Chennai News 84

CHENNAI NEWS
(NEWS OF CHENNAI AND TAMILNADU BY ENVERNATHAN)
Volume 84 (November 2007)

Enver’s Rambling.

Thanks to all of you who sent me Deepavali greetings. I don’t know why people abbreviate such a beautiful word and change it to Diwali. Are people just too lazy to write long words? The same happens when they change Christmas to Xmas. The word Christmas just resonates with goodwill.

With India’s new found economic uplift Indian is now the favour of the world. Whether it is Indian food, movies, fashion it is now the in thing. I read an article about how Indians in the US and UK used to slink into cinemas showing Indian movies so that their non Indian friends could not see them. Now they walk into the cinemas with head held high and also taking their friends with them.

This also seems to have an affect now on Indians living in other countries as minorities. While Tamils in Srilanka took up arms to fight against discrimination Indians in Malaysia were very complacent and took all that the ruling class subjected them to. Malaysian Indians seemed to be content with their lot always favourably comparing themselves to their relatives in India. However things have changed and ethnic Indians of whom Tamils are the majority are fighting for their rights. The Malaysian government is one of the most repressive governments and do not tolerate any resistance. In fact in many ways they remind me of the old apartheid governments of South Africa. I have just read that they have charged some of the protestors with attempted murder for just going on a protest march. However worse is the treatment of the unskilled labour force from mainly Tamilnadu? This is not just from the government forces like the police but also from their employers who exploit them. Many of them come back after three years of slogging just even after paying of all the expenses of going there.

The other Indians that are fighting for their rights are those living in the UAE of which Dubai is one such place. Here again the workers especially those in the lower rungs are not taking things lying down. I guess they realise that they are actually in the majority and out number the residents there. I wonder if the next revolution will be the workers living in these countries.

My cousin Maynard Govender and his wife Unita who had come to Chennai a few days ago brought a copy of ‘Inside Indenture’. The book is also autographed by the authors Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed with a message for my wife Gowri so I am sure it will have a special place in her library. I have not yet been able to prise the book away from her but the few pages that I did read were excellent. I am waiting for my chance to read it.






Internet

I now have my skype connected so you can talk to me at your will. I have also joined the Facebook network. www.facebook.com Mail me if you want to join in. I have two groups in it Indo South African Tours (started by Kree Raman from New Zealand) and Tamil Movie Club. My code name in both envernathan. Having a unique name means, I can get on to any site just using my first name.
I must say that I am really enjoying Facebook. I have found so many people that I know but did not know that they are on the internet. Luckily I have a good memory for faces so I can recognise familiar people by their photos.

I have also started a blog site called www.envernathan.blogspot.com
I intend putting all my old volumes of Chennai news in this site and also news that cannot wait a whole month. Please visit it at least once. This will also give me some idea of the readership of Chennai News. Unfortunately I lost all the very early copies of Chennai News when my system crashed. Hopefully one of you may have it.

My son Kamesh has his own blog site which can be accessed at http://kameshgovender.blogspot.com/ . It is quite interesting and he loves putting pictures etc in it.

Our latest group in Facebook is called Learn and Teach Tamil. This was started on 1 December. This is an interactive site for people who want to learn Tamil and also for people who want to teach. As it is aimed at adults we are using the English font. Please join in to get involved. Kamesh has prepared some lessons which I will share with you. However to get really involved on a daily basis it will be better to join the group.




Tourism Scene

I have been promising a group tour in February. Please find the details. I am prepared to do the same in Late Feb/March. Cost of tour is R6000 per person sharing a double room. This is from Chennai to Chennai. This is without the flight tickets. It includes all hotels with breakfast, entrances into Temples, churches, parks, gardens etc, all transport and transfers (Air con vehicle), taxes, road tolls, porters in hotels and a boat cruise in Kerela. All you need is money for your other meals and personal expenses. The tour will be fully escorted. If you want an add-on to the north this can also be arranged. Contact me at insatours@gmail.com for all enquiries.

