Happy Photography Day!

Photography! This is not the first time I’m jotting down anything about my dearest hobby. Rather, I would prefer mentioning Photography as a habit. Yes! To an extent, photography is the new habit of mankind. Anything and everything is being photographed. Hardly anything is spared. In other words, we have lost our mentality or ability to imprint the moment in our minds. We just lost a beautiful way of decorating the walls of our psyche. Of course, there is a frame in everything. However, not everything is a frame. One fine reason is the ample choices of cameras available. The quality of output is such that, it makes anyone feel that there was a dormant photographer in him who just woke up. Which fairly is a fantastic reason to open up a Facebook page and start sharing anything you just see. And yes! That was how I started my Facebook page. My image in people's mind evolved to one carrying a camera. But one day, on my ride to Kochi, from Thrissur, this moment happened. There is a place called Chirangara (between Chalakudy and Karukutty) where there is a Temple with a big beautifully maintained pond adjoining the temple premise. It was around 06:00 hrs and the sky was heavily pouring that day, and I was thoroughly enjoying the rain-ride until I did a regular bow to the deity of Chirangara Temple and noticed this frame soon as I passed the temple. To get down to the pond, there were two ramps from either side that lands on a big platform, which normally used to be an inch or two higher than the water level of the pond. That day the water level was a little higher than the platform. And there was an elephant lying with its head held high on the platform. For a moment, one might wonder seeing an elephant floating in a pond. That was such a beautiful scene. But my camera was safely packed in the backpack that was tied tightly on the pillion seat. In a sudden rush, I checked both my pockets and remembered that my phone too was packed with the camera. I could do nothing! Without wasting a moment on thinking how to capture the moment, I stood there, in the rain, staring at that beautiful frame without even blinking. When I felt this was going to last for some time more, I rested my Bullet on the center stand and sat on it. It was quite an experience! Sitting and enjoying the rain, and shining black elephant preparing for a bath. Each part of the frame was extraordinarily beautiful. The lighting by the baby-sun, the green background, the reflection of the elephant that rippled in the pond, the symmetry of the frame, every part of it was so beautiful. I watched, rather observed it all with a smile. I then heard myself muttering this, “When you find there is not enough time to pull out your camera to shoot that beautiful frame, just relax and enjoy the frame. Consider that as Mother Nature's gift for one of her admirers.” And at the end when I took a last look at the scene once again after kick starting my Bullet, I was gifted with a bonus. Like a cherry on the icing on a cake, that elephant took some water in its trunk, held its head high to the sky, and flung its trunk high spraying that water to its back. That scene was beautifully framed and hung on the walls of my mind. That was an experience, rather a revelation. A revelation that taught me “Do learn to admire what you see. Do not just keep clicking. Also, try not to be known as a photographer just by the grace of the camera you own” Happy Photography Day #WorldPhotographyDay **-

മുപ്പതു വർഷങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറം തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ പെയ്യുമ്പോൾ....

തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ ...

1987 ജൂലൈ 31ന് റിലീസ് ചെയ്തു മുപ്പത് വർഷം കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടും ഇന്നും അതേ ആവേശത്തോടെ മലയാളി ചർച്ച ചെയ്‌യുകയും പ്രണയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന ഒരു ചലച്ചിത്രം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അത് തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ മാത്രമായിരിക്കും...

ഓരോ വട്ടം ഈ സിനിമ കാണുമ്പോഴും ഓരോ പുതിയ അർത്ഥമാണ് എനിക്ക് മുന്നിൽ പപ്പേട്ടൻ എന്ന് ഞാനടക്കമുള്ള കേരളത്തിലെ സിനിമാ ഭ്രാന്തൻമാർ അളവറ്റ സ്നേഹത്തോടെ സംബോധന ചെയ്‌യുന്ന പി. പദ്മരാജൻ എന്ന മഹാരഥൻ പറഞ്ഞു തരുന്നത്. ഇതുപോലെ കാമ്പുള്ള കഥയും അതിൽ ആഴമേറിയ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങൾക്കും ജീവൻ നൽകാൻ പപ്പേട്ടനെപോലെ അധികമാർക്കും കഴിയില്ല. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ സിനിമയിലെ ഓരോ ഫ്രെയിമിലും ഒരു മുഴുനീള സിനിമക്കുള്ള സാധ്യതയുള്ളതായി എനിക്ക് പലപ്പോഴും തോന്നിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഓരോ ചെറിയ കഥാപാത്രത്തിനും കാണികളിലേക്ക് ആഴത്തിൽ ഇറങ്ങി ചെല്ലാൻ കഴിയുന്ന സ്വഭാവ സവിശേഷതകളാണ് അദ്ദേഹം നൽകാറുള്ളത്. അത് തങ്ങളായാലും, രാവുണ്ണി എന്ന അയൽക്കാരനായാലും, ഡേവിഡെട്ടൻ എന്ന ബാർ ജീവനക്കാരനായാലും, പൊറിഞ്ചുവേട്ടൻ എന്ന കാസിനോയിലെ ശരാബി ബാറിലേ ആ ചാരി ഇരിക്കുന്ന കുടിയനായാലും, ജയകൃഷ്ണന്റെ ചങ്ങാതിമാരായാലും നമ്മുടെ ഒക്കെ പരിചയക്കാരായി മാറുകയായിരുന്നു. ഇതിനുപുറമെ, പിൽക്കാലത്തു ഈ സിനിമയോട് കൂടുതൽ അടുക്കാൻ കാരണം തൃശ്ശൂർ എന്ന ഞങ്ങളുടെ ആ കൊച്ചുപട്ടണത്തിന്റെ സാന്നിധ്യമാണ്.

