DD Movie Mix –the Only TV Program I Spend Time On

Have you ever watched DD Movie Mix – The Most Wanted by Doordarshan Trivandrum? If you haven't, tune on to DD TVM on Saturday evenings at 7.30. For several months now, it is the only program that I really want to watch. I miss some episodes if I am out of home at that time. However, if I am home, I can't miss the program.

Now you might ask what is so special about this program. In fact, there is nothing so special about this program. I just like the clean jokes and innocent teasing the main host (Anoop) cracks on his co-anchor (Parvathy – for some time now) and the (almost exclusively) women and girls who give in a call.

Unlike in several other cases, the callers (and the teased) don't really have a reason to feel bad about. I have seen programs, where the participants are left with bitter feelings. I hate those programs in some channels, which have some anchors, who can't talk proper Malayalam and can't help insult their guests. I really feel like throwing a brick at their heads.

It is in such condition that I really like one program. This program has nothing of much glamour – just a few minutes of entertainment, which goes through some teasing (without leaving any hard feelings), some witty scenes from Malayalam movies, and some song scenes from new films.

The callers sometimes praise the beauty of the male anchor's smile and he loves it. In one occasion (a few months back), a caller (a school girl) called up and this man was scoring so high, until one special moment.

Usually little girls address him 'chetta' (elder brother). This girl called him UNCLE and no words can explain the embarrassment that flickered through his face.

He was like – "Uncle?! Me?!" and continued with "you mean to call me uncle?"

The co-anchor also didn't waste the opportunity to give back what she had been getting till then. And that was the only moment I saw Anoop not in his full swing.

Onam Celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram City

Onam is the only time when almost the whole of Trivandrum city folk comes out to celebrate. There are quite a few festivals coming and going, nothing can match onam in its festive spirit.

Outside the city, celebrations are far too little in the whole of Trivandrum District, except for isolated celebrations conducted by organizations and people groups.
On Thiruvonam day (Sep 12), my friend Shaji and I drove into the city and there wasn't any sign of festivity, busy traffic or rushes until we reached the junction near Nandavanam police camp. From there on, traffic moves at one inch a minute. Two and four wheelers are parked on both sides of the road and people move tightly packed, as if it is inside a bus, packed three times its capacity.


I don't know what the frenzy is about. Yet, I know the national festival of Kerala is the only occasion to free yourself and let go the inhibitions to fully enjoy the carnival mood.

The city is densely packed and is active till 10 pm, in a city where it goes to sleep at around 8 every day. This occasion is special and I must commend the efficiency of city police to manage such a grand affair without letting any fuss to happen.

An Encounter with Horse Mount Police

Trivandrum city retains one nice tradition - these policemen patrol the streets during day and night, as they did during the age of Maharaja. The dressing of policemen has changed a lot, but no such changes for the horses, except they now have to put their shoes on a tougher surface, than it was half a century ago.

I couldn't help but take this photograph as this patrol passed through a street. I also find a cameraman from Asianet (channel) jumping out of a car with his camera and recording the majestic movement of these horses and the men on their backs.

Vellayani Lake – A Greenish Hangout

You will surely love the solitude, greenery and the misty, yet warm climate of this lake. Vellayani Lake, some 15km from Thiruvananthapuram city offers a nice hang out for the local people and for anyone who loves to spend some time, detached from the maddening pace of life.

Taste a tender coconut. Sit there idly. Watch a stroke or a kingfisher lifting a fish or a crab, which surfaced at the wrong time. You will instantly know this is the place of water and coconut trees.

Tens of thousands of coconut palms line the waters – you just can't take a photo here, without coconut trees in your frame. You will also find a stretch of islands, each one offering home to one or two coconut trees.

Drive or walk the unpaved path that divides the water into two. Move away from under the scathing sun and to below the shade of coconut crowns, where you feel the warmth that no air conditioning machine in the world can match.

Also find how farmers here grow plantains, vegetables and fruits of various kinds. And learn from where our food actually comes from.

The place has never been a tourist destination, except for a day or two of boat races. It is better left that way, we can drive in any day of the year; spend as many hours as we want and return home as a refreshed soul.

I say this, even after fully knowing the place has everything it takes to make it to Kerala tourist map, as a jewel to the string of much touted Kerala backwaters.

