What I am reading...

Finished reading 'Tamizh Ilakkiya Varalaru' by Mu.Va. My wife told me that she had a paper on the same in her literature class and how they hated it. Hmm. But it was an interesting read and lot of small interesting tid-bits on literature like why Tamil women chose not to wear gold anklets or 'kolusu' (the answer is in Silappathikaram) etc. And lot more info on some little known great Tamil poets like Arumuga Navalar, Suddananda Bharati, Vai.Mu. Kothai nayagi ammal and others. Just need to remember and find the books. One of the books I've been wanting to purchase but couldn't find in the past 10 years is 'Putham veedu' by Hepzibah yesudasan. Not even sure whether it is in print anymore and Mu.Va talks highly of the same. While he mentions Thi.Janakiraman, La.sa.ra, M.V.Venkatram, Sundara Ramasamy et al(the book was written in 1972), there is no mention of the new crop of poets who rode to prominence in the post-manikkodi era like Pramil, Pasuvvaiyah etc. Also the prominent feminists of the day like Rajam Krishnan or Ambai is also missed out. Not sure whether they were this prominent in 1972. Ashokamitran gets a passing remark(blasphemy!!) but Jeyakandan is discussed in detail(although I dont give a fig about him,anyway!). Over all, a good introductory book but just wondering why there is no follow-up on this and whether there is a good book covering the post 1972 Tamil literature. Need to search.

Then 'Vasanthamallika' by Vaduvoor Duraisamy Iyengar. As I mentioned somewhere else, I've searching for any books written in the 1880-1940 perios especially novels by Kothai Nayagi, Rangaraju or Vaduvoor Duraisamy Iyengar. All these are what we call pulp these days but make very interesting read about the customs and life in those times. So I read not for the literary value but to understand how the writing style has evolved and to understand the social customs of the day. This is just a love story with some funny episodes and a happy ending for everyone. What is interesting is the Dickenseque sequence when the heroine runs from home and ends up in a pond trying to drown herself and find herself rescued by a drama troupe. Also the details on the Tamjore Maratha descendants life and customs. Contrast this with the writing of Thi.Ja in 'Mogamull' where the heroine is from the same background (Maharashtriyan girl born out of wedlock) and you can see that the status of this group in Tanjore hasn't changed from 1920 to 1965(when 'mogamull' was written). Thats what makes it an interesting read. Can't wait to lay hands on the Thigambara Samiyar mysteries..

Narnia and Pride & Prejudice

Last week, went to see two movies in Sathyam. 'The chronicles of Narnia' and 'Pride & Prejudice'. Narnia was kind of a let-down. Actually it was good but was not great. Story telling was the best part of it but the story is kind of a fantasy in a fantasy and that was not digestable (at least to  me!). Sibi liked the lion (but likes Alex the lion in Madagascar far better!!). Somehow he is captivated by lion. Maybe it is just a passing phase or may be he is intrigued by the animal. But the thing is he does not like the lion in 'The lion king'. So it must be either Chris Rock (who voices the lion in Madagascar) or some 'lions' that make him like them. Anyway, its a confusing thing if I try to understand his likings.

 

'Pride & Prejudice' with Keira Knightley was much better than I expected. Darcy could've been better but the Bennet's were actually depicted well. Its amazing that I am watching versions and versions of this same story and it never bores me down (or my wife either). If there is a family novel (like the songs in Tamil movies!), 'P&P' will win hands down in our family at least. As much as I like Lizzie, J likes Darcy. This movie version is a must watch, if you've read the novel a hundred times or have a hardback and 4 or 5 paperbacks of the same novel or watched the BBC version (which runs 6 hours!) tens of times. We qualify on all the essentials and it was a terrific experience to watch it on screen.