മോഹൻലാൽ എന്ന മഹാനടൻ ഇന്ന് വരെ അഭിനയിച്ച കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളിൽ വെച്ച് എനിക്ക് ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടത് മണ്ണാര്‍ത്തൊടിയിലെ ജയകൃഷ്ണനാണ്. വർണ്ണിക്കാനാണെങ്കിൽ അയാളുടെ സ്വഭാവ സവിശേഷതകളേറെയാണ് . ജയകൃഷ്ണന്റെ ബന്ധങ്ങളും നിർബന്ധങ്ങളും വാശികളും തമാശകളും ആത്മാർത്ഥതയും ലാളിത്യവും പ്രണയവും ഞാനടക്കമുള്ള ഒരുപാട് പേരെ സ്വാധീനിച്ച സ്വഭാവ സവിശേഷതകളാണ്. ഈ കഥാപാത്രത്തിന് ആക്കം കൂട്ടുന്നത്തിനു പപ്പേട്ടന്റെ ഒരു അവതരണ മികവും സഹായകമായിരുന്നു. തങ്ങൾ ഋഷിക്കും, രാധക്ക്‌ അവളുടെ സഹോദരനും പറഞ്ഞുകൊടുക്കുന്നതുമായ കഥകളിലൂടെ ഒട്ടും സമയം നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്താതെ എഴുത്തുക്കാരൻ, ജയകൃഷ്ണന്റെ ഭൂതകാലം മനോഹരമായി വരച്ചു കാണിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. മറ്റൊരു രീതിയിൽ പറഞ്ഞാൽ, സ്ലോ മോഷൻ നടത്താമോ കാതടപ്പിക്കുന്ന പശ്ചാത്തല സംഗീതത്തിന്റെയോ ചൂടൻ സംഭാഷണങ്ങളുടെയോ പിന്ബലമില്ലാതെ 'ജയകൃഷ്ണൻ മണ്ണാർത്തൊടി' എന്ന ചെറുപ്പക്കാരൻ മൂന്ന് ദശാബ്ദങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറവും യുവാക്കളുടെ ഹരമായി നിലനിൽക്കുകയാണ്. രാജപ്പൻ തെങ്ങുമൂട് പറഞ്ഞത് പോലെ, "സത്യത്തിൽ, ഇതല്ലേ ഹീറോയിസം".

ഇങ്ങനെ ജയകൃഷ്ണൻ സ്‌ക്രീനിൽ നിറഞ്ഞു തളിർത്തു കസറുമ്പോഴാണ് ഒരു മഴയും, ജോൺസൻ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ പശ്ചാത്തല സംഗീതവും ഒത്തുചേർന്ന് ഒരു സ്ത്രീരൂപമെടുത്തപോലെ ക്ലാരയുടെ വരവ്. ഒരു പക്ഷെ മലയാള സിനിമ ചരിത്രത്തിൽ ഇന്നോളം കണ്ടതിൽ വെച്ച് ധൈര്യവും, ഇഛാശക്തിയും, സങ്കീർണതയും, സൗന്ദര്യവും, ശുദ്ധപ്രണയവും, ഒത്തുചേർന്ന മറ്റൊരു സ്ത്രീകഥാപാത്രം ഉണ്ടോ എന്ന് തന്നെ സംശയം. ക്ലാരക്ക് അമരത്വം നൽകാൻ സുമലതയുടെ മുഖവും അവതരണവുമല്ലാതെ മറ്റൊന്നുമില്ലെന്നു കണ്ടറിഞ്ഞ പപ്പേട്ടന്റെ സിനിമാബുദ്ധിക്കു മുന്നിൽ വീണ്ടും പ്രണമിക്കുന്നു. അന്നോളം കണ്ണീർനായികമാരെ കണ്ടു ശീലിച്ച മലയാളിക്ക് ദുഃഖം മറച്ചുവെച്ച്  ജീവിതത്തിൽ പടവെട്ടി നിൽക്കാനായി ഒരു മോശം വഴി സ്വയം തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത ക്ലാരയോട് പ്രണയത്തിലുപരി ആദരവാണ് തോന്നിയത്. 

