Well experienced and armed  forest guards should be employed and the green cover should be enhanced by planting more trees and clearing off the illegal human settlements. Unlike elephants, which travel long distances in search of food and water, tigers do not like to wander long distances. So  a regular food supply needs to be ensured to make sure that the tiger makes it through the lean patch. It is reclusive and solitary and normally like to live near dark and dingy caves and cliffs close to the water bodies.

Ordinary people like you and me can do many things to save this animal. In case you happen to live in the hill stations , amidst plantations or along the periphery of the tiger reserves, chances are that you get a chance to meet eye to eye with this creature. If it is devouring your cattle, it is because his natural food supply chain is cut due to the insensitive human behaviour. If you spot a tiger lurking in your backyard, do not harm it – Be responsible in your actions and inform the matter to the  wild life officials, who will ensure its safe release to its home back in the wild.

We should spread awareness among the local community including schools to make sure that the urgency of the matter gets maximum coverage. If you know any habitual wild life offenders or poachers in your area, bring the matter to the attention of the wild life officials.

A mass conservation drive is the need of the hour where every single effort counts. Like the many drops that make a mighty ocean, our small tasks would  make a quality change in the wild life richness of India that comprises of not just the tigers but all wild animals. Let us join our hands to ensure the survival of these beautiful creations of our ancient land, India well known for it non violence and peace loving credentials.

We at Karmakerala have decided to keep aside a space in our blog to follow the pug marks of this beautiful animal and with every new pug mark in the muddy tracks of the deep jungles, we can be rest assured that India is one step closer to the mission- to save the ultimate predator of the wild- The Great Indian Tiger!

Hey mate! Which world you are living in? Look around you and you’ll find lots of guys who have turned richer and happier with marriage…lots of guys who, in the course of bride-hunting, make it a point to remind those who are helping them in it, to look for girls from well-to-do families, especially those families that don’t have much of financial liabilities and preferably more sons than daughters….

Hey hey hey…Is it the 100% literate and enlightened Kerala that you are talking about? Is it the modern era, the era of IT and liberalisation that you are talking about? Don’t try to fool me…

Yes indeed…you are indeed a fool…Don’t you see your own friends moving about in cars and leading a life of luxury, mostly gained at the expense of their in-laws while you yourself are still fighting to make both ends meet and striving to make your ideals a reality? Don’t you remember that friend of yours who’s still going about hunting for a bride who is good in looks, educated well and at the same time from a rich family too? Hey dude, you seem to have taken a bit seriously the lessons of righteousness that you had read in your schoolbooks and the hollow rants of those umpteen orators whose actions rarely match with their words…foolish indeed…

Hey, we are living in the 21st century, my friend…remember that….

I do remember that…but you perhaps forget that we are living in a land where guys with daughters toil hard day and night to earn (or rather save) lakhs of rupees, depraving themselves of the many joys of life, so that they can marry off their daughters by gifting those lakhs of rupees to their prospective sons-in-law, who are free to utilise or squander away the money thus acquired. You forget that we are living in a country where foeticide still persists and where girls are killed, minutes after they are born to save the parents from having to be victims of the dowry menace. You forget that we still have women being tortured-mentally as well as physically- and even being killed for not bringing enough dowry…You forget that we are living in a state where the elite, educated and priveleged few know how to justify the giving and taking of dowry, stating that it’s but a help that’s meted out to the newly weds…

Ok…but how come it’s only the bride’s parents who’re ‘forced’ to help the newly weds? How come the groom’s parents go on demanding such ‘help’ as if it’s their right? I can’t digest it buddy…nonsensical…simply nonsensical. But I do understand that there are people all around me who’d love to call me a ‘fool’, a misfit in this world where husbands love wives for the dowry that they bring with them, for the material gains that they bring with them and where guys still leave it to others (parents, friends, relatives, middlemen) to get them their lifemates (’soulmates’ they say!)….

Hey…confused? You may be thinking that I’ve gone mad, making such contradictory utterances on a blog about Kerala. This is in fact a dialogue between what’s ideal and what’s real, a protrayal of what Kerala is and what it is not. And what is it that prompted me to go in for such utterances on this tuesday afternoon? Well, the news that the Nilambur Village Panchayath, in the Malappuram district, has launched a unique matrimonial website.