01 Feb leave SA via Dubai (or whichever airlines you want to travel with)
02 Feb Arrive in Chennai. I will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Rest of the day is free. Arrangement can be made for money exchange etc.
03 Feb After breakfast you will be taken on a City tour. Afternoon free for shopping etc
04 Feb After early breakfast you will be driven to Tirupathi. Visit the Venkateswara Temple for Darshan.
05 Feb After breakfast it is a beautiful drive to Puttarpathy and Sai Baba’s Ashram. Once you check into your Hotel you will be free to visit the Ashram.
06 Feb After Swami’s Darshan you will be driven to Bangalore the capital of Karnataka. Bangalore is also the software capital of India. Maybe you will want to visit the famous shops in Commercial Street in the evening. Night in Hotel
07 Feb Bangalore After breakfast you will be taken on a tour of Bangalore. This city is famous for its gardens. A visit to the famous Shiva statue and Hare Krishna temple among other places is a must.
08 Feb Drive to Mysore. Visit the City palace, Mysore Zoo and Brindhavan gardens.
09 Feb After breakfast drive to Ooty. On the way visit the Bandipur and Muthumalai game reserve. After checking into your hotel visit the sighseeing spots of Ooty.
10 Feb Full day Sightseeing in Ooty
11 Feb After breakfast start your drive to Cochin. On the way visit Coonoor and Coimbature. If you have time in the evening maybe you will want an ayuvedic massage or enjoy a kathakali dance performance. Night in Hotel
12 Feb Morning City tour visiting the Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace, Jewesh Synagogue and other sites.
13 Feb Drive to Allepey for boat cruise and drive to Kollam
14 Feb After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari the tip of India.
15 Feb Kanyakumari. Visit the Vivekanandha ashram and also visit the 133 ft statue of Thiruvalluvar the author of the Thirukural. See Sunset. Relax on the beautiful beaches of this town. This is also where the waters of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet Night in Hotel
16 Feb After breakfast drive to Madurai. Visit the Madurai Meenatchi Temple the focal point of the City of Madurai. Night in Hotel
17 Feb Drive to Trichy. Visit the Pilliyar temple on Rock Fort and the Vishnu temple in Srirangam. Night in Hotel
18 Feb Drive to Thanjavur and visit the famous Shiva temple. Drive to Chidambaram famous for its Nataraja temple. On the way visit the brass industry of kumbakonam. Night in Hotel
19 Feb After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram where you will visit the famous rock carvings. You can also see sculptors at work. Late afternoon drive to Chennai. Night in Chennai.
20 Feb Chennai. You are free to relax or do whatever you want. Maybe some last minute shopping or catch a movie. Night in Chennai.
21 Feb Free day for shopping etc. Night in Chennai
22 Feb Fly from Chennai.

Movie scene

I really enjoyed the movie Kannamoochi Ennada starring Satyraj, Radika, Pritiviraj and Sandiya. I took Devan and Indra Govender and Don and Baby Naicker as it was their last night in Chennai. They told me it was the best movie they had seen for a long time. It is an outright comedy and Satyraj is in his element. Devasena (Sandhya) falls in love with Harish (Prithviraj) in Malaysia and brings him home to Chennai. Police Commissioner father for who his daughter is the apple of his eye just does not like him. Harish endures himself to the rest of the family except Satyraj. Pritiviraj is fast making a name for himself in Tamil cinema. One of the few heros without heroics. The song megam will just capture your hearts.

I just got back from the movie Vel starring Surya in a dual role and Asin. Although the concept of twins being separated has been done many times in Tamil movie the modern touches given here makes it work. The screenplay is excellent and does no lag for even a moment. Vasu (Surya) is a private detective who is given assignments to follow girls to see if they are good enough for their prospective husbands to be. While on an assignment he meets Swapna (Asin) and really likes her. Swapna wants to be a famous TV interviewer. They eventually fall in love after a few hic-ups. The other twin is Vel who is the protector of the people in his village. Fate has it that they will meet. It is Swapna on an assignment who sees Vel and tells Vasu about him. Vasu knows that this could be his twin brother who his mother (Saranya) is always crying about. He goes to the village to find out the truth. Vel’s adoptive family don’t want him any where near them as they have not told him that he is not their own.
Eventually Vel and vasu change places. Vasu in the guise of Vel tries to bring peace among the two warring families. Many a time he uses his brain to overcome brawn..