ഇതിലെ പ്രണയവും കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളുടെ സങ്കീർണ സ്വഭാവങ്ങളും, പപ്പേട്ടന്റെ  തിരക്കഥയിലെ തേജോവലയവും, ആ മാസ്മര സംഗീതവും സിനിമ കണ്ടു കഴിഞ്ഞാലും നമ്മിൽ നിന്ന് വിട്ടുപോകാതെ നിൽക്കും. ജോൺസൻ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ പശ്ചാത്തല സംഗീതവും ശ്രീകുമാരൻ തമ്പിയുടെ വരികളെ ഈണമാക്കിയ പെരുമ്പാവൂർ. ജി. രവീന്ദ്രനാഥിന്റെ സംഗീതവും സിനിമയിലെ അത്യന്താപേക്ഷിതമായ ഘടകങ്ങളാണ്. ഓർമ വെച്ച നാൾ മുതൽ ഇന്നോളം കേട്ട സിനിമാഗാനങ്ങളിൽ വെച്ച് ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട രണ്ടു പാട്ടുകളിൽ ഒന്ന് "ഒന്നാം രാഗം പാടി" ആണ്. മറ്റേതു ചെറുപ്പത്തിൽ അമ്മ എന്നെയും, ഇന്ന് എന്റെ മകനെയും ഉറക്കാൻ പാടുന്ന "അല്ലിയിളം പൂവോ" എന്ന ഗാനമാണ്. എന്നെ സംബന്ധിച്ചിടത്തോളം മരണമില്ലാത്ത രണ്ടു പാട്ടുകൾ.. "ഒന്നാം രാഗം പാടി" എന്ന ഗാനം എന്നിൽ അലിഞ്ഞു ചേരാൻ പല്ലവിയിലെ വടക്കുംനാഥ സാനിധ്യം ചെറുതല്ലാത്ത ഒരു കാരണമായി.

തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ എന്ന ചലച്ചിത്രത്തെ പറ്റിയൊരു ലേഖനം എഴുതുമ്പോൾ, സുന്ദരമായ ആ അസൗകര്യത്തെ പറ്റി പറയാതിരിക്കാൻ വയ്യ - മഴ. കഥയുടെ പല സന്ദര്ഭങ്ങളുടെ ആഴവും വ്യാപ്തിയും കൂട്ടാൻ മഴയുടെ സാനിധ്യവും അസാന്നിധ്യവും ഏറെ സഹായിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾക്കു ശേഷം പ്രായഭേദമന്യേ മഴയെ പ്രണയത്തിന്റെ പ്രതിരൂപമായി കാണുന്ന കുറെ ആളുകളെ ഞാൻ കണ്ടുമുട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. മറ്റൊരർത്ഥത്തിൽ മഴ ഒരു കഥാപാത്രമായി മാറുകയായിരുന്നു. തിരക്കഥയിലെ മറ്റൊരു ഉജ്ജ്വലത.

ഈ ഘടകങ്ങൾ ഒത്തു ചേർന്നപ്പോൾ തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ എന്ന സിനിമ മൂന്നു ദശകങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറവും ജരാനരകൾ ബാധിക്കാതെ ഇപ്പോഴും അതെ പുതുമയിൽ കാണികളിൽ ഇന്ദ്രജാലം നെയ്യുന്നു. 

ഈ പറഞ്ഞതിലെല്ലാമുപരി ഒരു രണ്ടു വയസ്സുകാരനായിരുന്ന എന്നെ ഒരു മോഹൻലാൽ ആരാധകനാക്കാനും ഒരു തൃശ്ശൂർക്കാരനായി ആഘോഷിക്കാനും അഭിമാനിക്കാനും ചെറുതായി അഹങ്കരിക്കാനും തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ ഒരു കാരണമായി എന്ന് സമ്മതിക്കാതെ വയ്യ..

ചില സൃഷ്ടികൾ കലഹരണപ്പെടാതെ ഒരു നിത്യവസന്തമായി നിലകൊള്ളും.. മുപ്പതു വർഷങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറവും ഒരു മഴ കാണുമ്പോൾ ജോൺസൻ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ സംഗീതത്തോടൊപ്പം ക്ലാരയും മണ്ണാറത്തൊടിയിലെ ജയകൃഷ്ണനും മലയാളിയുടെ മനസ്സിലേക്ക് ഇന്നും പെയ്തിറങ്ങുന്നു.. തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികളായി....

30 years of Thoovanathumbikal

Thoovanathumbikal... Released on 31st July 1987.

30 years have gone by, but still, when it comes to the most discussed Malayalam movie, I think, Thoovanathumbikal would stand tall at the numero uno position.

For me, Thoovanathumbikal unfolds a new meaning every other time I watch it. It takes quite a talent to explore a plot with some complicated characters. Of course! It’s a Padmarajan cult after all. So there’s absolutely nothing to wonder about. Every frame in his movies are so detailed that each of them can be expanded to a separate individual movie. Also, another notable fact is that each character in Thoovanathumbikal, regardless of the screen time, be it Thangal – the pimp, Ravunni – the neighbour, Davidettan – the bartender, the drunken person at the bar or Jayakrishnan’s friends possess a character that makes them deeply etched in the viewer's psyche. Above all, what makes this movie dearer to me is the backdrop of my Thrissur town.

Jayakrishnan is till date my favourite character ever portrayed by Mohanlal. Jayakrishnan’s principles, determination, sincerity, simplicity, social life, friendships, love life are so imitable. And the way Jayakrishnan’s past was narrated, by the stories Thangal and Radha’s brother explains at different stages of the film was quite impressive. Without a slo-mo, punch dialogues or a heavy metal BGM, Mr. Jayakrishnan Mannarthody was capable of inspiring many men for three long decades.

