Thursday, March 20, 2008

chennai News 87

CHENNAI NEWS

(NEWS OF CHENNAI AND TAMILNADU BY ENVERNATHAN)

Volume 87 (March 2008)

Enver’s Rambling.

Lots of mails have been coming in support of the people of Tibet who are under the rule of the Chinese. People have condemned the violence there. There is also a website that you can go and register your protest. http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org

However the world seems to have forgotten the plight of the Tamil people in Srilanka who are being killed everyday. It is only the Tamils in the various countries who are voicing their protest. One only has to surf the net to see the horrendous pictures of the plight of the people as a result of the indiscriminate aerial bombardment by the Srilankan air force.

So how many of you have been following the auction of players in the PCL 20/20 cricket league in India. Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said that he felt like a cow being sold. However I guess a race horse auction would have been more appropriate. This was a chance for the superrich of India to lavish money on the cricketers of the world.

On the converse while all these millions were being dished out there was a case of a young 24 year old Ilavazhagi of Chennai who went to the world caroms championships at Cannes and became the world woman champ. A daughter of a cycle rikshaw puller and living in poverty she just about made it in the small print. All she wanted was someone to give her a permanent employment. Thanks to a few benefactors and the Tamilnadu government she will now be comfortable enough to practise her sport without wondering where the next meal will come from.

I am looking forward to spending the Tamil New Year celebrations being held by the Tamil Federation of KZN. Although Tamil New Year falls on April 13th this year (because of the leap year) the celebrations will start on Saturday 12th April culminating in a Tamil Koothu (dance) which will go on till the next morning. I am flying down especially on the 12th morning to be with all of you who will be attending. I hope I have the energy to do a few steps at the dance.

This year the Youth Group of the Tamil Federation will be holding a fair to coincide with the celebrations. I have already booked my stall. This will give me a chance to meet and talk to you at the stall. I will also be able to tell you more about the Tamil Movie Club. In fact I would like it to rather become an Entertainment Club where movies will just be one of the many functions that we can promote.

If you would like to book a stall and promote some of your wares then please contact the following people. Remember it is not often that you can meet a crowd of over 20,000 people all in a short space of time and in one area. You can also attach your advert in the Post and Rising Sun

For more information contact : Senthil Narsigan 031-4051997 0768995277

Alvin Naidoo: 031-707 4985 072 867 4333

Adver:t To Book Contact : Marcus Narsigan : 031-405 1997 082 685 0922 Fax : 031-400 0079

Email: senthilnarsigan@gmail.com


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.

I have finally registered my website www.envernathan.com I have to now build up the website as soon as I can get some time.

Some of you who visited India a few years ago promised me space on your server. I did not follow it up at that time but now that I have a web domain I will need that promised space. Please mail me.

One of our groups in Facebook is called Learn and Teach Tamil. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6084403897) 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.

For those of you who are interested in Tamil movies you can join the group Tamil Movie Club. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6526801521) Not to be confused with the Movie club which you pay R100 as an investment. The one in Facebook is of course free. You can join in some lively discussions on all aspects of Tamil cinema.

The latest addition is the Tamil Eisteddfod group. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7818284447) This is a place for all of you who ever took part in an eisteddfod whether as a participant, administrator, Adjudicator or the audience. The rule of the group is that you must introduce yourself. Hopefully we will have a collection of experiences that will inspire others to take part.


For those of you who are looking for a Tamil word processor then you should look at the Azhagi software. This is also excellent for transliterating Tamil songs etc.. You can get a free basic copy by downloading from the site www.azhagi.com If needed you can then opt for the more advance version. You don’t even have to know Tamil to use it.

Kamesh has taken it upon himself to help his school raise funds for their building expansion project. He has managed to get two ex students from the USA to make a donation. He has got his mum’s friend from Bangalore to do likewise. He has asked me to include this in Chennai news. If you would like to donate something for the building you can contact him at kwg2005@gmail.com


Tourism Scene

Well the tourism season is almost over. I have about four families still to tour. I also have my first family for the next season ready to tour from June. There used to be a 3 to 4 month gap between the end of one season and the next. Now the off-season is now less than two months. However this gives me the time to come to South Africa on my annual visit.

