Twin White Roses !!

1982 இல் போஸ்ட் மார்டம் என்ற த்ரில்லர் படம் மலையாளத்தில் வெளியானது. டாக்டர் பவித்ரன் கதை, திரைக்கதை எழுத, சசிகுமார் படத்தை இயக்கியிருந்தார்.   பிரேம் நசீர், மம்முட்டி, சுகுமாரன், ஸ்வப்னா, பாலன் கே.நாயர், குதிரவட்டம் பப்பு போன்றவர்கள் நடித்திருந்தனர்.  இந்த படம் ஓடியதை விட அதன் தமிழ் மொழி தழுவல் நன்றாக ஓடியது !! 

To the freshers, be it straight out of college or about to enter a wedlock, people present White rose -   Roses,  in white, symbolize purity, loyalty, innocence, and young love. The fact that it represents youthfulness also implies the significance of a new beginning!   

Father James, Parisutham is a multimillionaire and head of the town, Peter   is the son of coffin maker Savaerimuthu -an angry young man. Peter's sister Mary  and Parisutham's son Johnny are in love. Mary becomes pregnant and at that time Johnny has to leave the country for few days on business, so she asks the Father James' help to arrange her marriage;  Peter's girlfriend Lakshmi, overhears part of a conversation between Father James and Mary on her pregnancy and misunderstands that the Father and Mary were involved in a taboo relationship,  .. .. .. !! 

When it comes to roses, there is a rainbow of available colors, each of which possesses a very particular meaning. While certainly a vibrant red or yellow rose can be stunning, white roses have a special significance. These blossoms are no doubt the ultimate floral symbol of innocence, and they carry with them a certain serenity and peace that is bound to be felt by anyone who beholds them. The color of a flower’s petal is important in choosing the right ones for a special occasion. White roses are often seen as the traditional flower for weddings, earning them the name the “bride’s flower.” Because of this, white roses are also viewed as a way to symbolize a new beginning and have come to represent love, much like the red roses we see so often. 

The father James story that you read   is the plot of Tamil movie “Vellai Roja” (White Rose) released in 1983  directed by A. Jagannathan and was a musical hit with score by Illayaraja.  It featured Sivaji, Ambika, Calcutta Viswanathan, Ambika, Radha, Prabu and Silk Smitha.  It was a remake of the Malayalam film Post Mortem which was remade in Telugu in 1984 as S.P. Bhayankar, in Kannada in 1988 as Dharmathma and in Hindi in 1993 as Tahqiqaat.  

 

Back in the FlowerExpo held in Russia in 2021, Rose Noëlia impressed the attendees of the fair. Given the impact it caused on the visitors, the white rose was named novelty of the year in 2021. The obsession over the pure white color of the rose started much prior to that, and up until this day has not faded away. Rose Noëlia has a special way of getting into flower lovers' and designers' hearts and the magical ability to make arrangements look impressive. 

Miles away in Canada, Cenovus Energy is planning on spending between $600 million and $700 million on the construction of the West White Rose oil project in Newfoundland and Labrador next year. In its 2023 budget  Cenovus said it expects to spend between $1.2 billion and $1.7 billion on "optimization and growth" next year, including constructing the West White Rose platform.   The company expects first oil from the platform in 2026. 

நடிகர் சிவாஜி கணேசன் குறித்து மருது மோகன் என்பவர் 'சிவாஜி கணேசன்' என்ற நூலை எழுதியுள்ளார். இந்த நூல் வெளியீட்டு விழா சென்னையில் சமீபத்தில்  நடைபெற்றது. இந்த நிகழ்வில் சிவாஜிக்கு நெருக்கமானவர்கள் பலரும்,  இயக்குநர்கள் பாரதிராஜா, பாக்யராஜ் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலையில் இசையமைப்பாளர் இளையராஜா  'சிவாஜி கணேசன்' புத்தகத்தை வெளியிட, சிவாஜி கணேசனின் மகன்களான ராம்குமார், பிரபு ஆகியோர் பெற்றுக்கொண்டனர்.  நிகழ்ச்சியில் கவிஞர் முத்துலிங்கம் கலந்து கொண்டு பேசினார். அப்போது அவர் சிவாஜியை பற்றி அதிகம் பேசுவார் என எதிர்பார்த்திருந்த நிலையில் இளையராஜாவை பற்றியே அதிகம் புகழ்ந்து பேசிக்கொண்டு இருந்தார்.

 

.. and Twin White Roses of my terrace garden this morning 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
30.12.2022 

Pigeons' fluttering !

Count them .. .. and imagine the fluttering sound this many pigeons would make ! – or would you hear a nice melody in your ears ! 

அடி ஆத்தாடி... இளமனசொன்று (ஒன்றல்ல !!  பற்பல) [புறாக்கள்]

இறக்கை கட்டிப்பறக்குது சரிதானா..!

தாகப்பட்ட நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள  .. .. ..  ஏகப்பட்ட சந்தோசம்..! 

