Siddiq's 'mobile venture' moves towards history | |||
By Faris Arakkal It was sheer determination that helped him tread through the road less travelled. Even in the midst of acute poverty, he nursed an ambition to become a film maker. Thus through the eyes of a small mobile phone, he became the first mobile documentary film maker from Kerala. Thora, a documentary on the reminiscence of Jewish existence at his native place Mala, was widely accepted and appreciated and thus Siddiq PI, became famous in no time. Siddiq is a third year degree student of St Theresa's College, Kottakkal, Mala. His craze for films was inborn. In childhood, he used to act out the roles played by the established actors in the films he watched. His ambition to become an actor made him a keen viewer of films. Thora, his documentary was also an eye opener as it portrayed a diminishing culture that existed years back in the district. He filmed the synagogue and the other remainings of the Jewish life from the place. Siddiq's happiness knew no bounds when he got a phone call from 'The week' magazine asking the details of his work. It doubled as he knew that a jewish journalist was coming from Mumbai to meet him. His other works include a documentary on Tsunami which was adjudged the best in a contest organised by a Mumbai-based film society. Another short fim 'A farmers sorrow', which brought him the'best director award' once, had screened at festivals. 'Who loves you', a short film on a lost love, had also been widenly acclaimed. He could not send his films to several award fests due to financial constraints. So he thought of 'mobile filming' as it was less expensive and more creative. "Thank god, I was blessed with lovely parents", says Siddiq. While directing 'A farmer's sorrow', Siddiq wanted to get an actor to play the title. As he had no money to give, no one accepted the role. Then his father came forward and made a superb performance as the farmer. Siddiq made several futile attempts to get an entry to the film world. When called, some film personalities discouraged him while some others termed his requests as 'gibberishes'. Even then Siddiq decided to go ahead with his dreams. Meanwhile he successfully initiated an audio magazine for his college. Siddiq' s dreams of doing a regular course in any of the established film institutes. But it is not so easy for him. Because his mother, who is working as a charwoman for a meagre salary in Goverment Hospital, Mala, is the only earning member of the family. His friends Ansar Majeed, Alsham, AkkbarAli, and Renjith gives his courage and confidence. They christened this circle as "creative boys. "We know nothing about the various types of shots, but we call them by different names such as 'Shaji shot', 'Sathyan Anthikad shot', and 'Adoorian shot'. |
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A home for hapless | ||||
Faris Arakkal THANAL meaning shade in Malayalam is the name they aptly gave to their shelter home of hundreds of hapless people. In every sense, it's a huge tree where around 218 lives are given shelter. They include orphans, aged, and physically and mentally challenged. The institution near Kalathode is run by VMV Orphanage and Welfare Trust. "The institution started in 1997," says Rukhiya, the manager and in charge of the institution. The institution was once the home of a childless couple Veeravoo and Aisha. They wrote in their will that the house and 27 cents of land adjacent to it should be gifted for the orphans after their death. Their dream came true when another couple, Raheem and Rukhiya, took initiative. Since its inception, the couple has been living for the inmates of the house. Thanal has helped 57 inmates to find their soul mates. Vilasini, an inmate of the home, tied the knot with Kanakaraj at a temple in the city. It was a talk of the town. A lady from Andhra Pradesh found in the goods compartment at the Thrissur railway station was brought here and later she was sent back home. More than 80 students of the institution are being sent to different educational institutions in the city. Also some learn basic lessons in tailoring and computer. Many of them are physically and mentally challenged and so they need extra facilities and care. It has also provided a vehicle for their travel to and from schools. "Employees are here to serve them and not to earn,'' says Rukhiya. Some inmates are also suffering from diseases like fits which require immediate attention. She says it has become difficult to find a right employee for the institution. "I am happy and content here," opines Kalpana, 65, who was brought here as she had nobody to look after. VMV Orphanage and Welfare Trust has no sufficient funds and it needs assistance for growth. Rukhiya was an assistant executive engineer at Indian Telephone Industries. She took voluntary retirement in order to look after the underprivileged children. Her husband PK Raheem is the director of the institution. Inmates call them moothapa and moothumma in respect. "More than food, clothes and shelter, they need love and compassion. We are trying to ensure all these for them,'' Rukhiya adds. |
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Gurkhas lost dentity | |||
