TAMIL FILM "AAHA KALYANAM" : A Review

A BREEZY ENTERTAINER

(By Subbaram Danda)

An unexpected invitation took me and my wife to the newly-released film “Aaha Kalyanam,” a Tamil romantic flick produced by the famous Yash Raj Films and directed by Gokul Krishna. A remake of the highly successful Hindi movie “Band Baaja Baaraat,” it features dashing Nani and Bollywood sensation Vaani Kapoor in lead roles. Veteran actress Simran appears in a few scenes.

As the film rolled, its storyline fascinated me. It has, at its core, the activities of the fast emerging breed of wedding planners, about whom I have also written but in a different context. In the short story “Celebrations Exotica” in my book “The Rustles of Pleasure” I have highlighted the trend of organizing weddings in novel ways and at unconventional sites like beaches, palaces, castles, foothills, large parks and even lagoons. Facilitating this are the wedding planners, who are much more than contractors. They are smart professionals, who leave no stone unturned in arranging everything from A to Z for a wedding. They release the parents of the bride and the groom from a variety of hassles, of course for a swank fee!

The main plot of the film revolves around the roller-coaster love affair between the partners of a firm of wedding planners – a ravishingly beautiful lass and a dynamic young guy. Interspersed are the trials and tribulations faced by these planners in a world of cut-throat competition and underhand deals.

Presented in a breezy style, the film treads on a refreshingly new track leaving behind the old clichés of the Tamil film industry. The first half runs fast capturing the attention of the audience, while the second half meanders but ultimately it too catches up. The film is remarkable for its pleasingly colourful, expensive settings and fast-paced dances in sync with resonating songs. The bewitchingly gorgeous costumes that the heroine sports have the potential to become the rage of the teens. Happily, contrived fighting scenes are missing.  There is no separate comedy track either.

February 24, 2014



HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 28

HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 28

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

 Sometimes humour is like an exotic orchid flower.

It does not appeal to all !



Relatives

A man and his wife, who were known to cut jokes at the expense of each other at every available opportunity, were driving on a village road. When it took a turn they saw a flock of sheep moving ahead of them occupying almost the entire width of the road. He honked several times but they would not budge. The animals maintained their sluggish and languorous pace without leaving sufficient room for the car to overtake.

At this point, the husband looked at his wife and commented, “They appear to be like your relatives, slow and insensitive.”

“Yes, you are absolutely right,” the wife replied with a cool flourish. “They are behaving like my in-laws!”



Enticing exchange

A shop dealing in a variety of items came up in a busy locality. The owner had expected good business but as time passed he was frustrated. He could get only a few customers.

He approached a marketing guru and his advice was: “Modernize and decorate your shop pleasingly. Organize frequent sales fests and make enticing exchange offers. More important, your shop signs should attract womenfolk.”

Religiously, the owner beautified his show-room and put up a colourful board in front of his shop. It read: “NEW FOR OLD. We exchange anything and everything you have. Step in with your wife and step out with your selection fully satisfied. You have our guarantee.”



Oh My God!

A drunk staggered out of a bar and bumped into a decently-clad man on the street. Holding his arm, he blabbered, “I am God. I will grant you any wish. Tell me fast.” Flabbergasted, the man replied, “Friend, you are not God. Leave me alone.”

The drunk: “If anybody calls me God, will you get me a drink?”

Trying to wriggle out, the man replied, “Sure.”

The drunk dragged the man into the bar. Looking at him, the bartender exclaimed in high pitch, “Oh, my God…. You are back again!” The startled man shouted an order immediately, “One Scotch,” threw a note on the table and ran out.

February 15, 2014



A VISIT TO THE PONGAL FAIR



AN ENJOYABLE OUTING

(Experience of Subbaram Danda)



In front of the pavilion of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

We -- grand-daughter Divyashree, daughter Aishwarya Devi, wife Sampuranam and myself -- were at the Pongal Tourist Trade Fair on the Island Grounds of Chennai on Saturday (February 1, 2014) afternoon. We missed it last year and so the urge to make up for it was strong this time. People thronged the shops selling sundry items like hair clips, kitchenmates and plasticware.

