Tour-de-Temple

Here comes one other diary entry in my journey towards spirituality. Though spirituality is a journey-inside rather outside, temples, in my view, aid the seeker stay on his path. Keeping aside the spiritual aspects of any temple, their architectural beauty never failed to amaze me. I haven't come across any temples recently built that has such architectural beauty of the temples built several hundred years ago. This amazement along with a pint of spirituality always pushes me to visit temples. One such opportunity was presented when MSK (alias Karthik Shankara :)) called me a few weeks back and asked if I could join with him for a Tour-de-Tamilnadu, covering major temples for two weeks. Though two weeks absconding was pretty big, I was still lucky enough to secure the leaves officially.  But when the travel dates were nearing, the plans went in for a major change. Two weeks changed to one week and a structured travel itinerary changed to an open-adhoc-trip. 

Since the tour call was from MSK, I was open till the last minute for a concrete plan proposal from MSK. Just a day before the travel, MSK confirmed the tentative plan was "Only we both travelling. Where to go, we will decide at CMBT bus stand". Well, atleast he had a plan till CMBT bus stand. 

So, on 4th of November, with a travel budget and dress packed to sustain for four days, we met at 10am near Ambattur OT bus stand. An hour of travel, we reached CMBT. Till that time we seriously don't know where to go. Just because the leaves have been sanctioned and dress is packed, we are travelling. One thing common for both of us is that we haven't visited Rameshwaram till then. So that became our target. But unfortunately there were no morning buses for Rameshwaram from CMBT. So we decided to go to Madurai and take a bus from there. Just then a Madurai bus was moving from the bay, and we stepped-in to start our journey.

Since the destination was finalized, we took a nap, and the bus stopped for lunch in a motel. I was damn hungry and MSK just woke up from his sleep. I wanted to avoid non-veg during spiritual trip, but still my mind was saying "Egg Briyani". I asked MSK if he will take egg and he nodded his head. After finishing the lunch with two eggs, MSK lately realized that he ate E-G-G. For the next part of travel, he was blaming me for waking him up in middle of his sleep, and made him eat Egg before he came into his senses and realize that he was eating egg :(

Well, after an argument on egg is veg or non-veg, MSK is now pure or impure, we did note that we reached Trichy. It was around 4.00pm or so. All of sudden, we realized that we (atleast I) havent visited Srirangam yet. During many trips to Sathuragiri, I happened to pass through Srirangam, but never had chance to visit the temple once. So, now is the chance, and change of plan. We stepped down at Trichy to see Ranganathar.

In the bus stand an auto-wala asked 120/- to go till temple, but we thought that's too much. People around said that the temple is just 2kms away, and MSK opted for a walk, though I was against walking at that time.  I was okay for any other conveyance other than walk, but, after arguments, MSK won. We started walking over the 1km long bridge built over the Kollidam River. Initially we thought it was Cauvery, but then heard that it was branch of Cauvery named as Kollidam (Remember Ponniyin Selvan). On the way across the bridge, we saw few kids and adults bathing in the river joyfully. Since we had time, we too decided to take a bath in the river. Atleast the EGG eating sin of MSK will be cleared before entering the temple. It was very joyful to bath in river. The river was not that big and fierce as that of main Cauvery, but still it gave the feel of bathing in a river. After a successful dip, we thought of walking towards the temple and shocked to see a sign-board saying the temple is still 3.5kms away. Luckily, an auto passed that way and he agreed to drop us in temple for 40/- Rs. 

We secured our bags in the cloak room and entered the temple around 6.00pm, but the darshan was closed then. It will be open only by 7.15 and there was already a long queue waiting. We spent some 30mins visiting other shrines around the temple and joined the queue at 7. Doors opened at 7.15, but it took almost 1.5hrs for the queue to move and see the darshan. Finally we entered in the sanctum. Oh.. Ranganathar was beautiful and peacefully sleeping inside the shrine. In just few seconds, it was tough to get a good view of such a big deity in a dull lamp-light. However, the glittering gold clad on his feet and the crown on his head marked the start and end keyframes for my eyes to take a snap. After darshan, its dinner time. A good bath in the river made us even more hungry. The smell of Puliyodharai, Curd rice and Sakkarai pongal was adding fuel to stomach fire. Instead of having it as Prasadam, we had all of them as dinner. Curd-rice and Tamarind-rice, heavenly and tasty.

That night we decided to check-in at some lodge in Trichy and visit Thiruvaanaikkaval temple the next day morning, since its just one kilometer from Srirangam and I dont want to miss it. After checking-in, MSK opted for a walk and purchase some bananas. It was 9.45 then, and while we were walking down the street, we saw posters of Ajith all-around. We were just saying "what if there is a theater right opposite, and tickets are available for night show".. Believe it or not, there was a theater right opposite us. We really didnt expect it. In matter of few minutes, we got two tickets for Aarambam movie, night show. That was completely unexpected, so we went again to hotel (few buildings away) to inform him that we will return late after watching the movie. Though it was night show, the theater was jam packed with family audience and equal number of Thala fans, who removed their shirts and started swirling and dancing soon as the movie started. It was a fantastic experience for such moderate movie. Nevertheless, Ajith has rocking screen presence. 