இசைஞானி இளையராஜா குரலில் இசையில் கடலோரக்கவிதைகள் பாடல் 

For just a skyline pigeon

Dreaming of the open

Waiting for the day

That he can spread his wings

And fly away again 

"Skyline Pigeon" was played on the radio as early as 1968. It was the most popular song during the very early period of  Elton John's musical career, yet it was not released as a single. It is, however the most performed live and best known track from the Empty Sky album

 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24.12.2022 

Pigeons flock ~ birds on Electric wire !!

இதயக்கோவில் படத்தில் இளயராஜாவின் இன்னிசையில் இந்த பாடலை பலமுறை கேட்டு இருப்பீர்கள்.!

கூட்டத்திலே கோவில் புறா;  யாரை இங்கு தேடுதம்மா !!

கொலுசுச் சத்தம் கேட்கையிலே மனம் தந்தியடிக்குது தந்தியடிக்குது

புறா கூட்டமாக வாழும் பறவை இனம்.  குடும்பமாக வாழ்வதிலும் அவை சிறப்புப் பெற்றவை. முதற் தடவை ஒன்று சேரும் ஆண், பெண் பறவைகள்  கணவன்,மனைவியாக வாழ்கின்றன.  சங்க இலக்கியத்தில் ஒன்றான -  பத்துப் பாட்டில்  நெடுநல்வாடை, பாண்டியன் நெடுஞ்செழியனை புகழ்ந்து,  மதுரைக் கணக்காயனார் மகனார் நக்கீரனார் பாடியது.

மனையுறை புறவின் செங்காற் சேவல்

இன்புறு பெடையொடு மன்றுதேர்ந் துண்ணாது

இரவும் பகலும் மயங்கிக் கையற்று

மதலைப் பள்ளி மாறுவன இருப்ப  .. .. ..

வீட்டுப் புறாக்கள். இணை புறாக்கள். செங்கால் புறாக்கள். ஆணும் பெண்ணுமாகச் சேர்ந்தே மேயும் பழக்கம் கொண்ட புறாக்கள். மன்ற வெளிகளில் மேயும் புறாக்கள். குளிர் மிகுதியால் மேயவில்லை. மதலைப் பள்ளியில், மாட இருக்கையில் இடம் மாறி மாறி உட்காருகின்றன. இரவிலும் பகலிலும் ஒன்றை ஒன்று பார்த்துக்கொண்டு மயங்கிக் கிடக்கின்றன.

Pigeons are no doubt attractive !  - they come in dozen and at some other places in hundreds .. .. in thousands !!   line of tiny birds on power lines looking down at you? 

How can they ?  - how can they sit  on live wire and yet electric current would not harm them !   everyone knows that if one  were to touch that wire – most likely that one would  receive a dangerous shock of electricity.  What could be the reason that they are not electrocuted !!  even though they come in direct contact with electric current !

Electrocution is injury or death that occurs because of electrical shock. If birds on electric wire are not getting electrocuted, this means they are not getting shocked by electricity. Essentially, this means that the electricity is able to pass through the birds without damaging them.  Birds are able to sit on electrical power lines because the electrical current essentially ignores the bird's presence and continues to travel through the wire instead of through the bird's body. A bird's body is not a good conductor of electricity.

In short, electricity works via electrons flowing through conductors - birds do not  allow the electricity to flow from the wire into their own body.  Electricity, similar to water, flows using the least amount of resistance possible. In electrical power lines, electricity flows along copper wires. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity in that it allows electricity to flow easily along its surface.  A bird, on the other hand, is made of cells and tissues. These cells and tissues do not provide the electricity in the wire with an easier route to travel than the one it is already on. Because a bird's body is not a good conductor of electricity, the electricity essentially ignores the bird on the wire and continues to travel along the copper wiring to its destination.

In fact, humans would also be able to not be shocked by a power line if we are to hang suspended from the power line with both of our hands on the line and no other grounding objects around us. .. .. well Science may be good to read but never experiment especially with Current, there would always be exceptions to the rules !!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28.12.2022

  

the Chase - pursuit predation

Watching so many different birds fly by is interesting !  .. .. but it is Animal world, where anything can happen !! 

Convict Jack Hammond stops at a gas station in Newport Beach, California, where he encounters two police officers and a young woman. When the officers receive a car radio call that indicates the car Jack is driving is stolen, he panics and kidnaps the woman. Fleeing in her car, Jack learns that his hostage is Natalie Voss, daughter of a millionaire industrialist. Two police officers pursue them in a squad car with a television crew filming a reality show. The car chase moves onto southbound Interstate 5 as Jack decides to flee to Mexico. 

That was the plot of ‘The Chase’ released in 1994 directed by Adam Rifkin and starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. Set in California, the film follows a wrongfully convicted man who kidnaps a wealthy heiress and leads police on a lengthy car chase in an attempt to escape prison, while the news media dramatize the chase to absurd extents.  

"The Batman" starts with Bruce having been the caped crusader for two years. He spends a lot of time on the streets at night, carefully selecting which criminals to take down, admitting in opening narration that he can't be everywhere at once. 

The crows are efficient hunters, though scavenging where ever possible is much easier. There are many accounts of crows attacking and killing a variety of smaller birds, though more often than not, they would target the old, sick, weak or young. 