Now, in the movie as Jayakrishnan towers, Clara makes an entry with a rain and Johnson Master's masterpiece BGM; a combination that was never experienced in movies before or after Thoovanathumbikal. Clara is arguably one of the boldest, beautiful and complex portrayals of women that you ever find in Malayalam cinema. She is strong willed and free spirited. She escapes from the clutches of a useless parental relationship by getting into prostitution and later on gets married to a widower, only to help Jayakrishnan. Now, such a character could typically be a sob story woman, with a strong element of pathos and sympathy underlying her character. However, Padmarajan creates a Clara with whom you develop a sense of bonding, someone without stereotypical negative or depressive shades. Sumalatha immortalizes the character of Clara.

The romance, complexity of the characters, the aura in Padmarajan’s script and the fabulous music keeps me glued to the movie for a long time even after it ends. A special mention must also be given to the excellent BGM by Johnson. The music has a character of its own and it creates a tension that is present throughout the movie. The same with the songs composed by Perumbavoor G Ravidranath, written by Sreekumaran Thampi. “Onnaam Raagam Paadi..” is the first song that I would wait to be played on the radio when I was a kid of 3 or 4 years. And it is still my favourite. Mention of Vadakkumnadhan in the lyrics is also a tiny reason that holds this song so close to me.

An article about Thoovanathumbikal cannot go without mentioning about the most beautiful of all inconveniences – Rain. I have met people who really believe Rain became more romantic after Thoovanathumbikal. Sure in many episodes, the rain added more depth to the scenes. Story telling brilliance, again!

All these attributes come together to make Thoovanathumbikal a movie par excellence, which has withstood the passage of time and still weaves a magic among the viewers of Malayalam cinema.

Apart from all what’s told above, Thoovanathumbikal was quite a firm and big reason, capable enough to turn the 2-year-old me to a mighty Mohanlal fan and celebrate myself as a Thrissurkaran.

Some creations are never outdated. They are called masterpieces...

       

Thoovanathumbikal..."Butterflies of the spraying rain"...

Guys, Art was more important than Religion!

Late night yesterday, I had this thought coming up in my thoughts. There were many scattered ideas, which I felt decorated my core idea really well. Here is how it came. It again, yet another mad thought.

How Wonderful a world had this been if our Ancients preached Art than Religion!

I see myself as a very good admirer of Art. Be it any form, language or any other classification. I have seen people thinking deeply and more importantly, I have observed people thinking relevantly even in a painting or a novel. He can also be someone who was influenced by life and pass through a mighty transition stage after which there is a crowd that is influenced by this work. Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” is such a beautiful example for this.

I recollect a line that I read long back, “An artist is a person who has God’s signature on the walls of his heart”. True it is. But it is also sad the way Art is suppressed in our societies. Or on a more micro assessment, we can see that suppression beginning right from our homes just for this one reason that Art is not the major portion of our curriculum. I still am not able to figure out what disqualifies Art from being considered a main stream in the school curriculum. It is a skill that needs to be nurtured and mended in the right way.

We can see suppressed artist in the form of graffiti, bathroom singers. There are more poems, songs, and stories that die just after birth as manuscripts. Even more are the number of arts that die in the womb of the artist’s psyche. There is an infinite number of art form sealed in unknown minds those are ready to explode when given a stage.

Let’s spread Art. Let people learn to admire the way someone else’s creation. That is a good way to reinstate the long lost mentality of our world to ‘accept’ other’s ideas. I often think that Art is that only one reason God has to justify his creation of mankind. Or in other words, Art is the only harmless innovation the entire human race has offered to Mother Nature.

Instead, we have religion. I still wonder how can any religion that is known to just a handful of “the Godmen” be generalized to all. This is emotional slavery. Those who follow first blind themselves, so there is no risk of a Q&A session. Sometimes I feel Religion is another politics among God’s ‘people’. This is dangerous. We have a very pathetic situation that awaits for our children and grandchildren. We are going to leave the world in a very bad shape than how we got it from our ancestors and we had no right for doing that.

We got it wrong and we made it even worse.

Yes! I repeat!

Art was more important than Religion!

Let us pass it on..

Someone just asked me, "Which is your favourite event of Thrissur Pooram?"

For me, Pooram is one whole big event. Picking up a favourite part of it consumes more time than Pooram itself.

But then, this year was a little special. There was a duty of inheritance. To inherit the 'madness' for this mighty fiesta to my Sonshine. Something that may look like a mission. I know it takes years. But I'll do my best to make him understand the great regards, the people of this circular city hold for the art, the rhythm, the elephants and all other elements that are the building blocks to make it a 36-hour long wonder called THRISSUR POORAM.

To take it or drop, is his discretion. But I'll definitely do justice in passing it on to my successive generations.

This is not an ambition or a goal actually. I'm a little particular that the kids should know about their roots well and find time to participate in it along with their 'ambitions'. In our generation, people are being tourists in their motherland. I find that pathetic. Not that I'm against the idea of finding fortune from afar your motherland. My idea is not to abandon the roots and as you aim the heights.