By midnight we returned back with an action item to wake up by 6.00 and visit the next temple. As usual, it was around 8am we woke up. :) Got a local bus to transit till temple. Thiruvaanaikkaval was one of the Pancha-Boodha sthalams, representing Water. Except this, I have been to all other four, and by this trip got the chance to complete the fifth. Temple was not that crowded, and we could see Jambukeswarar in all his glory behind a stone window. But that wasnt enough for me, so we purchased special darshan ticket (10/-) with which we can go behind the window, and stand just two to three free away from the deity. The Lingam was not big and structured, but the garbagraham was dripping wet throughout. Legend says that there is a fresh water spring beneath the Shiva Lingam. Also the entrance to the temple is built small such that an elephant cannot enter in the shrine. Why should a entrance be designed in a way to restrict an elephant? There is a story behind it. Long back an elephant and a spider worshipped this Shiva Lingam. The spider used to weave its web on top of lingam and the elephant always removed the web to keep the shrine clean. In subsequent birth, the spider was born as a king and he constructed this temple, but designed the entrance to the Garba-graha so small that elephants can never enter the sanctum. Revenge. :)

The temple was really big with five Prakarams. Sree Akilandeswari was the sakthi there, and she was beautiful as ever. Sree Adi Shankara is said to have visited this shrine and has done the Thadanga (Ear Rings) Pratishta for the goddess to ensure that she remains in a Sowmya Roopa.

With Trichy done, we decided to move towards our destination, but then MSK proposed a plan to visit Thenkasi, Kutrallam, Thirunelveli and then proceed to Rameshwaram. After breakfast, we took a Madurai bus and then travelled towards Tenkasi. By the time we were nearing Tenkasi, it was almost 7.30pm and we were praying that temple should not be closed. 8pm is the temple closing time. By 7.30 we got down the bus stand and inquired the way to temple. One autowala accepted to take us to the temple and charged 50/- for few kilometers of travel. It was 7.45 we reached and the temple was good and open. Shutdown formalities haven't started by then. Till the last minute we had no hope that we will get a darshan, but it was great. Since there were only a very few people, we could get a good darshan of Kashi Viswanathar and Ulagamman. The temple Gopuram was beautiful and damn big. I think its the second highest gopuram in Tamilnadu next to Srivilliputhur.

After darshan, we immediately started our way back to Tirunelveli for an overnight stay. Its one hour travel from Tenkasi to Tirunelveli. Apart from Nellaiappar, Tirunelveli is world famous for its one thing, the Alwa. Since wikipedia said that the alwa shop will close by 10pm, we were again praying to reach there before the shop closed. By 9.30 we reached new bus stand, and to our surprise, there were atleast a dozen on Shanthi Sweets selling Alwa. Then we queried a localite on which is real Shanthi sweets and he said that it was at the old bus terminus. We then proceeded to old bus terminus, and to our surprise there are dozen other Shanthi Sweets there. A localite then said "Note the shop which has more customers purchasing halwa. That is the original".. And then we spotted a small shop with few customers. Confirmed with localites again, and then purchased the original Thirunelveli Alwa. Shameless other shopkeepers.. They just use the same board color, font and logo of the genuine store and having stalls in the same street itself. Right now, while typing this blog, a spoonful of halwa just melted in my mouth.. Wah.. that smell and taste of ghee, sugar, and Thamiraparani water.. feels heavenly..

After halwa shopping, its dinner time. We checked-in a room nearby and went to a kaiyendhi bhavan (roadside shop). MSK wanted to eat very less, while I had no restrictions. Idly's were sooo tasty and hot, that I ended up with 10 Idlies, 1 One-side and 1-Half-boil, whereas Mr.Eat-Less ended with 6 Idlies, 1 One-side and 2 Half-boils. I was almost done when he was ordering "One more half-boil". Just for eating two egg during the start of journey he was blaming on me like anything, and now he consciously ended with 3 eggs. But seriously, the taste was excellent and supported by 4 chutneys, ellu podi (sesame powder) and hot saambar, we couldn't control.

Then MSK said that he wanted to be in Chennai by Thursday morning itself, so we had a change in plan. We cut down the Kutralam plans and headed to Nellaippar temple the next morning by 7.00am. What a big temple it was. A localite said the temple is around 16 acres, and much bigger than Madurai temple (14 acres). Near the main shrine we had this Musical pillars. When hit, each pillar will produce different sound, though its just rock. Lookwise, all pillars will look same, but really wonder how they produce different sound. My guess is that the inside of the pillar could have been drilled for varying sizes. Whatever, its really amazing. Inside the shrine was Nellaiappar, and is a Suyambu lingam (self-formed), and hence the lingam is not structured and elliptical like other lingams. Its just a raw consecrated rock resembling a lingam. Even in Sathuragiri, the Santhana Mahalingam will be like this one. Here, I was a little disappointed to see that there wasnt even a garland on the lingam by that time (it was almost 8am). Only a small Vilva maalai or something was there. So we went out and purchased a couple of garlands as offering. Only after seeing the priest putting our garland to the Shiva Lingam, I felt a little satisfied. Such a spiritually rich temple, and the poojari have no sense of what they are dealing with. They should visit Isha Ashram, specially Linga bhairavi shrine once to see what devotion means. After Nellaiappar, we visited Gandhimadhi Amman shrine. She was standing in all her beauty and glory. She was kind enough to accept our other garland for her.

Tirunelveli Nelliappar temple is big, and I really mean it. There are atleast 10-15 kasi viswanathar shrines inside the main temple itself. Many numbers of Murugan and Ganesh shrines. Also it has the famous Thaamira Sabhai/Ambalam (Copper hall) where Natarajar performed his cosmic dance. The other shrines where Natarajar performed his dance.. a) Rathina Ambalam, Thiruvaalangadu b) Chitra (Painting) Ambalam, Courtallam c) Velli (Silver) Ambalam, Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple and d) Pon (Gold) Ambalam at Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. 

By the time, we went through the temple, our legs pained like anything. Such big and spacious temple, but excellently built, with proper water drains, sufficient ventilation for air and light etc. In case of any disaster, the entire Tirunelveli town and safely come and stay inside the temple. Such big it is.!

