Movie Bug Bites

“My wife and I are booking online tickets for this afternoon show of Badrinath ki Dulhania. Would you two be interested?” came a call the other day from our family friend. “Yes, we are,” I said without a blink and without consulting Aunty.  Chhadi jawani budde nu, or Buddi Godi Lal Lagaam,  my Punjabi friends in Delhi would say if they happen to read this.

But I would subscribe to the view of a senior friend, Mr Radhakrishnan, my previous apartment complex co-resident. For him age is just a number. At 84, he runs for thirty minutes daily - at 4.30 in the morning when the rest of humanity is enjoying their last lap of sleep. Like Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder, he insists, age is very much a matter of the mind.

Anyway, back to the plan, off we set out with barely an hour notice. Fortunately my friend has all the routes at his finger tips, and knew which one will save us a traffic signal or two. And his speed?  Well, at one point I was almost about to ask him if he was associated with Formula One race. But checked myself lest it prompted him to press the accelerator with renewed gusto. A little ahead of time in Garuda Mall, we celebrated it with cappuccino, just short of raising a toast to my friend for zigzagging his way blowing the horn no more than the usual number of times required to counter such a forenoon traffic.

The movie was enjoyable, had entertainment value and, the bottom line, paisa vasool. Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, both with filmy genes, played their roles with gay abandon. The story goes like this…..Sorry, I am not supposed to share this, isn’t it, just in case there are still some who to take a call at the last minute before it is off the screen. It was fast-paced more so in the first half and was full of turns and twists. And of course, the joy of watching it in a theatre with a bucketful of popcorns by the side  and with king-size coca cola to wash it down (a la the West), had its own charm. Yes, my friend’s son knows too well his parents are too committed to home foods to touch outside stuff even with a ten-foot pole. So he had ordered these on online, to be collected from the theatre counter through the mobile QR code, at Interval. Moral: Don’t underestimate the younger generation. They are one up.

As always, one clubs such visits with some more activity, just to make a day of it. So on way back we stopped at the Metro Department stores, where my friends are registered shoppers - and for us, a maiden visit. It reminded us of Costco or Sam’s Club in the States. We bought from left, right and centre as though they were being offered for free. And most of them for the deep store - things that we may not need for another four months. Back home, we were driven by the inevitable tendency - to compare prices with Food World, Mariamart, Royalmart or the new D’Mart, our present neighbors in law. But alas, we never retain bills. 

What movie next, Uncle? Well, Bahubali 2 is slated for the day after tomorrow, isn’t it? With the TV channels themselves engaged in curtain-raiser interviews with the team, the teaser and hype are no less engaging. Added to that  the producers have adopted a unique marketing strategy. Many movie halls are running Part 1 all over again just to brush up your memory, and prepare you to pick the thread from where you left. Also, some television channels are showing its dubbed version. I watched the one in Malayalam two days ago, and am all fully geared to see the conclusive part. I am more keen to know why Kattappa, the subservient and devoted guy took to the dastardly act of killing his Master in the et tu Brute style. Or, what prompted Rajamouli, the ace director, to ask him to do so.

V V Sundaram

Maple 3195

26 April 2017

More Seniors Set Foot in SFV

Of late there has been an influx of seniors to SFV. Either by themselves or with their children. And it is a pleasure to welcome them. At this rate the day may not be far off when SFV becomes synonymous with a retiree’s paradise. Anyway, here are a few with whom I rubbed shoulders.

If you spot a tall, lean gentleman with a long-range-zoom camera hanging around his neck and looking up the trees and bushes, quite oblivious to the humans around in the park, rest assured he is Mr Shankaran. He moved into Ebony recently. He is an avid bird watcher, and always has Salim Ali’s (Ornithologist) book by his side. If you are in his good books, you can trust him to share with you a vast photo-collection of birds, butterflies and what have you, all clicked from our surroundings. He is very much in tune with Nature too. The other evening  we were both sitting at the Joggers Park. Suddenly he asked me if it was the noise of ‘cricket’ that we heard. I looked around, and reassured him, “No sir, they are playing tennis, and it is the sound of the ball hitting the ground.”  “I know that, but I mean the hissing sound from the bushes - the insect cricket I mean, also known as cicada,” he overemphasised just to bring home the point he can distinguish between cricket (game) and tennis. 

Speaking of Nature, we met Mr Pruthi Raja, from Maple (he’ll forgive me if I didn’t get his name right). He was on a reconnaissance visit from his established home in Mysore. To move or not to move to SFV, still haunts him. He said he retired from the Water Supply Department. We jumped at it and asked him if he could help us get Cauvery water connection a little early. He clarified that it was not exactly the job he was connected with. Anyway, post retirement he is engaged in Natural farming. “And what exactly is Natural farming, sir?” the rest of the seniors asked him in unison. “To grow a natural boundary with shrubs and trees high enough, rather than erect an artificial fence, check what the soil can take, rather than forcibly grow what you wish; plant trees, shrubs, that will attract butterflies, birds all of which contribute to the natural farming. As we dispersed after a prolonged discussion, he suggested forming a WhatsApp group of those present. A good sign. Also he shared with us he was leaving for Mysore early next morning, but would re-visit earlier than originally planned. Welcome. Half the mind made up, we guessed.

Bird watcher, natural farming specialist, doctor, professor, engineer, IT professional, banker… SFV abounds in assorted professionals and hobbyists. To add yet a new dimension, we have a High Court judge as well in our midst. Mr Subramanian (Maple) retired as a High Court judge specialising in intellectual properties, based in Chennai. “So did you have an occasion to deal with the historic patent rights obtained in US by some Indian-Americans for turmeric, and also the Basmati rice, both of which took India by storm not long ago?” I asked him. “Yes I dealt with both the cases, and with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research preparing an exhaustive list of several such items in use in India for centuries, we delivered a death-blow for anyone to ever attempt patents on such products. The US government promptly withdrew the patents.” 

