They are very intelligent and are extremely ‘socially awkward’. They are,more often than not, made to wear box glasses. They are shown being neglected or bullied by the ‘cool’ kids.

 However, they are portrayed in a negative light.

4) Emos or Goths

These are the most marginalised characters in teen movies. They are often portrayed as melancholic and scary. They wear dark clothes and wear thick linerand wear their hair straight and over their eyes.

However, there are several movies that do not adhere to these stereotypes. Johnny Depp, for instance, redefines the role of ‘emo’s and brings the group from the sidelines to the centre of attention, creating a cult of his own.Apart from these there are also moviesthat have sort of actively opposed these ideas of teens and students, by portraying the youth in different light altogether.Juno is one such movie that portrays the turmoil of a 16 year old girl who gets pregnant while she is still in school. This movie portrays her life and the difficult decisions that she has to make as a consequence of an early pregnancy.

Going beyond these superficial boundaries, some movies have portrayed students as tools for social change. Dead Poets Society and Rang De Basanti are two such movies that come to mind in this regard. The fact that the simple act of writing poetry and sharing experiences could change lives in such drastic measures, instils hope in young people's mind.However, I believe there aren't enough movies telling such tales. And it is important that we do tell such tales because ultimately, the youth are the torch bearers of the future and a little hope and light will surely inspire to conspire against the darkness that seems to be lurking around in the world!

Click on the link below to find out which kind of filmy student you are:

https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/5994162cfd885f0011c77d3d

TEACHERS AT KALEIDOSCOPE – WHAT DO THEY THINK?

By Komal Badve (Team Creative)

This week for the blog, we interviewed one of our teachers about Kaleidoscope! A favourite among her students, Ms. Samrita Sinha belongs to the Department of English at Sophia College, and on being questioned, had many interesting answers to give. This is what she had to say.

How long have you been a teacher at Sophia College and what was your first Kaleidoscope like?

“I have been teaching at Sophia College for 4 years now, and my first Kaleidoscope was very awe-inspiring, given the grandeur of the festival. Being new to the college, I was more of an observer and was completely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the students. Looking at the whole thing as an outsider, I was quite impressed by the effort and hard work that went into shaping Kaleidoscope.”

How did your participation as a teacher increase over the years?

“I was very inspired by the other senior teachers who had a more participatory role than I did in my nascent year. Observing them, I gradually came to a better understanding of my role in Kaleidoscope and thus in the subsequent years, have been more involved. My colleagues from the English Department and I were asked to volunteer as Staff In-Charge for a few events. We were mostly participating in the capacity of trouble-shooters for the students. In that sense, Kaleidoscope is a space that has made me more aware of my responsibilities as a teacher towards the students, to enable them to organise such grand scale events.”

Name one of your favourite events and why.

“I like most of the events organised by Team Literary Arts, especially J.A.M. I was quite intrigued by the concept of it and enjoy the participants’ witty responses!”

Which workforce team would you like to be a part of and why?

“I think I’d like to be a part of Team Creative-” (I died of excitement) “-, given my love for aesthetics. As a teacher of English Literature I would like to contribute to the blog and also help with decor to try and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the festival with my creative prowess!”

What do you think brings people back every year?

“Apart from the grandeur of the festival, Kaleidoscope has a great energy and always has something new to offer. It completely revamps itself every year which makes it a great crowd puller.”

What are you looking forward to for this year’s Kaleidoscope?

“I’m excited for all the unconventional and out-of-the-box events, and of course the energy of the festival!”

Message for the workforce

“I appreciate the way students perform a sort of a juggling act between academics and Kaleidoscope work. It’s very inspiring to see them negotiate so many roles at the same time. Even the effort and time they put in, especially after college hours is very note worthy .The festival and all the hard work that goes into organising it is almost like a legacy that the seniors should pass on to the juniors. In terms of time management and organising the festival, the workforce always seeks to do better every year which is very refreshing.”

FIVE MOVIES THAT SHOW US THE TRUE MEANING OF EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY

By Milana Prakash (Team Creative)

Every academic year, Sophia College for Women adopts a certain theme that is incorporated into the events throughout the year. This year’s theme happens to be ‘The Pursuit of Excellence With Integrity’. As the countdown to Kscope is edging closer, day by day, we decided to intertwine the theme of the fest and the college together.