Predation involve carnivorous interactions, in which one animal consumes another. Think of wolves hunting deer, cats hunting mice, or Birds  hunting worms and insects. Less obvious carnivorous interactions involve many small individuals consuming a larger one. Such group predation is common among social carnivores such as lions, hyenas, and wolves. Group predation also occurs with ants and social spiders.   

Predation is the ecological process by which energy is transferred from living animal to living animal based on the behavior of a predator that captures and kills a prey before eating it. Predators occupy the upper levels of food chains. This top position helps explain their generally low density, frequently spaced distribution, and usually small total biomass. In terms of conservation, this is sometimes critical for the survival of local predator populations.   

In predation, one organism kills and consumes another. Predation provides energy to prolong the life and promote the reproduction of the organism that does the killing, the predator, to the detriment of the organism being consumed, the prey.   

Pursuit predation (or a chase) is a form of predation in which predators actively chases its  prey, either solitarily or as a group. It is an alternate predation strategy to ambush predation — pursuit predators rely on superior speed, endurance and/or teamwork to seize the prey, while ambush predators use stealth, luring, the use of surroundings and the element of surprise to capture the prey.   

Here the crow was much smaller compared to the size of the Fruit bat and was perhaps trying to scare the bat away from its habitat !! 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
27.12.2022 

ASH ‘WINS’ Mirpur Test !

What a win at Mirpur today and it was fashioned by the most under-rated allrounder !!  Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Pollock, Richard Hadlee were bowling greats and could tonk the ball too .. .. this man is different, he is a smiling assassin, a spinner who can bat reliably and hit sixers too (a towering 84M onehanded hit!), as he proved today, took India to a Win with the hit and 6 wickets in the match. and bagged the Player of the Match.

 

The final day (it was only day 4!!) is always thrilling and that brings back memories of that 22^nd Mar 2001  .. .. by the way not many would remember a Cricketer by name Sameer Dighe !! 

Somewhere read that he is associated with a Laundry service ‘UClean’ - Sameer Dighe's selection to the national team was a controversial one and hotly debated as Mumbai favouritism. At 31, Dighe had all but given up hopes of a career in cricket and was studying in the USA when the call came.  

Indian team is under transition. Their main batters are past their best, they rarely get a pick of their first-choice bowlers, their Captain looks like a non-playing Captain, not scoring runs and not in command in the middle.  This year alone, India have had three captains in seven Tests. 

Today at a dicey pitch in Mirpur India started with 45/4 needing exactly 100 runs – two nightwatchmen Axar Patel 26 and Jaydev Unadkat 3 were at the crease.  As the first session moved, Unadkat departed at 56, followed by Pant at 71 and when Axar Patel left it was 7/74 with Bangladeshi Tiger on the prowl. In the engrossing play – Shreyas Iyer played sensibly and .. .. Ravichandran Ashwin rocked with handsome shots, nudges, onehanded pull and clobbering the hitting 4 too.   It was their defiant stand that withstood the collapse and led to a thin 3 wicket win. Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-for gave the hosts a big chance with quick wickets in the first half hour before Ashwin and Iyer used patience, accounted for the low bounce and also scored at a good clip - at over four an over - to take India over the line before the scheduled lunch break.  

The tension that could descend on the final day reminds of a test at home on 22nd March 2001, when India won the Border Gavaskar Trophy is fresh in mind. In test no. 1539, first day Aussies made 300 and were perched on top, in the second they were all out for 391. India made a strong reply and scored 501 aided by Sachin’s brilliant 126. On day 4 stumps, Aussies were 241/7 with Steve Waugh unbeaten on 43. We smelt an Indian victory but lot had to happen. Crowds started descending with great hope and soon the stadium was filled. We were enjoying in the A stand of Chepauk with hundreds of known faces, somewhat glum unsure of whether it would happen against the mighty Aussies.  

Harbhajan was a song and was taking wickets in buckets – 32 in a 3 test series. Made the day for India sending back the captain beating him with his spin. Australia managed 264 a lead of 155. Bhaji finished with 8/84. The openers Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shivsundar Das were unruffled. Mcgrath and Gillespie steamed in, pitched more than couple short and threatened to knock the heads off. Das after a patient vigil tried hooking and got out. A Yes no contributed to Ramesh walking back after a good 25. Sachin walked in to a thunderous applause and started with a couple of crackers against Warne. He edged Gillespie and Mark Waugh took a great catch in the slip, sachin gone with 17. Saurav departed and Dravid also went soon – Indians struggling at 122/5. The debutant Sameer Dighe was at the crease ; he saw Laxman out to a diving effort by Mark Waugh with individual score of 66. Just 21 tense runs away from victory but Aussies fighting menacingly. Sairaj Bahutule and Zaheer succumbed to the pressure. The cynics had started telling that it was yet another Indian collapse. Bhaji made a couple of agricultural heaves and Sameer was running for everything – not sure how runs were coming. 

