Kaattumalli, The Best - Viduthalai Part 1

Raja has once again proved that he is the raja (king) of music.

After a long wait, Ilaiyaraaja has composed a song at his best for the Tamil film Viduthalai (liberation) called Kaattumalli. It's not that he hasn't recorded songs in a long time, but those weren't relieving up to this point. My first listen made me fall in love with this composition, and I feel nostalgic about it, and the visuals match the track tracing through the forest.  

The song, along with the lyrics, in visual form on YouTube, makes it simple to understand and perceive. Not to mention, the song was written by Ilaiyaraja, and he has also sung the song along with Ananya Bhat. 

From the trailer, I think Viduthalai to be a different movie and sure to make an impact since it comes from  Vetrimaaran, a director for transformation. The film will give a break to Soori, who has only done comedy scenes so far, and he looks perfect for a police jeep driver-turned-constable. However, the song is the most enjoyable to listen to! 

Pongal Weekend

To put it another way, the long weekend is arriving. Pongal, the harvest and thanksgiving festival of Tamil Nadu and Tamils worldwide, falls on the weekend, with the first day as Bhogi; Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal, and Ulavar Thirunaal to follow, and is a significant festival time in Tamil Nadu. 

Each day has its significant reason to celebrate. Bhogi was observed on the concept of "the old goes away, and the new comes in," which means getting rid of the old and undesired things in our homes and lives and replacing them with the new, or letting out things to breathe fresh. People traditionally light a fire outside their homes on this day and burn undesired items in it, but lately, the practice of burning things has decreased, thanks to public awareness of the environment and pollution and the prohibition on burning tires and plastic items.

Pongal, the important festival of the series, takes place on the second day (Jan. 15), thanking the natural elements and farmers that give us life and progress in them. If nature provides us with the source, it is the farmers, who transform it into our life support, just like our two eyes, which have to work correctly to see a clear picture of life. On this day, people gather in the open to boil milk and rice in an earthen pot and worship the sun as the source of light and energy for everyone's well-being and future.

From the beginning, cattle have always been the only source of support in our farming, and it's a difficult question to answer if they aren't. So there is no farming without the cattle, especially the bulls, whose muscular pull gives rise to our grains; their dung is the best natural supply of fertilizer to yield abundantly. Farming and cattle are inextricably linked, and even though we are technologically advanced and have machines for every job, to coin the phrase, "old is gold," there is still a demand for them for organic farming. And dedicating a day to cattle is both appropriate and necessary to send a message to the world about the significance of cattle, and our relationship with the species is known as Mattu Pongal or Bull Pongal. 

Finally, the Kaanum Pongal arrives, a much-anticipated day for families and friends to get together and have fun. On this day, folks pack a lunch and go on a pleasant and entertaining journey to tourist attractions, beaches, and the banks of rivers and lakes. Farmers and workaholics take time off from their jobs to be with family and friends. So the four-day festival encompasses things that we may be grateful for and cherish all year: the worth of food and its evolution, and thinking and longing for time together. Happy Pongal to everyone!  

துடிக்கும் இதயம் / A beating heart

துடிக்கும் நெஞ்சு,  துயர் துடைக்க யாரும் இன்றி;

சில சமயம், இறுக்கத்தில், இலகுவாக அணைக்க யாரும் இன்றி; 

இரவெல்லாம் வெறுமையை நோக்கி, விழிபிதிங்கி நிற்க 

நம்பிக்கை எனும் கயிறு தளந்துகொண்டே செல்ல 

எவற்றை சாட, எவற்றை நாட என மனம் தடுமாற  

விதியே என மௌனமாய் செல்கிறேன் . 

கண்ணீர் விட்டு அழ கூட த்ராணியாற்று 

என் துயர் துடைக்க மற்றவர் துயர் அடைய விருப்பம்மின்றி

சிதைந்து கொண்டிக்குகிறது மனது, தசைசிதைவோடு! 

A throbbing chest, with no one to wipe away the sorrow;

Sometimes tightens, with no one to embrace lightheartedly;

To stay awake all night  in search of emptiness

The rope of faith gets unfasten; 

The mind is confused as to what to curse and what to seek

I go silently as it is my destiny.

Don't even dare to cry; 

I don't want others to suffer to wipe away my pain

Mind degenerates along with muscular dystrophy!

பட்டம் விடு/ Flying Kite

வெறுமையான வானம்

வெண்மேகம் தவிர்த்து.

கோடை விடுமுறை கடந்து

திங்கள் முதல் பள்ளிகள்...

சிறுவர்கள் மறந்தே போன

வாழ்வை வண்ணமாக்கிய பட்டம் (காத்தாடி).