It's also painful and annoying the way some people keep their children away from all these and eventually, as they grow up they start looking down upon these events, traditions and beliefs as if something so primitive and alien. It is never about becoming superstitious. We are so rich in traditions and art. There are infinite forms of art that carry a purpose and moves in tandem to be called a tradition. Why not we teach our children to first admire and then appreciate the brilliant forms of arts first. I also believe that parents can mould a better citizen than teachers. It should start from within the four walls of your house.

It can be difficult at times to carry this luggage of your 'origin' as you climb the heights. But, trust me, from a different dimension, that practice will gift your success a coat of satisfaction. Because, end of the day, in the city/country you choose to live in, you are an expat. And when you return to native, make sure you or your children are not titled as a new neighbour.

So in that way, our successive generations have a lot more inherited properties than the monetizable assets. Let us teach them to be proud of their origin.

My view!

My perspective!

ശ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഒരു ആലില ജന്മം

ഈ കഴിഞ്ഞ പാറമേക്കാവ് വേലയ്ക്കു വടക്കുംനാഥന്‍റെ സ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്ത് വെച്ച് എന്‍റെ ക്യാമറയില്‍ ഒരു ചിത്രം പകര്‍ത്തുമ്പോള്‍ എന്‍റെ മനസ്സിന്‍റെ ഏതോ മൂലയില്‍ ഞാന്‍ കേട്ട ഒരു കാര്യമാണ് താഴെ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നത്..

പലരും പറഞ്ഞു കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്, "ഇനിയൊരു ജന്മം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അതും ഒരു തൃശ്ശൂർകാരനായി തന്നെ ജനിക്കണം" എന്ന്. എന്നെ സംബന്ധിച്ചിടത്തോളം ഒരു തൃശ്ശൂർക്കാരനായില്ലെങ്കിലും വടക്കുംനാഥന്റെ ശ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഒരു ആലിലയായി ജനിച്ചാൽ,  അത് തന്നെ വലിയ ഭാഗ്യം. ഇത് അമിതമായ ഭക്തികൊണ്ടൊന്നുമല്ല. വടക്കുംനാഥൻ തൃശ്ശൂർകാർക്ക് ഒരു ഈശ്വരസങ്കല്പത്തിനുമുപരി അവർണനീയമായ ഒരു വികാരമാണ്. അതവരുടെ ഓരോ ശ്വാസത്തിലും കാണും. 'മ്മടെ' ന്നൊരു തോന്നലാണത്. 

ഒരു ശരാശരി തൃശ്ശൂർകാരന്റെ ഇഷ്ടങ്ങളെല്ലാം നടക്കുന്നത് വടക്കുംനാഥന്റെ മുറ്റത്താണ്. ശ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്ത്.. അവിടത്തെ കാറ്റിൽ തത്തി കളിക്കുന്ന ഒരു നേർത്ത പടുത്തിരിഗന്ധവും ഓരോ ആഘോഷത്തിനും അണിനിരക്കുന്ന ഗജവീരന്മാരുടെ ആനചൂരും കൊട്ടി തിമിർക്കുന്ന പാണ്ടിയും പഞ്ചാരിയും പഞ്ചവാദ്യവും തുടങ്ങി തൃശ്ശിവപുരനിവാസികളെ എന്നും ഹരം കൊള്ളിക്കുന്ന അസുരവാദ്യങ്ങളും അങ്ങനെ ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഇഷ്ട ഗന്ധങ്ങളും ശബ്ദങ്ങളും കാഴ്ചകളുമൊക്കെ ചേരുന്നതാണ് ആ അന്തരീക്ഷം. ഏത് ആഘോഷത്തെയും ചെറുതായി ആഘോഷിക്കാൻ അറിയാത്ത ഒരു കൂട്ടർ ഒത്തുചേരുന്ന അന്തരീക്ഷം. എല്ലാ ആഘോഷങ്ങളും തങ്ങൾക്ക്  ആവേശവും അഭിമാനവുമാണെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്ന ഒരു കൂട്ടർ ഒത്തു ചേരുന്ന അന്തരീക്ഷം. 

ആളൊഴിഞ്ഞ ഒരു ഉച്ചസമയത്ത് അവിടെ ചെന്നൊന്നു കണ്ണടച്ച് നിന്നാൽ എന്റെ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട ഗന്ധങ്ങളും ശബ്ദങ്ങളും കാഴ്ചകളും എല്ലാം എനിക്ക് ചുറ്റും അലയടിക്കുന്നതായി അനുഭവപ്പെടാറുണ്ട്. ആ ശ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്തു എന്റെ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട രസങ്ങൾ ശ്വസിച്ചും ശ്രവിച്ചും ദർശിച്ചും ഒടുവിലെപ്പോഴോ ആ ആൽത്തറയിലെ മണ്ണിൽ പൊഴിഞ്ഞു വീഴുന്ന ഒരു കുഞ്ഞു ആലില ജന്മമെടുക്കണം എനിക്ക്.

എന്നൊക്കെ പറഞ്ഞാലും, മനസ്സിൽ, നിരവധി മനുഷ്യ തലമുറകളോളം വിടർന്ന പന്തലിച്ചു ചില്ലകൾ പടർത്തി ഇലകളിളക്കി നിൽക്കുന്ന ആ ആൽമരം ആവണം എന്നാണു എന്റെ അത്യാഗ്രഹം. അതെ വെറും അത്യാഗ്രഹം. ആലോളം ആഗ്രഹിച്ചാൽ ആലിലയോളമെങ്കിലും കിട്ടിയാലോ... ശ്രീമൂലസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഒരു ആലില ജന്മം...