While the primary purpose of films is to entertain, sometimes they do play a pivotal role in conveying a social message for the greater good. Here are a few films that have portrayed the idea of ‘integrity’ in their stories:

1) The Pursuit of Happyness –

Starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith, the film is a heartwarming biographical drama. It traces the life of Chris Gardener’s struggle as a salesman who, owing to dire circumstances, grapples with making ends meet, and ends up homeless with a young son to take care of. It brilliantly portrays the resilience of the human spirit in times of abject hopelessness, and how sincerity and integrity eventually pay off.

2) Casablanca –

This Academy award winning American classic is the story of Rick, who runs a popular nightclub at Casablanca, where many refugees aspiring to flee to the US are stranded. On one such occasion, he encounters his ex-lover and her husband, who approach him to help them escape. It projects how integrity is essential, even when it comes to love and romance. It shows how true love is beyond just being besotted over someone’s body and is sometimes about letting go, knowing where one’s limits lie, and making sacrifices.

3) 3 Idiots –

This film that’s unanimously loved by most Indians is an embodiment of the vitality of integrity in all aspects of life. Whether it pertains to Chatur’s clandestine acts of slipping in R-Rated magazines under the doors of his classmates to distract them (thus displaying lack of integrity), or Raju’s refusal to betray his friend even at the cost of getting expelled, it shows how morality and principles go a long way in forging bonds based on trust and love.

4) Spotlight –

This happens to be another Oscar award winning film, and portrays the power of integrity in the professional and legal space. As it explores the Boston Globe’s real-life investigation of a series of child abuse cases by Catholic Priests in Boston, it deals with how attempts are made to cover up for the acts committed by perpetrators, and how, despite that, the ‘Spotlight’ team manages to gather evidence while maintaining complete confidentiality and sensitivity.

5) Pyaasa –

Guru Dutt’s critically acclaimed film deals with a young poet, Vijay, and his indefatigable passion for poetry. This film features instances of deceit and rejection that bring forth the importance of kindness, and that subtly highlight the need for integrity.

LET’S START AT THE VERY BEGINNING: ASK THE WORKFORCE

By Amrita Menon (Team Creative)

Your first Kaleidoscope experience is sort of like your first visit to an amusement park; your feet ache from all the running, your throat is sore from all the screaming and your cheeks are strained because you’ve never smiled so wide before. Whether it’s the stress that follows you around on the days leading up to the fest, or the pangs of excitement you feel in the moments before the first events are about to start, your first Kscope experience will stay with you for the rest of your life

We asked some of this year’s workforce to share some of their memories and experiences from their first Kaleidoscope. Here’s what they had to say:

1) Team Fundamentals’ Sheona Tellis remembers, “In my first year, I was the only Coordinator with my A-Coords and we would eavesdrop on the other frequencies on our walkie-talkies. We heard crazy stuff like Security Coords talking about audience misbehaving, the EC asking each other whether there was any milk in the hostel fridge and other Coords talking about hot guys.” Hungry and exhausted by the end of the festival, she admits, “I underestimated the small amounts of work by each Coord that went into making Kscope possible.”

2) Team Creative’s Mekhala Singhal recalls not knowing what to expect from the festival before it began but nervous about how it was going to turn out. “The start of the first day, before anything had happened I remember the excitement and how that nervous excitement was almost tangible. After the events began I remember how overwhelming it was- the number of people, the colours. That kind of vibe was something I’d never felt before. I felt proud of the fact that I was a part of this and that I’d helped put it together, although as an individual each of us plays just a small part. It was scary but also a lot of fun.”

3) Vishnupriya Jampa from Team PR  says that her Kaleidoscope experience “felt like a whole year and a heartbeat mushed into one.” To her, “It's the best thing a student can ask for.”

4) Team Funfair’s Prapti Solanki talks about how Kaleidoscope plays a part in forging lasting relationships and strong friendships. “Kscope has seen me evolve from being the kid to the mother in 3 years’ time. From being the introverted kid who spoke out of the blue and got strikes, to being a person who knows how to be patient and value others' opinions. If it weren't for Kscope, I probably would still travel alone, hate interacting with people from various batches, and still be too shy to talk to strangers, and. And lastly, but most importantly, if it weren't for Kscope, I wouldn't have found my miniature family in Funfair.”