Its already Wednesday, and MSK wanted to be in Chennai for next dawn. So we proceeded to Rameshwaram immediately. Most of them in Tirunelveli bus stand suggested the best option is to go Madurai and then travel to Rameshwaram, but google maps said its a long route. Just then we noted lot of buses plying between Tirunelveli-Tuticorin which is one hour travel and on the way to Rameshwaram. So we took a bus to Tuticorin and was there right on time when a Rameshwaram bus was leaving the bay. Successful transit, we are on our way to destination. Bus stopped at a motel, and I opted to skip my lunch. But Mr.MSK, had a full meals with fish-fry for side-dish.. Sinful soul.. :)

About 4.00pm, the bus crossed Paamban bridge and entered in Rameshwaram. We only had few hours left, so we decided to move to Dhanushkodi first and then return back to temple. We hired an auto who charged 300/- for 40+kms round-trip ride till Dhanushkodi. He first lead us to Kothandaraman temple. That was the place where Shri Ram performed Paattabishegam for Vibheeshanan, swearing him as the king of Lanka. Then we proceeded to Dhanushkodi beach.. Since the beach was fierce, bathing was restricted, but I had a quick dip near the shore. 

It was around 7.00pm, we came back again to Rameswaram temple. We went to a nearby lodge to secure our luggage. The lodge owner said it was already late to have bath in all the 22 holy wells (theertham) inside the temple. He then instructed us to move fast to go to nearby beach (Agni Theertham), have a dip and then go inside the temple. The lane opposite the temple lead us to Agni Theertham. Well, it was not theertham, it was the beach without shore. It was already dark, no visibility after 2 feet of water and the vastness of the sea and the sound really scared me. Good that they had some rail support for us to catch when having a dip. Seriously saying, if at all we go a bit deep and slip in the water, no one will even notice where we are. Its was already dark and hence couldnt estimate how deep the water will be the next step. We went for a formality dip within the one feet of water and returned back immediately. A local guide asked us not to wear T-shirts when entering in the temple, and also asked 200/- for its already late and he can help us secure a bath in all 22 sacred wells inside the temple. 

But we didnt opt for his service. Bath tickets were open till then, and we went in for the normal way. Its 25/- per head ticket. We had no idea about the theertham or the wells, but just a North Indian family was going ahead of us for a bath in theertham and we had no issues following them. Well, the hidden fact is that there was a superb Rasagulla in that family and we were following it.. :) On the holy bath part, there are around 22 wells inside the temple itself, each has some significance like Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery etc. Its believed that having a bath in respective well is equal to bathing in respective rivers. All the 22 wells, are placed around the first prakaram of the temple. So if one enters the temple, he can get a bath in all the 22 wells, which will itself be like going around the temple once and then proceed to the inner shrine for darshan. It was actually a very excellent idea devised in the past. In Isha Ashram, Coimbatore, one has to have a dip (not mandatory though) in the Suryakund (damn cold water) before entering the main Dhyanalinga Shrine. Sadhguru mentioned that a wet body is more receptive to cosmic powers in sanctum. That's the same idea here. All the holy wells are just inside the temple itself. So, just after a good bath, if you enter wet to the main shrine, your receptivity will be high. Unfortunately here, they have restricted entering the sanctum with wet cloth. We have to change ourselves dry and then enter. 

Temple was not-crowded and almost free, so we had repeated and good Darshan of Ramanaatha Swamy. One other aspect of Rameshwaram is that it hosts one of the 12 Jyotir lingams. However, the main deity doesnt appear to be Jyotir lingam. Main deity is the one made by Sita and consecrated by Shri Ram for his worship after returning back from Sri Lanka after winning the war. (looks like Valmiki and Kambar Ramayana doesnt mention anything about this Shiva worship by Ram. Only in later versions of Ramayana by Thulasidasar, this was mentioned. Controversies:) ). Anyhow, a separate Jyothi lingam is also placed near the entrance itself. In Benares, the main deity is itself the Jyotir lingam and here, I felt its not given its due importance. 

After a successful darshan, it was almost 9.00pm and time to leave. We had our dinner at duplicate Vasantha Bhavan and started our journey back to Madurai. Around 12 midnight, we reached Madurai and took a bus back to Chennai. 

Travelling is always joyful for me, and that too travelling with a good friend and no-plans, even more interesting. We started with Rameshwaram in mind, but had been lucky to cover Srirangam, Thiruvaanaikkaval, Thenkasi and Nellaiappar on the way. Most importantly, all these temples are first-time visits for me. That made it even more special. Well, one thing I certainly need to mention about is the climate. All the three days, it was cool and pleasant, not raining, but drizzling at times. If it was hot, the travel would have been uncomfortable, but that was taken care by the nature. Two get-away from this trip for me is 1) Always travel in winter and 2) Visit temple either early morning or late evening for a peaceful Darshan.

So, here is the end of the blog. Many things cannot be stated in writing, they can only be experienced. It was in total, a wonderful experience for me during the three days of trip. Though most of the time was spent in bus, I still felt it worth the travel at end of the day. I once had a wish list of places to cover in Tamilnadu. I thought if I visit all places in the list, its done. But whatz really happening is the reverse - the more I travel, the more the list grows. Right now, the list is showing few big items and one very big item that I missed this year. Waiting to Witness what happens next.. 

Coverage Snaps - Taken with Mobile/Point-Shoot camera, so expect no clarity

https://picasaweb.google.com/114643271152565647128/TempleTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCPq28uLd3oTd7gE#

A Search In Secret India

After the Immortals of Meluha, this is my second book review. But this book "A Search in Secret India - Paul Brunton" is not a fictional novel or a philosophy book. This book is basically a diary entry of Paul Brunton, a Westerner who searched for a secret in our sacred land, India.