மாஞ்சா எனும் அரக்கன்

கழுத்தை அறுத்ததால்

பட்டம் விடும் பழக்கம்

பறந்தே சென்றது நம்மை விட்டு.

அண்ணாந்து பார்த்த காலம்

பல வண்ண பட்டம்

வானில்  இட்ட வட்டம்.

சூரியன் பல்லை இளித்தாலும்

வெக்கை பொருட்படுத்தாமல்

மொட்டைமாடியில் நின்று விட்ட பட்டம்

ஒரு கனவு போல் இன்று

குறை கூற இயலாது

காலத்தின் மாற்றம்,  

இருந்தாலும் ஏமாற்றம். 

The sky is empty 

except for the white cloud.

Summer break has come to an end 

On Monday, classes began 

The boys had forgotten 

Kites in vibrant colors. 

A demon named Manja.

Because of the neck slit

Kite-flying customs

fled away from us.

The time spent looking up

Kites with multiple colors

circled the sky.

Even with the sun shining on its teeth,

Regardless of how hot it is,

standing on the terrace to leave a kite.

Today feels like a dream.

It is impossible to criticize the situation.

Change of time

It was, however, a letdown. 

FYI, flying kites is prohibited in most of the cities in our state following many incidents of neck slits by the special thread used for flying the kite. The thread goes through treatment of strengthening, which uses glass and iron particles so that it can cut off other kites. When such kites float in the air or the thread comes off, it slits the necks of those who ride bikes. So the government has banned flying or selling kites in order to stop those incidents. 

Signs2

The stone slab outside the Koyambedu Bus Stand in Chennai, one of the largest bus stations in Asia, commemorates the day the foundation for the Chennai Suburban Bus Stand was laid. 

The engraved inscription on the stone slab was beautifully embellished with illustrations that highlight the landmarks and cultural symbols of Tamil Nadu. On the left stood the saint, Tiruvaluvar, and on the right was the stone chariot of the Valluvar Kottam in Chennai. The top line includes the rock-cut temples of Mamallapuram and the statue of Kannagi from the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. 

The foundation was laid by the late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi. 

A warning sign or message to drivers on the east coast road, abbreviated as ECR.

The government renamed ECR Muthtamil Kalaizar Road two days ago (after the late Tamil Nadu chief minister, M.Karunanithi); however, I believe that the original name (ECR) was more appropriate and easier to pronounce.  Even though the OMR (old Mamallapuram Road), the IT corridor of Chennai, was renamed  Rajiv Gandhi Road some time ago, people still refer to it by its former name. Similarly, I expect the ECR will continue to spell the same. 

RGB Monday

 A couple of colorful Kolam from Pongal. 

These are the remaining Kolams from the Pongal festival (Jan 14), which I shared here. As usual, I went around the neighborhood on Pongal Day looking for colorful kolams drawn by the neighbors, I couldn't find many kolams this year, same as last year, but I did manage to photograph a few. 

இளவேனிற்காலம் / The Spring

இளவேனிற்காலம் தொடங்குகையில் மைனாக்களின் கொஞ்சல்  சத்தம்!
கத்தரித்த மரங்களில் துளிர்விட தொடங்கிய இலைகள்;
மெல்ல மெல்ல விலகும் பனி
சூரியனின் வெம்மை உருகியது இளவேனி!

மெருகூட்டப்படாத சூரிய ஒளியில்  
இதமான  கடல் காற்றோடு
கிளியும் குயிலும் பாடல் படிக்க
விடிந்தது வசந்த காலம்.  

மழையை கடத்தும் மேகமாய்
நினைவுகளை சுமந்து வரும் கடல் காற்று.
வருடம் தவறாமல், மனம் இளைப்பாற  
இளமைக்கால நினைவுகள்ளோடு இளவேனிற்காலம்.

the translate:

As spring arrives, the faint sound of mynas!
The leaves of pruned trees are beginning to bloom;
The dew is gradually melting.
The sun's rays thawed the springs!

In the unpolished sunlight
With a light breeze from the sea
Parrots and Koels read the song
Spring has arrived. 

Clouds that transmit rain
The sea breeze transports memories.
Year after year, the mind relaxes.

Spring with memories of youth. 

RGB Monday

 Few colorful Kolam from Pongal. 

On the evening of Pongal (Jan 14), I went for a walk around the neighborhood, like what I was doing for the last few years on Pongal day, looking for colorful Kolams drawn from the neighbors. Same as last year, I couldn't find many kolam, but somehow managed to click some.

