தாணுவின் முதல் திரைப்படம்...

[Reepeettuu...]
வேற ஒன்னும் இல்லை, எங்க இரண்டு வயது குட்டி தாணு முதல் முதலா சினிமா தியேட்டர்ல படம் பார்த்த அனுபவத்தை பற்றி ஒரு போஸ்ட் போடனும்னு நினைச்சேன். இப்போ தன டைம் கிடைச்சுது.
ரொம்ப நாளாவே நானும் அவங்க அம்மாவும் அவன தியேட்டர்க்கு தூக்கிட்டு போகணும்னு நினைச்சோம். அதுவும் அவன் டிவில வர பாட்டுக்கு எல்லாம் குதிச்சு குதிச்சு டான்ஸ் ஆடுவதை பார்க்கும் போது சிக்கிரமா கூட்டிட்டு போகணும்னு நினைச்சோம். அந்த சமயத்துல தான் வேட்டைக்காரன் வந்துச்சு, போகலாம்னு நினைச்சோம். ஆனா அந்த படத்த பார்த்தவங்க சொன்ன விமர்சனத்த கேட்ட பிறகு அந்த ஐடியாவ கை விட்டுடோம். பின்ன, நாளைக்கு அவன் வளர்ந்து "போயும் போயும் முதல் முதலா அந்த படதுக்கு போய் என்ன கூட்டிட்டு போய்டீங்களே" என்று சொன்ன நாங்க எங்க போய் முட்டிகறது?
ஒரு சண்டே அன்னைக்கு இன்னைக்கு கண்டிப்பா படத்திற்கு செல்வது என்று முடிவு எடுத்தோம். அன்னைக்கு குட்டி வேற கொஞ்சம் மூட் அவுட்ல இருந்தான். பொறந்த அன்னைக்கு அவன அவங்க அம்மா கிட்ட படுக்க வச்சப்போ கூட கொஞ்சம் மூட் அவுட்ல இருந்த மாதிரி தான் இருந்தான். அதுக்கு முன்னாடி மதியம் அவங்க சித்தி கிட்ட இருந்த போது கொஞ்சம் நார்மலா இருந்த மாதிரி இருந்தான். அந்த விஷயத்திற்கு அப்புறம் வரேன். கிளம்ப ஆரம்பிச்சோம். சங்கம் தியேட்டர்ல எதோ ஒரு படத்திற்கு போகலாம் என்று முடிவு செய்து வண்டிய எடுத்தேன். அங்கே போனால் "கண்டேன் காதலை" படம் தான் பார்க்கிற மாதிரி இருந்துச்சு. இன்னும் ஒண்ணுல வேட்டைக்காரன் ஓடிட்டு இருந்துச்சு. அதுக்கு போகலாம்னு என் மனசுல ஒரு ஓரத்துல தோனுச்சு. ஆனா தம்மன்னவ போஸ்டர்ல பார்த்ததும் மனசு மர்றி "கண்டேன் காதலை" பார்க்கலாம்னு டிக்கெட் வாங்கினேன். இந்த படம் ஹிந்தில சூப்பரா இருக்கும் அப்படின்னு என் மனைவி கிட்ட சொல்லி, பெர்மிச்சியன் வாங்கிட்டேன். (பின்ன, தம்மன்ன இருக்கா, அதுனால இந்த படத்துக்கு போகலாம்ன சொல்ல முடியும்???... ஏற்கனவே எங்க வீடு பூரி கட்டை வாங்குனப்ப இருந்ததுல பாதி சைஸ் தான் இப்போ இருக்கு... அது எப்படி தேஞ்சு போச்சுன்னு நான் வேற தனியா சொல்லனுமா???... :-)... )
கொஞ்சம் திரில்ல இருந்தது... தாணுவுக்கு போஸ்டர் எல்லாம் காட்டுனோம்... அவனும் ஒரு மாதிரி சந்தோஷ மூடுக்கு வந்துட்டான்... சினிமா ஹால்க்கு உள்ளே போனோம்... போய் எங்க சீட்டுல உட்கார்ந்தோம்... கொஞ்ச நேரத்துல படம் போடா போறாங்க... தம்பி எப்படி exite ஆகா போறான்னு பார்க்க நாங்களும் ஆர்வமா இருந்தோம்...
அவன நான் என் மடில வச்சு இருந்ததாலே கொஞ்சம் இடிசுக்கோ புடிசுக்கோ என்று தான் உங்கர்ந்திருந்தோம்... அவனும் கொஞ்சம் நெளிஞ்சு கிட்டே இருந்தான்...
பெல் அடிச்சது...
லைட் எல்லாம் ஆப் பண்ணினாங்க...
"அப்பா... கண்டு போய்ச்சு... அப்பா.... கண்டு போய்ச்சு...", என்று சொல்லி என் தோல் மீது சாய ஆரம்பித்தான்... பின் வரிசையில் மெல்லிய சிரிப்பு சத்தம் கேட்டது... சென்சர் சர்டிபிகட் போட்டு, டைட்டில் போட்டு முடிக்கும் போது தாணு குட்டி தூங்க ஆரம்பித்து இருந்தான்... நான் கொஞ்ச நேரம், அவங்க அம்மா கொஞ்ச நேரம்னு turn போட்டு அவன வச்சுஇருந்தோம்... சரியா இண்டர்வலுக்கு முழிச்சு, பிறகு படம் போட்டதும் மீண்டும் தூங்கினான்...
எப்படியோ எங்க குட்டி தாணு தியேட்டர்ல படம் பார்த்துட்டான்...
- எஸ் பி ஜி ஆர்.

