Organic : trend ? , Or return to tradition

 

Organic :  trend ? or  return to tradition ?

Finishing a quick Breakfast at a restaurant on the highway, while travelling to Bangalore,  I was waiting for the Driver who was taking his time over refreshments. Impulsively, entered the “Organic” shop Attached to the restaurant. Found half a dozen ladies (seemingly conservative and  distinctly north Karnataka), all Senior Citizens, presumably on a group tour.They were sauntering  loitering around the racks.

One of the Ladies asked  her friend:  “ Harini , what is organic food ?”

Did you say “Organic food Lakshmakka”? 

“Yes, I see these organic food counters in every shop now.” Lakshmakka  persisted.

“Ah…organic food. Thats just regular food but costlier.” Said Harini Triumphantly

The other women standing nearby got curious & joined in the conversation.

Now  let wicked me not disappoint you. You are right! It is my firm belief  that when a group of women (Senior Citizens at that!)  are engaged in a  healthy discussion , it invariably ends with the  “ fittest”  delivering   the final  verdict.

Usually  in a group  one doesn’t  question  the other’s opinion  unless they are  discussing important  issues  like  “ is coconut chutney with Idli  better than Raitha with Pongal” ?  or  “does adding garlic in brinjal  curry make it tastier” ? when everyone  jumps in with their own Expert Opinion..

In this case too they  did !

Stern looking Aunty 3: “ If it is normal food, why is it costlier?”

Not to be seen as the one who doesn’t know her grocery , Aunty 4  responded with Authority : “  You see , these are items  which didn’t have poisonous fertilizers and pesticides sprayed on them. Such toxic stuff can kill people you know?”

 And As an after  thought said  , “ Not that fertilizers and pesticides are the only way to kill people.”

My Driver returned.  But I waited,  ears perked up ( Oh yes  my hearing aids were in place) holding my breath. This discussion was getting interesting. There was half a chance one of the contestants hiring the Hotel Security  to “Convince”  the others. Thankfully nothing serious happened   and they moved on to other topics.

But  I realized that  the ladies  were right. Organic food is regular food but costlier. In fact, organic food is so costly that a household with average fixed earnings will be doomed if they decide to go completely “Organic”.

Resumed  our travel, thinking about “Organic Food”

Twenty  years back, only a few people  would dare  to enter shops that had huge glass panes in the front , were air conditioned   and  were  costlier than the  traditional  “Friendly”  Neighborhood Store.

 But, not anymore thanks to  booming consumerism, people    don’t hesitate to enter  such shops .

what these fancy  shops were about then  , the “organic food” store  is today. It is so expensive.

Every time I go  grocery shopping to one of these Mega Stores,   I see racks  labelled ‘Organic Foods’ .

Just in case someone has  a misconception &  don’t realize. Organic food is the food that our grandparents   ate everyday, day after day  & without paying anything extra . This was when they were in control of their lives and and when we were toddlers.

Organic food for which we pay so much today  wasn’t always this  costly. Just think of the fruit Ganesha (the Lord) earned using his inventiveness or the Apple Eve ate or the poisoned one the witch tempted  Snow White with. ORGANIC & FRE E  were’nt they?. Not to mention  the one that fell on Newton’s head !

 Why then do we  unfortunate mortals  have to pay hefty sums now for anything labelled organic ?

About twenty five  years ago all food items sold at every store was organic and easily accessible to everyone. There was no seperate shop or counters. Our grand parents never had to go to    stores  named ORGAnik,  PURE & SURE , Hasiru Siri, Etc; to buy unadulterated  , healthy Food.

One of the things we can do to make ensure we all don’t end up paying exhorbitant sums  for Organic food  Is by  sharing posts like this  on  Facebook & Whatsapp groups and educate all farmers that we  should ONLY be growing food without  chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Ohh! wait, there is an issue ! The farmers on Facebook & Whatsapp groups  aren’t real farmers (plowers ie)  …  they are the ones who block the highways while protesting against farm laws, crop prices and other personal issues with their imported SUV’s while enjoying  Pizza with cans of coke for Nashta , Khana & diversion .Farmers & their farming  have come a long way.