What was that he was searching for? Diamonds? Emeralds? Rubies? or other precious thing? No, he was searching for something big and immortal.. He was searching for light, the "Enlightenment". 

This book will be close on the lines of the book "Autobiography of Yogi (ABY) - Paramahamsa Yogananda" in terms of genre, but there is a broad difference. ABY is basically the biography of a person, who was Yogi by birth and groomed by greatest spiritual masters for the purpose of spreading ancient Yoga to the West. Also, Paramahamsa Yogananda was a Hindu, and he had no difficulties in believing Hinduism and its principles.  Also his parents were direct disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya who himself was direct disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. So, he was already put in a right place. He has no difficulties in reaching to the peak of spirituality. 

In this case, it is reverse. This is the travel-documentary of Paul Brunton, a common man with just an ambition to explore the Secret of India. He is neither a son of Yogic parents, not well-worst with Hindu principles and customs. Throughout his journey, he need the help of translators for communicating with others. A really great ambition, but a real tough task. So, whats great in this book? 

It was first when his Geography master was saying the words "India has been called the brightest jewel in British Crown...", the word INDIA fantasized him. Being a seeker, strong-willed and traveler by nature, he makes attempts to make his journey to India, but he couldn't succeed. Probably his time wasn't ripe then. From then on, the book starts its fast and mysterious pace. He meets a couple of Indian Yogis, settled in West, who reminds him of his ambition and fuels him for his journey East to India. By then, he was a renowned journalist in West, and his inner-search was so intense, he gave up his career to achieve a bigger one.

Being not-aware of where to start and what to start, he starts his spiritual journey, documenting it throughout. This book is all about that. All way his journey, he meets faqueers, magicians, mystics, yogi's, swamy's to finally meets his Guru.

In my opinion, this book stands apart from all other books I read.

1. This book is not written from the stand point of a Guru. It has no philosophies, no preachings or what so ever. It just echos the journey of a seeker on his way to attain Enlightenment. 

2. Being an intellect, Paul Brunton is very clear on not accepting everyone he meets as his guru. More than this divine experiences, his questions on God, Yoga and other practices fill this book. He wants clear proof of everything, and accepts only if he is satisfied. One of the yogi he met gives him a demonstration of stopping his heart-beat, breath and even his blood circulation to get him satisfied on the body control aspects of Yoga. This questioning attitude of him makes the book more interesting to read. So, did India and Indian Yogi's convince this westerner and gave him what he desired? 

3. The Author travels east-west throughout India for this search of a Guru. Finally, he meets his Guru in deep interior South, at Thiruvannamalai. His Guru was none other than the great Ramana Maharishi. It was through Paul Brunton, the Maharishi got introduced to the West. If you see Westerners flocking Ramanar's Ashram still, the credit goes to Paul Brunton. If you read the book, you can clearly observe one thing. Though it was Paul Brunton who travelled India, it was the mystics and the faqueers, who guided him to his real Guru. They are the ones who drove him to his destiny. In one stage, he meets Kanchi Maha Muni Sankaracharya, who directs him to Ramana Maharishi. At this point, Sankaracharya whispers something to authors translator (Writer VenkataRamani). After the author meets Ramana Maharishi, he journeys back to remaining part of India in search of other Yogi's. Being intellect, he wants to find the best Yogi in India to accept as Guru. After his long and deep search, his intellect finally falls and the destiny makes him to rush towards Arunachala. During his way back to Tiruvannamalai, he meets his translator again, and to his surprise she says that she already know that he will return back to Arunachala. She reveals him that Sankarachaya foretold her already (that whisper) that no one can be the Guru of Paul Brunton, except Ramana Maharishi. Such is his destiny.

Being intellect by nature, he asks lot of questions to whichever Yogi's he meet during his journey. Finally when he met Ramana Maharishi, he experiences his questions vanishing mystically. He feels a deep peace within him, where questions made no sense. Spirituality is more experiencing than questioning, and Ramanar gave him the right answer. He wanted a proof, and he experienced it himself.  All his bundle of questions just dissipated after self-realization. Having got the privilege to be a disciple of Ramana Maharishi, and experiencing the self-realization in guidance of his Guru, he returns back to West, with this ambition duly filled.

Generally, spiritual or philosophy books are dry to read, for there will be lot of advises and religious preachings that will be difficult to grasp. But this book, captures India, its culture, tradition and its ancient secrets during 1930's from the eyes of a Western seeker who demands demonstration than explanation. Its a 300 pager book, but hardly took me only few days to read. His experience with every mystic, original and duplicate faqueers are quite interesting to read, and gives the reader a feel of travelling along with him. 

There is a wonderful quote from Ramana Maharishi that reads "What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain".. I clearly could get a grasp of what it means after reading this book. Even before the author sets his journey to India, he was foretold that his ambition of meeting a real Rishi would be attained, and he wont return empty-handed from India. His destiny was set, but how he was made to achieve it, how he got directed towards the goal - just read and experience. Its a must-not-miss book, atleast for intellects who demand proof of things.

A rare video where Ramana Maharisihi poses with Paramahamsa Yogananda and Paul Brunton. Dont fail to note that throughout the video, Maharashi will be very still as if he entered into trance. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBRzHQzpdyk

Mariyaan - Review

மரியான் - அதாவது வுட்லேண்ட்ஸ் தியேட்டர்ல 11.30 காட்சி பாத்துட்டு வெளிய வந்த மக்கா கோரஸா "வேணாம்... போகாதீங்கன்னு" கத்தின்னு போனப்பவே சுதாரிசிருக்கணும்.. நமக்குதான் மத்தவன் எது சொன்னாலும் புடிக்காதே... 2.30 ஷோவ்க்கு ஆபீஸ கட் அடிச்சிட்டு உள்ள போய் ஒக்காந்தோம்.. ஒக்காந்தோமா.....