Happy Valentines to all 

Narai Ezhuthum Suyasaritham (A Tamil movie review after a long back)

Manikandan of Jai Bhim, Aela, Kaala fame’s directorial debut “Narai Ezhuthum Suyasaritham” is an excellent reflection of a middle-class retiree’s life and his struggle to cope with the younger generation.  With Manikandan himself as an actor in the role of the unemployed, survives by just drinking tea is a motion poster of a youngster who seeks jobs by trekking across the streets of Chennai. 

For Delhi Ganesh, as a retiree, “NES” is another imprint on his career.  Hats off to the team for coming up with a simple story, the contemporary reality of the former generation that struggles to move along with the IT-based younger generation. 

I admire Manikandan as an actor on screen for revealing realistic acting, and now as a director and writer, my admiration has grown. And he had tried well to fill the generation gap through this beautiful and emotional flick. Manikandan's acting in Jaibeam as a lockup victim is exceptional and sent us to an emotional peak, and his appearance in unkempt hair and beard resembled a typical tribe.

The comedian-actor and anchor in Tamil, Aadhavan, had done a role opposite to his character in nature (as lighthearted) with a formal face and scornful against his retired father is a different experience for him and us as well. A couple of songs in the movie had significantly woven to suit the emotional texture, and the lyrics were of pulling the right strings of the heart. 

The importance of the later generation and their memorization of what the automated and computerized world missed had well captured the director's notice impressed me. Overall, a must-watch movie with the family. I think every family who has a retired person could easily connect with the subject likewise. 

(The movie is available on SonyLiv)

RGB Monday

Our Colorful Pongal Kolam

Not alone Pongal, any festival or event is not celebrated without drawing Kolam in Tamil culture. Although kolam is a Hindu custom or tradition, drawing a beautiful kolam in front of or in the courtyard of an event venue draws attention and adds charm to it. In Hindu custom, drawing Kolam is a daily activity of a household (mostly the women) in front of their house; until we moved to the 1st floor of our native home, mom used to draw Kolam every day. But now, due to a knee problem and difficulty in waking up early morning, she stopped drawing Kolam; but my aunt continued to draw the kolam on our doorstep, which was common to both of us.

This year's Pongal festival was better than the previous year where the covid and some personal losses took away the festive spirit and celebration mood. Though, this year too, we missed the traditional way of celebration with mud pot Pongal, what made it special was the arrival of the two new nephews. My sister’s (cousin) son, nephew Jeswanth, went to their house to celebrate Pongal while my brother’s son Kavin came here from their maternal home for the Pongal. Now Kavin had gone back, and Jeswanth returned. I hope you guys too had a good festival time if you celebrate Pongal.

வண்ண விதானம் / Colored Umbrella

ஒரு வானவில் நடந்து சென்றது 

சாலையில், வண்ணத்திருவிழா! 

கோடையில், ஒரு வண்ண விதானம் 

மழையில் நனைகையில்; வண்ண நிழல்குடை   

வண்ண இழையில் நெய்த வானவில் 

மடங்கிவிடும் கைப்பிடிக்குள். 

A rainbow walked

On the road, color festival! 

In summer, a colored canopy

When soaking in the rain, a colored umbrella; 

Rainbow weaved in colored fabric

Folded into the handle. 

சுற்றுப்புற சொர்க்கம் / Ambient paradise

காற்றோடு கவி பாடும் குயில் 

மலரரோடு தேன்  சுவைக்கும்  வண்டு 

கிளையொடு கழைக்கூத்தாடும் அணில் 

கீச் கீச் என்று மாங் குத்தும் கிளி   

அழைக்கும் சைகையில் மயக்கும் மைனா 

மறைந்திருந்து சடசடக்கும் மீன்கொத்தி  

ஆரவாரத்துடன் வந்த தவிட்டு குருவிகள் 

எல்லாம் சேர்ந்து சொர்கத்திற்கு வித்திட்டன. 

translate in eng:

The cuckoo sang with the wind 

Honey-tasting beetle with flower 

A squirrel acrobat with branches 

Mango stabbing parrot shrieks

Myna enchants in the nodding gesture

Kingfisher rattle from somewhere hideaway

Yellow-billed babbler that came with cheers

Altogether,  they sowed to heaven.

இளம் சூரிய ஒளி / Young Sunlight

இதமான தன் கதிர் தூரிகையால்
வருடியவாறே, ஓய்வுக்கு சென்றது சூரியன்.
இதயத்தில் நம்பிக்கையை ஒளிரவிடும்  வகையில்
இளம் மஞ்சள் ஒளியை ஏந்தியவாறு
இளம் வெப்ப நுனியில் தலை கோதி 

இரவை துணையாக விட்டு சென்றது. 

