Pages

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

An Abominable Water Divide

Guys please refrain from sending hate messages about Thamizhan or Malayalee. There are 40 lakh people in Kerala afraid of a 100 odd year old dam thats causing tremors every other day. But at the same time there are 40 lakh people in Tamilnadu sustaining on every drop of water from this dam. If the dam breaks even Tamilnadu could face a famine. The solution will be to provide water as currently its happening. Today technologies have gone far ahead and there should be a solution to feed water from the proposed new and safer dam. Abstinence and some levels of mis-communication is causing a big divide and rift among two emotionally vibrant states. Government policy making and decisioning could take longer time but that doesnt give any 'Indian' to say names and spray anger at each other. For ages people of these 2 states have been walking hand in hand and it must continue to do so. People in Tamilnadu are unaware of the number of earthquakes that have happened in last few months. The blogs and videos from Tamilnadu doesnt mention about the consistent behaviour of these tremors which are directly linked to the rains in these areas and the level of water in the dam. Similarly no blogs and videos from Kerala shows the 5 year long strengthening efforts on the dam made of iron and concrete on top of the old structure. This shows the lack of right education and a void in sending the right message across. Even with a lower water level of 120ft can send ample amount of water to Tamilnadu. If that is insufficient water needs to be pumped or sent via channels till a formidable solution is made. Such simple solutions work in Siruvani dam and we could extend it here as well.

For every point each side puts forward there is an counter argument, but any of which doesn't help the cause for the lives of 80 lakh people spread across these 9 districts. People need to be evacuated to safer zones, New dam to be constructed with assurance of water serving capability as it is now. Spreading hatred is easy and fun up to an extent. But if it gets out of hand it could end up in a much deeper malice than we could ever expect. Lets be united and bringforth an amicable solution to this. There is no Malayalee or Thamizhan when it is the matter of life and death. Hopefully commonsense will prevail.

JaiHind!!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Run Pandit Run

I like Santhosh Pandit...I adore him as a person. Though my tiny intellect doesn't want me to watch his movie going by the promos & reviews. If its a big miss am ready to accept it. But as a person he is a gem, infact a very rare gem. There is a tinge of sarcasm and tongue in cheek smile on my face but still i place him there. I like many who are reading this blog would have seen the movie 'Forest Gump' where the protagonist Gump was as stupid as one could get. He was naive and abnormal in every sense. But a portion of our heart felt for this good chap when he keeps running all along because his girlfriends asks him to, or when he shows his butthole to the president himself (in the story though) or even when he goes out fishing with no knowledge about it. Call it sympathy, call it cruelty or call it 'goddamn luck' I think there is a place for people like them alongside us. If all were normal and intellectual where is the fun in life? There needs to be a place for such light weight personalities (literally) too. He has virtually kept the flood gates open for opportunities in this industry that is what I like about all this event that has unfolded.

There is a big social networking and media uproar amongst us 'bloody' mallus against him. They love to put those hate comments and make those hate calls to this poor dude.
Mr.A says 'Eda I am frsutrated at work and my boss is an asshole'
For that Mr.B replies 'OOhh Well then I suggest you watch the video from 'Krishnanum Radhayum' and have a laugh riot'


After watching the video Mr.B and his malayalam movie ideologue and love for the movie industry arises. He logs in to youtube and puts those hate comments (പൂരത്തെറി) and YES his mobile number is available on the internet. He calls him and unleashes his tirade yet again. And yes thats bloody hiding mallu for you. For the very fact that he (the same audience) sits and watches movies like Christian Brothers, Chinatown. Tejabhai, PappiAppacha (very recent ones.. dont make me say the history) and prefers to be silent. Because these so called superstars thrive on our internal division of movie fans and the well know silence. The point is not about good movies or bad movies and the cheap petty politics as there are crap movies coming up every weekend irrespective of language. But the point here is the story of a young man who sold his land and house.He who believes he can do something with his 'limited' skills at his disposal.

5 out of 10 people we meet in India has a secret dream of becoming a movie actor or some one in film field. But very few talented or filmy family ones make it to the big screen. The majority middle class is relying on the 9 to 5 job with a safe income, healthy famly and a social status. Now there is Santhosh Pandit who I personally think is a better lyricist, producer & distributor than the other 16 divisons of movie making he has handled. But still wanted to take that intentional risk to have a go at his dreams. There is a cliched statement in malayalam 'പറ്റാത്ത പണിക്കു പോകരുത്' (if you can't do it, don't try it) . Maybe Santhosh Pandit will
wave a flag to all those silent dreamers to have a go at your life and lady luck. Media is demonstrating him as a circus clown act and there are a few jealous film makers who are astounded by the 'luck' this guy has. His next 10 films could be a flop, he might return to his earlier job but he is still a winner at heart for me. Now dont frame me as a 'FAN' its just that I like him the way he is. I am not encouraging you to go and watch his movies you don't even need to watch his videos but don't just ridicule him. We have lot of actors in our film industry (not only malayalam) with limited abilities but lot of backing. At least for a change we have a new 'SuperStar' (as he calls himself) who has neither a godfather in this industry and nor a family to back him. He could be a rare instance in Indian film industry of a self made man.