The steely nerve of Sameer and luck of Bhaji got us the winning run – with people shouting, praying, biting their nails, not speaking or fighting with their best of friends, nervous ones smoking, people not changing their places all happened as Bhaji hit the winning run. It was more of an exhibition of courage to fight rather than any talent or grace. 

At Mirpur the win was fashioned by Ashwin who was rightly named player of the Match.  Ashwin has taken 449 wickets (just 1 short of 450) in 88 tests ad has scored 3043 runs with 5 centuries – a true all rounder indeed. Ravi Ashwin, on Friday, December 23, became only the sixth cricketer to score 3000 runs and pick up 400 plus wickets in Test cricket. Kapil Dev, Shaun Pollock, Stuart Broad, Shane Warne and Sir Richard Hadlee are the other five cricketers to have reached the milestone. Ashwin was  16 runs short of the feat before the Mirpur Test and he achieved it in the third session of the second day’s play.

 

Great performance Ashwin .. .. that one wicket in all probability coming in his next test would put him at 450 wickets in 89 tests.  Only Muthiah Muralidaran is ahead of him having taken 450 in 80; Anil Kumble, next in the list took 93 tests for his 450^th wickets. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
25.12.2022

 

 

 

 

  

Thirupugazh Sooriyanarayanan singing !!

Getting closer to 60 – am able to understand all those finer things missed in the race of  life .. .. one such thing missed is – hearing to Shastriya sangeetham (Carnatic Music / divine music) if not learning !!  

Have seen on web the little Sooryanarayanan singing Devaram in a temple and then singing in train to Kasi.  Today a great opportunity to listen to him for an hour at Thiruvallikkeni Peyalwar sannathi- Margazhi Isai Kondattam organized by Chandrasekhara Media 

A sample of 2 photos one on stage and one after – the little prodigy Master Sooryanarayanan and his Ganjira accompaniment Master Shankar Ram  .. .. and the golden voice too ..  (tried adding mp4 and the earlier post disappeared!!) 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

23.12.2022

 

beautiful grey white pigeon - யாரடி நீ மோகினி.. !!

The queen of Malarpuri delivers a male child. Her brother Naganathan replaces it with a dead child, and informs king Varaguna Pandiyan that the newborn is dead. To Naganathan's surprise, the queen gives birth to another boy soon after. Minister Gunaseelar arrives by then, and the king is informed of the birth of two children, one dead and one alive. Everyone is happy that at least one is alive. Naganathan decides to kill the first infant and hands it over to his servant Somappa. However, Somappa and his wife raise the prince in a forest. 

யாரடி நீ மோகினி.. !!  கூறடி என் கண்மணி..

ஆசையுள்ள ராணி, அஞ்சிடாமலே நீ. 

என்ற பாடலை கேட்டுளீர்களா !  இந்த வெள்ளையும் பழுப்பும் கலந்த புள்ளி புள்ளி புறாவை பார்த்ததும் ஏனோ எனக்கு ஜி ராமநாதன் இசையில் TM சௌந்தரராஜன், AP  கோமளா, ஜமுனாராணி, ஜிக்கி பாடிய  பாட ல்  ஞாபகம் வந்தது.  

1940-ம் ஆண்டு, அதாவது சுதந்திரம் அடைவதற்கு முன்பாகவே, ‘உத்தமபுத்திரன்’ வெளியானது. புகழ் மிக்க ‘மாடர்ன் தியேட்டர்ஸ்’ நிறுவனம் இந்தப் படத்தைத் தயாரித்தது; இந்த நிறுவனத்தின் டி.ஆர்.சுந்தரம் இயக்கினார்.   பின்னர், 18 வருடங்கள் கழித்து, 1958-ம் ஆண்டு, மீண்டும் அதே தலைப்பில், கிட்டத்தட்ட அதே கதையுடன் உருவாகி வெளியானது ‘உத்தமபுத்திரன்’. வீனஸ் பிக்சர்ஸ் எனும் புகழ்மிக்க நிறுவனம் தயாரித்தது. இதில் இயக்குநர் ஸ்ரீதரும் பங்குதாரர். சிவாஜிகணேசன், பத்மினி, நம்பியார், தங்கவேலு, எம்.கே.ராதா, ஓஏகே.தேவர், பி.கண்ணாம்பா முதலானோர் நடித்திருந்தனர். 

The Man in the Iron Mask (died 19 November 1703) was an unidentified prisoner of state during the reign of King Louis XIV of France (1643–1715). Warranted for arrest on 28 July 1669 under the pseudonym of "Eustache Dauger", he was incarcerated on 24 August and held for 34 years in the custody of the same jailer, Bénigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, in four successive French prisons, including the Bastille. When he died his inhumation certificate bore the pseudonym of "Marchioly", leading several 19th century historians to conclude the prisoner was Italian diplomat Ercole Antonio Mattioli. His true identity remains a mystery, even though it has been extensively debated by historians, and various theories have been expounded in numerous books, articles, poems, plays, and films.    

The Man in the Iron Mask, released in 1998 was an American action drama film written, directed, produced by Randall Wallace and starred  Leonardo DiCaprio in a dual role as the title character and the villain.  The film centered on the aging four musketeers, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan, during the reign of King Louis XIV. It explores the mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask,  Tamil Movie Uthamaputhiran reportedly was based on this movie !  

