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Nethra Gururaj, currently based in Los Angeles, has a diverse portfolio that includes short films, feature films, documentaries and music videos.

The world of cinematography is about to witness an exhilarating new talent from South India as Nethra Gururaj, a dynamic cinematographer from Bengaluru, has been selected for the prestigious 2024 Oscar Academy Gold Rising Program. This honour places her among the most promising young filmmakers and cinematographers globally, highlighting her significant achievements and potential.

Nethra Gururaj, currently based in Los Angeles, has a diverse portfolio that includes short films, feature films, documentaries, music videos, and experimental pieces. With a Master’s degree in Cinematography from the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles, she has skilfully combined her knowledge in writing, directing, and production design to create visually stunning narratives that resonate deeply with audiences.

The Oscar Academy Gold Rising Program is a two-month internship hosted by the Academy in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It offers students and recent film school graduates a unique opportunity to shadow industry professionals, network with key figures in the film industry, and connect with production and media houses. Nethra’s selection for the Cinematography production track marks a significant milestone in her career.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to take my filmmaking and cinematography career to the next level. Coming from South India, this is a platform for me to build the right networks and meet the right people to tell my stories to a global audience. I am thrilled and privileged to be part of this program, as this will accelerate my career to greater heights,” says Nethra.

Nethra’s recent short film, “Jasmine Flowers,” for which she was the Writer and Cinematographer, has already made waves in the film festival circuit. The film has been selected for six film festivals in 2024, including the California Women’s Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Nevada Women’s Film Festival in Las Vegas, the Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival in Sarasota, Florida, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Australia.

“Jasmine Flowers” explores a woman’s journey in challenging societal norms of widowhood in India, seeking belongingness and peace. Her academic background in Science has further enhanced her technical understanding of cinematography, making her a budding pioneer in her field. Nethra’s first feature film, “Lotus,” an indie production, is set to make its film festival debut soon. She is also working on an upcoming web series anticipated to be picked up by a renowned network. Beyond her achievements in filmmaking, Nethra is deeply passionate about Indian classical dance. A dedicated student of Bharatanatyam for 22 years and a teacher for 2 years, she finds a profound connection between dance and cinematography.

“Bharatanatyam has helped me in expressing meaning without dialogue. My face, body, persona, and stage presence are mere characters in a narrative effort. Much like in filmmaking; I strive for expression through composition, light, and camera movement in lieu of conversations and dialogue. Dance has set the standards for my craft,” she says.

Nethra Gururaj’s journey is an inspiring testament to her talent, dedication, and vision. Her selection for the 2024 Oscar Academy Gold Rising Program heralds the arrival of a powerful new voice in global cinema.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Environmentalist Harsha Tej speaks on his efforts to rejuvenate lakes and the need for community engagement to manage the water crisis.

Shouldn’t World Environment Day be celebrated every day?,” wonders environmentalist Hasrha Tej in one of his posts on social media as the world celebrated the day last week. But as is the nature of human societies, something only hits hard when it hits home. Just a few weeks ago, Bengaluru had almost come to its knees praying for a drop of rain; a sigh of relief from the unrelenting heat wave with temperatures touching 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. But as rains graced the city and flooded our streets, one has to remember that while rains come every year so does the water shortage. Why? Because once known as the city of lakes, Bengaluru has devolved into a concrete jungle where the rain has nowhere to go. Trying to tackle this cycle of continuous struggle with water is Tej, also known as @muddyfingers, who is working on rejuvenating lakes around the city and was recently joined by the veteran actor-director Raj B Shetty in his efforts to make the city water positive. “Because of a lot of siltation and sewage entering the waters, the water-holding capacity has fully reduced and the water quality has gone bad in many lakes. So, we do a detailed study, a feasibility survey and then see if the lake needs any restoration work,” says Tej, who left his corporate job to start his foundation five years ago.

Accompanied by co-director Gurunandan Rao, Tej is currently working on 12-15 projects in and around the city, including the Sarjapur area, Airport Road, and more. “One of the lakes that has been successfully rejuvenated is Hunsmaranahalli Lake on Airport Road. There are maybe four or five people in Bengaluru who actually do what we’re doing, and we need more people,” shares Tej. Coming from an agricultural background, Tej always felt rooted in the soil. “There are not many people to help another voiceless animal, or a bird, or the environment, which is screaming for help. So, from a very young age, both Gurunandan and I have been inclined towards the environment. We understand the soil and how water works,” he says, adding, “We have hardly scratched the surface.”

The team employs techniques such as photogrammetry surveys, planting native trees around the body and desilting to remove excess silt, thereby increasing water retention capabilities. Moreover, the foundation designs wetlands at lake inlets to ensure that only clean water enters the lakes, addressing the significant challenge of sewage contamination. “Usually during the monsoon, the water comes into the lake and during the summer, it immediately evaporates because there’s no water-holding capacity. We remove this silt to the natural level and allow the water to come in. And when the water comes in, it will do its best to hold water in the summer,” says Tej. The task is monumental and not without its challenges. Restoration efforts take anywhere from three months to a year, depending on the lake’s size, followed by three years of monitoring to ensure sustainability. “It’s a continuous process of learning to deal with certain challenges and we will eventually figure out a solution,” he reflects.

Tej emphasises the critical role of the community in addressing water issues, advocating for the widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting. “The crisis keeps happening because there is no groundwater. When it rains, the rain just runs off and it’s not going into the ground. There is no soil exposed. So what we can all do is have rainwater harvesting pits inside the house, anywhere that costs between `25,000 to a lakh depending on the size of the pit.

If everybody in Bengaluru can do this, we will be water-positive within two to three years,” claims Tej.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)