By Faris Arakkal RAM SINGH is no more a Gurkha sporting a long moustache and wielding rod, whistle and knife. He is now a security guard at an ATM counter in the city. Ram Singh from Nepal has been living in Kerala for 65 years. He has a family in Thrissur and owns a voters identity card now. Gurkhas were known for their bravery. Their attire and moustache command respect from people. It was a saying that if a Gurkha took his knife out of its sheath, he never kept it back without blood stains on it. But this is now a folklore that only a granny can tell her kid. Now, the city is not Gurkha friendly for different reasons. The alarming rise in thefts in the city led to the emergence of security guards everywhere. Many private security companies came into existence in the changed scenario, providing security guards to public and private institutions. But Gurkhas are not preferred for the job as they have no address. "Nobody without an identity is allowed in our group," says the man in charge of Gentleman Securities Thrissur. Moreover, Gurkhas are looked down as they turn up to each house asking for money. But Rajesh, who has been a Gurkha in Nadathara since 1998, is the only security guard of the area. He lives here with his Nepali family. He said that he inherited the job from his father. He is happy with whatever the households give in return for his service. Mannuthy is considered the hub of Gurkhas in the city. MB Selvaraj, who works as security guard in the city, said, "Families prefer us to Gurkhas." He criticises Gurkhas saying that they never caught any thief in the city |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Herbal Star plants on show at Oushadhi | |||
If you are an aswathi- born, plant a Kajra tree or if your star is bharani , you have to look after an Amla. According to the principles of Astrology, all the 27 stars have particular trees. Planting and taking care of these tree can bring good to the person concerned. Even sometimes these plants can help the healing of diseases as well. "Even though it is essentially a matter of belief, people just pick and plant the sapling of their star in these days", says Oushadhi Panchakarma Hospital Superintendent Dr KS Rajithan. Citing the example of actor Kavya Madhavan, who received her own star plant in a function held at the hospital, Dr Rajithan said that Oushadhi was on a mission to propagate the idea of preserving trees. "The star plant reflects your character", says Payas O.L, who is an organiser of various researches conducted in the field of medicinal plants. "Your star plant has the features of you", adds Payas. Oushadi has been taking efforts for the last some years to bring back the culture of planting trees especially medicinal plants. Around hundred schools in the district have now planted medicinal plants. All students including beginners take keen interest in collecting and planting star plants. KS Rajithan who has been in this field for 8 years says that the 'roots' of the star plants can be seen in the centuries-old culture and tradition of India. He adds that collection of star plants like vanni, vetti, karimaram are not so easy, as they are mostly found in dense forests. |
Seven-year-old drumming into history | |||
By Faris Arakkal Drumming on a flat surface, his nimble fingers produced soft sound rhythmically like that of a young percussionist. It was an obvious sign that the boy was born to be a percussionist. So, he was sent to learn music and its nuances. Seven-year-old Sreedhev Sreenivasan is now drumming into history with mridangam. He is the youngest pakkamelam player in the world. Sreedhev achieved this under the guidance of his guru Sri Vikraman Namboothiri, chief instructor of Korambu Mridanga Kalari. "His is gifted with magic fingers," says Sri Vikraman Namboodiri. His performance has the glitter of blending 12 keerthanas of adhithalam, roopathalam, mishrachap, ghandachap and 10 minute-long thaniyavarthanam, which needs enormous efforts. He used to attend online classes besides his daily lessons from Kalari. It has helped him reach this level of performance. His debut performance was at Thiruvambadi Temple Thrissur. Since then, it has been a long journey for him. He performed at various temples in Madurai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram and Mookambika. He participated in Chembai Sangeetholsavam 2010 at Guruvayur. Sreedhev has also performed in Mumbai and Chennai. Recently, a CD of his solo performance has been released by playback singer P Jayachandran in the city. Sreedhev is a 3rd standard student of Don Bosco School Irinjalakkuda. He longs to become a mridangam maestro. His father Sreenivasan is a happy man and satisfied with the performance of the young percussion artiste. |
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
AFGHANIS BY HEART, THRISSURITES BY SOUL