A noticeable fact was that the price of almost everything was exorbitantly high. Our favourite eatable, the large-sized 15-inch-diameter fried Delhi appalam, was priced at Rs.30 each. Yet there were many stretched-out hands to grab them! Use of the urinal had a charge of Rs. 5 per head. However, one redeeming feature was that the Kulfi ice cream at the state-owned Aavin milk stall was only Rs.16 a piece.

In front of the Police pavilion

                                                                                                            
There were the usual pavilions put up by the various government departments, showcasing their brighter side. The façade of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments edifice was impressive with life-like images of deities. Two mounted policemen greeted visitors to the Tamil Nadu Police outfit. The Reserve Bank of India stall saw long lines, as one of its counters exchanged old and soiled currency notes.

On the whole, it was a four-hour enjoyable outing, marked by shopping binges and carefree strolling.

February 3, 2014

THE CALL OF PONDICHERRY



A TRIP TO PONDICHERRY

(By Subbaram Danda)

Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Pondy beach promenade

On Saturday, December 28, 2013, we were on a quick visit to Pondicherry, the former French territory about 150 km south of Chennai.  It was a suddenly thought-out trip and it clicked without any hitch.   We – my son-in-law, daughter, grand-daughter, wife and myself – set out early in the morning and drove taking the Tindivanam route.

Manakula Vinayaka Temple

Our first stop at Pondicherry was the famous east-facing Hindu shrine Manakula Vinayaka temple, which was in worship even before the French had settled there in the seventeenth century. It derives its name from a pond (kulam in Tamil) on its western side filled with sand (manal) and has come to be known as the temple of Vinayaka near the sandy pond. The temple on an area of nearly 8,000 sq. ft. has an entrance tower, outer hall, flag mast, front hall, greater hall, sanctum and walk-around space, among other essential features. Inside the temple, the southern wall displays three rows of sculptures and engravings of Vinayaka in different poses as depicted in various scriptures and legends. The presiding deity in the sanctum appears with four hands.

A noticeable aspect is that the tower above the sanctum is fully gold plated. The main deity, on major occasions, is bedecked with a golden cover (kavacham) consisting of 14 parts, including a crown. The chariot for the god is also made of gold with rich artwork.

People from all over the world, including the high and the mighty, come to the temple to pray. During our visit we could see devotees coming in steady streams. Despite their numbers an air of serenity pervaded the entire temple.

 

Entrance tower of Manakula Vinaya temple



The Aurobindo Ashram

Nearby stands the renowned Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual abode. It was founded by philosopher and Indian nationalist Aurobindo in 1926 in association with Paris-born Mirra Alfessa, who later came to be known as the Mother. Currently, it is a large diversified community with multi-faceted activities, where work is considered “an offering to the Divine.”

The Ashram consists of an inter-connected block of houses, including those in which Aurobindo and the Mother lived for most of their lives. At its centre is a tree-shaded court yard, where lies a white marble Samadhi (the final resting place) of the two spiritual leaders.

As we approached the gate of the Ashram, we could see people entering it in a line, silent with their mobiles switched off, as advised. Inside, visible ahead was the Samadhi, bedecked with flowers. Visitors knelt around it with their heads bowed. In a few minutes they would get up, walk around and leave making room for others. Some would squat on the floor at a distance in a quiet pensive disposition. For those interested in meditation there was another room. The memorabilia associated with the Ashram and the lives of the two spiritual leaders could also be seen there. A library offers the works of the Mother and Aurobindo as well as other spiritual publications.

It is interesting to note that the Mother was a staunch devotee of Manakula Vinayaka.



The frontage of the Ashram


 The Beach

At a short distance away we could see the main beach of the city beckoning us. With a broad road and a neatly-paved side-walk alongside, it attracts visitors at all times -- since early in the morning till late in the night. The highlight of the promenade is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 feet tall, under a white canopy. It is surrounded by eight granite pillars, which once stood aloft in the fort at Gingee, 70 kms from Pondicherry.


It is a memorable experience to watch the waves of the sea lash the boulders placed close to the side-walk right through the long stretch. The beach is an excellent place for photo enthusiasts to click and we were no exception.