I have had a real range of tourists. I am now also getting tourists from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. I had one couple from New Zealand who had originated from Fiji. His grandparents had come from Andra Pradesh while his wife’s grandparents had come from Tamilnadu. He had grown up in a village full of people who originated from North India, so he wanted to converse in Hindi which did not please me. I do not know if it was just him but I just did not enjoy doing the tour. The guy was suspicious of everyone from India. I think I will concentrate on South Africans no matter which part of the world they are in. Somehow we are different.

I also did a tour of four ladies from the Westville, Hillcrest area. Three of them were white. This was mostly a five star holiday. I did enjoy this tour and so did they. I have found that ladies no matter if they are Hindus, Christians or Muslims or now even if they are Indians or whites they all have one thing in common. They all like to shop. Even the white ladies were overweight with their luggage.

The two group tours were quite a success. Many young professionals have come up to me saying that they would like to sponsor their parents on a holiday to India. The dilemma is that they themselves are too busy to accompany their parents on the holiday and also they don’t want to send them alone. Thus they find a solution in sending them on a group tour with me knowing that they will be safe. So far no one has any cause for complaints.

Lots of people are trying to find their roots and come armed with the details from the document centre. However many come here and then find that they have left the papers at home.

The next group tour will be in September this year. I am still working on the dates but it should be around September 1. This is a three week South tour. I have 10 people from the phoenix area already booked. If you want to join in please do so.

I have had some people who shop around and tell me that some agent on the internet is cheaper. I then tell them to use that particular agent as I am not going to lower my standards and match the cheapest. I know that most South Africans will not be able to live in hotels provided by these cheap agents. I sometimes have calls from these people asking for help however it is too late as most times they have paid the money upfront. I pride myself in the Hotels and transport that I use. My motto is that I want a peaceful night sleep. To ensure that I have to use hotels which are good so that people will not want to move to another hotel?

A new trend is that lots of younger people are now travelling to India. Thus we have to do a lot of homework to ensure this new category of tourists have a good holiday. Holidaying to Nepal is becoming quite popular with them.

As a new service I have now added accommodation and tours in Mauritius as an extra service on to the holiday. I find that it can be done quite cheaply when booked directly with the owners in Mauritius. I am now looking at a similar service in Dubai.


Film scene

We have all been waiting patiently for the movie Vellai Therai (Silver screen) which stars Pritiviraj, Prakashraj and Gopika. The movie is a joint production of Duet Movies (Mozhi), Mosier Baier and Michi FM radio. The movie is a satire on the Tamil movie industry. The movie gives you a good insight into the excesses of the industry where the actors call the shots. Prakashraj plays an oldish small time actor who is always in debt and always worrying directors for a break. Pritiviraj is an assistant director who is very interested in good cinema. Gopika is an actress who is in love with Pritiviraj. However Gopika is being controlled by her brother who calls all the shots and pockets all the money. While taking refuge at Pritiviraj’s home, Prakashraj steals the script that the former had been working on the last 10 years. He takes it to a producer and says that it can be made into a movie only if he is given the lead role. The movie becomes a hit and he a star.

Pritiviraj soon learns about the treachery but can do nothing about it as he had not registered the script. After a severe beating from her brother Gopika leaves her home and marries Pritiviraj. Pritiviraj soon begins the slide downwards till he finds himself on the roads. A kindly producer then decides to give him a chance to direct a movie on condition that Prakashraj acts in it. This gives the plot many twists and turns and how the director finishes the movies when the star walks out is best kept secret until you see this movie. This is really an enjoyable movie for the whole family to watch.