The boys and I went to see the movie Azhagiya Tamil Magan staring Vijay (also in a dual role) and Shriya. Vijay plays a dual role as Guru a sprinter a good character and Prasad a bad character from Mumbai. However why they look alike is not explained. The movie has excellent music (by AR Rahman) and dance and the beautiful Shriya. Although the artistes perform well the director Bharathan does not do justice to them and has too many loose ends and unexplained situations. Vijay fans will love his new svelte and dashing looks and his prowess as a dancer. Shriya who is quite a dancer herself keeps up with him.

I was eagerly awaiting the release of the movie Rameswaran which stars Jeeva and Bhavana. This time I was not disappointed and it was worth the wait. Jeeva has decided to go for meaningful roles where the character is more important than the actor.
The story revolves around a group of Tamil refugees from Eelam who escape the killings in Sri Lanka and land near Rameswaram on the Taminadu coast. Jeevan (Jeeva) an author is one of the refugees. Vasanthi (Bhuvana) the daughter of the local philanthropist (Lal) falls in love with Jeevan. After many rebuffs he finally also falls in love with her. They then fall to the wrath of an angry father and a jealous suitor. The plight of the Tamil refugees and their suffering is brought out in the movie. Except for one duet all the songs are situational and in the background. Jeeva is very impressive and Bhavana in typical south Indian outfits is bubbly and beautiful.


Tamil Movie Club


I now have 116 people who have shown interest in the Movie Club. I am still in phase 1 of my recruitment. This is for people who I know on a first hand basis. Once I have recruited all of you I will move onto phase 2. I will soon let you know what this is. Here are the names of the people who have joined the club. If your name is still not listed here and you have intimated that you have joined please let me know as I could have missed it. There are lots of people who have verbally told me that they want to join but I will only add your name once I have it in writing.

Enver Govender, Gowri Govender, Kamesh Govender, Mahesh Govender, Krishnambal Govender, Jayambal Govender, Ivan Reddy, Jayson Govender, Sivani Naidoo, Rudi C Pillay, Devi Reddy, Saras Ponnen, Kasturi Pillay, Tholsie Subramony, Vincent Fredericks, Jayshree Karan, Vasantha Govender, Asogen Moodley, Kogie Moonsami, Michael Lachimiah, Kogie Moorthi, Kogie Archery, Pauline Naidoo, Pravie Govender, Vassie Packree, Rani Naicker, Strini Moodey, Vis Goveder, Amudha Nardhamuni, Logan Govender, Patma Naidoo, Rani Govender, Namasundari Padayachee, Yogi Pillay, Venu Naicker, Yana Pillay, Magen (Gopie), MV Rajah, Sharmala Naidu, Robin Pillay (3 members), Steve Kandasamy, Olaga Naidoo, Kumaran Moodley, Selvan Moorthy, Gonnie Govender, Ronnie Govender, Nelson Govender, Selvan Velayudan, Savy Naidoo, Reggie Mariemuthu, Krish Govender, Murthi Sooboo, Preggy Govender, KN Moodley, Cliffy Muthu, Stanley Perumal, Teddy Sigamoney, Charles Reddy, Magen Moodley, Savy Perumaul, Renee Moodley, Sagie Doorsamy, Rani Nair, Mac Naidoo, Poovie Govender, Vasantha Govender, Ramanjulu Loganathan, Vas Moodley, Indren Pillay, Derrick Pillay, Puven Akkiah, Robert Moonsamy Gengan, Shalina Moodley, Pam Moodley, Yugeshan Naidoo, Karran Moodley, Saras Moodley, Vikesh Moodley, Tinesh Moodley, Kris Govender, Seelan Naidoo, Mogarasathavan Kistasamy, Siva Moodley, Benny Rasen, Devan Govender, Indran M Govender, Morgan Nadasen Odayar, Terrence Pillay, Nalini Naidoo , Indrani Palad, Shamilla Govender, Danny Mudaly, Kogie Govindsamy, Shireen Govender, Sinda Palani, Jayce Pillay, Venessa Pillay, Kessy Pillay, Nalaini, Satchie, Sharon, Nalene Reddy, Uban Chetty, Saras Chetty, Kreesan Naidoo, Losh Naidoo, Sonny Pillay, Vassie Pillay, Pam Moodley, Ashnee Reddy, Sue Reddy, Sugan Armugam. Joe Govender.

I am quite optimistic that the Movie Club’s first release will be for the Tamil New Year. I am positive that by then we would have at least a thousand members. However if the opportunity presents itself before the Tamil New Year then I would not hesitate in an earlier start.

