POPPINS

Sounds (music, in particular) always evoke memories associated with it.  Some are wonderful memories, and they hijack you into a nostalgic trance. As I weave through these memories, I meet people (the ones that I can still see in blood and flesh now, but in their old-memories-attached-form), I walk the streets of the dusty neighbourhood of my childhood, I try to recall the smell and even other sounds of that time. When I wake up - shaken, no doubt by the harsh realities of the here and now - I can only sadly resign to the fact that I have lost my childhood and youthful mirth. The material things, and the elusive, questionable wisdom that I managed to gain, in exchange for all that I lost suddenly seems of no worth.  I caught a strain of chicken pox when I was preparing for my class XII public exam. I stayed in Mama's house all through my study leave. Lakshmi periyamma was a hard task master who made sure I woke early, and at least kept making sounds to prove that I...

கடையேழு வள்ளல்கள் கொங்கு நாட்டினரே என்று நானும் முத்துவும் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தோம். எனக்கு முல்லைக்குத் தேரீந்த பாரி தான் ஞாபகம் வந்தது. பாரி கொங்குநாடா? பாரி கடையேழு வள்ளல்களில் இல்லையென்று முத்து சொன்னான். அதியமான் முதலியோரே அந்த வள்ளல்களென்றும். அதியமான் தகடூரை ஆண்டவன் - இது தரும்புரி பக்கம் வருவதென்றாலும் கொங்கு மண்டலத்தையே சாரும் என்று பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தோம். அதியமான், தொண்டைமான் சண்டை, அதியமானின் படைக்கலங்கள் குறித்த கதையைப் படித்திருக்கிறேன். ஆனால் அவன் ஏன் வள்ளல் என்று மறந்துவிட்டது. முத்து உடனே அதியமான் ஔவைக்கு அரிய நெல்லிக்கனியைக் கொடுத்த கதையை நினைவூட்டினான்.  இதையெல்லாம் கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்த சஞ்சீவன் கடைசியாகச் சொன்னான்: "இவ்வளவு ஏன்? ஔவையாராக நடிச்ச கேபி சுந்தராம்பாள் கூடக் கொங்கு நாடுதான் - அவங்க ஊர் தாராபுரம் பக்கத்துல இருக்கிற கொடுமுடி!" அப்புறம் என்ன பேச்சு வேண்டியிருக்கிறது? *** ஒருமுறை கோவை ராமநாதபுரத்தில் 'ரேசன்' வாங்க என்னையும் சஞ்சீவனையும் அனுப்பினார்கள். அந்த மாதம் யாருடைய 'ரேசன்' அட்டையையோ கடன்வாங்கியிருந்தாள் ப...

Our childhood was truly enriched by the many interesting tales we heard from Meena paati .  My personal favorite was her pisashu stories - though she used it to her advantage to manipulate me. I was scared out of my wits when she announced in a menacing tone: " Rendu Kannan varan " (The two-eyed is lurking). I certainly did not pause to think what was so unusual about anyone having two eyes. But such was the impact of her tone and magic. Meena reigned supreme over all the unassuming kids of the Podanur household.   Of all her tales though, this one was interesting ( spoiler alert: I don't know the full story). This one is about a stingy guy who used to announce everyday before his meal every day: " saappattukkulla perellam varalam, varalam " (Anyone who wants a meal are welcome here). And he immediately shut his door lest someone comes to partake in the lunch (It was charitable to invite people to partake in the meals). One mischievous bloke wanted...

My completion of third grade at primary school was a kind of graduation. For I had to change schools then, as the school I studied - St Francis Anglo Indian School on Trichy Road, Coimbatore - phased out the boys and became a girls-only school. In honor of the last outgoing batch of boys, there was a small ceremony at the school assembly. This is where I got a special mention by the headmistress. I wanted to become a driver of a steam locomotive. Of all the students in my class who were asked about their  career choice, only I and my aspiration were mention-worthy. But I gave up on that dream, and I wonder why. I used to take a steam-locomotive-lugged passenger train to school. The ride lasted about 15 minutes from Podanur to Coimbatore. On my way back from school I boarded the train from its starting point - Coimbatore. Had ample opportunity to gawk at the giant, awe-inspiring machine with its menacing looks and honk, its belly full of burning fire.  Th...

It was a hot and boring afternoon at Podanur. It was post-lunch period when we were not allowed to play outside; to sleep in the afternoon was something that we detested (wonder when I lost this) wholeheartedly. Sanjeev and I were at home, and were growing increasingly restless. Meena paati was outside, near the temple, watching traffic on Chettipalayam road chitchatting with sundry acquaintances, her focus probably on bullock carts passing on the road - to collect some fresh dung. I looked around and spotted my favorite copper pot ( chembu kudam ) - I had a liking for its naadam . It was empty and I immediately proceeded to retrieve it from under the cot, only to start playing my favorite percussions on it. I must say that I was the virtuoso/prodigy who was allegedly endowed with skills of the mridangam Kunjumani (Meena's favorite little brother, and renowned artiste) lineage. True to my reputation, I launched on an elaborate thaniyavarthanam . Sanjeev picked the brass pot...

Marudhur Gopalan Menon Ramachandran @ MGR has been the most charismatic public figure to have ever had a spectacular success in the movies and politics of Tamilnadu. I was in primary / secondary schools during his last couple of stints as the chief minister of the state. Our household was a den of Cinema Payithiams : Meena patti, Lakshmi Periyamma, Bhama Chitti , et al.  (I have watched the most drabbest of movies with Bhama chitti in Naaz, Raja, and Irudhaya theatres in Coimbatore- she was also the ready-reckoner for any trivia on Tamil movies of the time) I am told that Kala Chitti used to be one too; it was she who had faithfully collected the Tamil movie song books - a 'song book' was small booklet that contained the lyrics of all the songs of a particular movie. It used to cost 10 or 15 paise (cents) then, and I have not seen such publications for a long time now. Well, Kala had dutifully bound these booklets into a single  (vellum-bound?) volume that yours t...