A remembrance.

Today is the 30th Death Anniversary of Appat Devaky Amma, our Grandmother.

30 years back, I was the last new born grandchild She could hold close to her to share her warmth. She departed when I was only 6 months old. Most of us weren’t so blessed to experience her warmth and love like our elder brothers and sisters.

It’s been 30 years. We haven’t seen her. We haven’t heard her sweet and soft voice. We haven’t been wrapped in her kindness. Yet, we love her like we have had her among us through all these years. She is literally living within us through the stories our parents and our people in the neighbourhood keep sharing. We have heard so much that how She even walk, behave, smile and talk.

Through the stories She still have a lesson for us:

Your goodness shouldn't come in your voice. It is what people talk about you in your absence.

We definitely miss her. But we love her more than that.

We are sad that She is not with us. But we so happy that we are her grandchildren.

Perfect/Improvement

I have often seen people desperately racing for ‘Perfection’. Out of my observation I would say Perfection is a mere pressure builder. And there is absolutely nothing called perfection. It is an illusion. An illusion that defies you in the end. I would quote Improvement much mightier than perfection. Perfection is a lie that kills the attempt to improve any further. Perfection is an illusion, improvement is the truth.

Improvement is a perpetual task. We keep improving every day. Something we call perfect may not look perfect some years from now. Situations, requirements and people keep changing. Like the moon, beauty lies in something that keeps changing, something that improves. Anything that was once perfect will one day be outdated. And something that improves remains forever. I bet, even when the whole world rate a work of art as a masterpiece of the craftsman, he will definitely be having a ‘could-have-made-better’ point in his work. And that would be the only think he see whenever he looks at the ‘masterpiece’. Remember, there is no masterpiece in life.

There is a serious revelation that needs to be spread out. Perfection is a dead-end. Improvement is what takes us to the end of it. Hence, let’s make it a point to make one improvement a day. It should also be kept in mind to insist and indulge our children in doing it. At least improve something that requires it in a one-hand radius circle that surrounds us. Be it the field of work, your personality, your behaviour, discipline or anything. Just keep improving. And then in the end when you turn back to have a glance of life, you will see that it was a perfect life.

Fearlessness!!

Death is that one thing that I love doing. Not to kill; to die. In those five letters hides the ultimate truth of the universe. Fractions of that second when the so called "something"; my identity, starts finding its way out of my body. Sad is the understanding that it happens just once. Cannot afford to miss the chance hence. I want to have it with all its perfection and purity.

Here lived who loved to live and die equally. Perhaps this brought bliss in his life and that smile on his face.

Fearlessness!! Yes, that’s the key!

How wonderful a world would it be…

At times, when I sit back and get a flashback wave, I think of which was the most beautiful set of days of my life. Of course, it was my school days! But even when I say this, like I read from a quote recently, it wasn’t the school which made those days shine brighter. It was always the friends, mischiefs and episodes we had gone through those days. 

Well, to start with, I would say that school is the paper on which we jot down the tale of life. But as per me schools have nothing to do with the tale written on the paper it is. We can hardly blame anyone for this. This is a bitter truth which has to be accepted though unwillingly.

Teachers come for the career this divine service offers, just like any other professionals. Profession has immensely reduced ethics quotient in this service just like in the medical profession. More than a profession Teachers and Doctor and on earth to serve life of others. One my imparting knowledge and the other by curing the ailed. As per me, people who serve as a Teacher or Doctor have the most sacred of professions on earth.

When it comes to Teachers:

I’m not here for blaming my teachers. This is only to share my view on what more to be added to the educational system. Pupils should be taught to think and dream by themselves. This can help them identify themselves where and what they should be after school. They can get help of their Teachers for the suggestions and path to reach their goal.

Why do we need a world where children study only to become doctors, engineers or accountants? Why can’t we have more trained painters, writers, actors, musicians, photographers, theatre artists, singers? First we need to grant the child the profession or the way of living he feel comfortable. This should bud from home. Parents should help children in finding their own career. I’m sure that this can reduce the number of people sailing alone in a sea of frustration.

More than all if it at least we won’t have that haunted feel of being stuck up in the wrong place. Yes!! Have a glance into you whenever time allows and find out for yourselves that we are stuck up and there is at least one thing you won’t be tired of doing. As I sit back and think, I see frames everywhere, my mind narrates my thoughts that hit me, and another part of my mind will be humming a never ending playlist. All three of these happen all the time. Then I realise that I am lost far away from what I may have become.

How wonderful a world would it be with more music, stories, paintings; with all the competing mentality wiped off; with everyone moving in tandem but not like in a race looking each other with rage.

How wonderful a world would it be…

Religion ?!?!

One with an above average reasoning potential is more likely to be an atheist than spiritually embracing this institution of religion. Now we have a choice of two dimensions from which religion can be given a view. One is that of blind man and the other of an independently thinking individual.