In sharp contrast to these hyperactive individuals, we met a sober Mr Narasimha Sastry (Ebony). He retired from the Railways. He subscribes to the principle, “Never speak unless spoken to.” The best concession he ever extends, however, is an infectious smile. With his son and family he stays in Ebony physically but his heart is still in L&T South City where, he boasts, they have better infrastructure - everything at a stone’s throw. He is not alone. Quite a few other residents too feel similarly when they move in. It takes a while to begin count one’s blessings. Fortunately he was so appreciative of the Ram Navami celebrations that it prompted to ask, “When is Ganesha festival due?” Early symptoms of getting into the groove, I felt.

Then there is the elderly couple, the Ranganathans (Maple). On the threshold of eighties, the couple never miss their daily quota of one-hour walk in the evening - slow but steady. The lady serves as a great source of strength to him to brave certain age-related challenges. At the Ramanavami celebrations she whispered into my ears from behind if she could render a bhajan number. I wish I could say yes to her. But I was not the organiser. So I pointed out to her the persons managing the events. She seemed less inclined to approach them. Let’s hope we will have an opportunity to hear her next time.

Mr Srinivasan (Oak) moves in the Joggers Park practically unnoticed, as though calculated to draw the minimum of attention. Yes, the same man with that three-line vibhuti  adorning his forehead. During a chat, it transpired he is from Nurani village, close to mine, and that he studied in the same school as I did. Not just that. In Bangalore we both lived in Anand Nagar and attended the same religious festivals, and had many common friends. Strangely, we had never bumped into each other, nor could vouch having seen each other. And, at the family level, his sister is married to my colleague’s brother. To cut matters short, if only my sister were present at the conversation, given her who is whose who relationship-connecting acumen, she would have established that the two of us are distant cousins.

V V Sundaram

Maple 3195

13 April 2017

Ramanavami celebrations - a blissful evening in SFV

“SFV is second to none, isn’t it?” the man on my left whispered into my ears at the Club House this evening. 

“Did you mean the grandiose of the complex, its near-foolproof infrastructure, the spacious Club House, or the Ramanavami celebrations in progress right now?” I was about to ask him, to grade my response accordingly. But his tone was more affirmative than interrogative, and he hardly expected an answer. 

With more than 200 in attendance, the function started off invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha - Vakrathunda Mahaakaya Surya Koti  Samaprabha… Incidentally, some books interpose “Surya Koti” with “Koti Surya”,  both convey the same meaning though. Similarly at the concluding prayer after Vishnu Sahasranamam recital some pray “Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu, while others, “Samastha Lokah Sukhinio Bhavanthu. Of course here too the meaning remains unchanged. 

Anyway, not to miss the woods for the trees, the rendering of all bhajan songs by the Satsang group of ladies, all attired in blue by arrangement, was excellent - no less than professional. No one ever felt the absence of percussions - mridangam, tabla or harmonium. They had done their homework well. Yes, I have first-hand knowledge. I know how much I had put up with delayed dinner in the past few days of rehearsal. Kudos.

Until now we thought Prof Manikutty was capable of building leadership and management skills in IIM students at Ahmedabad and Bangalore. But today we were able to unearth another hidden treasure. Yes, given the need, he can switch over his voice from the hour-long  lectures at his class to some soulful bhajans as well. A laudable effort, Manikutty.

The devotional songs in assorted languages were simply captivating. The violin recital was good. The group songs by a few ladies fetched a good round of applause. Two classical dance performances  with the glittering costume were a real welcome change. The solo, Bhaktigeethe in Kannada which, by virtue of its positioning as the last item on the agenda, should have been lost in translation, But no. That too was well received.    

Naveen Kashyap took charge of the concluding ceremony, on behalf of SFVians. For a while he had a direct communion with Maryada Purushottam Ram, with a few prescribed mantras followed by Mangala Aarti and the humble offerings of the residents, prepared with devotion, love, and affection, in the form of Avalakki, Kosambari, Majjige, Panaka, and Rasayana all of which transformed into prasad for distribution. 

A lot of behind-the-scene activities had been going on among the Satsang ladies for the event. Each item of prasad was entrusted to one lady who would mobilise half a dozen others to ensure supply in the required quantity. It was nice to observe that everything went off well. 

I bumped into the same gentleman, this time busy doing justice to the plateful of prasadam. I whispered into his years, as he held on to his plate close to his chest rather guardedly, “You said it - SFV is second to none. I am sure you meant the Ramanavami celebrations?”  

In a fitting finale to the event, let me recite the first lines of Sree Sita Rama Ashtakam which traces the lineage Rama and Sita:

Ayodhyapura Nethaaram, Mithila Pura Nayikaam

Raghavaanam Alankaram, Vaidehanam Alankriyam.

This and a host of others (Vishnu Sahasranamam, Bhagavad Gita, Sivananda Lahari, Bhaja Govindam, to mention a few) were forced upon us, the younger generation in our household -  me, my two younger sisters, two elder brothers and our young uncle. Every afternoon during the summer vacation one could hear our reverberating, but unwilling, chant from the house as all the other village boys had a gala time playing cricket with the makeshift bat and stumps, football, marbles, or gulli dandda, under the banyan tree, with the adjoining pond accentuating the cool breeze. Yes, our grandfather was an advocate, and the Court too closed for summer vacation. He would hold us hostages to learn these by heart. Honestly, there were occasions when we hated why there ever was a summer vacation, more so for the Court. On reflection, however, I feel glad I am able to recite some of these slokas off the cuff. 

V V Sundaram

Maple 3195

05 April 2017