சுதந்திரம் குடு...

[Reepeetttuuu...]

 சுதந்திரம் குடு...

தாணுவிற்கு இரவு சாப்பாட்டிற்கு இப்போது எல்லாம் இட்லி தோசை பிடிப்பதில்லை... அவனுக்கு 'பெட் டோஸ்ட்' தான் வேண்டும்... அவன் அம்மா இப்போது எல்லாம் காஞ்சி பேக்கரிக்கு சென்றால், கேட்காமலே பிரட் பக்கெட்டை எடுத்து தந்து விடுகிறானாம். இவன் எல்லாம் அமெரிக்கவிலோ லண்டனிலோ பிறந்து இருக்க வேண்டியவன் என்பது அவன் அம்மாவின் கருத்து.

ஆம்மாம் நம்ம வீட்டுல தான் ஒரு வெள்ளைக்கார தொரை இருக்கிறான் என்று பேகேரிகாரன்க்கு தெரியும் போல... என்று அவளிடம் சொன்னேன்...

நேற்று இரவு அவன் பிரட் டோஸ்ட் சாப்பிட்டு கொண்டு இருந்த பொது, எங்க வீடு தொரை கிட்ட சுதந்திரம் கேட்கலாம் என்று நினைத்து கேட்க ஆரம்பித்தேன்.

"தம்பி, சுதந்திரம் தா..."

"தடமாட்டேன்..." கையை வேறு பின்னல் வைத்துகொண்டான்...

"சொஞ்சம் சுதந்திரம் தா கண்ணு..."

"தடமாட்டேன்..."

நிச்சயமாக இவன் வெள்ளைக்கரனாக தான் பிறந்து இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று நினைத்து மேலும் தொடர்ந்தேன்...

"தம்பி..."

"என்ன..."

"Quit India..."

"மாட்டேன்..." மேலும் உறுதியானது...

"சரி... எப்போ சுதந்திரம் தருவே?..."

"நாளைக்கு கீச்சுக்கு போகும் பொது தான் தடுவென்..."

"அப்படியா.."

"அமாம் அப்படித்தான்..."

"சரி..."

பிறகு வேற வேலைகளை கவனிக்க தொடங்கினேன்...

சிறிது நேரத்திற்கு பிறகு, சேரில் உட்கார்ந்துகொண்டு தீவிரமாக எதோ யோசனை செய்து கொண்டு இருந்தேன்...

அது அவனுக்கு நான் வருத்த பட்டு கொண்டு இருந்ததை போல் தோன்றி இருக்க வேண்டும்...

மெல்ல என் அருகில் வந்தவன்,

"அப்பா..."

"என்ன..."

"சுந்தம் வேணுமா..."

"அமாம்..."

"இந்த வச்சுக்கோ..." என்று சொல்லி நான் அவனிடம் சுதந்திரம் கேட்ட பொழுது அவன் கையில் வைத்திருந்த பொம்மையை கொடுத்தான்...

- எஸ் பி ஜி ஆர்

Vizag Memories...