Continued the journey with The words of “Authoriative" Aunty 3  ringing in the ears:

“ , ಆದಾ ನೋಡ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತ್  thangi ಈ ಖಾನಾವಳಿಯಾಗ್ ಒಂದ್ ಥಾಟ್ ಭಾಕ್ರಿ ತಿಂದ್  ವಾಟಗ ಚ್ಛಾಹ್ ಕುಡಿದಾಕ ಮೂರ್ ನೂರ್ ರೊಕ್ಕ  ನೀಡಾಕ್ ಹತ್ತ್ಹೀವೀ.”

Laugh ….if you don’t want to smile

 

Laugh

      ….if you don’t want to smile

 

The "punch line" style of comedy as it is popularly known in Tamil film industry, is characterized by witty, sharp(Sometimes Crass), and often spontaneous  one-liners. It gained prominence in Tamil cinema from mid  1970s. This trend evolved further  through 1990s and is now  accepted as  an indispensable component  of a movie .With the emergence of actors like  Gowndamani & Senthil, the irrepressible Vadivelu &  Vivek ,  dialogues ,voice modulations, varied dialects,slang combined with exceptional  comic  timing  has become a hallmark of film comedy, contributing immensely  to the entertainment and popularity of many films.

The idea of an  introductory signature BGM for a comedian was introduced first for Vadivelu and soon extended to others. The on-screen pranksters have effectively  displayed the  value and importance of body language in comedy through carefully  tailored dialogues & sequences  highlighting their individual   style. They deliver  comedy not merely by  words but with their  entire body ! Each one is a  master of  his own  unique style and has been rewarded with love and admiration by millions of movie fans.

So, here is a list of dialogues/one-liners  that can crack up anyone, even without  a visual/audio. These lines   showcase their skills and unmatched contribution to Tamil films through comedy. From witty one-liners to iconic catch phrases,   their inventiveness continues to resonate with fans, making every wise-crack  a  rib-tickler !

 Since Intonation is crucial for conveying the intended emotion the lines are listed in Tamil (to resemble the unique articulation pattern) . Hoping it  will produce the expected “Punch”

So Read on “Dontu   Worry Be happieee

 

VADIVELU:

1.ரூம்  போட்டு  யோசிப்பாங்களோ

2.இங்க தான்   இதுக்கு பஸ்ஸுன்னு  பேரு…………துபாயில இது  குப்பே       லாரி

3. புள்ளயாரே…   பெருச்சாளில  போறாரு  பூசாரிக்கு  புள்ளெட்டு (Bullet)

கேட்க்குதோ,  புள்ளெட்டு

4.எவ்வளவு  அடிச்சாலும் தங்கராண்ட…. இவன் ரொ……ம்ப.. நல்லவன்ன்னு

சொல்லிட்டாங்கம்மா………….சொல்லிட்டா..ங்க

5.ஆ ஹா ஒரு குரூப்பாத்தான்  அலையறானுங்களா

6. அடிச்சா   வலிக்கும்………. அழுதுடுவேன்

7..ஆ ஹா  இது ரொம்ப புதுசா இருக்கே

8.மாப்ள ? மாப்ளெ ! …………..மாப்பு……. ?........... வெச்சிட்டான்கடா ஆப்பு

9.நானும் ரௌடிதான்ய்யா…… எத்துய்யா ஜீப்புல

10, கர்சீப்ப  கத்திமாதிரி உருவறீங்களேடா

11.உனக்கு ஏன்  இந்த  கொலைவெறி

12.என்ன வெச்சு  காமெடி கீமிடி பண்ணலியே

13.எங்களுக்கு  ரிஸ்க்  எடுக்கறதெல்லாம்  ரஸ்க் சாப்பிடற மாதிரி

14.மனுஷன் கொஞ்சம் ஸ்டைலா நடந்து போனா பொறுக்காதே

15 .நாரா பயலே

16.வந்துட்டான்ய்ய…… வந்துட்டான்ய்ய……ய்ய

17.ஏய்இ…… நான் சீரியசா பேசிக்கிட்டிருக்கேன்…….சிரிப்பு  பொலிசுனா

   சொல்லற ?

