Chennai News 92

CHENNAI NEWS
(NEWS OF CHENNAI AND TAMILNADU BY ENVERNATHAN)
Volume 92 (August 2008)

Enver’s Rambling.

For a few months now I have been toying with the idea of taking up yoga. I don’t really know why but I guess when you reach a certain age you just become more health conscious. Almost on cue I received a mail from my friend Lincoln Pillay which contained the following. I must add however that Lincoln has been trying to get me involved in this, from the first time he came to India in 2003. I thought I will share this with you.
“Understand the reason for our existence, by getting connected to the power that created us. Sahaja Yoga will teach you how to combat stress, addictions, and live a natural healthy lifestyle. In this age of darkness, a means to embrace divinity has been established, through self-realisation. Practised in 108 countries, Sahaja Yoga is always free of charge”.For more info, the following numbers could be used: Durban - 031-400 4703, PMburg - 033-391 3557, Johannesburg - 011-864 3410, Cape Town 021-713 2463alternatively, you could visit www.sahajayoga.org for more info or e-mail lincoln.pillay@bcx.co.za. After checking out the website I realised that there is a centre a few streets from my home. Gosh! No more excuses.
It seems that one of the problems that people are facing especially in the smaller far out towns is the lack of suitable music and language teachers. Although it is always advisable to have a ‘live’ teacher it is now time to look at alternatives. With the advances in internet telephones maybe this is the way to go. With internet cameras both the student and teacher can interact. This can also be done with cell phones. Thus a teacher can be based in Durban and have a class in say Newcastle. As a follow up the guru can maybe visit the class once a month or as time permits. This will mean computer professionals (we have a lot of them in our community) getting together with music teachers. Off course there are lots of young musicians who are also very computer literate and can start this process. If you have started this process or want to start please mail me. Also if you are a music teacher or know one then please mail me and I will pass on this information to people wanting to learn. I have lots of people writing to me asking for music teachers. I remember some years ago the NTVS Eisteddfod Movement with the Sterling group sent a number of students to learn music and language in Tamilnadu. I wonder how many of them are teaching. Mail me if you are and I will pass on the information.

Magan Balakisten official album, titled "THEVARAM- a Selection of Sacred Saivite Hymns" was nominated last week for the "South African Traditional Music Award (SATMA) 2007/2008".
I know Magan from a little boy taking part in the eisteddfods. I still remember him in his blazer and tie and big smile. He has really come a long way.Should you wish to support this album, there is currently an SMS voting process that is open to all South Africans. Kindly SMS: SATMA, Best Indian Album, THEVARAM by Magantharen Balakisten to 34066
Don’t forget this weekend Tamil Adult Eisteddfod of Durban South - 30 Aug. However this year it is being held at the ABH hall in Chatsworth starting at 2 pm. This is a great opportunity for people in Chatsworth to attend a really vibrant Eisteddfod.

Internet

I have finally registered my website www.envernathan.com I am now in the process of developing this site. If you can help me please do so.
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. Thanks to those of you who have visited the website and have given me suggestions. I really value it.

One of our groups in Facebook is called Learn and Teach Tamil. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6084403897) This was started on 1st 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. An article on this site appeared in the July 13 edition of the Sunday Times extra. You can read this article by clicking on the following. http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=800351

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 that 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.
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.
The latest addition is the Chennai Super Kings (IPL). This is off course for all supporters of the Chennai Super Kings 20/20 cricket team. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18926205926
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.

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.
Film scene

Went and saw Vishal’s Satyam a few days ago. The movie also stars Nayanthara. The story is about a young cop Satya played by Vishal who is an honest straight forward cop. When the Chief Minister goes to hospital four people in the party eyes the position. The Police Minister decides to shorten the odds by eliminating the other three and asks his thug friend Adhi to arrange a killer get rid of the three. He rejoices when he hears of the first two deaths. However Adhi tells him that he did not plan the killings and he does not know who did it. His other friend Achari (Prabhu Nepaul) who is his benami (a trusted person in whose name all the ill gotten wealth is invested) tells him that maybe he is on the killers list.
Nayanthara plays a TV journalist who gets involved with him and has little to do except wear sexy outfits in the duets.
The use of the police force and the investigation of the murders are done very well. However why Vishal with the whole police force at his disposal has to tackle the gang alone and have to fight them all bear handed defies logic. When the Indian Olympic contingent had won just a gold medal in shooting and a bronze each in wrestling and boxing surely the Indian public cannot be made to believe that one man can bash about 20 guys who really look like fighters. I just switch off during these scenes.
Anyhow after some slick investigation Satya finds the room where the killer lives and realises that he is on his way to kill the third person at the airport. So he dashes off to the airport and although too late to stop the murder he does manage to chase and apprehend the killer. He then realises that the killer is an ex cop who he had idolised as a youth. The killer is so disenchanted with the interference of the politicians in the duties of the police that he resigns and becomes a kind of vigilante. However not much explanations are given as to how he gets his information, weapons and backup.
Sathya soon finds the same sort of pressure is put on him and he resorts to kidnapping Archari and gets him to confess. The Police Minister then frames Sathya and how he proves his innocence makes up the climax. Vishal fans and those who like the macho violence will like this movie. Maybe I am in the minority but all this fighting gets me down.