படத்தோட முதல் பாதி... ஜவ்வா போகுது... ஆனா அந்த ஜவ்வயும் சகிச்சின்னு பாத்ததுக்கு ஒரு காரணம்... ஒரே காரணம்.... பார்வதி.. பூ படத்துல வந்த பொண்ணா இது... ஒரு பக்கம் பாத்தா நயன்தாரா மாதிரி இருக்கு... இன்னொரு பக்கம் சமந்தா மாதிரி இருக்கு... ம்ம்... நீ எல்லாம் நல்லா வருவம்மா.... மத்தபடி தனுஷ வெரட்டி வெரட்டி காதலிக்கற கேரக்டர்.. நல்லா அழுவுது... முத்தம் குடுக்குது.. சண்ட போடுது... இப்படி சுகம்ம்மா போற காதல்ல ஒரு வில்லன் வரான்.... வில்லன் கிட்ட இருந்து பார்வதியோட அப்பன் வாங்கன கடன அடைகறதுக்காக தனுஷ் ரெண்டு வருஷம் சூடான் நாட்டுக்கு வேல செய்ய போறாரு..... ரெண்டு வருஷம் போன்லயே காதல வளத்துட்டு.. ஒரு வழியா காண்ட்ராக்ட் முடிஞ்சி திரும்பி வர சமயம் பாத்து இவர சூடான் நாடு முட்டாள் தீவரவாதிங்க நாலு பேரு கத்தின்னே கடத்துறாங்க..... இதோட இண்டர்வல் போட்டுட்டான்... சரி, இது வரைக்கும் கத மொக்கையா போச்சு.. இனிமேலு சூடான் நாட்டுல எஸ்கேப் பிளாக் செமையா இருக்கும்னு ஒரு பாப்கார்ன் வாங்கிட்டு ஒக்காந்தா... அந்த கொடுமைய ஏன் கேக்கறீங்க...

சூடான் நாடு முட்டாள் தீவரவாதிங்க இவர கடத்தி, ஆபீஸ்க்கு போன் போட்டு பணம் கேக்க சொன்னா ... அந்த ரணகளத்துலயும் இவரு பார்வதிக்கு போண போட்டு கடலை போடறாரு....அப்புறம் பாட்டெலாம் பாடி தப்பிகிறாரு... தப்பிச்சி.. ஓடறாரு.. ஓடறாரு... ஓடறாரு.... திக்கு தெரியாத பாலைவனத்துல கண்டமேனிக்கு ஓடறாரு.... சிறுத்தை எல்லாம் வருது... ஆனா எதுக்குன்னு தான் நமக்கு தெரில...கடைசில ஒரு கட்டத்துல ப்ரோட்டீன் தேவைக்காக கோரப்புல் எல்லாம் சாப்பிடறாரு.. (மேன் Vs வைல்ட் மாதிரி... பியர் க்ரில்ஸ் இந்த படத்த பாத்தா நாண்டுகிட்டு சாவான்)... இதுக்கு மேல ஓட முடியாதுன்னு பாலைவனத்துல மயங்கி விழும் போது பார்வதி அம்சமா டிரஸ் பண்ணிட்டு வந்து "என் புள்ளைக்கு நீ தான் அப்பாவா இருக்கணும்"ன்னு தேவ இல்லாம உசுப்பேத்திட்டு மறையறாங்க... உடனே நம்மாளு "நெஞ்சே எழு"ன்னு ஒரு சாங்க போட்டுட்டு மறுபடியும் எழுந்து ஓடறாரு... நான் கூட அப்படியே சூடான்ல இருந்து 

இந்தியா வரைக்கும் ஓடிடுவாரோன்னு பயந்துட்டேன்... புதுகோட்டை சரவணன்ல சீனா பார்டர நடந்தே கிராஸ் பண்ணவராச்சே... இதுலயும் பண்ணிட்டா? நல்லவேல அப்படி பண்ணல... ஓடி ஓடி... கடசியா சூடான் பீச்க்கு வராரு.... அய்யயோ ஒருவேள நீந்தியே கிராஸ் பண்ண போறாரோன்னு பாத்தா..அதுவும் இல்ல... பைட் சீன் வருது.. அங்க அந்த மொக்க வில்லன இடுப்புல அடிச்சி காலி பண்ணிட்டு.. மயங்கி விழுந்து... சூடான் மீனவர்கள் இவர காப்பாத்தி... இந்தியாக்கு திரும்ப வந்து... பார்வதி கூட சேர்ந்தாரா என்பதை வெள்ளித்திரையில் காண்க...

ஏ.ஆர்.ரெஹ்மான் இருக்காரு.. ஆனா இல்ல.. கடல் படத்துக்கு அப்புறம் சில நல்ல பாட்டுங்கள இந்த படத்துலயும் வேஸ்ட் பண்ணிருக்காங்க... ஆனா கடல் அளவுக்கு மொக்க போடலங்க்றது ஆறுதல்... "எங்க போன ராசா" பாட்டு.. நல்ல விஷுவல்ஸ்.. தனுஷ் ஆக்டிங் கிளாஸ்... அங்கங்க சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ஸ்டைல் தெரியுது.. மத்தபடி குடுத்த காசுக்கு பார்வதிய நல்லா பாத்தோமா வந்தோம்மான்னு இருக்கணும்.. தேவ இல்லாம படத்துல கதை எல்லாம் தேட கூடாது....

5.30 மணிக்கு தியேட்டர விட்டு வெளிய வரும் போது நாங்களும் "வேணாம்... போகாதீங்கன்னு" கத்தினே தான் வந்தோம்... மத்தவனுக்கு தான் நாம எது சொன்னாலும் புடிக்காதே... விதி வலியது...