18.நாக்குல வசம்ப  வெச்சி தேய்க்க !

19.ஒன்னு மொத்தம்  கூடிட்டாங்கய்யா கூடிட்டாங்…….ககய்யா…             

20. கிளம்பிடிச்சுப்ப……………..கிளம்பிடிச்சு

21. புதுசு புதுசா அடிக்கிறாங்களே ! எப்படித்தான் கண்டுப்பிடிக்கிறாங்களோ

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GOWNDAMANI :

1.அரசியல் வாழ்கையில இதெல்லாம் சகஜம  அப்பா

 

2.நாராயண இந்த கொசு தொல்லை தாங்க முடியாலடா

3.ஒன்னு இதா இருக்கு உண்ணூனு எங்க,,,,,

4.ஸ்டார்ட் மீசிக்

5.பெற பாரு………..சங்உதற வயசுல சங்…….கீதா

6.அது ஏண்டா என்ன பாத்து அந்த கேள்விய கேட்ட

7.வாடி பார்த்த  சாரதி

8.இந்த ஒர்ல்டுலேயே கார் வச்சிருக்கர் கரகாட்ட  ட்ரூப்பு  நம்முளுதுதான்ப்பா

9.டேக்  திஸ்  டொண்ட்டிஃபை

10.ஆளப்பாறு ! மனசுல மைக்கல் ஜாக்சன் தங்கச்சின்னு நெனப்பு

11.கல்ல கண்டா… இவான கானூ இவான கண்டா…. கல்ல கானூ  இன்னிக்கு தான் .ரெண்டும் சேந்து கிடைச்சிருக்கு

13.அட்றா ஷக்க அட்றா ஷக்க   அட்றா ஷக்கே

14.நா எல்லாம் கலெக்டர்  பேரன்னு சொல்லி சி எம் கார்ல சென்னைக்கு

   வந்தவண்டா

15.. என்னடா உங்க 5 ஸ்டார் ஹோட்டலு,… சோறுன்னு கேட்டா அரிசியும் கொஞ்சம் சூடு தண்ணியும் கொடுத்து  நம்பளயே பொங்கி சாப்பிட சொல்லுவாங்க போல இருக்கே

 

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VIVEK:

1.டாக்ட….ர், ர்    நீங்க வெறும்  தாசா இல்ல  லார்ட் லபக்  தாசா ?

2,எப்படி இருந்த நான்  இப்படி ஆயிட்டேன் 

3.பதில் சொன்ன prize ஒரு கோடி எங்க ஆளுங்க அடிச்ச்சா டெட் பாடி

4. ஃ பிகர பாத்தா உடனே   ஃபிரெண்ட கட் பண்ணிட்டயேடா

5.  ஏ.. டோன்ட் வரி  பி  ஹாப்பி

6.  எனக்கு ஐ ஜிய நல்லா தெரியும் ……… ஆனா அவருக்கு என்ன தெரியவே….   தெரியாது

7.யாருமே இல்லாத கடையில யாருக்கு டா டீ ஆதர

8.இன்னைக்கு செத்தா நாளைக்கு பால்!

