Not a missing clip or deleted scene but an unforgettable live performance of “Mehbooba Mehbooba” being performed by the great R. D. Burman and his orchestra. There are some sweet surprises in the video which I just watched a couple of days ago on YouTube, that I’ll let you discover for yourselves. Made in 1976 just after the release of “Sholay” the audio is too good for a recording from those times from a live concert in India. Also seen in the clip are the late Nargis and Sunil Dutt(?), Rakhee and Manoj Kumar. Watch it before the video is gone.
There is also another video from the same concert but this one I have watched before. R. D. Burman and his orchestra play the famous title theme from “Sholay” in this one. Both videos are in Black and White. The orchestra plays after a minute and a half into the video.
There are some other videos too from the same concert which are very memorable too.
By the Grace of Lord Venkateswara (purely by His Grace) I made a wonderful trip to Tirupati from Chennai last Wednesday and I thought the details deserved to be shared. If you are planning a trip to Tirupati and Thirumala check RedBus‘s new pilgrimages offering. First of all I couldn’t believe they could offer a “confirmed sheegra darshan” ticket just two days prior to booking as all special darshan tickets on TTD’s website were sold out till the end of May. Check the current status of the “Sheegra Darshan” tickets here. I went with my gut instinct relying on the information on RedBus’s site and placing my trip at the feet of the Lord. Boy, was I in for a surprise? You Bet, I was!
Only after I made the booking did I look up reviews. They were appalling with pilgrims complaining about the food, the buses, the cancellations and what not. My worst fear was about the “Darshan” which I did not want to miss. Worst case I was even prepared to go through the 6 hour long “free darshan”. While printing out the ticket it mentioned that the “Sheegra Darshan” ticket would be sent separately via email 4 hours prior to the departure. I was very skeptical after reading all the horrible reviews particularly about Manish Travels. I even called TTDC and the lady who responded chided me for believing other sites, asking why I had to pay Rs. 750 in place of Rs. 300 for the “Sheegra Darshan” ticket and that it wall all fake. Somewhere in me, something was saying that it was not so.
As promised, the “Sheegra Darshan” ticket was sent to me via email hours before the departure. Let me also remind you that the “Sheegra Darshan” ticket costs Rs. 750 instead of the regular Rs. 300 from TTD. Consider it similar to the “Thathkal ticket” one gets from IRCTC. Also on RedBus’s site it says “APTDC Guided Sheegra Darshan”. I scoured the net for info and somewhere it read about a guide’s assistance. I was just excited for the adventure. Now here’s the deal, RedBus offers several packages to Tirupati ranging from Rs.1400 to Rs. 2700. The Rs. 750 is on top of this. The only caveat, I had to board the bus from Koyambedu. The drop off was also at Koyambedu, though there was an option for Thiruvanmiyur (Redbus needs to check and correct this). Also note that the “Sheegra Darshan” ticket will not mention anything about “Sheegra Darshan” but the amount Rs.750 paid is indicated along with AP Bus Travel Details. Just ignore the details of the bus.
So what comes with the package?
To and fro bus travel. Both Manish (to Tirupati) and RKT (return trip) were wonderful. They were very punctual. On the return trip there are no stoppings. Manish had to be mentioned as there are so many bad comments written about them online. On the contrary they were very good, both staff and the bus. RKT did well too.
Accommodation at a hotel for a complete day. (Tip – pay a little more and go for Air Conditioning as it was very hot in May)
Pick up and drop off from bus stops to the hotel and back.
Travel by govt. bus to the hill top and back.
Breakfast and Lunch at the Hotel. (The lunch at the hotel SLV Grand was a surprise. I dread “Andhra” spices but the food was awesome.)
And here’s the best part. If you booked the Rs.750 “Sheegra Darshan” there is a guide who takes you all around ensuring your speedy entry. I was going to Tirupati after years (maybe 5 or even 6 yrs) and the place looked “alien” to me. Be it the “tonsuring”, getting past the various security check points, safekeeping of your valuables (phones, bags are all not allowed in the temple), buying “Dhoti” (yes, that’s compulsory for males now), the guide ensures everything is taken care of. After “Darshan” he is waiting with your Laddoo’s too. If you need extra Laddoo’s you can tell him and he’ll arrange for them. Even if he doesn’t we found atleast one guy going around selling laddoo’s in black. The guide does ask for a tip and why wouldn’t you not tip him. It is not mandatory either. One other couple from Bangalore also took the package as I did and the guide grouped and served us together.
