Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Chennai News 85

CHENNAI NEWS
(NEWS OF CHENNAI AND TAMILNADU BY ENVERNATHAN)
Volume 85 (January 2008)

Enver’s Rambling.

A very happy Pongal to all of you. Here we will have a 3 day holiday for the Pongal festival which is the biggest festival in Tamilnadu. It is essentially a harvest festival celebrated by the farmers after their crops have been harvested. It transcends religion and is celebrated by all irrespective of religion.

This year the Supreme Court has banned the sport of Jallikattu or bull taming that is held during this time especially in Southern Tamilnadu. A bag of money is tied around the neck of the bull and the young men tussle with the bull trying to retrieve the money. The one who does so is declared the winner and is treated as a champion. While animal rights groups have welcomed the move the people who indulge in this sport are outraged as they see it as curbing their culture. It must be noted that many young men are injured every year and some even die when they are tossed by the bulls. This is because the men face the bulls bare handed and with no weapons. In fact it is the bulls that are victorious on most occasions. In the olden days this sport was practised by young men to impress the girls of marriageable age. I guess they still do. However the traditional bull racing has not been banned.

We have had an addition to the family, triplets in fact and we are quite excited. It is our love birds that have become proud parents. I did not know that they bred in captivity so was surprised when the three eggs hatched. Today all three baby birds finally came out of the clay pot in which they were born and joined their parents. It was real education to see this whole drama unfolding before us. The parents were really protective at first and would always get between us and the chicks. As time passed they treated us as family (probably grandparents) and allowed us to admire and view their babies. One of the hatchlings came out first and it was hilarious to see the way it would show off to its two siblings that could do so. It would make a point of scampering in and out of the clay pot almost taunting the others as to why they could not do the same.

Our hearty congratulations to Wayne Frederick from Chatsworth who came FIRST in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN - including state & private schools) in the 2007 Matric Examinations. Wayne is the son of Vincent Frederick who is a senior member of the Tamil Action Group (TAG).
We at Chennai News would like to take this opportunity in wishing Wayne everything of the best. WELL DONE...Keep up the good work.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all of you who sent me birthday greetings and New Year greetings. I am sorry due to the time constraints and the sheer number of greetings it was not possible to reply to all of you personally.

Here is wishing Mr MV Rajah a very happy 80th birthday on Feb 2. I will elaborate in my next volume.

Internet

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.
This site is becoming very popular and is increasing daily.
Now I will give the Tamil names of all the Household articles - Veetu Ubaiyoga Porutkkal
Chair - NaarkaaliTable - May-sai Bed - Padukai Pillow - Thalaiyanai Door - Kadhavu Window - Jannal Light - Villakku Book - PuTHagamRooms in the house - Veetilil irukum araigalHall/Living room - Koodum Kitchen - Samayal arai Bathroom - Kuliyal Arai Bed room - Padukai Arai Toilet - Kazhivarai

Now we will use the words we know in TamilNaan kadaikku pogiraen - I am going to the shop.Nee kadaikku pogirai - You are going to the shopNeengal kaidaikku pogirirgal - You (plural)are going to the shop (and with respect)Avan kadaikku pogiraan - He is going to the shop Aval kadaikku pogiraal - She is going to the shopAvargal kadaikku pogiraargal - They are going to the shop.

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. I have just 4 seats left so hurry.

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 finally got to see Madhavan’s Ivano Oruan which also stars Sangeetha. The movie is about an ordinary family man who fed up with the corruption around him explodes and takes it on single handed. He uses whatever weapon he comes across starting with a cricket bat to a knife and then a gun. However he does not do any thing serious but soon captures the imagination of the people some who criticize him and others who think he is a hero. Madhavan is superb as the frustrated man and Sangitha as his wife gives a brilliant portrayal as a harressed grumbling wife. The film is without songs which makes it even more realistic.

Eight movies are going to be released for Pongal. Here is a preview of the movies.

Thangam
Cast Sathyaraj, Megha Nair, Goundamani Director Kichas
Music Srikanth Deva
Plot Set against a village background, Thangam is about Mr. Clean trying to solve the issues of the common man.

KAALAI
Cast Silambarasan, Vedhika, Nila
Director Tarun Gopi
Music G.V. Prakash
Plot The hero and two baddies have the same name, leading to mistaken identities. Is the hero able to set the record straight?
Genre Mass entertainer

PALANI
Cast Bharath, Kushboo, Kajal Agarwal
Director Perarasu Music Srikanth Deva
Plot The age-old sibling sentiment coupled with commercial components forms the crux of the story. Kushboo and Bharath play the key roles.
Genre Formula fare


INDIRALOKATHIL NAA AZHAGAPPAN
Cast Vadivel, Yamini Sharma, Shriya (guest appearance)
Director Thambi Ramaiah Music Sabesh Murali
Plot The story revolves around Vadivelu and his comic exploits in heaven, hell and earth. Vadivel appears in three different roles - Azhagappan, Yama and Indiran.
Genre Fantasy comedy
A laugh riot called Vadivel. Shriya plays a witch and dances with Vadivel!

BHEEMA
Cast Vikram, Trisha, Prakash Raj, Raghuvaran and Ashish Vidyarthi
Director Lingusamy Music Harris Jayaraj
Plot Like the Bheema of the Mahabharata, the hero is the strongest man in town, a sharpshooter who joins a mob but later turns out to be its nemesis.
Genre Action thriller
Vikram is back after a two-year break, with his favourite Saamy heroine Trisha, under the direction of master storyteller Lingusamy. Harris’ music is already a rage.

VAZHTHUKAL
Cast Madhavan, Bhavana
Director Seeman Music Yuvan Shankar Raja
Plot How can a person who neglects his own parents become a Good Samaritan is the question director Seeman seems to pose in the film
Genre Family entertainer


PIDICHIRUKKU
Cast Ashok, Visakha
Director Kanagu Music Manu Rameshan
Plot The travails a young man has to undergo for the sake of love.
Genre Romance

PIRIVOM SANDHIPOM
Cast Cheran, Sneha, Mahadevan
Director Karu Palaniappan Music Vidyasagar
Plot An emotional film set in a Nattukottai Chettiar family where a couple splits owing to unfortunate circumstances. How the family tries to bring them together forms an interesting climax.
Genre Family drama
Expected to strike a chord with the audience. Soothing melodies by Vidyasagar

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)