So after the successful exhibition and walking through Mylapore, Im sure we are all bored of Mylapore for photowalks. So we should trek to another part of town this time.

So this time we end the photowalk, where we left off in one of the Madras Week Photowalks. Yep in another ancient part of town with with old houses, one of which has been restored to house the Rasam Resturant, namely Puraisaiwalkam.

So we start the walk at Nehru Park (its opposite Sangam Theatre on Ponmallae High Road) and walk down Flowers Road, take the right T Junction and proceed till Dewan Rama Road (take a u turn after finishing this rd) and come back to the Flowers road again till M Ct M school (Rasam) and take the left at Gangadeeswarar Koil street and proceed till the temple.

And end it at the Gangadeeswarar Kovil.

Starting Point: Nehru Park
Time: 7. Am
Date 7th Feb 2010.
And Then there is always the option of Welcome Hotel’s lovely Sambar Idlies for breakfast.

For directions and for other queries, call Vatsan on 95000 70176 or 94449 99456

Vincent and Vatsan have vorked out the logistics and all, and the exhibition is all set to go live. I’ve seen some of the images, and I honestly think they are nothing short of amazing. (More photos below the fold.) Vatsan is, as you read this, printing the first batch of photos. And shortlisting a few more photos (As supreme lord of PhotoWalking, and as the Prince of Madras, I have final veto. It’s a power I wear light).
Anyway, it promises to be a superb collection.

If you are in Madras, please do go take a look at the exhibition. And buy a few photos, help support these talented photographers. If you are not in Madras, perhaps a good time to come? The weather’s nice and pleasant now, and a lot of events are in the offing.

Start Time: Thursday, 21 January 2010 at 18:00
End Time: Sunday, 24 January 2010 at 21:00
Location: Lady Sivaswami Girls High School Mylapore

(more…)

Suprabhatam or Bhaja Govindam plays, and in the rare case of absence of that particular tape, any MS offering. Not cliches, not perpetuating blind stereotypes. Even in August 2009, I assure you, early morning Kelly’s performed to this particular mix.

Like Kamal in Pushpak/Pesum Padam, I think I should get me a tape of these sounds.

(* Aargh. The Brits have got me. The line – no stranger to late nights – HAS to be understatement of the decade past, and the decade present.)

Agnibharathi

Is that sparkle of the eyes the dual light?
Is that black sphere the dark night?
Your indigo saree with diamonds sown
Are they the stars that night has shown?
The halo from the wild flower
Is that thy smile my lover?
The waves that the sea does hold
Are they thy bosom’s sweet fold?

The cuckoo’s sound of soulful note
In thy voice sweet does it float?
A maiden like a budding grove
Kannamma I have fallen in thy love.

Of rules do thee to me speak
Do rules stand for passion’s peak?
Later I shall do the laws elders seek.
How shall I wait? Here, a kiss on thy cheek.

Sharanya takes it, and does wonders. I like the way Kannamma has been interpreted.

PRECIOUS AS THE EYE
(a transcreation of the Tamil poem Suttum Vizhichudadar by Subramanya Bharathi)

Those eyes of yours, Kannamma, blaze
more brilliant than the sun or moon.
They smoulder with the darkness of the skies.


Your saree a silken midnight shimmering with stars
Your smile the radiance of a forest aflame
The tides of your heart like those of the ocean
Your voice the song of the sweetest koel


Woman precious as the eye, my
Love fills me with turbulence.


You speak of fortunes, my heart, but for those
enraged with passion, what need is there for fortunes?
With the elders’ consent we will marry, but let that wait –


But if I could wait – here! Allow me, a kiss upon your cheek.

I remember Chenthil translating this once, and the two of us got into a little argument over the way he’d translated nenjin alaigal. But I am unable to find his version. Chenthil, can you post it as a comment, please?

Anyway, here’s mine. Wholesale reinterpretation rather than a translation. No metre. No rhyme. Make of it as you will.

That searing glance, as pungent as the sun’s, as soothing as the moon’s, yours my precious, my iris.
Those deep eyes, pools of never ending black, the night’s sky, yours my precious, my iris.
Not stars winking on a clear night, but the diamonds on glistening silk you drape.


That radiant smile, like countless wild flowers opening up to the sun.
The curves of your breasts, the ups and the downs, as enchanting as the blue waves by the shore.
The timbre of your voice, as pleasing as the call of the wood’s sparrow.


I’m smitten my precious, my iris, my gypsy girl.


What code can hold me, moved as I am in passion.
The rituals elders demand can wait. Come here, love.
Let us have a kiss.

[Past translations: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6]

Exhibit a) “Typical South Indian”

Carrot சாம்பார்:
& சாதம்:

(Aside: When people accuse Madras of being a ‘idli-sambar’ place, do they realise how cosmopolitan that is?)

Exhibit b) “Typical North Indian”

राजमा और चावल:

& चन्ना:

Exhibit c) “Typical Italian”
Penne al’Arrabiata with Garlic Bread:

Exhibit d) “Typical Western European/American”
Smoked Salmon:
I must confess, the smoked salmon is not my preparation. Dave, a classmate, brought the salmon and, um, made it for us as part of a large Christmas lunch.