NOTE: There were eggs thrown at Santhosh Pandit in one of the functions framing him as a 'loser'. So you 'winners' grow a ball and throw the same egg at the so called 'Superstars' for cheating you off a good 2 hours of entertainment minus Rs.50 off your pocket. 'may there be eggs raining in all flop movies. AMEN!!' (atleast the poultry industry needs a big break tsk tsk).

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

RIP Smokin Joe



I was reading about Joe Frazier today..its more or less has a 'Rocky' story written all over it. Well done Sly!!! Irony of life is that there is a statue of Sly in Philadelphia, but nothing for the original 'Joe'. Joe Frazier was an amazing boxer, heavy weight champion and an Olympic gold medal winner. Maybe a statue is too little for his legacy. As Mike Tyson said today Joe Frazier along with Muhammad Ali were the yardstick of measurement for modern day boxing.

RIP Joe Frazier.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A plea to Tamil & Malayalee Makkal

I am from a place called Palakkad in Kerala which has very close proximity to Tamilnadu and could be called as a border district. Most of us here speak both Tamil & Malayalam and are very much evident of the cultures and culture differences between us. I have noticed a particular trait from my fellow Tamil Makkal (people of TN) that one cannot force or threaten them to do anything. They can get as hot blooded and furious (evident from their movies) and sometimes vocal as well. But they understand the human way, a way of love and trust and will be there with you until death. My intention is here is to educate everyone (especially Tamilians) who visits this blog and exchange ideas from a larger audience on Mullaperiyar Dam. As responsible citizens if India and as fellow human being its your responsibility too to understand the plight of many.

Offlate I have been researching about the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. A conflict and difference in interests between Kerala and Tamilnadu governments. Rather than handling the issue amicably Kerala government is persisting on trying to force upon T.N government to abide the laws. A law in India is as good as its not there, given the 'n' number of loopholes and delays in judicial mechanisms. On the other hand the T.N government has taken it up as a 'matter of pride' though it portrays the issue as 'Agricultural'. The tussle between 2 states is an ongoing affair and has heated up for the last 4-5 years. Political pressure tactics, gheravoo and strikes are planned and executed by both sides and have been successful upto a limit.
But many are forgetting the plights of people who live by the shores of Mullaperiyar Dam. The whole community, clan, population, flora, fauna in this area is already under severe threat and if the dam BREAKS (touch wood it would not) all the above will be cleaned up by ravaging forces of water. It will be more like a man made TSUNAMI. Leaders like Vaiko are raking up the issue and creating unwanted political mileage to himself and his party, but the worst part in this exercise is that he is disillusioning the Tamil population.

A big group of Tamilians are misinformed and have misinterpreted that Kerala government is planning to create new dams to restrict water flow to T.N and in turn is trying to the slash down the agrarian growth of the state. Such is the level of ignorance that many ware unaware of the age of the dam, its location and the effects of it when it breaks down. The existing cordial relationships between the states is disrupted for the 'prime' motives of certain industrialists and central government in particular.

The main point of concern being the strength of Mullaperiyar Dam (constructed way back in 1895). And the easiest resolution is to reduce the water level and construct 2 another mini-Dam in the below areas of Mullaperiyar. What it does is that it helps to maintain the water level in Mullaperiyar at a safer level and also these check dams will be used for deviating water flow to Tamilnadu (as it is happening now). The 4 year construction time at a cost budget of 600 Crore is being rejected by TN govt stating the reason that it will cause a humongous Agriculture loss (there are no statistics to prove this). But for that sake the whole area and population under jeopardy should not be overlooked by the T.N government. Both Kerala & T.N government should shed their egos and work for a bigger cause. And as citizens we must educate the ignorant ones too. Maybe there will be a quicker resolution to this than the hide and seek game inside Supreme Courts and expert analysis.

And finally a plea to the Malayalees as well, Please do not ignore this as an issue of Idukki district alone. There are families who are in dire straits with no political backing on this issue. Irrespective of Right, Left, United, Religious front beliefs we must help out our fellow brothers. There is a huge amount of time we spend fighting over Mammotty\Mohanlal, SFI\KSU, Religious, Atheist or any other 'unwanted' topics. Spend half that time in educating yourselves and others around you on this very very serious issue. Its still not too late.

A beautiful article on this topic, in case you are still interested.
https://sites.google.com/site/sastudycentre/mullaperiyar

And a few more ;

http://jamewils.blogspot.com/2010/11/seismic-threat-to-mullaperiyar-dam.html

http://www.santhoshj.in/tag/mullaperiyar/