யாரடி நீ மோகினி.. !!   -  is the pigeon seen at the start – while pigeons are generally of grey /brown colour, there are white ones too – this one looks far different with grayish spots all over white body.  The colour and its majestic gait made it look very attractive.  Llike humans,  pigeons can see in colour, but unlike humans they can also see ultraviolet light, a part of the spectrum that humans cannot see. As a result, pigeons are often used in search and rescue missions at sea because of this unique sense combined with excellent all-round vision.  

Interesting !  

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22.12.2022

Cat Stare - என்னா முறைப்பு !!!!

என்னா  முறைப்பு !!!! – Cat Stare !!  Ever came eye-to-eye contact with a cat ! – who won ? 

Perilous night, their voices calling  ..  .. A flicker of light, before the dawning

Out here the wild ones ..  Are taming the fear within me .. Scared to call them my friends  (Taylor Swift – Beautiful Ghosts)

Eyes  are organs of the visual system. They provide beauty to the face and make us see beautiful things.  They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons.  Eye is a wonder object, slightly asymmetrical globe, about an inch in diameter. The front part  includes:  Iris, Cornea, Pupil, Sclera, Conjunctiva, .. .. and all these work together to give us the vision that we see !!   

Cat staring is one of many forms of communications cats use towards others. Typically a cat might stare at new or unfamiliar faces as an intimidation tactic, in hopes that the other cats/ humans  will blink or shy away. Cats are visual hunters, so naturally, they tend to stare in order to keep a close eye on potential prey. Cats will also use a direct stare when they are feeling territorial, showing dominance, or posing a threat or challenge to other cats. 

Those wide-eyed fixed gaze can be a bit unnerving.  Rather than challenging you to a staring contest, this curious behaviour is actually something you may have trained your moggy to do without even realising it. As a solitary species, cats don’t naturally feel the need to hold eye contact with others to communicate but if they think they can get something out of it, then they might be willing to give it a go.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
21.12.2022 

Kuyil, Cuckoo - the songbird !

Kuyil, Koel, Cuckoo – is a songbird – when heard you may not exactly love that !!  .. common perception is the  common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is jet black in colour resembling a Crow with red eyes !  .. .. some Cuckoos have a grey head with a thin, bright yellow ring around their eye, yellow feet and a black beak. They have dark grey plumage on their upper parts and barred plumage below which resembles the markings of the sparrowhawk. Some females are a rusty-brown colour.

 

Spring is the herald of new life, and throughout the animal world, spring is a time for the rituals of mating, and for forecasting the weather – and more – for the summer to come. All manner of vivid animal lore surrounds this season of fertility. 

Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on study and fasting. Their subsequent infatuation with the Princess of France and her ladies makes them forsworn (break their oath). In an untraditional ending for a comedy, the play closes with the death of the Princess's father, and all weddings are delayed for a year. The play draws on themes of masculine love and desire, reckoning and rationalisation, and reality versus fantasy. 

William Shakespeare’s  two songs from Love Labour’s Lost read exquisitely as poems, a light warning to not expect more from nature than it can give:   

When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,

And merry larks are ploughmen’s clocks,

When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,

And maidens bleach their summer smocks,

The cuckoo then, on every tree,

Mocks married men; for thus sings he,

“Cuckoo!

Cuckoo, cuckoo!” O, word of fear,

Unpleasing to a married ear!  

மகாகவி பாரதி வெறுங்கவிஞர் அல்லர். உயர்ந்த நோக்கங்கள், உயர்ந்த பண்புகள், உயர்ந்த செயல்கள் எல்லாம் செழித்தோங்கப் பாடிய உயர்ந்த கவிஞர். அவர் பாடிய பாடல்களுள் உணர்ச்சிச் செல்வமும் கற்பனை மெருகும் இழைந்து விளங்கும் சிறு காவியம் 'குயில்பாட்டு'.

குயில் பாட்டுக்குப் பாரதியார் தந்த தலைப்பு 'குயில்’ என்பதே.   பாரதியார் 1921-ஆம் ஆண்டு இறந்தார்.  'குயில் பாட்டு’ நூல் 1923-ல் அச்சேறியது.  புதுவையில் முத்தியாலுப்பேட்டை பகுதியில்  கிருஷ்ணசாமிசெட்டியார் என்பவருக்கு ஒரு தோப்பு இருந்தது. மரங்கள் அடர்ந்து செழித்திருந்த  அந்தத் தோப்பிற்குச் சென்ற பாரதியார் அதன் இயற்கை அழகில் மயங்கினார்; அங்கு தொடர்ந்து குயில் கூவுவதைக் கேட்டபோது இதை எழுதியதாக குறிப்பிடப்படுகிறது.  

மாயக் குயிலதுதான் மானுடவர் பேச்சினிலோர்

மாயச்சொல் கூற மனந் தீயுற நின்றேன்.

"காதலை வேண்டிக் கரைகின்றேன், இல்லை யெனில்

சாதலை வேண்டித் தவிக்கின்றேன்" என்றதுவால்.