:

At the Pondy beach: wife Sampuranam, daughter Aishwarya Devi
 and grand-daughter Divyashree


The Towering Saneeshwara Statue

On our way back in the afternoon, we visited a “massive temple” dedicated to Navagrahas (the nine planetary deities as enunciated in the Hindu scriptures and astrology) located at Morattandi about seven kms from Pondicherry on the road to Tindivanam. An outstanding feature of this temple complex is that the major statues are all huge in size, installed in a spacious environment.

The pride of place goes to a statue of Viswaroopa Saneeshwara Bhagawan (Saturn God in his colossal stature) soaring to a height of 27 feet corresponding to the number of stars as reckoned in astrology. Made of Panchalohas (five metals), this unique statue is said to be the tallest of its kind in the world. Strangely, Saneeshwara appears here with an eagle as his mount instead of the traditional crow. This statue is separate and there is another in the group of Navagrahas in the complex. At a short distance facing Saneeshwara is a 34-foot tall Ganesha image.

Located behind the gigantic idol of Saneeshwara Bhagawan are the nine Navagraha statues in their respective positions as specified in the scriptures. Each statue, stone sculpted, is 12 feet tall. Beautifully chiselled, the Navagrahas show off clearly their distinctive physical features, the objects they hold in their hands and their mounts. The Sun God at the centre is slightly taller.

On an outer circle around the Navagrahas, there are smaller figures representing the 27 stars. Other shrines also find a place in the complex. Spread over two acres, the place is home to numerous trees, several of them considered to be the favourites of the stars. The temple, an ambitious project of astrologer Chidambara Gurukkal, is some years old but work on additions and alterations were still going on when we visited it. (No photograph was taken at this temple, as instructed.)

Panchavatee Anjaneya Temple

Another major temple we visited was the one devoted to Lord Anjaneya (of the Hindu pantheon of Gods) at Panchavatee Kshetram, about nine km from Pondicherry towards Tindivanam. Known as Jayamangala Viswaroopa Pnchamukha Sri Anjaneyaswamy temple, it is said to be the only one of its kind in the world.

As we passed through the entrance tower and stepped into the vast hall in the front, the gigantic statue of Anjaneya, 36 feet tall and 15 feet wide, came into our view with all its magnificence. Here the Lord stands in his Viswaroopa style (colossal posture) with Panchamukhas (five faces), ten hands holding specific objects and wearing different ornaments. The face of Anjaneya is at the centre looking in the direction of the devotees. Around it in other directions and above are the faces of Narasimha, Garuda, Adivaraha and Hayagreeva (also Hindu deities). Garuda’s face at the back can be seen through a large window in the rear wall of the sanctum.

The walk-around corridor is comfortably wide for people to move easily. There are two other shrines also in the compound. The temple is the result of a dream of a devotee, Ramani Anna, and the huge idol was sculpted by Muthiah Sthapathi, the same person who had created the Anjaneya statue at Nanganallur near Chennai. (Here also no photograph was taken.)

As we returned, the traffic on the road started growing and when we approached our home city, it became heavy. On the whole, it was a day worth spent!

January 04, 2014

HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 27



HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 27

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

Life with a dash of humour is like a

bed of flowers, colourful and fragrant

Thief Catcher

As the capital city of a state in the United States witnessed a spate of burglaries without any sign of abatement, the worried Governor announced a million dollar reward to anyone, who would help the baffled Police track down the criminals. A resourceful Non-Resident Indian, a brilliant techie, spent sleepless nights and came out with a machine that would catch the thieves.

It was such an awesome gadget that in a week it caught seven burglars. They all confessed to their crime. It was tested in other countries for its effectiveness and it fared even better there. In England it nabbed ten robbers in a week and in Zambia it detected 15 cases in a similar time-frame.

Soon the NRI became a super hero, hogging the media limelight.

He presented one gadget to India free of cost out of love for his motherland. He eagerly waited for its performance evaluation report. It came sooner than expected – “it was stolen on the very first day of its operation!”



