memoirs

It is called God's own country. But apparently the god ruling Kerala seems to be Bacchus. Known as a model state for its excellent human development record, Kerala tops the country in alcohol consumption as well(followed by Punjab's 7.9 litres). The state breaks all records when it celebrates its traditional festivals-religious or otherwise.

As usual, the recent Onam festival, Kerala's biggest harvest festival that culminated on September 2, was no exception as it notched up a new record in alcohol consumption. The seven-day Onam week, excluding one dry day, saw Kerala gulping down Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 154.44 crore as against Rs 126.07 crore last year, registering an increase of 41.53 per cent. The sales peaked on two days before the climactic Thiruvonam when Malayalees guzzled IMFL worth Rs 34 crore as against last year's highest daily figure of Rs 23 crore.

No wonder one of the state's most revered deities is Parassinikadavu Muthappan in Kannur district whose favourite offering is liquor. These days, thanks to the large number of devotees working in the Gulf, Muthappan's favourite offering (as reported by the priests) is Scotch whisky rather than the traditional arrack or toddy.

If one considers the amount of toddy, a popular liquor sold through the 5,000-odd registered outlets, the total consumption would be staggering. Not just toddy, but the highly popular arrack, another country liquor banned since 1995, flows freely across the state. In fact, its value was put at Rs 13,000 crore a year . According to the industry sources, alcohol sales in the state are actually worth Rs 20,000 crore. Rum sells the most, followed by brandy and whisky.

While 15-20 per cent of the population consumes liquor in the country, the figure for Kerala is 30 per cent.The average age of starting consumption of liquor was 19 years in 1986 but it fell to less than 13 in 2001.

A recent study by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, an NGO, says Keralites collectively spend most on marriages (Rs 6,787 crore annually), followed by medical treatment (Rs 2,800 crore). Clearly, spending on liquor, officially on IMFL alone, would certainly rank third in the list.

(I would like to thank India Today for all the valuable statistics and quotes")

People do get angry and they do speak out anything in anger. But when a professor gets angry and speaks out things which are not meant to be said( The dignity of my blog and my own prevents me from writing down his utterances) ,that too in front a whole class, one is forced to come to the conclusion that either he is insane or he himself lacks that self-dignity which was the very reason for his anger.

The famous Mr. S ( I'm not mentioning the name although you all must be aware of it by now) may have done a mistake but according to me or for that case anyone else apart form the Prof. himself ,this was not an act of disrespect ,an unforgivable act, an act which required the mention of the others parents.It was all on a sudden that his temper rose. The words from his mouth seemed hard to digest. Am I hearing what I'm really hearing!!! The students exchanged glances in state of wonder and shock.

He challenged Mr. S to complaint the incident to the Director. Remember that he is a man(in his very on words) who can be stopped not even by the President Of India.Such arrogance from a professor!!!

Well finally his arrogance has got him into trouble.If things go well he can be prepared for a call from the Director IITR (yeah i know that's not gonna affect him) or may be from the Uttarakhand Police.So all those Professor's who think that the students are there puppets, beware. Better treat them as your very on kids.

I have no personal grudge against either Kareena Kapoor or Akshay Kumar or for this case against Anu Malik . But how to turn a song into the most irritating element for one on earth was revealed recently by very own neighbour. Imagine a song (in fact a real pathetic one) being playing at a decibel level above 100, not once or twice but for a whole month and that too from six in the morning . Yeah this was the scrutiny I was put under by my very own neighbour .

A song may be irritating but to make it real real irritating is a task and my neighbour has done it to such a good extent that if you you read an article on Anu Malik being shot dead in tomorrow's newspaper , you won't have to look else where for the culprit.

It was 6 in the morning and all on a sudden the dreadful music starts. The song goes like " Bebo me bebo, Dil mera lelo, Dil dene aayi , Lelo Ji lelo(To add to all these he has forced me to remember the whole song by-heart ).I got up went to the neighbour's room to find him standing in front of the Gaint mirror and dancing to the tune of this awful song.I said nothing after all what can I say to such a man. One of my other neighbour who also was in a dreadful state as me came up with the English translation of the song which clearly reveals the deep meaning that the lyricist tried to portray. It goes like "Bebo I'am Bebo , Take my heart, I have come to give my heart , please take please take."

So, I suggest the upcoming Hitler's to try this method of human punishment.Considering the fact that Gas chamber's are old fashioned , the song chamber may be a good and innovative invention.

I was , I am and I will be a movie buff . And one of my greatest dream was ( I am still confused whether i should use the word is or was) to direct a movie(!!!!!). May sound outlandish but the truth prevails. And mind you there was a point in my life when I thought that if I don't get admission in some good engineering college , i would go to Pune film institute to study direction or cinematography(!!!!!)(Cinematography is the stepping stone to direction).

During my school time I used to think of many scripts which I would like to make into a movie.Here I'll describe some of which i still remember.

The first among them was "Stop the World" starring Abhishek Bachchan. (Yeah even the star cast was ready!!!) . Stop the World describes the life of a man who gets the power of Devil to stop time ( courtesy Constantine). The plot of the movie was how he uses his powers in a negative manner initially and later realizes the truth and makes killing the devil his aim. The script was complete expect for the climax part which become so complicated that the whole project got canceled.

Then came the psychological thriller " I'am Online."( Well star cast for this movie was not finalized). This movie deals with the life of a teenage boy who was in a do or die situation and the only way he could do it was through many random people he found online. The movie got packed because me myself was not convinced with the script.

Then came " Back Home", which deals with return of a successful business man to his home town after year's of workaholism in foreign. The movie describes how his old friends had changed and how he starts giving value to relationships. The movie was to include autobiographical elements as well. This was the one which was supposed to give me all those awards and prizes.