In 2005, I had my first lengthy train travel from Chennai to Vizag. The journey was roughly for about 16 hours. I enjoyed the journey, most of the time sleeping in the upper birth. I got down only once in the morning to refresh and have breakfast in Vijayawada. Though I was traveling in a reserved seat, I found that the reservations are not honored once the train crosses the Tamil Nadu border. Outside TN, people just barge-in into the reserved coaches and the TTE also never minds them, during the day time. The reservations are honored only in the night, when people sleep. Later I also observed that in Kerala also its the same. Those were some of the moments that I felt happy that I was born in Tamil Nadu, a relatively safer place.

[Vizag Railway Station]

The train reached Vizag on the next day afternoon around 1:15. The station was rather a small one, contrary to my expectation. I came out of the station and enquired where to get bus for Gajuwaka - the place where I am supposed to go. This is my first trip to visit my first little sister who worked for Hindustan Zinc Limited as an Executive. Since she will be returning from the factory at 5:00, I decided to wait in the bus stop till 4:00 and start after that, inspite of she asking me to come to her quarters and stay there. I had a good time watching various types of people coming and going in the bus stop. Also I got used to waiting for unusual long hours right from my college days in Coimbatore-where I used to wait for my Professors.

At 4:00, got into the bus to Gajuwaka and was surprised to find a conductor Akka instead of a conductor. The bus was fairly crowded and I was surprised how the Akka will manage. But she managed it beatifully walking from one end of the bus to another. I gave money and asked "Gajuwaka".
She replied "Gothaa??? Paadha???".
Who knows.
I said "Hindustan Zinc", without knowing whether its a suitable answer for her question.
She said "Oh... Gothaa..." and gave me the ticket.
I got the ticket from her and said in telegu(according to me atleast :-)...) "Gajuwaka comes, Cheppandi..."
I got down at Gajuwaka, just in front of the Hindustan Zinc factory. Time was around 4:30 and so I decided to have tea and bajji in the shop in front of the factory.
I ordered for tea and 2 bajjis. I was surprised to see the shop-keeper cutting the bajji into 2 halves laterally and stuffing onion soaked in chilli inside it and gave it to me. I tried a bit, but couldnt swallow due to it hotness(mirchiness). I then had the bajji alone and even that was very hot with chilli.

I went inside at 5:00 and my sister came running from the factory, in the same way she used to come running from her 1st standard class, on seeing me, some 20 years back. I watched with surprise and pride how she was respected by the security and everyone in the factory as she was holding a senior position in the factory as an executive.

Evening we went for shopping the the Gajuwaka streets, especially to Bommanna stores and to CMR shopping mall in the city. That was the first time I was hearing the word "shopping mall" and CMR shopping mall was the first mall I ever saw in my life.

[Gajywaka streets]

Inside a floor in CMR shopping mall

[CMR shopping mall]

After our shopping we went to have dinner in a nearby restaurant(I think its Akash restaurant in Gajuwaka). There I was surprised to find that there they even serve the items in our plates. In chennai, the bearer's job ends once he places the items on our table.

The next day we decided to go for a movie. Without knowing what movies were running in the city, we just took an auto and went to the nearby theatre. It had 2 screens and 2 movies were running in it. One movie was named "Apparao Driving School" and the other one was something that we couldnt pronounce even in thought its name was written in English too. We dropped "Apparao Driving School" as the hero in the poster looked like a grandfather. We decided to see the other movie as we saw Siddarth in the poster and sister added "Anna, Trisha is also there." I started wondering when Trisha started acting in Telegu movies.

[Nuvostanante Nenuoddantana]

We called up our little sister, who was in our native, and gave us our status update. Also we mentioned the movie as "Nu.. something..". She immediately identified the movie and told its full name said that it was directed by Prabhu Deva. I was wondering when this Prabhu Deva become a director.

When the counter opened, we went to the person and asked "Siddharth movie". The person got confused and said no such movie running, then he identified and said "Oh... Nuvosthanante Nenoddantana..." and gave us the ticket. We went inside. It was posh theatre, with a beautifully decorated interior. The movie started and we started watching it without any expectations. The first few scenes were very heavy with lot of senti. I got shocked that we came to such a movie. My sister was surprised that she is able to understand the telegu conversations in the movie very well, and thus she had already got a hold of the telegu language. She started translating the conversations for me. It turned out to be a very good movie and we enjoyed the rest of the movie. The songs were especially superb. The movie reminded me of many hindi and tamil movies that I have watched as kid such as "Maine Pyar Kia".We was surprised to see a teen aged girl who had come to the movie alone, who was sitting and watching by the side of us. In our place, such girls used to come either with her friends or parents and never alone.