"வானத்துப் புள்ளெல்லாம் மையலுறப் பாடுகிறாய்,

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
20.12.2022 

Takoyaki .... and South Indian kuzhi paniyaram !!

Takoyaki was first popularized in Osaka, where a street vendor named Tomekichi Endo is credited with its invention in 1935. Takoyaki was inspired by akashiyaki, a small round dumpling from the city of Akashi in Hyōgo Prefecture – can you imagine what the reference could be !?!? 

Back home, this Chettinad cuisine delicacy is much sought after. Paniyaram also known as (Kuzhi Paniyaram in Tamil and Gunta Ponganalu in Telugu) are savory, spiced dumplings made from rice and urad dal batter or Idli Batter, onions, spices and herbs with an occasional addition of fresh coconut.   

குழிப் பணியாரம் என்பது அரிசிமாவினால் செய்யப்படுவது  -  குழிகளை உடைய  ஒரு பாத்திரத்தில் (குழிப்பணியாரச் சட்டி) செய்யப்படுகிறது.  இட்லி மற்றும் தோசை போல் இதுவும் அரிசி, உளுத்தம் பருப்பு போன்ற செய்பொருள்களால் செய்யப்படுவது. காரம் மற்றும் இனிப்பு என இருவகையான குழிப்பணியாரங்கள் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. 

தேவையான பொருட்கள்:   பச்சரிசி, புழுங்கலரிசி - தலா ஒரு கப், உளுந்து - அரை கப், ஜவ்வரிசி - கால் கப், வெந்தயம் - ஒரு டீஸ்பூன், வெங்காயம் - ஒன்று, பச்சை  மிளகாய் - 3, கடுகு - அரை டீஸ்பூன், உளுத்தம் பருப்பு - 1 டீஸ்பூன், தேங்காய் துருவல் - 4 டேபிள் ஸ்பூன், கறிவேப்பிலை - சிறிதளவு,  எண்ணெய், உப்பு  - தேவையான அளவு.

செய்முறை:  பச்சரிசி மற்றும் புழுங்கலரிசி, உளுந்து, வெந்தயம் ஆகியவற்றை ஒன்றாக ஊற விடவும். 2 மணி நேரம் கழித்து நைஸாக அரைக்கவும். அரைக்கும்போது, 10 நிமிடம் ஊற வைத்த ஜவ்வரிசியை மாவுடன் சேர்த்து அரைக்கவும். உப்பு சேர்த்துக் கலக்கி, 5 மணி நேரம் புளிக்கவிடவும். வாணலியில் எண்ணெய் சூடாக்கி, கடுகு, உளுத்தம்பருப்பு, கறிவேப்பிலை தாளித்து,  வெங்காயம், பச்சை மிளகாய், தேங்காய் துருவல் சேர்த்து வதக்கி மாவில் சேர்க்கவும். குழி பணியார சட்டியை சூடாக்கி, சிறிது எண்ணெய்  விட்டு, மாவை குழிகளில் ஊற்றி, இருபுறமும் வேகவிட்டு எடுத்தால், சுவையான குழிபணியாரம் தயார்.  (copied from an article from Tamilwebdunia!)   

Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan.   The balls are brushed with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce) and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi). Yaki comes from yaku (焼く), which is one of the cooking methods in Japanese cuisine, meaning 'to grill',  basically, it is eaten as a snack or between meals, but in some areas it is served as a side dish with rice.  

Takoyaki was first popularized in Osaka, where a street vendor named Tomekichi Endo is credited with its invention in 1935. Takoyaki was inspired by akashiyaki, a small round dumpling from the city of Akashi in Hyōgo Prefecture.  Takoyaki is associated with yatai street food stalls, and there are many well-established takoyaki specialty restaurants, particularly in the Kansai region.   

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
19.12.2022 

close-up catgerpillar

 How do you see this ? – colourful !, ugly, scary !!  - whatever, Nature’s canvas is astonishing. 

Caterpillars are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).  Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are among the most serious of agricultural pests. 

Some experts say that - caterpillars are crucial to healthy ecosystem food webs because they transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other type of plant eater.

stunningly beautiful - Jodie Corner !

எங்க ஊரு தேவதை - பச்சை கிளி – Jodie Corner !!

 

இன்று மத்திய பிராயத்தில் இருக்கும் பலருக்கு இளமை பற்றி பசுமையான மலரும் நினைவுகள் - கல்லூரி கனவுகள் இருக்கலாம்.  அறிவு ஆசான் சுஜாதா பல நூறு கதைகள் எழுதி இருந்தாலும், பலரை கவர்ந்த தலைப்பு சிறுகதை தொகுப்பு - 'ஸ்ரீரங்கத்து தேவதைகள்' - உடனே அவர் ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தில் தங்கி இருந்த சமயம் கவர்ந்த தாவணி கனவுகள் என எண்ண  வேண்டா !!  