By Faris Arakkal "WE HAVE to roll our tongue twice, even thrice, to articulate a Malayalam word, but we love the language, says Zakir Ahamad, one of the Afghan students of St. Thomas College Thrissur. There are seven students from Afghanistan who are pursuing their education in the city. Now they dwell here in the city weaving dreams like any other Indian student. Around 400 Afghan students passed the test to study in India. The Indian embassy in Kabul chose them under an educational exchange programme. They were allotted to different universities in the country. Of them seven students were sent to Calicut University and they opted to study Bsc computer science at St Thomas College. "We are sometimes celebrities at the college", says Ahmad Mustafa who hopes to be a computer software engineer. When they walk into a class they are surrounded by pals. Never were they treated as strangers because of their culture. When asked about the death of Osama, they said, with a smile on their face, "we just don't care for him". When Afghanistan is portrayed by the media as the saddest and gravest place on earth, they frown at the media. According to them, they live in a peaceful country. They love Indian food and fellow students like Afghan cuisine as well. Dishes like Kabuli pulav and Manto won the hearts of students when a food festival was conducted at the college last year. They remember the long queue in front of their stall. One thing they never will forget, no surprises here, is the Thrissur pooram they saw this year. They were delighted to touch elephants which they don't often come across in their mountainous nation. The fireworks of the pooram reminded of them of the Eid they celebrated in Afghan. They have week-long fireworks and kite flying during the Eid festivals. They have a finite love towards Bollywood. They barge into theatres of Afghanistan to see their favourite Khans. In Thrissur, they often enjoy Hollywood and Hindi films but haven't given a try for the local fare. They love the AR Rahman music. With the living expenses going up, they are struggling to limit their expenses within the monthly scholarship of Rs 7500. Still, they enjoy the luxury of a car and a bike which they managed to own within a year. They wear jeans and shirts to college but their preferred clothing is 'Perhan Thunbaan', the traditional Afghan a kurtha-pajama. They once rocked the campus with their Attan dance performance. It's a year since they - Zakir Ahmad, Abdul Malik, Ahamad Musthafa, Faizan Quraishi, Ahmad Shikeb, Waheedullah and Ghulam Qadar - , reached the city. They love the city, the culture, the people, the traffic but yet they suffer from homesickness. "Entha vishesham", they ask you as a parting shot. |
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Saturday, May 28, 2011
Roby Das 'framed' | |||
"The pictures I shoot have no pre-conceived meanings. No inner meanings whatsoever they reflect either," says Roby Das a self-trained photographer in New Delhi who was on a visit here. He adheres to frames of life in his clicks, not meanings. Frames he carved are anecdotes of land and people. He believes that most effective mode of communication is photography as the camera has the ability to capture the essence of an expression in all its purity and innocence. He learnt basic photography from his father, who was a professional photographer once. Now he is a full-fledged travel photographer. A solo trip from Srinagar to Kanyakumari on motorcycle gave him ample opportunity to shoot enough beauty and charm. For once, he listened to the call of the heart for a feat. He distributed one lakhs of pamphlets on traffic safety in English and languages of the states he crossed. His name was duly included in Limca Book of Records, of the March 2011 edition. "Now, I have to run and click those frames before they vanish from this world," laments Roby Das on the degrading rivers and disappearing paddy fields of the country. He wants to fill his frames with all the curves, length and breadth of nature. Roby is therefore fuelling himself for another journey: another solo bike expedition through the coastal belt of the country. This long stretch from Porbandar to Kolkotha on the thunder bird will take more than 40 days. When others travel for the heck, his journeys gift him with excellent clicks! Roby first mounted a solo exhibition of his fifty photographs at AIFAC, Rafi Marg, and New Delhi in 2008, followed by one at Ashok hotel, New Delhi. An exhibition of 20 portraits, "faces of India", held at the Constitution Club on the occasion of Independence Day, another one "Dawn and Desk" at Trivandrum, and the "third coloured views" at Lalita Kala Akademy, Chennai drew the desire crowds. Roby Das hails from Sreekandapuram, a small hamlet in Kannur. |
Overtime for tailors as demand for uniforms peaks | |||