The next day I returned from Vizag with lot of good and sweet memories, without any idea that someday I will be killing my time by writing a lengthy, boring blog about it :-).



- Pavala.

New Televison

For quite a couple of days we have been thinking about getting a new television for our home. Though our existing 14 inch LG CRT CineMax is working perfectly, we want to get a new one just for a change. Initially we were open for any TV, with the only condition that it has to be a big one with a large screen. And also it needs to have a longer life.

After initial analysis on the web, found that LCDs and LEDs typically have a life of 1 to 3 years like that of mobile phones. Also the sound quality is not upto the mark, unless we attach a home theatre to it. So we started considering CRT. We got confused between LED and CRT, since the low end LCDs have almost caught the price of high-end(???) CRTs. Also we have 2 little friends in our home who have the habit of scratching, rubbing, tapping the screen with hand or with any available objects. So finally since the screen also has to be robust, we decided to go for a CRT TV for now and after 10 years, buy an LCD or a TV with any latest technology that time.

CRTs with good sound effect, picture clarity, low cost, durability and with a big screen was our final choice. Though it might strain the eyes a bit more than a LCD, we decided to get a good CRT TV. Initially I tried to order online, but found that no one was selling and shipping CRT online. Of course I found one seller, but he is in UP and they ship big objects like TV only within UP. So we were left with no option but to buy in shops. We went to the nearby mall and found that they dont sell TV at all. Then in a week-end we went to another mall (or stores) and there they informed that now the trend has changed and no one is buying CRT these days. But we could see 3 CRTs in the display. But they looked very old and dusty and the salesman informed that only that those were available and if want a CRT, we need to take one among them, since CRTs are no more in production.

So, we came home back, dis-appointed. That week I again started my analysis on the web and found that CRTs are still in production. And they are made only in 2 sizes - 21 inches and 29 inches. The production is stopped only in the US. And compaies like LG and Samsung still make CRT models for markets like India. These models are more advanced than the traditional (vintage TVs that most of us had in our homes) with features like Slim and Ultra-Slim picture tubes. These TVs are semi-digital and they differ from their LCD and LED counter parts only in the display technology. All other inner hardware remain the same. Since more space is available inside the cabinet, they are equipped with high power speakers of 350 to 500 Watts PMPO.

With this info, I again went to shops, this time to bigger shops. Most of them said that those CRT models are no more in production. We even went to Tata Chroma where we saw lots of big and bigger LCD and LED TVs, showing bright pictures. My little friend Dhanu liked the 3D TV among them. He said "The people are coming out of the TV"  when he watched the 3D TV with a 3D glass and also attempted to hide behind his mom when a dog jumped from the TV :-). He finally unianimously declared that we need to buy that Glass TV(according to him, since we need a glass(specs) to view that TV). I convinced him that we dont have that much space to keep that TV in our home. In Tata Chroma, they have their own brand-Chrome TV-a CRT model-29 inches. But it was slim and not ultra-slim. We wanted a ultra-slim TV, since it is very thin and one cannot easily make out that its a CRT, since it almost looks like an LCD when viewed from the front.

After a couple of days, we totally dropped the idea to buy a new TV. We convinced ourselves that the existing TV iteself will work for more than 10 years, and we can change TV after that time and by that time our little friends will also be grown up. But the next day, when I went for buying grocery, I found a small shop with lot of CRTs. I went inside and got to know that they were manufactured in Jan 2012. This again revived our idea to buy a CRT TV.

One day I went to the same mall(or stores) for buying a gift for one of my college, where I happened to see a lot of packed LG CRT slim TVs kept near the escalator. I saw the label in the cartoon and found that their manufacturing date is Feb 2012. Then I left the mall and went to it again with my friend on the next day, with the final idea to buy one among those TVs.

When I approached salesman, he denied that they have any such TV. We told him that we saw a few near the escalator. He insisted that in CRTs they have only those 3 pieces kept in display. We still insisted that we saw a couple of TVs near the escalator. It seems somehow that all the people into TV selling business decided to push the LCD and LEDs and never even attempt to sell the CRT. The reason is very obvious - since all have atleast one TV in their home, which will be a CRT. And somehow if the salespeople manage to push the sales of LCD, then everyone will consider replacing their CRT with an LCD/LED and thereby increasing their sales.