Paradesi - Review

I really did not intend to write this Paradesi - movie review for two reasons.

1. I wanted either Reddy/MSK to own up this review.
2. Bala fans (including me) will not be impressed with this blog.

But opinion differs for everyone, and I do want to record my opinion about this movie. Hence writing. Anyhow, I still expect Reddy/MSK's take on this movie in their blogspot.

Disclaimer - Before commenting anything on this blog, pls be noted that this is my personal opinion on the movie and may not apply to all. Few of my friends exclaimed the movie was excellent and Bala's best - I respect their opinion as well. Now, my perception of this movie.

A group of people in a village leads a happy life, full of fun and celebration. One fine day, a villian enters their territory and slaves the village people as whole. After a tiresome journey along with the villian, they are sold as slaves to one other big villian. Oops.. sorry, I was just saying first-half plot of the movie "Apocolypto". Paradesi, though inspired by a different novel, the plot is same as that of Apocolypto. I don't mean to say the movie is copied. Similar plot makes this Paradesi comparable to Apocolypto in certain scenes, and I still believe only Bala can make a movie like Apocolypto in Kollywood.

This movie ran for around 2 hours, and still I dont understand why Bala has taken such a movie. In the making trailer, Bala strictly treats everyone to get his output pefect, but is a movie only all about perfection? Whats the use of a six-pack body without life? That's how I felt the movie. Visuals without soul. Again, who said everyone will cry when seeing others cry? Adharva, Dhanshika, Vedhika - everyone cries throughout the movie. Is that emotion? There is absolutely no depth in the visuals (except the last one minute, but that's not enough Bala)

In my Vazhakku En 18/9 movie review, I have mentioned Bala for one thing - "Bala to learn from Balaji Sakthivel on how to make films without commercial compromise..". My mention holds very good for this movie. Bala came close to natural in this movie, but the commercial compromise he made - hell a lot. Being a trend-breaker, Bala should have skipped songs completely out of the movie. Dont he have the guts/talent to skip songs or does he still think that the audience are not matured yet to watch movies without songs? The songs really serve no useful purpose. The movie, as i felt, is just full of songs - and the music, very disturbing at times. I'm not blaming Bala for what he has given, but we expect something big for his cadre. If people go out of a village for their survival, should someone sing "sengaade sengaade....poivaravaa" in the background?  We understand it Bala.. (Remembering the dialogue from Anbe Sivam "idhu enna kaadhala.. asingama appoppo solradhukku.. you need to understand it man.."). Show the emotion in the visual. That's your strength and we expect it too.. And for a movie like this, how do you feel it justified to have songs? Did the novel had songs? Another bad thing is predictable scenes - Adharva and Vedika in the first half sings a duet inside the jungle and enters in a old hut specially left half-built in the center of the forest!?.. We all know its time to drop a one rupee coin on the floor and ask ladies to search for it.. :) Its a hyder-ali period standard template sir... boring....

First half - I could remember only two scenes - One between Vedhika and Adharva, and the other scene where the villagers keep walking, walking and walking. Both the scenes are a song and that's it. Nothing more to say. People will say its character establishment. But how long should the character get established? the first half is gone buddy, and the story hasn't started at all. (In Pithamagan, Vikram's such heavy character will be established in the title song itself). Nothing to say about the Vedhika teasing Adharva before their "nenaikaren". Why drag that teasing too long? Its really frustrating, rather sympathetic. But Adharva's hitting thandora all-alone after the insult is beautifully shot. That's Bala's touch..

Another worst part in the first half, just before interval is where the villagers leave the half-dying guy and drag away his wife alone. Generally, in villages most of the people will be relations, like maama-machan's and share a very good rapport within them. In one scene, a villager's wife runs down to join along his husband at the last minute in his journey. Such is their relations. Even in the first scene, everyone sits together and eats in the bandhi when Adharva alone gets teased. But when one of them faints during the journey, no one even cares to give him some water. They all stay around and watch him die. Everyone goes with the villian words that he is further a dead-weight. Not convincingly shot. Is that all the relations are about? especially between villagers of those times? Similar scene will be there in Apocolypto, where one of the injured guy slips-off from the mountain, but others, though tied together, tries to save them with all their might. Any human being will try to do that, but in our case, even his wife leaves him all-alone to die of thirst. What is she going to do with her earning, without her husband? Is the village running such drought? I really dont know. Even our hero will be there in that crowd, but will leave silently. But when the other lady (Karuthakanni) dies in the tea-estate affected by plague, he will run there to cry.. ennappa logic?. Keeping aside these logic things, the fingers that act before intermission - Impressive. Again, that's Bala's touch.

Second half - When they reach the estate and get allotted of their huts, the in-charge guy asks Adharva to use a hut that is allocated for Dhansika. Is that for any specific reason? Doesn't he know that a lady is already using the hut for years? No answer.  Another predictable visual is where Adharva tries to escape and finally falls down at a point. He lifts his face to see that all the villains there standing in a "straight-circle", breathing heavily holding lights in their hands. Just think of the same chasing scene in Apocolypto. In fact, the second half of Apocolypto is only a chasing scene. And, if one tries to escape, will he use the conventional route? he will definitely use short-cuts inside the jungle. Onnum puriyala.. oruvela naan sariyaa padatha paakalayo?