I have just heard that KTV is going to be discontinued on the South Indian Bouquet. Older people will miss the Golden oldies movies. I hope they don’t interfere with Sun TV as this will make a lot of people including my mother very angry. These people are glued to Sun TV and its mega serials. Maybe Multi-choice should look at getting Sun Music which is a 24 hour music channel with young vibrant VJs who speak a mixture of Tamil and English. This is the number two Tamil channel after Sun TV.

I read an article in the Sunday Times about Shan Pillay a projectionist at the Shiraz cinema. I remember him as my friend’s (Ishrat) family used to own the cinema and we would frequent it quite often. Mention was made of the English and Hindi Movies that were shown in town. However no mention was made about the flourishing Tamil Cinema at that time. I lived in town and I know that Tamil cinema really rocked in the 50s, 60s and early 70’s. In fact if you walked in Victoria Street, Tamil cinema music would be blasting from the many music shops that sold them. The reason that I am highlighting this is that the young people of today should know the past as it really was.
Tourism Scene

Gowri and I spent the Independence Day long weekend on a trip to the hill station of Yercaud. We started our trip on the morning of 15 August by car up to Villipuram which is about half the distance. We took a ride with one of my clients Vis Govender who was on his way to Trichy on the start of his South tour. From Villipuram we went by bus (Rs 50) to the city of Salem. We had originally wanted to spend the night here but since we had arrived earlier that expected we took another bus to Yercaud. I had to smile when I bought the ticket as it cost just Rs 11 (R2.00) for this 22 km drive up the mountain. As we had come a day early we just settled on the first lodge that we came across which to our satisfaction was quite pleasant. Yercaud is the third highest hill station in Tamilnadu after Ooty and Kodaikanal. We had last come here over 10 years ago so it was quite pleasing to note that the place had not lost its charm.
We took this opportunity too check out come hotels and resorts as I am thinking of adding this to our circuit and had recently sent Dharma and Baby Naidoo there. I found the Grange a new resort in a coffee estate quite good. The cottages were quite charming and all the veggies are grown in the resort. They also have quad bikes that you can use to tour the plantation. The other hotel that I liked was the Shevroys Hotel which had a selection of rooms at affordable prices. There is also a time share place there that is affiliated to RCI. I know many you in SA have RCI points.
Like other hill stations Yercaud has a lake with boating and many scenic view points. Gowri likes to walk and in the pleasant climate we found that we did an 8 km walk with ease. I am not one for walking but quite enjoyed it.
After lunch we made our way to the bus stand to take a bus back and much to our dismay all were full. We found another couple (also from Chennai) going down to Salem so we shared a taxi with them. The taxi fare was Rs 450 for the down trip and we were quite happy to pay our share and have the luxury of the taxi ride down the mountain. In no time we were in Salem and we stayed in the same hotel as the young couple. Gowri decided to go to the bazaar area while I visited three hotels that I had on my list to visit. I would have liked to stay in one of them but the young couple had been so persuasive in asking us to stay in the same Hotel as them that I felt it would have been an insult to turn them down. Anyway I was quite happy with all three and will use them according to the budget of my tourists. Gowri had bought a basket and a pot. Salem is the centre for stainless steel products in Tamilnadu. Gowri is fascinated by bags and baskets and buys them from almost every place she visits.
We had train tickets for the Sunday night trip but cancelled it and took a bus at 11 am and reached Chennai at 6 pm. For those of you who are keeping an account the bus fare was Rs 95 each.

We attended a very interesting Tourist road show held by the Kerala Tourism Board at the Connemara Hotel. About 30 Hotels and resorts had sent their representatives to tell us about their establishments. The director of tourism also addressed us to tell us about the latest innovations in Kerala. I always attend these meeting so that I can have the latest information to hand over to you.
The Connemara Hotel is a beautiful 5 star heritage property opened for business in 1890 by the Moodliar Brothers. I was quite pleased when the manager gave me a copy of the recently published book on the history of the Hotel. I last visited this hotel when my cousin Maynard and his family stayed here on their Chennai visit.
Classified Section.

I have 4 mrithangams ranging from R1200 (18”) and a naal also R1200 to 2 mrithangams at R1900 (22”) and a kuchi mrithangam for R2100 (24”). Two double reed harmoniums at R1800 each. A scale change at R5000 and a Paul and Co at R7000. Electronic srudi box at R650. Please contact me if you need any. Dance bells – 6 lines at R160. Mallipoo - Double R15 a metre. Dance sets from R400 (stones) to R1200 (temple set). I also have a Sachin Tendulkar’s MRF cricket bat for R600. I just remembered that I have a beautiful coat style leather jacket for sale at just R650. however this for a really big size guy and is a XXL.

The Sydenham Tamil Society has started singing and harmonium classes under the tutorage of Mr Kumaresan Chetty every Wednesday at 6 pm. For more details contact Mr Rudy Pillay at 031-2086929.

Sri Saradha Institute of Arts and Culture (Free Tuition in Tamil, Music
& Dance)
Saturday 9.00 - 11.00 at Ganesha Temple - Cnr of Palmview Dr &
CrestBrook - Phoenix
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.
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

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)