From January I will start a separate newsletter for members of the Movie club. This will be a weekly one and will concentrate on movie news. I cannot start any earlier as I am just too busy with my tours, which reaches its peak in December.

Tamil Lessons

I am repeating the lessons that Kamesh has posted on Facebook.
Relation Terms in Tamil Culture.
Amma – mother, Appa – Father,
Anna – Elder brother,
Akka – Elder Sister
Thambi – Younger brother
Thangai – Younger sister
Patti / Aaya – Grand mother,
Thatha – Grand father
Athai – Father’s sister
Mama – Mother’s brother/ Athai’s husband
Chittappa – Father’s younger brother
Periyappa – Father’s elder brother / Periyamma’s husband
Periyamma – Mother’s Elder sister/ Periyappa’s wife
Chitti – Mother’s younger sister / Chittappa’s wife
Sagalai - Husbands of sisters call themselves Sagalai.
Machini – Sister of wifeMachaan – brother of wife
Naathanaar – sister of the husbandAnni – Anna’s wife.
Pangaali – Relatives who have rights to the ancestral property.
Marumagan – Son in law / Nephew
Marumagal – Daughter in law / Niece
Maamanaar – Father in law Maamiyaar – Mother in law.

Terms for Non – Relatives
Nanban – Friend
Ethiri - Enemy
Pakkathu Veetu-kaaran/ Kaari / kaarar / kaarargal - Next house neighbor
Male/ Female / with respect / Plural
Ethir Veetu-kaaran/ Kaari / kaarar / kaarargal - Opposite house neighbor
Male/ Female / with respect / Plural
Velai-karan / Kaari / Kaarar / Kaarargal - Servant
Male/ Female / with respect / Plural
Thotta-karan / Kaari / Kaarar / Kaarargal – Gardner
Male/ Female / with respect / Plural
Mudhalaali – Boss (Add Amma or Ayya to make it Female and male ) And Mudhalaaligal for Plural
Thirudan/ Thirudi/ Thirudargal - Thief
Male / Female / Plural
Samayal-karan / Kaari / Kaarar / Kaarargal – Cook Male/ Female / with respect / Plural

Varuthal – verb – to come
Naan varaen – I come
Nee varaai – You come
Avan varaan – He comes
Aval varaal – She come
Avargal varaargal – They come ( Plural and Respect)
Neenga Vaanga – You come ( With respect)
Naam Varom – We come .

Classified Section.

The shipment has finally arrived in Durban. I have lots of Music and religious atifects, Salangi (bells) for dancers, shawls, posters, stickers etc
Phone my mum at 031-2086929.

The Sydenham Tamil Society has re-started the Veena and harmonium classes after the eisteddfod. The teacher is Dr Deena Pillay a student of the late Mr GN Moodley. For more details contact my sister Jayambal Govender at 031-2086929 (h) or 031-2603106 (o).

Sri Saradha Institute of Arts and Culture (Free Tuition in Tamil, Music & Dance)
Saturday 9.00 - 11.00 at 39 Munn Road - Ottawa
Contact Suja or Kovilan Muthumanikam on 083 742 8508 for more details

Manormani Dance Academy. A school of Bharatha Natyam and Folk Dance.
Saturday 9.00 – 12.00 at Umgeni Road Temple. 13.30 – 16.30 ABH – Chathsworth.
Monday 18.00 – 20.00 at Woodview Primary.
Tuesday 15-30 – 17.00 Stanmore Regional Hall.
Wednesday 17.30 – 19.00 Mount View Civic Hall.
For further details contact Mrs Govender on 031-5053379

For all travel arrangements in India. Email Indo South African Tours at insatours@gmail.com or envernathan@gmail.com

Chennai: Contact Envernathan Govender, 21 South Street, Radhanagar, Chromepet, Chennai 600044, India. Tel. 0091-44-22654243/22654396. Cell 0091-9841248652.
South Africa: Contact Mrs. K. Govender, 30 Eskdale Road, Sydenham, Durban, 4091. Tel. 031-2086929.
Mauritius: Contact Mr. Balakrishna Tandrayan, 8 Sun Yat Sen Street, Port Louis, Tel. 2423404. Fax. 2413299. (Sorry this is for people from Mauritius who want to travel to India)