Postmen in the Mountains

I think the title reveal it all, but that isn't enough and there’s something much more to behold bewitch and enhancing about the film that words could mere describe. With no subtitle I watched this Chinese movie moves with light hearted emotions between a father and son amid stunning mountain scenery and remote villages, leaves a deep impact at the rear fall.

With the soothing traditional Chinese music, the movie wakes up to the misty morning among the mountains and patches of green fields; where a young man leaves his home with backpack of letters or mails on a journey as a postman at the mountainous rural areas of China. Back in memories, his father, who forced to retire due to a bad knee decided to accompany his son who succeed his job as a postman for years, on his journey exploring the routes and mail recipients.

The film embark on hiking routes throughout, walking up and down the valleys and climbing mounds and crossing rivers, the father guides his son from behind on the nitty-gritty of the job, makes him realize that it’s not just a job of distributing letters but being courtesy and generous at exhibiting friendship with villagers. There are many popup flashbacks alongside the journey sending bond waves of memories embrace with current emotions and gestures between the father and son is remarkable.

Almost light warming, damp and dew, the film beholds some visual treat and the way of nature exists was enchanting and breathtaking, while no trace of added special effects or use of technology everything sights simple and beautiful. Not to forget the German shepherd that accompanies all the ways ahead their journey emphasis with its gratefulness and as a guide signals at certain attain.

Footnote:

'Postmen in the Mountains' is a 1999 Chinese movie – originally titled as 'Nàshān nàrén nàgǒu', based on a short story set in the early 80’s, around the mountainous region of western Hunan province of China. The movie attracted me so much or I moved to core by watching it that I would recommend anyone to watch it in silence (not putting at mute) and it doesn't need any dialogue to understand where gestures speaks a lot!

நந்தலாலா... / Cradlesong...

Image Courtesy: Indian Nature Watch

கூக்குரல் காரர்களுக்கு 

காக்கை  கூட்டில் தாலாட்டு; 

கரகர குரலில்
காகம் படும் நந்தலாலா... 

ஏங்கும் குயில்களுக்கு
காகம் ஊட்டும் அமாவாசை சோறு;
பறக்கஇயலாத பறவைக்கு
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா...

For the cuckoos
lullabies at crow’s nest;
in the voice of caw
crow sings the cradlesong...

For the longing Koels – cuckoos
crow feeds a new moon’s meal;
for the bird incapable to fly
crow’s feathers is the cradlesong...

PS. Inspired by the Crow Koel relationship.

இலையுதிர்காலம் / Fall Season

Image Courtesy: Colourbox

இலையுதிர்காலம் இது, உலகெங்கும் 

வண்ண மலர்கள் இலைகளாய்; 

சிவப்பு  கம்பளம் விரித்து, வரவேற்கிறது 

பருவகால பனி  பெண்ணை.

வேகாஸ் சென்றார் போல், மரங்கள் 

இலைகள் கலைந்த நிலையில்;

ஏங்கிகொண்டிருந்தன, பனி பெண்கள்
வந்து ஒட்டி உறவாட!

Its fall season everywhere
where colorful flowers as leaves;
stretched its red carpet to welcome
the seasonal snow women.

Like went to Vegas, trees
go naked without leaves;
longing for the snow women
to come stick hold and intimate!

A part of outing and nuclear power

This is a post on the remaining photos from my last outing on ECR in August and it’s been nearly two month I went out of home except couple of time to watch movies and beach visits, since dad got cataract surgery in the middle of August. For more than a month mom was the only person to take care of me quite and so it wasn't easy for me to think of going out and giving much trouble to her but I have a great company of birds and wonderful weather around.

I hope you all remember my visit across the Kalpakkam Township – a quiet green residential area of Indira Gandhi Atomic Power Station and it has a beautiful backwater lake and small calm lagoon delta to unwind. It was mid noon when we come around the backwater channel that divides the township and it has a well laid platform aside the lake to stroll at leisure in evening. Wish I could be there again one evening experiencing the unwind moment and whisper of waves.

There are many paddy fields on the way to Kalpakkam and they are all evergreen in light and dark shades compare to the growth of stalks. When people are protesting against the Nuclear Power Project in Kudankulam, Kalpakkam stands very close to the farm lands setting an example of unchanged environment and greenery against the thought of Atomic Power Stations will spoil the environment and threat livelihoods.

I think the protest in Kudankulam is unnecessary and when many experts expressing their vows that the Power Station is fully protected, there is no mean for continues protest. Everyone knows that Nuclear power is harmful but there’s a way for handling everything at safe and there isn’t certain that only the nuclear power would destroy lives than anything else. We move only by hope kept forth and there’s risk at every turn, so could we stop traveling and progressing in life?

Wish government take steps to clear their unsecured feeling and peace returned to Kudankulam and Idinthakarai!

YMCA Building

Last year I come around the core area of Chennai, the so called Mount Road, Central and Parrys and got to capture some remarkable buildings and landmarks of Chennai; and one among them was the YMCA Building. Young Men’s Christian Association building is an architectural marvel located on the NSC Bose road in Esplanade; and it was the first building to be built in Madras at the request of then Governor Arthur Have-lock in 1900.

YMCA Esplanade is the oldest branch of the Madras YMCA, established in year 1890 by an American Secretary Mr. David McConaughy in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. YMCA is a Jaina-Jaipuri style of building, began its work in 1895 was completed by a donation of $40,000 by John Wanamaker, the then Post-Master General of the US. The building was designed by G.S.T Harding and it is one of the oldest heritages of Chennai – the then Madras.