On one end they preach the ideologies and noetic thinking and explanations of what is told in texts followed by a religion. On another side there are the priests who are in regular touch with our dear Mr. God and a group that's completely dependent on science and calculations...the Astrologers.

Let me share an incident;

A few weeks back I visited an astrologer to find the match between two horoscopes for a marriage purpose (even though I was totally against this system). Horoscope matched. But not compatible for marriage was the verdict since both the horoscopes would go through a tedious period simultaneously after ten years. All based on pure calculations was what the astrologer claimed. The joke happened when I told this to a priest who was of the opinion that there's nothing without a solution. A special offering to the deity can clear the compatibility issue which the astrologer said. So, my question is... which is REAL? Or do these both really exist? No idea!!

I would say that religion is now septic than a rusted poison coated arrow head. And there is a different group who preaches the various complex religious texts in such a simple manner that a common man can digest, with which he can start thinking of what the ancient sages, prophets and philosophers struggled to convey to make this a better world. But the situation stands helpless and history repeats.

We live in a weird planet where people who try to stand and bring about a religiously intellectual revolution would be stoned or crucified or punished savagely by those are in regular touch with our dear Mr. God and beatifies and revere them after death is such an ironic way.  

Serving the notice period of my Bachelor Life.

It took just a ring. Just a ring to submit the resignation letter to my Bachelor life which was a short span of 5 years. it was this period that helped me to rediscover and exhume many of my interests and hobbies. Now here, at this point, I can say that I’m in a trance. A very nice and cool period of six months of notice period.

This can be a period where I can see the extremes of my ever beautiful bachelor life with fond expectations of the excitements to come in the next portion of life. At times I feel like exploding myself during this period and sometimes just the opposite, to remain calm and continue as it is.

Anyways, at this point I’m not excited or anxious on my pillion seat being occupied. I find myself turning out to be a team of two. I’m growing. I am feeling life like always. I am loving it…

Each Day An Adventure...

Adventure? Yes, adventure! I feel this is the best thought ever to make a life exciting. Making each day an adventure! There was a thought that struck first this morning, never used to happen this way quite often.

Like from a book I heard a faint inner voice read, “Wow, what a beautiful morning! One good thing already happened. You are still alive to see the world for a day again and you never know what this day has for you. Let’s give a bungee dive down to this day with the Sun. Good Morning, my dear me...”

Life is extremely real, dynamic and exciting. There can be good days and bad days. Let’s enjoy the good days and deal with the bad.

Good Son

At a hospital when I once saw a father's beloved son telling his family "He's gone...” without the slightest emotional or vocal shiver made me feel cold. Cold… thinking was it for this son that father lying dead lived a whole life. There wasn't really anyone in that old man's thoughts, prayers and life other than this son who now was in a hurry to scoot the scene without extending his leaves. That man's quick surrender before death was a bonus for his 'professional' son. Anyways He played well making his journey so comfortable gifting him a feel that his son was there with him until his last breathe…

Then there was another son who had an official meeting more important than his Mom who slipped to comatose in deathbed with her days counted. The tears that rolled from that mom’s eye on her very last ‘conscious’ on earth is a memory that still burns in me. But what it taught was a lesson to keep in mind for the rest of my life…

Both those well-educated, well-employed, well-paid and well-settled sons taught me a lesson. A 'good son' is not just about keeping parents happy with the grades at school or college. A 'good son' is a helluva responsibility that's there with you from birth. A responsibility which is to be voluntarily taken. Son, not just to one set of parents through whom we came out to see the world, but to anyone who is as old as our parents. ‘Hell’, as per my understanding is a person’s home who set himself free by letting this parents to stay in an Old-age home.

I am still unaware of how can people call it a ‘duty’ or ‘obligation’ to look after their aged parents. God help them all…

A life so short!

When will I die? Doing all routine monotony was when this thought struck! “When will I die?”

How beautiful a life it is, I reckon. A hell lot of music yet to listen, a hell lot to read, a hell lot of movies to watch, major part of earth yet unseen, more ride, more accidents, more resurrections to be done before the “Game Over” is alarmed.

So much to do in so little time to make a life ‘beautiful’. A wait to live after a seeing the chequered flag on the last lap of our professional career can be a dangerous dream. Remember! We come with an expiry date. An unknown expiry date.

Life is just once. Live it in the present not in future tense.

Revelation: Need to change living strategy from “wake up-survive-sleep well” to “Live, don’t just survive” like a slave told once.

Being ‘Rich’ is a state of mind!

Just read this on Twitter:

“If you are not jealous of your colleague's success you are either lying or you are not speaking the truth.”

I can honestly say that this is wrong. Of course we are all ambitious plus need and love the ride to the destination. But how on earth can someone be so folly to race with someone riding an entirely different bike than yours? That’s in fact something I cannot digest.

What if someone prefers a slow ride? Everything is done for the sake of some coma-separated zeroes in the bank statement. Of course! Security is the primary fear of us all. Or in an interesting way we can say that, ‘Fear for security’ – is the gun shot signal to start the race. That’s what we all run for. But when we gain the ‘Financial Security’ and when it’s time to stop the race, we never stop running. By then us all will already be addicted to that rush in race.