திருச்சி ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தில் தன் சிறுவயதில் வாழ்ந்த சுஜாதா அவர்களின் அனுபவங்களின் தொகுப்பே இந்தப் புத்தகத்தில் 14 சிறுகதைகளாக அமைந்து இருக்கிறது.   ‘தேவதைகள்’ என்று சுஜாதா இந்நூலில் குறிப்பிடும் ஒவ்வொருவரும் மனிதர்கள். அவர் வளர்ந்த, வாழ்ந்த ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தில் அழியாச் சித்திரமாக மனத்தில் பதிந்து போனவர்கள்.  அது போல நான் பற்பல கிளிகளை பார்த்திருந்தாலும், இன்றைய அழகி ரொம்பவே மனதை கவர்ந்து விட்டாள்  

Parrot is the generic term which can refer to any bird which belongs to the order psittaciformes. There are about 400 species of parrots and about 160 face some threat or the other.  The one pictured here is a ‘Parakeet’.

Parakeet is a term used to describe slender bodied parrots with long tails. So all parakeets are parrots but all parrots are not parakeets.  Parakeets fall under the broader parrot umbrella, which defines all psittacines of the order Psittaciformes.   . Parrots have shorter tail feathers that are wider at the base and squared off. They also have more rounded heads but share the parrot family’s vibrant plumage.   

Understand that there are more  differences than there are similarities between the parrot and the parakeet – differences in size, appearance, and even personality.   

The rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the ring-necked parakeet (more commonly known as the Indian ringneck parrot), is a medium-sized parrot in the genus Psittacula, of the family Psittacidae. It has disjunct native ranges in Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, and is now introduced into many other parts of the world where feral populations have established themselves and are bred for the exotic pet trade.

One of the few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in disturbed habitats, it has withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation is this parakeet.   These parakeets have also proven themselves capable of living in a variety of climates outside their native range, and are able to survive low winter temperatures in Northern Europe

.. .. now if you are to question, why did I name her Jodie Corner – most obvious thing, is any other name could lead to wild imaginations !!  ..

When it came to discussing the Best Actress category at the 66th Evening Standard Theatre Awards in association with Garrard – reinstated after a two-year pandemic hiatus – the vote was unanimous. Veteran showbiz journalist Baz Bamigboye spoke for the whole panel when he said simply: “Jodie Comer, Jodie Comer, Jodie Comer.” The 29-year-old Liverpudlian star, best known for her mercurial performance in Killing Eve, stunned audiences in the summer with her powerhouse turn in Prima Facie.

Jodie Marie Comer  is an English actress. She has received various accolades including two British Academy Television Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Critics Choice Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.  Comer rose to global prominence for her role as Oksana Astankova / Villanelle in the BBC America spy thriller Killing Eve (2018–2022) for which she received critical acclaim and won a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.  

If you expected a pic of Jodie – well, look at the beautiful parrot once again!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
16.12.2022

  

Homage to Dwaram Mangathayaru – Jewel of Thiruvallikkeni

Homage to Dwaram Mangathayaru – Jewel of Thiruvallikkeni

It is with great sorrow I read about the passing away of a doyen of Carnatic music – she was 92 and perhaps died peacefully.  Nothing much has been known about her in recent past as she remained seclusive and the age-old house fell to hammer !!  My respects to her and painful homage remembering her frail image and the slow words that once heard, sitting closer to her in April 2006 at her house in Bandala Venugopala Naidu Street, Triplicane, a street that is lesser than 200 M.

Dwaram in Telegu means ‘doorway’ !!  - it is not a simple peephole or gap as understood in Tamil – a cursory reading takes us to one man whose very mention initiates a sojourn in to the World of Instrumental Carnatic music.  Unlikely that many Triplicanites ever understand his association with Thiruvallikkeni. This is a photo of a statue at Visakhapatnam [credit Wiki commons thotfulspot]

He is no ordinary person .. .. Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance (మహారాజా ప్రభుత్వ సంగీత నృత్య కళాశాల) is an educational institution in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. Vizianagaram around 850 km away from Chennai - was ruled by different Hindu emperors of Kalinga and it was an integral part of Kalinga.   The area was under the rule of Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire too. The Maharaja college is the first music college of South India.  Its first President was  Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu  & the second was the famous - Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu whose statue is above.

Dwaram Naidu, popularly known as ‘fidelu’ Naidu was the first person to bring violin to the forefront of Carnatic music. He performed his first solo in Vellore in 1938.  Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu was partially blind. He played at the National Physical Laboratory auditorium, New Delhi in 1952, to raise funds for the Blind Relief Association was related to the famous kuchipudi dancer Padma sri Dr Shoba Naidu.  The  famous playback singer Ghantasala learned Carnatic music under Naidu.  

Thiruvallikkeni aka Triplicane is a famed land… It is a place where religion, nationalistic fervour, patriotism, sports, education and the individual dignity have interspersed for the benefit of the State and the larger interests of the Nation.  Triplicane was the seat of freedom struggle –  it is a place of rich history and heritage…. There existed  many famous people   .. .. ..