My trip to the place was with a friend of mine, from near this lake and hours just flew by, before we knew it is sunset and it is time to say goodbye to this blessed village.

Narmakairali: Laughter & Food for Thought

Narmakairali (or Narma kairali) continues to amuse Thiruvananthapuram folks with clean humor for quite a long time now.

Their latest event was at VJT Hall, where the audience smiled, laughed and occasionally smirked at the thoughts of some well known humorists headed by Sukumar, Jacob Samson Muttada, etc.

For those people who forget the art of laughter, and for the people who really don't have a venue to unwind, the laughter club events like the one conducted regularly by Narmakairali is a relief.

Though generally it was clean jokes all the way, occasional sexual innuendos and explicities really robbed the fun. I was sitting next to a woman of almost the age my mother and it was really tough on occasions.

The following photograph is from a comedy skit performed by the team.

Golden Shower Baths City in Yellow

It is run up to Vishu. The signals are on the trees shading the city roads from the sun. The avenue trees cover themselves up with golden yellow flowers. The star among the trees is golden shower (Cassia fistula).

In Malayalam it is kanikkonna (or kanikonna), the auspicious flower to make it to the presence of Lord Krishna, to be viewed as Kani (an auspicious sight) on Vishu. April 14, Sunday (tomorrow) is Vishu, the first day of Malayalam month, Medam.

The festival signifies prosperity. Everything is golden this day. People open their eyes before an idol of Lord Krishna, surrounded by gold coins, fruits, golden shower flowers, new cloths, etc arranged on a big, bell metal pan.

No one can miss this season. You see the golden shower trees blooming everywhere. They are on roadsides, courtyards of houses, parks, etc. When you see the golden shower plants bloom and cover themselves with nothing but yellow flowers, you know Vishu is round the corner.

The first two photographs have Golden shower trees and the third one is some other plant. I like when it blooms yellow.

Octave 2008 Thiruvananthapuram

The cultural mega fest of north-eastern states, Octave 2008 is currently underway at Nishagandhi festival grounds, Thiruvananthapuram. Artists from eight states display the cultural vibrancy of their land. The festivities are enjoyed by massive crowds.

Day 2 (Sunday) Specialty)

Since it was a Sunday yesterday, I just decided to give the event a try. The first thing you will notice is the different dress styles existing within our country. The girls and boys from the north eastern states are also beautiful, you will stop and take a second look to secretly enjoy the beauty they are gifted with.

The singers from Mizoram also greeted the audience in a unique way, I think like the Japanese do. I have seen Japanese way of greeting others only on TV. It was quite nice to watch the girls lowering their heads and backs as a whole to greet the audience.

After some songs by beautiful singers from Assam and Mizoram, there was a breathtaking display of Tang-Ta, the martial art of Manipur.

Tang-Ta was combined with Kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala. While Tang-Ta performance received applauses and cheers throughout, the Kalaripayattu team received booing during most of their performance.

It is the first time I witness the Manipuri martial art, I am really amused at the agility, control, sharpness and swiftness of the martial art form. No wonder British rulers were afraid of the martial art form of Manipur and banned its practice.

Since Kalaripayattu and Tang-Ta was performed side-by-side, everyone in the audience got a chance to compare the two martial art forms of India. For me, the difference in speed of movement was like the movement of a pregnant cow and that of swift stag.

Though the performers made Kalaripayattu appear far inferior in skill, movement, strength and physical control, it need not be the case.

Both forms of martial arts use swords – the practice of Tang Ta allows swift use of sword, even inside a small room, as swords are moved at quick pace, closer to the body. However, in Kalaripayattu the swords are flashed away from the bearer's body and it normally requires more free space for proper use of the sword.

The belt sword fight was unique to Kalaripayattu, while the balancing of a Tang Ta artist on the sharp edges of 12" spikes (darts) literally took the breath away from the audience of about 10,000.

After seeing the martial arts performance, the only thought I had was the Kalaripayattu team could avoid handheld weapon fights, which were performed badly and immediately received loud boos from the crowd.

The eight day festival is on till Saturday. Artists from Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland exhibit their skills and cultural tradition.

Other attractions include a food court dedicated to North Eastern cuisine, handicrafts stalls and an exhibition of musical instruments.