It’s not our fault, even who wish to think out of the box, and choose to be mere spectators, are coerced into the race. Why? People don’t realize there was something called life which slipped off their pockets during the run until the day they wait in the queue of the last Immigration Officer.

I strongly believe; being ‘Rich’ is a state of mind! When I’m able to help someone in need, or when I’m the first someone who’s in need of help calls, I feel rich. Or perhaps, the word rich have different explanations and examples from different angles.

Being transparent, my idea is not getting pissed off in life in either ways. Earn, save some, spend some, and give some. That’s the mantra. There are so many people in need of this paper with numbers in our country. Let’s not forget this in the rush of race. And let’s feel rich together. Life comes with an unpredictable expiry date. So it’s really important to feel satisfied when we turn back just before inhaling the last breath.

Sure, I do have a plethora of lack of experience. But now at this age, I strongly believe this is right. I have no guarantee if I might have a different dimension to think on this subject because, only the weirdest planet in the whole universe supports life and we all belong there. 

Sachi

The photographer. I remember seeing a hoarding daily that read "Sachi Studio" on the roadside through the window of our school bus. Nothing was special except for the face of Mohanlal drawn on that hoarding which made this one stand a foot forward in my mind among other scores of hoardings I see during those days.

Few years passed when one day I saw the wedding DVD of my cousin brother that was made in a quite impressive way. And Mohanlal's face on that hoarding flashed in my psyche once again when the credits read "Sachi". I was surprised. It did not cost me another moment to fix him to shoot my sister's wedding. Impressive. That would be just an understatement about this man's eye.

Since then, Sachi was 'the' official DOP of all our family events. A matching frequency which I valued the most in any relation/friendship was too quick to develop between us. Without teaching me anything he became my Guru in photography. 

March 6th, 2014: The phone call bearing the news of Sachi’s demise flew into my ears and was transformed to a cold numbness from my head to toe. I had to struggle a bit to break the ice in my throat to let my voice come out and respond to the call.

The surprise element was more than my consciousness to deal with. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. Over the years, Anju Chechy had become as dear to us as Sachi chettan and for their daughter Kichu, she became my little sister with a dear daughterly affection. I purposefully delayed visiting them until today. Just a dumb feeling that he would still be alive for a week more in my immature mind. Literally dumb. I visited them today. Still immature to register his death in my gray cells.

May the Spirits they pray to gift them strength to stand up and walk down the long lane.
I have read a quote of Mr. Paulo Coelho; “I write to empty my mind”. Mine is still not empty. One more soul added to the ‘will miss’ list.  

December – The Showstopper!!

As 2014 table calendar replaces 2013’s on my table, one of the cool years in the recent past is switched to the past already before midnight. Our eagerness to jump to an anxious future is quite ironic.

Also this time there are no resolutions to make. Or perhaps there is nothing new to add to the list. It was a quite smooth sail. Perhaps, 2013 hold the record of having the most number of peaceful days in my life. Also this is the first time in my history of existence to stick on so much to the New Year resolutions so much. More than 80% I can say.

So there are no resolutions for 2014. Like one of my friends Facebook status said, “This year’s New Year resolution is following last year’s resolution.

May we all be blessed to digest anything that 2014 bears..

But 2013, I will miss you… I never wanted you to get over. Perhaps that’s one big reason why I delayed this last post.

November!!

As wished last month, this was a month of some brilliant additions to my Page on Facebook. November also saw two complete retirements and one retirement declaration. One among the retired was Sachin Tendulkar, from his cricketing career and the other two are my from their bachelor life. One got married and one was engaged.

Reading never happened. But I was fortunate enough to get a trip to Kanyakumari and Trivandrum. This was actually an under-planned extension clubbed with Deepak’s wedding. But, unplanned moments turn out to be the best ones. This trip also was one of those kinds with many twists and turns hidden within. This time also I carried a book with me. But like always, not a page was turned. I never get the drive to read while travelling. True that being in a moving vehicle entices me to read. But, not someone else’s, I read those unwritten lines of my own unwritten book.

Wow!! That’s a dream!! What could it be about? Will it be a fiction, or something spiritual or something like an autobiography? No idea! Ablosulutely! Mind sometime is like a shore, caressed by tiny snippets of ideas/subjects, while sometimes like a desert. Something might show up some day. I hope..

But anyways, one thing rediscovered was that travelling is the best strategy to accumulate photographs. December too have some booked dates. Really looking forward for that.

So many to books to read, so many to write, so many movies to watch, so many places to see and so many photographs to be taken and so little time.

November’s page was perhaps the most quickly flicked one of the 2013 calendar so far. Let us see how fast December is.

Welcome 2013’s showstopper!!

October!

A less clicked, less written and less read month slipped away. October was rather a cool set of 31 days. No special tensions too. Too much peace is also disturbing. It’s like a straight ECG line. Life is not what it is without a bit of drama and suspense.  

But my hobbies, those keep me going. Make me believe that I have observed or noticed something in life. Life is prettier than we know. Observation is the medicine that aids this revelation to strike. Luckily three days of November contained the wake of all the hobbies. A ray of hope to observe more this month than October. May be all this is a madness. But still, like Mr. Paulo Coelho wrote; “An intense life needs a touch of madness.”

May thoughts, frames and time flow from all sides in the following month.