From the Icehouse which became Vivekananda House, as you travel in Dr Besant Road (named after Annie Besant) … there are smaller lanes and one such is BV Street [there are two BV – Bandi Venkatesa Naicken Street nearer Gangaikondan Mandapam and this Bandala Venugopala Naidu Street]  … in the Bandala Venugopala street, there is one ancient house, one may not attach any significance now – a house with a compound and a garden too.  It is ‘Dwaram house ’  ……..  Way back in March 2006, our Bliss (newsletter of SYMA) featured a post on its famed resident and Yours Truly interviewed that frail women, a reverred violinist.   

One need to travel back to 1800s, in 1893, was born Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, who went on to be an inspiration to many aspiring musicians.  Raised in  Vishakapatnam, he was appointed Professor of violin in the Maharaja's Music College in Vijayanagaram, at the young age of 26, and became its principal in 1936. In early 1950s, Dwaram bought a house in Bandala Venugopala Street in Triplicane, and moved to Madras. The awards and titles that Dwaram won were legion  yet this post is not about this man too…..

‘Dwaram Mangathaayaru’,  was born on 29th Aug 1937 at Vizianagaram in a family which boasts generations of Carnatic musicians. She was the daughter of renowned violinist Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu, who at that time was  the principal of the music college of Vizianagaram.  This unassuming great personality was embellished with many titles & awards– Nadha kanal, Nadha Jyothi, Sangeetha Kala Jyothi, Thirupugazh Mamani, Nadha kala nidhi, Violin Vara gana sudha vani, Sangeetha nadha mani, TTK Award, Gangadevi Eminent Citizen award, Hyderabad to name a few and the conferment of Kalaimamani award on 25/2/06 was really another feather.

In her early age, She studied vocal music under the guidance of Janardhanachari, a renowned veena player. Even in her schooling curriculum she studied music as a special subject. At a very young age of 14 she made a remarkable debut performance on stage as an accompanist of Chembai Vaidhyanatha bagavathar at Vizianagaram. She contined her studies in Waltair obtaining a diploma of violin playing as main subject. During early 1950s their family shifted to Chennai and she had intensive lessons from her father – Great Violin Maestro Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. At her tender age, she accompanied her father on concert platform before elite audiences that include – Presidents : Babu Rajendra Prasad, Radhakrishnan, Sanjiva Reddy; Premiers – Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv and many other noted personalities.

She studied vocal music from Sri Sandhyavandhanam Sreenivasa Rao. She was a recipient of scholarship for 3 years from the Govt of India under the tutelage of Sri Varahur Muthu Swami Iyer another violin vidwan of yesteryears. She imparted music to many as a Professor of Karnatic music in Maharaja college at Vizianagaram for few years and for over 15 years as a staff artist in All India Radio. In her later part of her career, she taught violin as HOD at Music Academy, Chennai. She  adorned many podiums as a professional accompanist and solo artist. Initially, she played violin in hundreds of concerts with the legend flautist TR Mahalingam. She performed duet concerts with her brother Dwaram Sathyanarayana moorthy. She has played alongside many vidwans on stage, the long list which includes – DK Pattammal, MSS, MLV, Veena Doraiswamy Iyengar, DK Jayaraman, Dr Balamurali Krishna, Oleti Venkateswaralu, S Ramanathan, Radha Jayalakshmi, Bombay sisters, Prema Hariharan, Mani Krishnaswamy & more.  Here is a rendition of hers available on Youtube.

This sublime artist lived in our midst in Triplicane imparting her talents to the young generation that  included some foreigners also. I was fortunate to sit nearer and talk to her for SYMA Bliss and during the conversation she felt that the young generation has less of patience and is drawn to the fast food culture sans nutrition. She was to say that they  devote less time to music and many seek to learn through rapid courses.

On 17^th Oct 2021, I had posted that   Dwaram house was seen locked and grapevine that property had been sold.   A couple of months later, demolition began – sooner there would be some apartment complex   with its occupants blissfully unaware of its glorious past and association with music – that of Violin flow !! – what a pity.

Many people in Triplicane for sure would know Dwaram Mangayatharu and would painfully pay homage to her this day.  In fact when I spoke to my friend Carnatic acclaimed critic Essel (Lakshmi Narasimhan), he reminisced his acquaintance with Dwaram musicians including the renowned Violinist himself.

 

Homage to her – S. Sampathkumar
14.12.2022

PS 1:  excerpted from my earlier article based on personal interview with Dwaram Mangatayaru in Apr 2006.  At that time itself, Kumari Mangathayaramma was close to 70 and age was taking its toll.  When the talk centered about SYMA running a Public convenience at the erstwhile place for Temple elephant – she told that she was under the impression that the majestic tusker was still there [Azhwan, the beautiful yanai passed away in 1977 !!]

2: Lt. Col. Pusapati Vijay Ananda Gajapathi Raju  better known as the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy, played Test Cricket for India and was in fact the Captain of the  team that  toured England in the 1936 -  played 28 first-class fixtures, winning four of them.  The test series was lost 0-2 with 2^nd test ending in a draw. The team included -  Lala Amarnath,  Vijay Merchant, Mushtaq Ali,  C. K. Nayudu,  MJ Gopalan, Cotah Ramaswami .. .. …