9.அட பாவி கள்ளிக்காட்டு இதிகாசம் எழுதுண்ண வைரமுத்து மாதரில்லா                நடந்துட்டிருக்கான்

10.. என் ஸ்டோரிதான்,  ஆனா என்னக்கு தெரியாமலே ஏகப்பட்ட  ட்விஸ்டு

வெச்சிருக்காங்கபபா…

11, பில் கேட்ஸ்(Bill Gates) இருக்கும்போது, ஆள் கேஸ் னு (Alagesh) இருக்கக்கூடாதா

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If you are able to visualize the related sequences and dialogues by the actor in the movie while reading the lines and if even a faint smile lights up  your face ,I will consider this attempt a success

 

A place called “Saade Road” ……… Always buzzing

 

A place called “Saade Road”

                       ……… Always buzzing

Unearthing  raw sporting talent has been a pastime for many years.  Friend Kaleem recommended  an expedition to  Mandi Mohalla ,an extention dominated by people of  one particular religion. ahead of Bakrid, when hundreds of kids would be playing  Tennis ball cricket on the maidaans . So immediately grabbed the opportunity,for old time’s sake ,though with some trepidation  & requested him to make plans . Thus began an expedition which was not confined to “Talent hunt ” alone  but took us on an insane romp which was not in any way relevant to talent scouting  yet  offered  significant insights into  various expressions of human nature and activity.

Navigating  the bustling Sawday Road in Mandi mohalla (popularly called “Saade Road “), the maze of  by-lanes and  its unending rows of   shops is a bizzare yet interesting experience The road is crammed with  hawkers calling out prospective customers to come  and check out their wares : , dry fruits, fake jewellery, towels, books, plastic  bags,cosmetics, safety pins, metal idols refurbished electronic goods, …( “psst”.: & occasionally pilfered items too),  name it,  they’ll have it !  . If one dares to  venture into the narrow  lanes he  is sure to find a shop that will have just what he’s  looking for & at vastly slashed down  prices .If a hard bargainer can  keep haggling  he is sure to  hear a price that will  excite  him

“Saade  Road “is truly bewildering. There’s business on the street, business in the innumerable shops lining the street and there’s business in the tiny  by lanes , gullies and on footpath. From Artificial silk Sarees to bolts of garishly printed synthetic fabrics, dress material, imitation jewellery, cutlery,& cosmetics , you can find everything under the sun here..

……….And it’s a place where you can even be killed if  a stampede occurs. The heavy jostling and the sea of humans pushing from behind will ensure that you will  reach your desired location without an  effort

On the footpaths Smoke from huge woks sizzling with coconut sized samosas  fills the air, Vendors scream, beckoning passersby with promises of the best snacks in town. Local version of pizza,   baked in terracotta dishes, a quirky fusion of Indian and Italian is in great demand. It is a carnival of food Out there.

We find Unani  medicine stalls  manned by gaunt ,unsmiling  gentlemen with white skull caps and hennaed beards, , shops with sacks full of exotic `jadi-booti’ healing herbs  doing roaring business.

The place is  “jugaad” for everyone ranging from  future brides searching bridal lehengas , beads, sequins, lace, embroidery, ribbons, and appliques, to young men hunting refurbished  mobile phones.

And there is enough evidence  to re-confirm that faith is everyhere. At the intersection of Mission Hospital- Sayyaji Rao road is a small Hanuman temple, at the end where of Saade Road meets Ashoka Road is the imposing St.Philomena’s church &  a few metres down the intersection, is  Masjid-E-Azam Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat on Ashoka Road.

Nevertheless, faith and belief in the power of sacred ritual  run high here on Saade Road   

As we go, we find  there is a coconut ready to be broken , a candle waiting to be lit , & a packet of incense about to be burnt. The packed crowd of people, perceptibly less affluent are certainly very rich  in this fascinating  quality called faith . As we emerge from  the sea of humans, the thought that  that someone, somewhere  is taking note rings out in the mind .

 .And yes spotted  half a dozen wide eyed kids on the maidaan , convinced them and received their  parents’  permission “Nimmdu Kaige Kottiddeevi”.

Now the “Chal mere Ghode” grind will begin !