Smart Move

The young woman did not like her mother-in-law. Not a day passed without a tug of war between the two. The daughter-in-law was not cut out for adjustments on her part. She tried all the tricks in the book to subdue the oldie but they produced no tangible results. Fed up, she wanted to employ a new weapon -- curry the elder’s favour and gradually win her over!

The New Year was fast approaching. The youngster went shopping and purchased two silk saris, one for Rs.10,000 and the other for Rs.8,000. She wanted to retain the expensive one for herself. But she knew that her mother-in-law would be dead angry at this. So she interchanged the price tags and took the two saris home.

The daughter-in-law showed both the saris to her mother-in-law and offered her the one with the price tag of Rs.10,000 saying, “Hi dear, this is for you.” The old woman was surprised. She, however, smelt a rat. Taking a close look, she found out the truth.

The mother-in-law told the youngster, “Oh my dear, it is very kind of you to have purchased a costlier sari for me. But, as you know, you are the one going out more often than me to meet friends and relatives. I am almost always stuck at home. So, I would like to have the one with the lowest price tag of Rs.8,000.”



Kid's Prayer

A man and his five-year-old son went to a temple. As the man stood in front of the sanctum sanctorum with folded hands letting out soft whispers, the boy watched him closely. While walking back, the kid asked him, “Dad, what did you do?” The man replied, “I prayed to God, my son.”

The boy asked his father to teach him how to pray, as he would also like to do so. “It is very simple, my dear. Close your eyes, say a word of thanks to God for being kind to you and your family and then make a wish for yourself, your family members, friends or for that matter anyone else you may like.”

The kid moved back to the sanctum and started praying. “God, thank you for your overall kindness. I have several wishes. Please grant them all without fail. My younger sister should not steal pencils from me. My next-door pal should not quarrel with me while playing. My mother should prepare really tasty dishes like the ones served in the restaurant. Please provide nice dresses to the two young women seen without clothes on my father’s iPhone.”

December 14, 2013

ELLORA CAVES : THE MAGNIFICENT "KAILASH"

ELLORA CAVES : CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

(By Subbaram Danda)

The grand view of the "Kailash" cave



The long cherished ambition of our family to visit the world-famous Indian heritage site of Ellora caves, along with similar monuments of Ajanta at a different location, bore fruit last year.   Camping at the city of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra we first drove to the Ellora caves about 35 kilometres away.  Well-mowed expansive lawns and neatly-pruned flower plants in front of the caves greeted us.   

Scooped out of the cliffs of the Sahyadri range of hills, the caves number over 100 but only 34 of them are prominent and well patronized.  With superb stone images and stunning creative art works, 17 of them reflect the doctrines of the Hindu faith, 12 Buddhist and 5 Jain.   Built between the 6^th and 12th centuries AD, they are temples of a distinctive kind, prayer halls or monasteries.    

Undoubtedly, the Kailash cave enjoys pride of place.  It is designed on the lines of Mount Kailash, the conceptualized abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati of the Hindu pantheon of Gods. 

It is a unique cave-temple, exceptionally different from others in the Ellora cluster.  For its creation, its builders selected a gigantic monolithic rock and adopted the method of “vertical excavation.”  Accordingly, its stone carvers started at the top of the rock chipping and chiselling and moved systematically downwards.  Today’s visitors, once inside, would get the feeling of having entered a regular temple complex, despite it being a cave, with a lot of space open to the sky.

As we stepped into it, we were awe-struck by its colossal ambience, sculptural splendour and all-pervading grandeur.  Built by King Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in the 8^th century, it is an outstanding example of Dravidian architecture, characterized by striking proportions, elaborate ornamentation and astounding workmanship.

With multiple storeys, the cave-temple presents a sanctum for Shiva in the form of an enormous stone linga, several smaller shrines, long arcades, ornate pillars and decorative niches.  Images of deities sculpted on innumerable wall panels are strikingly attractive.   Carved figures of animals, natural sceneries and floral patterns can be seen everywhere.    Highly impressive are two soaring rock-cut obelisks (rectangular pillars) standing independently in the courtyard. The base of the main sanctuary gives the impression that it is being held aloft by elephants.  The overall temple’s area is said to be twice that of the renowned shrine of Parthenon in Athens, Greece. 