5) The brains behind the brawl, the Executive Committee’s Malka Rizvi knew how special Kaleidoscope was even before she ever got here. “It was one of the reasons I chose Sophia.” She started off in 2015 as an Assistant Coordinator. “I saw the fun part of Kscope that year, and loved every second of it. The people, the events, the stalls, everything. That's when I realised how much this fest means to me.” In 2016, she became a Marketing Coordinator where she “Worked for a completely different aspect of the festival altogether, I was more responsible and felt more like a part of the Kscope family than I ever did before. This year, as a part of the Executive Committee, I eat, breathe and sleep Kaleidoscope. It’s my baby, it means so much to me, and I hope we can make this fest the craziest ever.”

TEN THINGS EVERY TOM HOLLAND FAN WILL RELATE TO

By Nandita Potnis (Team Creative)

1) Dealing with the old fans

The new Spider-Man movie has some fans, who seem to be there only to be graced by Tom Holland’s presence and the ‘true’ Marvel fans are obviously getting bothered by this. Regardless of how much they say they love Tom, they don’t hesitate to get into petty fights over this.

2) Not being able to focus on the plot of the movie, because you were too busy drooling over him

As invested as you are in the movie, every scene leaves you squealing and undoubtedly deviates your attention from the plot of the movie itself. But that isn’t quite a problem, you can always watch it again...and again…and again.

3) Trying to get on board with the “frog in his mouth” meme

All the meme lovers seem to have a tough time getting on board with the new Tom Holland meme, which goes something like this:

4) His adoration for his precious little pitbull, Tessa

Your love for him only grows when you see how much affection he has for his doggo, Tessa. And he doesn’t miss a single opportunity to showcase his love to her.

5) And not to forget, his absolutely accurate representation of Spider-Man

Tom isn’t only a beautiful person, but his acting skills have you floored. His dedication and true love for his role, shows in his movie and interviews.

6) Swooning over his suave dance moves:

Not only is Tom a great actor but also a trained dancer. He is professionally trained in hip hop and ballet dancing, and somehow you just can’t get over it.

7) Being completely swept off our feet whenever he does a little stunt

Tom is also a professional acrobat and free runner and did most of his stunts by himself, but in real life as well he likes flipping and jumping around the place, and every time he does, you’re proud of him.

8) Binge watching all his interviews for hours together

His interviews are your only source for an insight into his personal life and you don’t want to miss any of the details so you’ve watched every single one and probably know some interviews by heart.

9) Crying over how he interacts with kids

You may not like kids otherwise, but when you see Tom with a kid, your heart melts and you’re a bag of emotions.

10) Watching his Lip Sync Battle an unhealthy number of times

You know every single step to it by now, but you don’t care, you still watch it 5 times a day

ORIENTATION ORIGINALS – ASK THE WORKFORCE

By Milana Prakash (Team Creative)

 Every year, with the arrival of a new batch of first years, the Kaleidoscope family gears up to welcome them and introduce them to the various teams that work relentlessly yet seamlessly to run the fest. While it is called as an ‘Orientation’, and might connote something awfully formal and mundane, it is anything but that. There’s music, there’s dance and the air is suffused with a sense of merriment and fervor. The members of the workforce huddle together with their teams at the canteen extension and promote their teams using an array of charts and posters, augmented by boisterous voices that call out their team names.

Through the orientation, the students are informed about each team’s interview dates and are urged to be a part of Kscope. Here’s what members of the workforce who stood amidst the crowds this year with their teams have got to say:

Vishnupriya (TYBA) from Team PR recounts her first Kscope orientation experience as something absolutely unexpected. While she’d expected it to be excruciatingly formal, it turned out to be utterly electric. She says that she instantly fell in love with the idea and knew for sure that she wanted to be a part of the making of Kaleidoscope.

Roshini (SYBMM) from Team Despatch says, “I felt like I was a part of something larger. Standing together with the team and screaming at the top of my lungs made me feel greatly amped.”