May be I am not aware of the ABCD of film making, put a passion for something can take you heights. I always wanted my movie to be different in all sense. Unexpected script, creative camera angles, variety BG, mixing of songs within the storyline and so on. ( Well i know that this is what all directors desire). And above all my movie will leave you touched for sure as a movie from the heart will touch another human heart. And if everything goes right you will certainly see the following words on a 75mm screen in the Cinema Hall near your home

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS

Awesome trailer!!!!!

Starring: Heath ledger, Johny Depp, Collin Farrel and Jude law
and don't ask me how come Heath Ledger is still acting!!!

Priyadarshan was a Icon in malayalam movie industry in the 80's and 90's . His movies filled with comedy and confusion was liked by all kind of audience . His movie 'Chitram' was a blockbuster in the history of Malayalam cinema and ran for over an year!! Priyan along with his college mate and now superstar Mohanlal created waves in malayalam movie industry. Little did people know that these movies were mere remakes of successful English movies.

After successful outing in Kerala, he moved to the more lucrative Bollywood, this time with a bag full of screenplays of malayalam movies ( even screenplays of other writers and directors) along with his usual Hollywood stuff. The Priyan magic continued. He produced hits after hits. He played a key role in making Akshay Kumar a superstar. Super heroes like SRK showed interest in his projects. Now priyan is a Icon in bollywood too.

Its not that he became all successful by copying screen plays. His biggest ever successes in Malayalam movie industry were original screen plays. Considering this fact I can't still digest the fact why he is not taking up original screenplays. The fact is that Priyan copied, Priyan copies and Priyan will continue to copy. If you don't believe me see the list below.

Garam Masala (2005 Hindi)--->Boeing Boeing (1985 Malayalam )---->Boeing Boeing (1965) (USA)
Kyon Ki... (2005 Hindi)---> Thalavattam (1986 Malayalam)---> One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (USA)
Khatta Meeta 2009 Hindi ( no released) ----------------------->Meesha madhawan(mal).
De Dana Dan 2009 Hindi ----------------->Rajamanikyam(mal).
Billu 2009 Hindi----------------------------------> Kadha Parayumbol (Mal.)
Mere Baap Pehle Aap 2008 Hindi -------------->Ishtam (Mal.)
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2007 Hindi ------------->Manichitrathazhu (Mal.)
Dhol 2007 Hindi --------------------------->In Harihar Nagar (Mal.)
Chup Chup Ke 2006 Hindi --------------->Punjabi House (Mal.)
Malamaal Weekly 2006 Hindi ------------------>Waking Ned (Ireland)
Bhagam Bhag 2006 Hindi ---------------->Mannar Mathayi Speaking (Mal.);
Vettom 2004 Malayalam ----------------> French Kiss (USA)
Hulchul 2004 Hindi ----------------------->Godfather (Mal.)
Hungama 2003 Hindi --------------------->Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (Mal.)
Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar 2001 Hindi ------>Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (Mal.)
Kakkakuyil 2001 Malayalam ------------->A Fish Called Wanda (USA/UK)
Hera Pheri 2000 Hindi --------------------->Ramji Rao Speaking (Mal.)
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna 1998 Hindi ----------->Aniyathi Pravu (Mal.)
Saat Rang Ke Sapne 1998 Hindi ------------>Thenmavin Kombath (Mal.)
Chandralekha 1997Malayalam -------------------------->While You Were Sleeping (USA)
Virasat 1997 Hindi --------------------------->Thevar Magan (Tam.)
Kala Pani 1996 Malayalam------------------> Papillon (USA)
Abhimanyu 1991 Malayalam -------------->The Godfather Part II (USA)
Vandanam 1989 Malayalam --------------->Stakeout (USA)
Hello, My Dear Wrong Number 1986Malayalam -------> North by Northwest (USA)
Ninnishtam Ennishtam 1986 Malayalam----> City Lights (USA) Hit

Kerala has many esoteric secrets of which many of them are hidden in the annals of its temples. One of the strangest of the temples to be found in Kerala is known as Mannarshala, which is a refuge for snakes of every type and description. It’s hoary past intrudes into the 21st century but it continues to retain the mystic magic of another age. It still clings to its ancient customs, which are as old as life itself. These traditions are centered round the belief in the power of serpents – their ability to protect as well as to destroy.

I can still remember the day I visited this temple. From the outside it seemed no different from any temple in Kerala. As I passed through the ornamental gate into the compound it appeared as if I had entered another age where nature and man lived in an amicable relationship with each other. There is a mysterious aura about the place, which is covered with medicinal trees, creepers and plants all favoured by snakes. It seemed that I had entered another world that belongs to another species. Rows upon rows of snake figures carved on granite sat on the walls and lined the grounds. There are also many snake pits made of sand in which numerous snakes live happily. These include snake families that have been brought here from other houses in Kerala, which have no facilities to keep the snakes in their own abodes. It is a common occurrence to see snakes slithering away into the bushes. We are brought to a realisation that this is their ground and we are the trespassers. They are totally unafraid and in turn they generate a feeling of awe and respect rather than fear and disgust.

Mannarshala is an exceptional place since the senior most female member of the family is the final authority on all matters pertaining to the puja at this temple. She is known as Valliamma (big mother), and is installed before the cremation of the previous Valliamma. There are many unique facets about the mode of worship in this temple. The Valliamma has to be a celibate and she is not allowed to go out of the temple compound for long. If she is forced to go she has to return before nightfall. She is not allowed to communicate directly with non-family members. Her time is to be spent exclusively in puja, prayer and meditation.

Mannarshala is really a place of mystery where the supernatural holds hands with the natural, where time seems to have stood still and nature and man live in harmony and peace.