By Faris Arakkal TAILORS are busy stitching uniforms as schools are getting ready to open in the coming week. They are working overtime to make the maximum out of the season. Previously, there was only one pattern in school uniform, but now it has become a trend to introduce more patterns. As a result, the number of the uniforms has increased and parents have to meet additional expenses on them. Tailors in the city charge Rs 120 for stitching a shirt and Rs 180 for a pant for boys while for girls it is around Rs 160 for a pinafore and Rs 150 for a churidar. The rate changes according to the length and width of the uniform. James, who has been in dress making for more than 20 years, used to work till late night during the season. Parents are a bit relieved as schools have opened a new system of providing the uniform directly. But there are complaints against the school management for making huge profit in this business. Since parents are not ready to take the risk of finding a good dress maker, they don't raise their voice against the management. When most of the tailors have the policy of making the hay while sun shines, City Tailors Thrissur, which has been in the field for 50 years, never takes up school uniform works. "I couldn't sleep a minute last week" says Praveen, who is the only tailor in his area. The season brings maximum crowd to his shop and often disputes occur with customers, adds Praveen. Though All Kerala Tailors Association has issued a price list for stitching each dress, none follows it. They all have different price tags! "Readymade uniforms in textile shops lack quality and are stitched out of bad polyester materials" says Naseer, who is a tailor form Vadookara. Naseer has got orders from different schools this year also. A few parents even approached the tailor at the time of their children's annual exam. |
Thursday, May 26, 2011
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Feeling the heat? Cool down here! | |||||
By Faris Arakkal The rattling of vehicles comes to a halt here, on the road side. Most of them apply breaks here to relax this scorching heat. The trees along the roadside of Puzhakkal padam opposite to the Lulu Convention Centre has become a hub for refreshment of travellers. Roadside vendors with a wide variety of edibles await them. The road which meets the highway brings numerous passengers a day, most of them on a long drive. Roadside vendors have their kitty full of summer's popular choices like sugar cane, water-melon, lemon juice and fruits. "Travellers walk in here not only to wet their throats but also to experience a breeze," says Unnikrishnan who sells bottled mangoes and amlas seasoned in salt here. He comes here in the morning around eight and leaves by six in the evening. But when monsoon reigns supreme, he has to find another work for the daily bread. However, for Biju, who is running a fruit shop for the last 13 years, has no other means of income, so he will earn his bread here itself in the monsoon too. "It's a means of my livelihood, not profit," says Biju. They exploit the sweltering heat but not the travellers, adds Biju. The easy parking slot adds to the luxury of these vendors. The pilgrimage seasons are the times when both road sides are swarmed by vehicles. Tired heavy vehicle drivers have the lucky chances to doze off under the shades. Sharafuddeen has come down to Thrissur from Kottakkal to sell small gadgets like pipes and air pumps. For him, it is easy to occupy a space here under the shade as he would not be caught under the snarling traffic in the city. All vendors bring water from the nearby public water supply at Muthuvara. When monsoon adds misery to their life, they are more worried about the changes that may be enforced by the authorities. |
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Shopping spree Parents and children are getting ready for the new academic year. | |||
By Faris Arakkal ROSE wants a small umbrella with red dots while Reshma needs the transparent pink one. With only one more week left for the schools to ring the long bell, all the shops in the city are witnessing brisk sale. Bags and umbrellas are most needed. Most of the shops at High Road are crowded in the evenings with parents busy selecting the best for their kids. It's again a Chinese revolution in the school market. From pen to umbrella, there are varieties of Chinese products in the market. Umbrellas with sceneries, club logos and various funny designs are the fashion this time. Small pocket umbrellas and ordinary size Chinese ones have been introduced. Last year's hit, nano umbrellas, are also available in the market. An umbrella costs around Rs 300. School bags Diesel and Scoobee Day are in great demand. "Most kids now walk into shops asking for particular brands,"says a shopkeeper. More straps and pockets are the characteristic feature of the bags in demand. One side bag is simply gone now. The school kit, which includes water bottles, is available in fluorescent and transparent styles. The city is all ready to accomplish the taste and choice of the kids. But parents are yet to turn up. Hence, shopkeepers are waiting for the rush next week. |
Monday, May 23, 2011
Manakody's Chittappan, a helping hand for everyone | |||
He is a helping hand for all the families who don't have male members at home. |
IT was raining cats and dogs on that day. Sidharthan was then three years old, shivering with acute fever. His mother was holding him tightly in her arms. Whenever lightning flashed across the sky, she further tightened her hold. But it didn't help Sidharthan's rising temperature. The mother was helpless to reach the nearest doctor.
Years passed. Sidharthan is now blind and known as Chittappan, the Malayalam equivalent for father's brother. He has been a Chittappan for the whole villagers, who gave him the nickname out of love. Sixty-three-year-old Chittappan now lives in Manakody, 8km from the city.