Should I mention anything about the Christian missionary scenes? It appears like our Power-star was the one selected initially for the role played by the dance master Shivasankar, who comes as the doctor. Lucky Power-Star, he just escaped. I partially agree with Bala's views on missionaries, that   mostly concentrated on spreading their religion among poor people. But it was also them who spread education among poor people. Even now, most of the schools are Christian ones. But this scene in the movie was dragging more than required. In the first part, where Adharva goes out to another village for a job and unknowingly sits in the bench allotted for high-class people and gets beaten by the shop-keeper, or when the old man refuses to pay him for his work - it clearly portrays the caste/untouchables issue that prevailed during those days. The missionary scene should have been as crisp as this untouchables scene, but somehow let loose. And that Christmas song, and after it where the doctor and his wife runs to have their peg - Yesappa Kaapathu..!! Even the British (who should obviously be a Christian) points to the doctor and says "he is far more worse than Kangaani who hunts men from villages". Thevaya idhellam?!

Immature acting - Few scenes, the actors didnt carry the role properly. Vedhika's mother acting wasn't upto the mark, especially when she beats Vedhika after knowing she is pregnant. (I adore the climax scene of Nanda movie here. Though the mother character had big scope to shout, scream and justify her side for poisoning her son, she will just keep quiet with tears flowing. That's Bala and his visual magic). Also the discussion between Tea-Estate owners on their labor loss due to flu, the English lady who speaks in favor of Gandhi - mokka scene... and immature acting.  

I watched the movie in AGS-Villivakkam.  Many landscape scenes appeared a bit blurred. Atleast all three who watched the movie felt it. Close-up scenes were clear and perfect, but many long-shot or landscape scenes, it felt like watching a 3D film without glasses. Not sure if its a projector problem or the film itself is shot like that. Whatever it may be, I dont intend to spend another 120/- to confirm this in another theater.

The movie was mostly four or five big scenes. Background music was really horrible. Its 50-50 credits to Bala and GV for killing the soul of the movie to their fullest possible. One review said that Bala had filled the space director Mahendran left. Noway. Let them see Mahendran's Udhiripookal and Mullum-Malarum and say those words again. The final scene in Udhiripookal where Vijayan enters the river or the final scene in Mullum Malarum where Shoba runs back to Rajini - just see it and you will feel the weight of the visual. Bala is amazing in his own way, but nowhere close to the legend, atleast in this movie. I would have really appreciated if Bala has taken this movie as a documentary. Its because, the original novel may not be a fiction, but the real pain the tea-estate labors underwent decades ago, and still going through. Any small piece of commercial element will kill the soul of movie, and that's what I strongly felt has happened here. If Paradesi is made by any other director, I would have said hats-off for him. I read that Aarcharya Ravi was the one who initially wanted to make that novel as a movie.  He was Bala's assistant, and also have directed one movie "Aacharya" starring Vignesh. BTW, that was a flop movie. Looks like Bala said to him that "You will spoil the novel if you direct it, so let me direct this". Ravi gave the movie to his guru and served as Assistance Director for this movie. Bala, who was so careful about not wanting even his assistant to spoil the soul of movie, did the job of spoiling it by himself. 

Naanjil Naadan - I couldnt find him anywhere, except the scene where the villian convinces the villagers to come with him to tea-estate. Otherwise, no big dialogues - but that's better. No GV prakash could have even done better.

Isnt there any positive in this movie at all? Yes, there are -

1. Adharva's acting - Class acting from an entry-level actor like him. Can expect awards.

2. Technical Excellence - Few scenes are captured very well. Color tone of the film sets the right ambiance for a period film. Night shots are excellent, and Dhanshika looks beautiful. :)

3. Karuthakanni - The lady character abused by the British guy in the second half. Excellent acting.

4. Beating scenes - Fighting and beating scenes will be very natural in all Bala movies. No exception here. Scenes where Adharva gets beaten, or the scene where the British guy beats up that man-hunter - pretty natural.

5. Climax - Classic Ending.

6. Perfectionist - Teaser trailer said that all. Its really tough for others to craft movies like this to such perfection. Only Bala can do it.

Overall - Interested in watching a off-beat picture, go for it without any expectation. You are lucky if you really enjoy the movie.

My rating - 2/5

Meluha, Naga and Vayuputras

The blog title may sound unfamiliar, but those words will be something you will not forget after reading the Shiva Trilogy books by Amish Tripati. What the book is all about and what impressed me with those books is this blog. Don't expect too much for I'm not going to reveal any part of the story or break any suspense, but will just state my experience of reading such a wonderful novel.

To start with, its a fictional novel released in three parts (trilogy). Title

1. The Immortals of Meluha

2. The Secret of Nagas

3. The Oath of the Vayuputras

Last year, for one of my colleagues birthday, we planned to gift him a book. While snooping through the best sellers in  flipkart, the cover photo of one book immediately caught my attention. The cover showcased a well-built man standing in front of a river facing us backside, with war-wounds on his shoulders, bearing Jadamudi and a Trishul resting on his spine. As I did, anyone could guess that Trishul and Jadamudi are symbolic representations of Lord Shiva, but the Title of book was something different. It read "The Immortals of Meluha". I never heard about the word "MELUHA", so I thought it could be some other language book, possibly translated to English. After going through the summary of the book, I felt it a worth read. Caption for this book read "THE STORY OF SHIVA. THE SIMPLE MAN WHOSE KARMA RECAST HIM AS OUR MAHADEV, THE GOD OF GODS". In Hindu culture, the clan-god (kula deivam) will sometimes be our ancestors who lived a noble life long ago, protecting our clan (kulam) through their deeds, there by getting the respect of being worshiped as clan god. What if Lord Shiva falls under such cadre, but of higher magnitude to be called Mahadev? SJV usually mentions that Shiva is just another man who lived flesh and blood, invented Yoga techniques and became a Aadhi-Yogi (The First Yogi). 