Apoorva (SYBMM) from Team Photography says, “The orientation was absolutely CRAZY! Plus the energy in the canteen extension was surreal – The screaming, dancing, the music and the tired aching limbs and sore throats. It was a wonderful & thrilling experience and I loved every bit of it!”

And the first years who witnessed the boundless energy of the synergetic teams for the first time, were utterly intrigued and charged after the orientation. Here’s what they’ve got to say:

Aishwarya, a first year BMM student, who is now a part of Team Marketing, says “The orientation was one of the liveliest events that I have witnessed. The energy and overflow of good vibes was overwhelming. I felt welcomed and the positive energy got me on my feet. If this was just the orientation, I can’t wait for the actual fest.”

Aranya from FYBA, says, “We got a chance to understand what all the teams do and pick the ones that we wanted to be a part of. Kscope was the base of many conversations for days post the orientation.” Now a part of Team LA, she says that she’s looking forward to the main fest with rapt excitement.

The Orientation is an exhilarating and overwhelming experience for both the workforce and the students attending it and has unfailingly etched an indelible mark that accounts for one of the best experiences of one’s journey at Sophia.  There’ll be another one soon, with just the same number of people screaming and cheering (and, of course, losing their voices). 

LOOKING FOR TRAVEL GOALS? HERE’S 6 BOLLYWOOD MOVIES FOR YOU

By Komal Badve (Team Creative)

1) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

People throwing tomatoes at each other, bulls chasing humans, and the exhilarating idea of plummeting off an aircraft, all in one. This movie gave us hopes about finding love in foreign lands (and obviously, road trips). It succeeded in unleashing the travel freak in all of us with the scenic beauty of the Spanish countryside, and of course ‘Senorita’ which had everyone flamenco dancing (in their heads) with Farhan, Hritik, and Abhay. Speaking of road trips, ZNMD reminded fans about failed trip plans to Goa which brings me to the next movie;

2) Dil Chahta Hai

Every time I think of this film, I picture the very young Aamir Khan, Akshay Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan cruising down highways in a BMW convertible, racing trains (I hope the title track is now stuck in your head as well.) What makes the movie so relatable is its depiction of fun and frivolity while in Goa, like sitting at beach shacks, or ruined forts overlooking the sea, playing volleyball with good looking strangers, going on boat rides, pretending to eat raw fish. (Dil Chahta Hai also mesmerises everyone with views of Sydney, with Aamir and Preity’s love song!)

3) Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge 

SRK and Kajol driving together around Switzerland in a kickass convertible, undoubtedly gives us major travel goals (*cue ‘Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main’*). Everyone has to agree that Kajol dancing on the top of a snowy mountain in a daring red dress to the lyrics ‘Thandi Thandi Pavan’ while Shah Rukh tries to keep up with her is one of the most memorable moments of the song.

4) Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 

Of course Dharma had to choose the charming Ranbir Kapoor to persuade everyone to unleash the hidden, crazy traveller in them. This movie had literally everyone dreaming about backpacking across the world, while getting paid for the same. From chilling with your friends in Manali, to playing Holi, to falling in love, to attending a destination wedding; viewers bought it all. But then reality nudged its ugly head against ours and we realized that only Dharma and KJo’s magic can make us dream such dreams (to all the fans out there- I feel your pain. I really do). Due to this power that Dharma alone possesses, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani will always be my go-to movie.

5) Dil Dhadakne Do

Another one of Zoya Akthar’s directorial masterpieces, the light-hearted Dil Dhadakne Do guarantees entertainment with every watch. A chaotic holiday on a ship to Istanbul, with the most sensible creature among all of it being the dog (duh), the movie takes viewers on an exotic virtual tour around the city. Showcasing heritage sights, hot air balloon rides, steam baths, and local marketplaces, this movie had me wishing I was born with a million dollars in my bank account.

6) Queen

The insecure and shy Rani who gets dumped on the morning of her wedding, on going on a solo trip to Paris realises that she is an independent woman who don’t need no man. Her various experiences in the city as a traveller, and the friends she makes, help define the travel goals of this movie. In conclusion, all I’d like to say is YASSS QUEEN.

(P.S. The link below will not disappoint. Trust me.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udra3Mfw2oo