------------- --------------

Pleasant with her radiant brush

The sun caressed as she went to rest.

To illuminate hope in the heart

She carried a young yellow light,

Head stroke on a young hot tip

Left night to accompany.

RGB Monday

A couple of colorful Kolam from the neighborhood, shot on the day of the Pongal festival last month. 

Since I took this from my evening walk, the Pongal pot kolam (above) drawn in the morning was scattered a bit at the bottom as people used by.  

Both the Kolams above were from the same house in the neighborhood. 

A cow and calf

A cow and calf drove down our street on Mattu Pongal – the third day (Jan 15) of the Pongal festival celebrated to thank cattle. Each year we find a cow or two drove down our street after the worship or perhaps to or fro from a temple visit since they are celebrated on this day. I guess the cows are walked down from a nearby slum because they could only be seen at those places in the city.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

A word to abort

The Tamil word‘**tha’ is becoming trending. Those who knew Tamil will know what I mean. I don't say that the word has never been uttered in films before. Either that word would be muted or beeped. Or the user of that word will be a negative character, so it will not make a big impact. But when the protagonists themselves using that word become trending.

Actor Surya used that word in Soorarai Pottru, following actor Vijay in Master and G V too uttered the word '**tha' in his upcoming film while expressing his anger. I don't know what that means, but it's definitely an obscene word. Heroes are better off avoiding this as it may affect the growing generation.

I have heard some people speak this word casually, but since words like this come up in the films, it too will definitely affect the younger generation when great actors speak that word. I wish they do not create an "F word" culture in Tamil!

RGB Monday

The four days of the Pongal festival went with the flow and I was just idle watching a couple of newly released movies on OTT and entertained by other programs on tv and YouTube.   As usual, I went for Kolam hunting on our streets on the Pongal evening, but as I expected, I couldn’t see many colorful kolams, and some are in regular patterns to shoot. The Pongal festival wasn’t lively at home, and we miss the Pongal cooked in mud pot right outside the home, what we had done for the last four years, including two years along with uncle’s family. This year’s Pongal was the same as what happens when you eat Pongal – a dull feeling.

But the next day, the Mattu Pongal was good enough as I went on an outing on ECR to explore a couple of places, and what can give me happiness other than the opportunity of travel? I enjoyed the day, except for a couple of disadvantages, and this was my first outing with the sister-in-law, and it went all comfortably. I may write on the places in further posts with photos.

Now coming to RGB Monday, I share my aunt’s colorful pot Kolam she drew for the Pongal festival. Mom’s knee pain stopped her from participating in drawing Kolam, so my aunty managed to draw two more simple Kolams, the only colorful thing we added this year for the Pongal. Hope the Pongal is celebrated with happiness and peace at every house of Tamil people and a wonderful weekend for the others.

Spiritless Pongal Festival?

2020 exists no more, but it took away the happiness and festival spirit with along. I didn’t decorate the Christmas tree or put lights for Christmas and New Year, and now with Pongal, in 2 days I couldn’t feel excited in the usual way.  Pongal is the only festival that leftover to speak the tradition and culture of Tamil people living all over the world and it is a common festival that communicates our lifestyle and unites the people to support and thank farmers for their continuous work of feeding.

Every year we used to draw colorful Kolams, aka Rangoli, in front of the home to add auspiciousness to the festival, and boiling milk and rice in a mud pot, on top of firewood, is another kind of gesture greeting farmers and nature, and also helping the pottery workers.

I always love celebrating a festival beyond its religious beliefs and rituals, as I believe festivals are mean to gather people and celebrate the spirit of togetherness. Pongal is a social festival and farmer’s festive so wishing for their wellness is important and being a pandemic period, we had no option other than limiting our celebrations although our celebration is always restrained to two families. But this year is gonna be celebrated in the kitchen itself. Hehe

Talking about the past year will only make it sadder than happier, and it is a year the world will never forget for the number of losses mankind faced, but the consoling fact was nature restored its place even if it is a temporary phase.  Personally, 2020 is a devastating year for us apart from the pandemic Dracula sucking the life from all over the world, some lives were lost in our family circle and a couple of them were quite unexpected. Though no life is lost for COVID-19, my uncle’s death was the most sent tremors into our family than the cousin who died leaving back two little kids. No life is left to comparable and life is a life that is replaceable by anything but we haven’t been close with that cousin to deeply feel the pain.

