Sivagami

Like the majority of people in India, I was also caught up in the Bahubali hype . I watched Bahubali 1, liked the story line,instantly became fan of Prabhas, enjoyed wide-eyed the magical world of Mahishmati ,and the transformed waterfalls of Athirapally( Never knew it could be so beautiful .. it was one of the most frequented picnic spots in my childhood.), and left the theater vowing to find out in the sequel why Kattappa killed Bahubali...and forgot about it in 2 weeks.

Even after the much hyped over release date of the movie sequel was observed with a casual interest and I  didn't find it so intriguing.... UNTIL I read "The rise of Sivagami"

Sivagami- The character itself is so intricately molded and Ramya Krishnan as an actress does full justice to it. The Rise of Sivagami by Anand Neelakantan  is a prequel to the Bahubali 1 movie.It is a coming of age story of the character Sivagami.The story revolves around the history of Mahishmathi and its lineage, tales of deceit and treachery and how Sivagami rose to power.The story is gripping and haunting that you keep thinking about Sivagami for days after. It leaves you with a thirst for more..

I read the book 4 weeks before the movie Bahubali- the conclusion  was due to release and I looked at the characters with renewed interest, mainly Sivagami. What a woman- One who avenges her father's death, fearlessly reigns Mahishmathi,yet get caught in the web of lies woven by her family and establishes the cliched woman is the enemy of woman situation. In the novel, the author builds up the character of Sivagami,a woman whose emotions are intense and goals clear, passionate hatred hiding all streaks of womanly tenderness. Yet we see the softness of Sivagami in three situations, though only for split seconds.

The story and the character will haunt you..thanks to the Anand Neelakantan's skilled storytelling.

The gap in story will haunt you further and you will find waiting for the next book in the series...

Thailand ! Ahem

Thailand. .Siam. ..Bangkok. ..Phuket...these words sound so exotic.

But I am sure many of you have seen the sheepish grins of people as an answer to "how was your trip" or the smirk on faces when you say "we are going to Thailand " or the exclamation " Bangkok ? With children? Crazy! !!"  Or the advice with a wink " It's Pattaya where you should go"

.

When you think of the Thailand and its scenic beauty, the images from the beaches..Phuket,Krabi..Phi Phi Island,,

Gives us a mental picture of  a very relaxing virgin beach..clear waters sand and a soothing wind ruffling through your hair.
..Or of a shopping paradise with a bargain haven on streets.  

Or of exquisite Thai curry with intoxicating levels of coconut milk and lemongrass flavors

Well Thailand is this and much more....!

But the much more is what strikes you the moment you set foot in Bangkok until you board flight back :-(

No I am not talking about the skin show. .nor from the conservative eyes of a traditional Indian wife..for all we know ,swimsuits/bikinis and micro minis are already here..thanks to our cosmopolitan cities and globalization!

It's the rawness of flesh trade,the enormity of people engaged in it and the nauseating levels of marketing which strikes you...

A country with such beautiful locales and high potential for tourism..the insatiable beaches, water sports. .exotic cuisine. .rich ancient culture blending Hinduism and Buddhism with ounces of Christianity. ..all these get washed off in the boards of "massages" and the people who flock there searching for "happy endings" 

In that Thailand turns out to be what it is now-a world's largest adult playground  (I am not kidding. ..this was advertised in a pamphlet")

It's a  pity to see that sex tourism is what makes Thailand famous ..

While in Phuket,we watched a cultural show , magnificently done with animals also as stage actors.The show was grand, but I was amazed at their resemblance to Hinduism and ancient India.

It makes one wonder why Thailand evolved to such an averse level of promoting prostitution

A big part of the population stays devoted to royalty, mourn the loss of their monarch with intense pain .. you will see how popular he was ...almost every establishment carries a sign of it..

This is so close to the era of monarchy in many countries and when we see Thai still hold on to that part of their culture, it is beyond my understanding where this "flesh trade and adult playgrounds" fit in.

 Every city has it red light areas..legal and illegal. But "legalized"prostitution and a tourism industry thriving on it and slowly Thailand -a country with much more to offer in terms of cultural experience, adventures and pure scenic beauty getting reduced to an Amsterdam of the East..is sad.

As we drive to the airport across a school and I see little young angels playing...I wish Thailand gets a makeover. ..

I wish that people who step in doesn't feel so nauseous of the flesh trade. .

Thailand you are beautiful and Thai people you are so courteous

If only this wasn't so much of an eyesore that you will feel sick thinking  if you have to come back here. ..

World has lost it virtue ! Has it?

Its 2017 June..almost ending! So apparently one of the resolutions to blog more didn't work.

Now what is it today that I remembered this one? Nostalgia.. I saw a beautiful video on Kerala Monsoons..It struck me somewhere.. brought back the childhood memories and I remembered how I used to cozy up on my chair with a book and looking at the rain..in all possible corners of the house.

Those childhood memories of posing as poets and making poems and then secretly sharing it with my partner in crime..my dearest cousin A.

It has been the most rainy day today of the season. I am tempted to pick the pen up and scribble..only that now poems don't come in.There is a lot happening in the world.. mine as well the world as world.

Mornings start with the newspaper announcing all sorts of crime, you are almost convinced there is nothing not evil in the world.

But then you look out to see the raindrops on the leaves, the differently abled lady rushing to work with a smile, the young man running with open arms to wish good morning.. and you start believing in virtue again!

Life moves on...