Kanthaswamy

Kanthaswamy-not the name of my friend, neither my neighbor's. Its the name of Vikram's next movie. But the reason for it being posted in my blog is not that because of the, of course amazing physical changes that Vikram has undergone for this movie or the various characters he has taken up in this movie. All these have become a regular trend in todays movies and there is nothing new in it to be talked about.

But there's something more with this team to be mentioned, I would rather say to be appreciated a lot. The reason is that the movie crew has adopted a village near Madurai and have provided many facilities to the village, like laying roads, improving the condition of the village school and other basic needs. All these have been fulfilled by the funds provided by the producer and other members of the movie crew. They have also decided to provide continuous help to the people of that village.

The story base-line of this movie is also related to the work that they have done. It deals with the financial gap that currently prevails between the rich and the poor in our country. Somewhat similar to the dialog that our Super star says in the movie Shivaji, "RICH GET RICHER AND POOR GETS POORER". Also related to my previous post(The other face of chennai) in this blog:)

It is very happy to know that our celebrities understand their responsibilities and involve in such social activities, which is not only of a great help to the needy but also creates a thought in the minds of their fans to follow their super heroes.

Hats off to the "Kanthaswamy" movie crew.

Hope every individual in this country contribute to their society. Even a small help could be of great use.

Love

'How long will you be poring over that newspaper? Will you come here right away and make your darling daughter eat her food?'

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with Curd Rice.

Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned eight. She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of Curd Rice!

I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this Curd Rice? Just for Dad's sake, dear. And, if you don't, your Mom will shout at me.'

I could sense my wife's scowl behind my back. Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. 'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should...' Sindu hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire Curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?'

'Oh sure, darling'.

'Promise?'

'Promise'. I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal.

'Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted. My wife slapped her hand on sindu's, muttering 'Promise', without any emotion.

Now I became a bit anxious. 'Sindumma, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'. Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat something that she detested.

After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her. 'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand!

'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'a girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!' .

'Never in our family!' my mother rasped. 'She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!'

'Sindumma, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Sindu said with finality.

'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?' I tried to plead with her.

'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'. Sindu was in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for. Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honour our promises no matter what?'

It was time for me to call the shots. 'Our promise must be kept.'

'Are you out your mind?' chorused my mother and wife.

'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honour her own. Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.'

With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big & beautiful.

On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, 'Sinduja, please wait for me!'

What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. 'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought.

'Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, and continued, 'That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from ... leukaemia.'

She paused to muffle her sobs. 'Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week, and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son! Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.'

I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, will you grant me a boon? Should there be another birth for me, will you be my mother, and teach me what Love is?'

The other face of chennai

Sky scrappers, BPOs, Shopping malls, Drive-ins, Multiplexes, Coffee shops....

The most familiar sight in chennai. Very busy 24/7. Spending more time and money for luxurious living. But these things still remain sky high for some people in parts of the so called developed metro CHENNAI.
It was really shocking to see this article in the HINDU dated 3rd September 2007.
The study says that slum residents in parts of chennai live in sub-human conditions. Most of them did not have access to quality water, drainage and even electricity. Lower literacy rate and unemployment prevailed in those areas.
This news was published in the very first page of the newspaper. Will definitely the grab the attention of many. But will remain unchanged like other such cases in the city.
The next time when you have an inverted curve on you face on seeing curd rice in your box, just think of these people.