This cousin is a good-hearted guy, and kindness would melt in front of his smile, and he had never raised his voice or think to hurt anybody, but he died out of high pressure and cardiac arrest. Perhaps because of this, he hadn't shared his problems with others, and this is a problem with many of our reserved types is to suffer silently. He’s a project manager in a reputed IT firm and an affectionate kid to his mom and with a problematic married life, should I need to define the challenges he got in front of him to cease his life?

My uncle is just 6 months younger than my dad and thus they are like best friends and whatever it is dad only call him first to know his thought before proceeding. I would say he was an iron man who lived among us, and his support to our families is significantly strong and there’s nothing he unknown, and has great grasping power to workout things at observing.  It was him, and it was on his captainship my brother’s wedding in November held successfully. But he couldn’t live less than a week to see them lead their life or any of our future events.  

We meet him frequently or to say at least once in a week or two, it was hard for us to think or feel he’s no more but we feel regret for our aunt who misses him the most as a loving wife. They lived like made for each other and as a cool and casual couple.  They lead any of our functions from the front and now seeing her confined to home hurts really. I hope she returns to normalcy and continues the way she was earlier. I know she too knows life has to move on, more than any of the other, as she already came over her daughter’s demise a decade ago. My thoughts go for her…

Thank you

Preparing for Bro's Wedding

Brother’s wedding arrangements were going in full swing, and with only two days left for the occasion – of Nov 25^th evening reception and Nov 26^th morning marriage – the invitation process came to an end with Panthakaal on Sunday. Panthakaal is a pre-wedding ritual, where a wooden pole is planted in front of the house (a few days ahead of the wedding) after prayer for a trouble-free wedding ceremony. In the bygone era, word of mouth was the only source of communication; so pole planting ensures the passers-by get to know about the wedding and also the good news is passed to others.

Now, following the Panthakaal, Nalanggu is performed on him for the remaining days to the wedding. Nalanggu is an activity of applying turmeric paste on the cheeks, hands, and feet of the bride and groom by the married women, and as a blessing, saffron is applied to their forehead. Mostly it’s a 3-day ritual, and we are having guests visiting us every day to perform the rite, and my brother is at hold at home from Sunday.  Other than relatives, we invite friends and neighbors to visit us to perform the ritual, and for me, I get something special to eat at home in the evenings and at night as we have guests.

Everything goes well until now, and our house got a cheerful look like the wedding lights that set home in the festival glow. But not to forget, the Nivar cyclone is nearing us and threatening to mess the celebration mood as it is predicted to strike exactly on the dates of the wedding. We have no option other than facing anything that comes our way, but we hope the cyclone passes off quickly before the event began.

The last few weeks were kind of huff and puff for the parents, and presenting the invitation has kept them away from the afternoon naps and our bedtime to past 11 pm. My uncle's family next door has taken care of me while my parents were away on an inviting spree, we still can’t reach out to many of them as we got a very short time, and the pandemic is another troublesome kicking ass as well. Conducting a marriage in a situation of social distancing and mask-wearing is a different experience we’re looking forward to, and hope things work well for us safely and securely.

இமைக்கா நொடிகள் / Unblinking Seconds

 

கண்கள் வழியே காதல் மலருதே

கொடியேன நாளங்களில் புது ரத்தம் படருதே

உற்சாகத்தில் இதயம், வேகம் எடுக்குதே

வெயிலோ மழையோ, மெய்மறந்து போகுதே.

 

அவள் அல்லி மலரோ அல்ல, அழகில்  

குறிஞ்சி மலரோ அல்ல, வியந்திட

முல்லை மலரோ அல்ல, மணத்திட

மனம் ஒன்றிய பிறகு எம்மலரும் சம்மதமே .

 

அவள் அருகே இருந்தும் மௌனம் பேசியதே!

வளையோசை மட்டும் தனியே ஒலித்தது

இமைகள் மூட மறந்து உற்று நோக்குதே   

கருவிழியின் கொள்ளை அழகில்

- விழிகள் விலக மறுத்து

சிறு பிள்ளை போல் பிடிவாதம் பிடிக்கிது.

மேகம் திரண்டு மழையென பொழிந்தாலும்  

இமைக்கா நொடியில் பரவசம் ஆகுதே.

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Love blooms through the eyes

Like the vines, new blood spread in  the veins

In excitement, heart take the speed

Either it's sunshine or rain, mesmerized.

She isn’t  a lily in beauty

Or Kurunji to be surprised

Nor Jasmine to be fragrant

When the mind is united, any blossom is consent.

Although she was nearby, silence spoke!

The whisper of bangles sounded alone

The eyelids forget to close and stare

At the robbing beauty of the iris

The eyes refuse to roll  

Stubborn like a small child.

Even if the clouds gather and rain

The unblinking seconds be ecstatic.