Among the Buddhist caves, what attracts the visitors most is a chaityagriha (prayer hall) that displays a vaulted roof with “ribs” uniquely cut as if done in wood by a skilled carpenter.  It also shows off another outstanding feature.  To appreciate it, one should step inside, walk to the far end on the left and chant a hymn aloud.  A pleasing echo keeps reverberating for a while. 

The Jain caves are not relatively large but they should also be seen for exceptionally done-up sculptures, intricate bas reliefs and other works of art.  They largely highlight the ascetic philosophy of the religion. 

The Ellora caves, described as “the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture,” have received the “world heritage” tag from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  Lovers of ancient art and architecture will certainly cherish a visit to the caves.



A sculpture of "Gajalakshmi" at the entrance to the "Kailash" cave







A lion and an elephant tugging at each other in the "Kailash" cave







One of the two obelisks in the courtyard of "Kailash" cave




An extrior view of a cave




A powerful sculpture





A harmonious divine relationship frozen in stone

 









The celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati



AJANTA CAVES : THE DELIGHT OF HERITAGE LOVERS



THE CHARM OF AJANTA CAVES

(By Subbaram Danda)

A painting masterpiece : Bodhisattva Padmapani
(An enlightened being holding a lotus flower, a symbol of peace)



Ajanta caves, situated about 100 kilometres from the city of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra, India, are rock-cut Buddhist prayer halls, monasteries or monuments displaying exquisite paintings and sculptures considered to be the “masterpieces of ancient Indian art.”   They were built between the 2^nd century BC and the 6^th century AD by excavating on the side face of the cliffs of the Sahyadri range of hills overlooking a vast gorge.  

Sometime after their creation, they were left abandoned and forgotten for strange reasons.  They remained so for centuries under sand and rubble, covered by think vegetation.  It was only in 1819 AD that they were re-discovered by a team of British soldiers on a hunting expedition.    The caves, numbering thirty, are located next to each other in the form of a horse-shoe.  Some are unfinished, while a few are very small.    A running pathway links them all.

In several Ajanta caves, colourful paintings outnumber images in stone.  The murals on walls, pillars and ceiling depict incidents in the life of Buddha and his teachings.   They also capture the variegated life-styles of the people of those times representing a multi-layered society – their costumes, hair-styles, jewellery, musical instruments, culinary skills, beliefs and rituals.   Unfortunately today, not many paintings are in fine shape, having been battered by the elements. 

To prevent further damage, the authorities provide just enough light in these caves for people to move around.  Torch lights carried by the visitors, though permitted, are of little help and flash photography is prohibited. 

In contrast, the sculptures, wherever they are dominant, stand out magnificently.  It is Buddha, Buddha all the way -- his images in different sizes and manifestations.   In a cave far back, which should not be missed, there is a large brilliantly done statue of Buddha in Mahaparinirvana pose (transcending from the earthly state) with mourning disciples.  Also, there is a Meditating Buddha refusing to fall a prey to temptations.  Further noteworthy is a beautifully chiselled miniscule figure of Buddha of the length of one-and-a-half inches in the hair-do of a devotee.

Among other remarkable features of the caves are the semi-circular windows on top of some doorways that have been thoughtfully designed to allow sunlight to penetrate the interiors and reach the farthest end.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has accorded a “world heritage site” status to Ajanta caves, commended them for their “masterpieces of universal pictorial value.”  It lauded the “refined decoration of the paintings, balance of their composition, particularly the marvellous beauty of the feminine figures.” 

Here are some photographs:



Painting on the ceiling of a cave showing Buddha in various stages
of contemplation





Inside an astonishingly well-preserved cave





Sculpture of Buddha in meditation unperturbed by temptations



A mini statue of Buddha (height 1.5 inches) adorning the
hairdo of a devotee





An ornately chiselled exterior of a cave





The exterior of a cave: a semi-circular window above the main entrance
allows sun rays to illuminate the interiors

Mini statues of Buddha neatly sculpted on the outer wall of a cave

A reclining Buddha in "Mahaparinirvana" (transcending from earthly
connections) state.  The statue is 23 feet long.