Sidharthan is a helping hand for all the families who don't have male members at home. He brings grocery for them. He goes to the ration shop.
His day starts with a bath in the nearby river. Though blind He knows every nook and corner of the village. After the shower, he reaches the teashop and then his work starts.
He lost his eyesight due to fever when he was only three years old. Then, the child did not get proper treatment and it was too late by the time they consulted a doctor.
After years, Chittappan attended many eye camps, but in vain. He does not regret his lost eyesight but for his lost education. Nobody was ready to teach a blind boy. Thus he became an illiterate. But he throws his ears to learn things. He listens to the reading of newspaper at the tea shop. So he has a good understanding of the political developments in the world.
His mother died 13 years ago, leaving him alone in the world. She was his eyesight. Still, he had to live a life.
Every marriage, house-warming, funerals in the village was attended by Chittappan. After lunch, he dozes off for a while and then some music. In the evenings, he would be busy at the ration shop. "People say I always wear a smell of kerosene," Chittappan said.
Chittappan never claims he is a teetotaler. Whenever he is offered a puff of cigarette or beedi, he would be very happy. However, he is not particular about smoking.
Having sharp hearing capacity, he makes out the people in the village from distance. He has five siblings. His only income is the monthly pension allotted for the blind.
Years passed. Sidharthan is now blind and known as Chittappan, the Malayalam equivalent for father's brother. He has been a Chittappan for the whole villagers, who gave him the nickname out of love. Sixty-three-year-old Chittappan now lives in Manakody, 8km from the city.
Sidharthan is a helping hand for all the families who don't have male members at home. He brings grocery for them. He goes to the ration shop.
His day starts with a bath in the nearby river. Though blind He knows every nook and corner of the village. After the shower, he reaches the teashop and then his work starts.
He lost his eyesight due to fever when he was only three years old. Then, the child did not get proper treatment and it was too late by the time they consulted a doctor.
After years, Chittappan attended many eye camps, but in vain. He does not regret his lost eyesight but for his lost education. Nobody was ready to teach a blind boy. Thus he became an illiterate. But he throws his ears to learn things. He listens to the reading of newspaper at the tea shop. So he has a good understanding of the political developments in the world.
His mother died 13 years ago, leaving him alone in the world. She was his eyesight. Still, he had to live a life.
Every marriage, house-warming, funerals in the village was attended by Chittappan. After lunch, he dozes off for a while and then some music. In the evenings, he would be busy at the ration shop. "People say I always wear a smell of kerosene," Chittappan said.
Chittappan never claims he is a teetotaler. Whenever he is offered a puff of cigarette or beedi, he would be very happy. However, he is not particular about smoking.
Having sharp hearing capacity, he makes out the people in the village from distance. He has five siblings. His only income is the monthly pension allotted for the blind.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
AN UNHEARD LULLABY IN THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
It’s the time for eight month Raja to toy with his bear, cat and elephant at home. But raja is now sleeping in the cradle under the shade of a small tree in the Tholkappiar campus of the University Of Madras. He has been experiencing this status since his mother Kavitha got her job under the contract scheme in the University campus. Raja sleeps, plays, eats here with his mother.
Kavitha reaches the University by eight and starts watering grass, removing waste and the dead leaves out of sight. In the midst she rocks her raja in to sleep with her lullabies. At noon they both will fill their belly from the University canteen. Then for a leisure time after lunch they both will initiate a game. After four with a second round of cleaning and watering she leaves the university to her home near to the old secretariat building. Thus her day finishes in the university
Kavitha hails from the district Vellore with his husband who has a horse employed in the Marina beaches. She being the second wife of her husband used to have fights with the previous one on daily chores. Her husband hates her toiling for earning, but kavitha finds her soul alive while at work. She agrees that she sometimes beats her man out of anger. “But it’s an act of defense”, says Kavitha
Kavitha had her schooling up to third standard but she knows a little to read English. She believes it as a blessing of the erstwhile job she had near the high court. When she earns 2000 rupees a month she is satisfied that she will have her kid surrounding all the time. She has three other girl children and often they come to see their mother and “then it would be a playground for all”, she smiles.
After this contract work, she will have to move for another job. She fears for her eight month Raja. She is in search of a job which would keep her son with her. But the fate will play the card which can never always satisfy her maternal feeling.
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