From the moment he dropped us at the final check point after which he couldn’t be with us, it just took an hour to see the Lord. It was just incredible! It felt like a blessing from the Lord.
So if you are looking for a quick, comfortable and elegant tour to Tirupati, look no further, take a package from RedBus. The link to the pilgrimages page is here.
P.S – Is there anything flawed about this package. Yes, one tiny bit. DO NOT try and reach RedBus on their hotline. They are unreachable.
This is probably one of the earliest videos I took way back in my Perungudi home that I just uploaded on to YouTube. Searching on YouTube I found one other video called Queen Hornet’s hive. So I am not sure if it was a wasp or a hornet that built this very weird looking nest/hive on the grille of my window. Here’s the video.
Let me see if I can locate the pic of the insect that built this and will post it soon.
23’rd, May, 2019. Finally located the image of the insect that built this nest. Here it is. I took the image from behind a curtain lest I disturb it or worst case be stung by it.
Preface – Just couldn’t help completing this post today and that too just days after reading an article in the “The Hindu” about the “melams” that have started in and around temples in Kerala heralding the devotional season and as a precursor to the “Poorams” which will commence shortly afterwards.
So, let me rewind back to the nights of the Aratupuzha Pooram, 2017. Two poorams one for the presiding deity (Shaasthavu) featuring about 150 musicians (these include the drummers, the men on cymbals and the wind instruments) and the other the following day with about 250 musicians.
No, I just didn’t emerge from a “Metallica” concert or for that matter a concert of any of my favourite rock bands or from a festival of concerts of such bands because NOTHING even comes close to the pure Adrenalin infused (no booze, no drugs) headbanging experience, the drumming (melam), the Aratupuzha Pooram offers. Take it from a guy, who has been listening to rock music for over three decades.
First, let me ask you something. Do you like drums, the sound of drums, or better still, how much do you like drums?
Probably you have one or more favourite drummers and you watch their solos (which very rarely do not last over 10 minutes) over and over again. Eventually you do get tired of them too. Watching them live is a better experience but even that is a brief affair.
So what’s special about the drumming at the Aratupuzha Pooram?
Unlike the solos of your favourite drummer (not denigrating them or their performances), the drumming at the Aratupuzha Pooram lasts anywhere between two and a half hours to three and a half hours.
The group of musicians never practice or rehearse “as a group”. They just come together and play to perfection without skipping a single beat! Tabla virtuoso and percussionist Zakir Hussain, called it the world’s greatest orchestra. One German tourist at the venue told me the Brazilian Samba is similar in that that the the performers can join or leave as and when they desire. On day 1 there are about 150 musicians and on day 2 about 250 in all. Some of the drummers themselves are old veterans including Achuthan Maraar who is 65 or maybe even older. Most of the performances I have been to are lead by the veteran Padmasri Kuttan Maraar. Most of the time Achuthan Maraar is seen standing next to Kuttan Maraar. Maraars are drummers by profession who perform for Temple and other religious and auspicious functions.
No microphones or amplifiers used. What you hear and see is what you get! Amplifiers can drain you but even the three plus hours of this frenzied drumming will not tire you. Toddlers,youngsters and senior citizens (maybe in their 80’s or even 90’s, Oh yes, Aratupuzha has people even older than a 100 years) can be seen enjoying the show. By the way the YouTube upload of the concert is a poor replica of the sound you experience live. Actually there is hardly any comparison! It’s like the difference between watching the Grand Canyon on a postcard and actually being there.
One may find the drumming patterns repetitive but the way the musicians change the pace and bring the drumming to a climax and then bring it back to the beginning pace (they do this several times) concluding with a giant climax is something to be seen and heard to believe!
Here’s one YouTube link I found online. Like I mentioned earlier, it hardly comes close to the real thing.
And unlike several rock drummers (again not denigrating them) there is no use of any kind of drugs or alcohol as it is completely taboo in a holy and religious festival as the Pooram. The three hour long performance has no breaks and the only respite is warm water with dried ginger in it that are served by volunteers while the performance is still on. The stamina of these musicians is mind blowing particularly the guys on the cymbals.
The other spectacle are the caparisoned elephants and the colourful umbrellas and the fireworks (literally sonic booms that shatter glass windoes, my British acquaintance though there was a minor earthquake) at the end but my eyes and ears were on the musicians, drummers in particular. The “Devasanghamam” on the early morning (after the second day of drumming) is a sight to behold. You can count at least 65+ plus ornately decorated elephants on that day. A lot of drumming takes place on that day too but unlike the drumming on the nights.