The movie Thoondil stars Shaam, Sandiya and Dhivia and is shot entirely in London. Sham is happily married to Sandhiya and their only short coming is that she cannot conceive. With the help of a doctor played by Revathy she falls pregnant and has a daughter. Shaam then finds his life slowly being dismantled and the baby is kidnapped. The kidnapper is an old flame played by Dhivia (Polladavan fame) who lays claim to the baby. They go to court and it’s a case of surrogate mother vs egg donor. A very well done movie that keeps you gripped to the narration. The only negative part was the stale comedy of Vivek.

The Name is Rajnikanth is a book written by an ardent Rajni fan Dr Gayathri Sreekanth. The book which was written with the aid of the superstar and his family is 384 pages with over 100 pictures. It traces his life from a humble bus conductor to his status as a superstar. It is selling for about R100 here.

The South Indian movie industry in general and the Tamil film field in particular will mourn the death of film actor Raghuvaran who was 49 years old. He was no doubt a versatile actor who could play the role of a villain with absolute finesse. Born in Coimbature he moved to Chennai to pursue a carrier in movies. His first movie was Ezhavadu Manidan but really shot to fame after the success of Poovizhi Vasalilae in which Satyraj his senior also from Coimbature played the hero. The movie was remade in various languages and Raghuvaran played the villain in all of them. His performance in Anjali and Badsha will be remembered for a long time. His failed marriage to actress Rohini saddened him and he doted on his son Sai Rishi. Besides acting he was an accomplished musician and loved playing the guitar and keyboard. He had also written a song for his dream album Strangers.


Swaamiyeh Saranam Ayyappaa

The members and officials of Pretoria Bhajanai Mandram have great pleasure in announcing to all devotees that the Mahaa Kumbhaabhishegam at Shree Ayyappaa Kshetram will be celebrated from Tuesday 15th April to Saturday 19th April 2008

For further information please contact:

Dr. Raj Kolapan – 012 374 0491 Mr A Pillay(Ben) – 083 6569390

Mr. Devi Dherman – 082 552 5531 Mr. Sudesh Pillay – 076 2400307

Mr. Kassen Pillay - 079 302 7292 Mrs. Tilly Pillay – 082 463 2244

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VADHINI INDIAN ARTS ACADEMY

Presents

“FOLKLORE OF INDIA

Wednesday 9th April 2008 at Artscape Theatre @ 7:30pm

Please note there will be ONE SHOW ONLY (I am assuming this is capetown)

It is a 1hr15min performance. Tickets available at computicket @ R60

Computicket opens Monday 17th March 08

Western Cape Tamil Federation

FAMILY PICNIC / SPORTS DAY

SUNDAY, 30th March 2008

at

Glencairn Sports Complex

(on beach road towards Simonstown, turn right after Ou Kaapse Weg sign at Hotel [Glen Rd]Drive towards mountain, field on right, after 2nd stop)

Prayer Service / Bhajans from 9:30 to 10:30 followed by

Sports events, Fun and Games

ALL AGES – Lots of prizes

Braai stands provided, bring own wood, coal, ice, umbrellas, etc

FREE ENTRY

Curly Valoo 021 638 2820/ 072 149 2191 Sassy Dass 073 856 3876 Salvan Moodley 082 456 8942


Classified Section.

As I will leave for South Africa on April 8th I want to make sure that my shipment leaves here in the first week of March. So if you need anything please let me know early.

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

HINDU CULTURAL LEAGUE - MUSIC AND DANCE ACADEMY


Offers the following classes on Saturdays in the disciplines of
Music, Dance and Language: Bharata Natyam, Tabla, Harmonium, Tamil, Karnatic Vocal Classes & Folk & Contemporary Dance

Children and adults, from beginners to advanced are welcome.

Classes are held at the H. A. Jack Primary School, Cnr Jauncey & Preston Roads, Abbottsford (close to Melrose Temple). Johannesburg. For more information in respect of times, cost and other information, contact

Rueben 072 709 5991, Thirumala 082 563 4439, Don 082 787 2056 or Inbam 083 262 6511 or email info@hcl.co.za Visit our website www.hcl.co.za

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)