We almost came to the end of dropping the idea of buying a TV altogether. But the salesman thought for a while, went to his supervisor and then agreed to locate and open the TV box, only if we are sure to buy it. We said we will buy it for sure. Then they located & opened the cartoon, took out the TV, connected it and starting testing it. People in that area gave a different look at us, and they were surprised to see us buying a CRT TV. The TV also had a USB socket using which contents in a pen-drive can be watched on the TV.  Its an LG TV 21 inches, ultra-slim with a USB feature.

We paid the amount, bought the TV and brought it home. Our little friend jumped with enthu on seeing the new TV. I opened the box, pulled the TV from the box and at that moment, remembered the moment when our father pulled out the 20 inches BPL black & white TV from the cartoon some 23 years back and how we kids were jumping out of joy. On that day, our home was filled with a large crowd, and my mother even took an Aarathi of both the TV and my father when he carried it inside our home from the auto. I will write that in a seperate post :-).

Coming back, Connected the power and cable lines to TV and it started serving us. Finally we got a new TV in our home :-). And below are a couple of pictures of our new TV.

[LG CRT TV inside the box]

[LG CRT TV Outside the box]

- Pavala.

Tirumalai @ Trivandrum

It was in 2003 when I was attending training as a fresher in Trivandrum that Vijay's Tirumalai got released. I was new to Kerala, home-sick, pulled our of my comfort zone and trying to get adapted to the new environment and life-style. We all trainees were staying in a hotel called Aruvi, in Pattom, Trivandrum.

[Hotel Aruvi(Aruvi Tourist home), Pattom, Trivandrum]

In the picture above, the gate on the extreme left is the hotel's main gate. Now a security is found sitting there, in those days there was no such security. The door next to it is a phone booth, run by the same Hotel Aruvi. In this phone booth, I had spent long hours, both for calling home and also for a hidden agenda :-). And next to it is Woolands hotel, where we used to have our food.

On a weekend, on one afternoon, I decided to watch a movie in theatre. Among the movies running there at that time, I decided to go for Vijay's movie Thirumalai. In those days, I like to watch watch Vijay's movies in theatres, mainly for the fast songs and the accompanying dance sequences.

I got ready, went to the bus stop nearby Aruvi hotel and got into the town bus that goes to the bus stand. In the bus stand I didnt know where to go or how to reach the theatre. I didnt even know in which theatre the mvoie was put up. I was heading for the morning 11:30 show. I found an auto outside the bus stand and told the auto Chetan about my situation. He at once jumped into action. He took a newspaper, that he had kept by inserting between the auto's iron frame and the auto's rexin roof. He turned the pages, saw the advertisement of movies released in theatres, located Thirumalai and found that it was put up in the Ajantha theatre. And he drove fast to that theatre as the time was already 11:25.

 [Ajantha Theatre, Trivandrum]

The auto reached the theatre at 11:35(five minutes late). Paid and thanked the Chetan, and ran to the counter. The person at the counter said that only Rs. 12 ticket was available. I didnt mind it, as my only intention at that time was to somehow enter the theatre. I got the ticket, ran to the hall and entered the auditorium. The movie was already put up and I just stood at the gate after entering, since the hall was so dark and I couldnt see anything clearly. Then after getting some visibility of the path, slowly went inside and sat in the seat number mentioned in my ticket. That was the first row in the theatre and it was very close the screen. I had to lift my head up to see the screen and turn my head left and right, if I had to watch the individual characters on the screen. Intially, it appeared to be a nuisance, but once I started involving in the movie, I became ok. I also convinced myself that since I am in the first row, I am seeing the movie before everyone else in the hall, however fast the light travels :-). Exactly after I sat, the song "Vaadi Amma Jakkamma" started. So fast movements, fast music and I was satisfied that it was worth coming all the way from Pattom.

The movie had a boring story, with boring twists and turns. Still I enjoyed and watched the movie :-). Had pop-corn in the interval. After the movie was over, walked back to bus-stand. On the way, found a mid-sized hotel and had meals. The first question they ask in the hotel is "White rice?". I know that there is another kind of rice there - brown rice, a little bit big in size, which gives the feeling of chewing a bubble gum for those who are not used to it and hence difficult to swallow. Had a good lunch with all types of non-veg curries, chicken side-dish. From the bus stand got a bus and reached Pattom back.

- Pavala.