My own little video of the pooram.
I was told by one friend there (who helps out at the pooram) that the drumming does good to one’s brain. After-all when the Gods provide entertainment, can it be beaten?
The Aratupuzha Pooram 2018 isn’t very far. The function is around March/April. Other “poorams” and festivals invite the same musicians and if I can recall, the performances take place at Peruvanam, Thripunithura and Thrissur.
Like to check out the festivals of Kerala. The Kerala tourism board is developing an app for the same. Meanwhile you can access all the info online at http://www.demo.prixelmedia.com/festival/fest/
Not to be missed, put it on your itinerary for 2018.
Ever since Chaithu watched this film at D Cinemas at Chalakudy (he actually watched it on a return trip from Angamaly) he has been recommending it to me and last week I did and I haven’t stopped watching scenes and (maybe even the entire movie) multiple times. Here’s a brilliantly made film and a very good “all-round entertainer”. More on that later but in my opinion I highly recommend it for submission from India for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars and I will not be surprised even if it takes the Oscar. That’s probably a very tall claim but if director Anurag Kashyap calls this film his best so far in 2017 and if actors Mohanlal, Nivin Pauly and Prithviraj, and director Karthik Subbaraj are heaping accolades for this film it is not without reason.
So what’s so amazing about this film? Read On…
i. A film with 86 debut actors?
Yeah, you read that right! Every face you get to see in this movie (86 of them, mostly in a major role) is appearing on film for the first time.
For many of us who have been watching movies all our lives we are aware of several actors who haven’t learnt their trade (how to act) even after spending decades in the industry and here is Lijo Jose, director of “Angamaly Diaries”, who delivers a “classic” with 86 actors making their debut, making them look like veterans of the trade. Pulling off a movie as this with actors facing the camera for the first time, is just unbelievable. Every tiny role is played to perfection. Other than the protagonist and the villain it is difficult to name any single character who singly stands out for his or her performance. Such is the performance. Characters such as “10ml Thomasettan“, “Uclamp Rajan“, friends Bhiman, Porkku Varkee, Varkee’s fiancee Alice, even the girl who plays the protagonist’s sister (a small role by Athira Patel) stole my attention. The only one character who I thought was losing it was Reshma Rajan, the lady who played “Lichy” in the film but what a beautiful twist she also brings to film that justifies her role too. And yes, I must also add that in Antony Varghese, Mallus have found their successor or even the replacement for Nivin Pauly.
ii. Surreal camera work
If you have been watching films you’ll know how single-take long shots are extremely difficult to make. Now, check this out! The climax of the film has a 11 minute single-take shot. This single shot also employs over a 1000 extras. It is incredible to think how the makers of the film could create something as this. I am sure you’ll be amazed.
Besides the climax scene, there are several action scenes where you wonder how they managed to take moving shots so smooth.
iii. Music and Audio
In the beginning of the movie, hearing the repeated blaring of the same tone of a trumpet got me curious. It sounded a bit brash and boring too. Later when it is heard again and when it is turned into an instrumental version of the Tamil hit, “Sakala Kala Vallavan”, I was hooked. What to say of the audio, particularly in the single-take 11 minute climax scene then. For aspiring Movie Audio Engineers this is the scene to watch and learn.
Music throughout is minimalist but effective. Lovely folk numbers have been used and even a Hindi song in one of the most delightful scenes of the film. Very innovative.
iv. Reality at its best
I have complained about overly done boozing and smoking shots in Malayalam movies but in this one where it looks very natural it only adds to the raw nature and reality of the Angamali rowdy and gangster lives. “Angamali Diaries” delivers a natural movie sans filthy language, mindless bloodletting or gore. There is also a decent dose of comedy, filled with the Thrissur slang. Chemban Vinod Jose (who is also an actor himself) did a great job with the script. By the way, there is enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat, too. If you don’t know Malayalam or aren’t familiar with the slang you will definitely miss something but there’s so much this movie offers that one cannot not help falling in love with this film.
v. Romance
Like me if you are a sucker for romance, this movie has it. I haven’t watched sweeter romance as this in a very long time. Without any spoilers, I’ll let the film reveal it for you.
vi. The best part
I saved the best for the last, the single thing that moved me the most and in my opinion the reason why “Angamaly Diaries” literally shines. The way “Forgive and Forget” has been depicted, unlike never before, on screen is something that will move you. Towards the end of the movie, how friends and enemies come together is just beautifully pictured, you wish everyone could live in a brotherhood and a camaraderie as this.
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