Not sure my colleague will be interested in reading such fictional books, that too when it touch-bases God. Now-a-days many people don't show interest in reading and understanding the concept of God - not mystically but even scientifically. Its always easy for anyone to say "nothing such exist".. :).. Anyhow, not to take chance, we ordered him the biography of Steve Jobs, but I personally couldn't resist ordering the Part 1 and Part 2 of the Shiva Trilogy. (It was around June/2012. Part 3 wasn't released by then. It got released only in March/2013).

Flipkart delivered the two books the next day, perfectly packed. More than the books, it was the cover photo that impressed a lot. Excellent creativity. With great that hope the books wont disappoint me, I started reading.  There is one very good thing about reading books. Your mind will start creating the ambiance and the characters as described in the book. If you watch the same thing in  movie, your imagination will be restricted to what is just shown. In that way, even the cover photo of this book was intelligently designed not the spoil my imagination about the main character of the novel. In the cover photo of all the three books, only the body of a well built man appearing with blue throat will be depicted. The face of him is left for us to imagine. Very excellent thinking...

In the first few pages of the book, the main character gets introduced, set in backdrop of 1900 BC, in the land of Tibet - A man sitting with his friend sharing the chillum - it was more than a perfect start for me.. Next few pages, the book caught me like a magnet. I couldn't keep it down. My mind has already created the required environment to journey with the book further. It didn't want to come out of it. Next few pages, other characters we know as part of the Hindu culture gets introduced - The Nandi, Veerabadra and others... Further reading, I lost myself in the world of Shiva.

Most of us know the Shiva Puraanam, atleast about Shiva, Sati, Nandi, Ganesh, Karthik and other gods with some stories surrounding them. Amish Tripathi intelligently uses the family of Shiva, the stories said around them, but adds his own imagination to knit the stories and present you a wonderful tale to read.

In India, its always a bit risky to write new stories using Gods, let it be any God. We are driven by centuries old faith, and are limited to accept any new thinking. You can always create your own new god, but specifying a new dimension to any existing god is a problem. But this story directly puts Shiva as common man, trying to fulfill his karma like any other character. But this book, I say will fascinate even a hard-core devotee of Lord Shiva. Though its a fiction story, I'm sure the respect we have for Lord Shiva will increase multi-fold after reading this book. Such a wonderful character definition.

Though fictional, this book has the perfect mix of action, romance and sentiment stuff. I would specifically say that Amish has a extra nerve for romance. The love scenes (not the English love, its the real love)  between Shiva and Sati - I was almost into it. Let it be the scene where Sati proposes to Shiva or during the last few moments between them, it created a lump in my throat. I went into such emotional state when reading two books in my life time - One is the biography of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (where he suffers throat cancer and couldn't eat) and other is the biography of Ramana Maharishi (his first entry to Thiruvannamalai). Atleast the incidents in Ramakrishna/Ramana Maharishi books are facts, but this is only a fictional story. But literally it blew me away.

Not only tearful moments, few other scenes where Lord Shiva will perform a dance for Sati - the way its narrated - and the visuals that my mind projected - Marvelous - Nothing more to say. I can quote many incidents from this book like that - example - in the last part during Shiva's encounter with Parvateshwar who wants to serve Meluha, and Sati's braveness in challenging her enemies till last breath - Spell bound.

The last book was like 560 pages, and when I was reading around 300 pages, I thought to stop reading further. The remaining 350 pages, I could breeze through quickly, but that will end the story right? I really don't want it to end. The beauty is, I could guess how the story will end, because the complete novel is based on existing Shiva stories, but couldn't stop reading to see how the author progresses his imagination to reach the end.

Let it be the suspenses, war strategies, the rise of Neelkanth, Shiva-Sati love, brotherhood between Ganesh-Karthik, the love between Sati and her sons, Kali character, Shiva's anger, Meluhan's novelty,  Daksha's foolishness, Bhrigu's master mind, the Vasudev's, the Vayuputras - I still couldn't believe that an Indian writer can have such a highest amount of creativity and imagination to visualize and present a book like this. Far as I know, Mahabharatha is the only epic that had such a wonderful story telling. I'm nowhere comparing Mahabharatha-Shiva Trilogy, but once you read these books, you can understand why I mentioned the last statement. 

The author should have done extensive research to make sure he uses the right prevailing stories to make up his fiction - for example, Surapadman gets killed by Karthik, but not the way as we have seen in "Kandhan Karunai" movie, where Surapadman imprisons all Devas, while Karthik kills him and frees them up. Amish takes only the core incident here "Surapadman gets killed by Karthik", but throws a different version of story surrounding it. That makes the novel far more interesting.

Does that mean there are no contradictions in the novel? Yes, there are, but not worth considering. For example, Shiva in this novel gets depicted after Lord Ram's period, whereas Ramayana states that Lord Ram himself  has consecrated and worshiped Shivalingam at Rameshwaram. This appears to be contradicting. However the author states a fair assumption that the "Shiva" before Lord Ram's age could be "Lord Rudra", one other Avator like Shiva to destroy the evil of that time. Another good character definition is that he makes Sati a widow, before marrying Shiva. This is completely contradicting with the original Sati (Dakshayini) story we saw in "Thiruvilayadal" movie, however, to justify the birth of Ganesh and Karthik (not through Shiva), he makes this intelligent choice. Also with the flood pace the story moves, the negatives are completely swept.

I stop my nonsense here. Overall, its a DONT-MISS story to be read. I strictly recommend purchasing a hard-copy pack of these books for your reading, for the hard-copy itself will add value to reading, and its definitely worth spending few hundred bucks for such a wonderful fiction. For why-to-spend folks, pirated pdf copy of all the three books are available in Net. Ask Google.

Buzz is that, Bollywood film maker Karan Johar has already started the ground work for making this wonderful story into a movie. If he can recreate this story as-is on screen without any commercial compromise, it could surely smash the box-office. Even if it comes in three parts, like the book, its worth a watch.