Aha, matrimonial website? What’s new? Isn’t it yet another of those many websites that help you find a ’soulmate’ with enough landed property, gold, fixed deposits etc? One who belongs to your ‘caste’,’subcaste’ and ‘religion’ and may or may not personally appeal to you…

Oh no! Those ‘utterances’ again. Well, let’s come to the point.

The Nilambur Village Panchayath, with Aryadan Shaukath (the guy who had scripted and produced some real sensible films like ‘Paadam Onnu Oru Vilaapam’, ‘Deivanaamaththil’ and ‘Vilaapangalkkappuram‘) as the Panchayath President, has come up with a website for those willing to marry without taking or giving dowry. The website, www.dowryfreemarriage.com, which is the joint venture of the village panchayat and women’s right NGO Mahila Samakhya Society, helps people from all over the world log in and find life-mates, but of course sans dowry. The site, which is launched by a village panchayath, which has done much for the welfare of the people, also provides a platform to discuss and fight social evils, injustice and oppression.

A noble venture indeed. My heart goes out to the people behind  www.dowryfreemarriage.com. What about you? C’mon don’t say “I am also with you” and then sit back and let the world go to the dogs. You have done it already…many times…!! What did you do when you came to know that tigers are on the verge of extinction? What did you do when you came to know that you are also contributing to the global warming that’s taking its toll in the form of sun-strokes and all?

Well, what did I do?

Time for an introspection! Time for action!

As they say, in every crisis there is cash and  traders have come up with novel ideas to beat the heat. Umbrella makers who have been sending lots of white umbrella exclusively to the gulf to beat the desert heat has found a thriving market at their door step. There are many takers for these albino versions of their black cousins, which have been reigning this state for eons of years. Made from specially made imported cloth, these umbrellas can shield you from the harmful rays of the sun and the blistering heat around. The wayside vendors too have set up stalls selling watermelon, lemonade, buttermilk, sugar cane juice and more and are doing brisk business.

With the summer showers still keeping off the scene, the situation continues to be alarming. The power situation is bleak and a power cut  is the last thing that Keralites would like to happen at this juncture. Till the monsoon breaks loose at June, which is still two full months away, we are all destined to sweat and fret at the scorching heat outside. The irony is that , every time you switch on  your air conditioner, you are only adding up to the global warming, which will further push up the earth temperature. So, try to put a stop somewhere so that there is a way out from this vicious circle. Let there be more trees on the avenues, more cycles on the road and let us try to reduce, recycle and use the natural resources sensibly- that is the only way  to ensure a better tomorrow for all living beings!

Wondering when was the last time the industry delivered a movie worth mentioning.  Malayalam film once considered to be of world-class is today gasping. Their very own superstars are out to gag the industry to death just to keep their ego.  A strange tryst is going on; the superstars along with their cronies are after a veteran actor Thilakan for his blood. The reason, Mr. Thilakan spurned venom and showed guts to speak about the way industry are taken into ransom by these aging stars.

They say Mr. Thilakan, is an arrogant old man, who is insane, physically weak and frustrated and seeks attention. Those who say this will not deny the fact that Mr. Thilakan is a fine actor and has equally contributed to the success of many movies that had the above superstars.

There is no point talking about what led to this stink in the industry involving the superstars, because it is a silly issue, it is all about ego. Ask them and all will give huge statements, but none have done a close introspection as to why in Kerala they need so many Unions in movie making unlike in other parts of the country.

The superstars are insecure and they tame fans association who act like goons. C’mon what are you trying to prove.  We have seen better and bigger stars in India and they are generous, take for example Big B, Rajnikanth, Chiranjeevi, Kamal Hasan, Nagarjuna etc., and while they are still active you see so many younger faces too, and don’t forget they are more popular than you and have bigger fan clubs that act like PR and not hooligans.

Why not follow the Live and let live policy, for the sake of the industry, for the sake of Cinema. Just, closing your eyes doesn’t mean no one is watching you, get your act together.  Accept the fact that there is a problem; the so called superstars should get the insecurity thing out before they are thrown out, they should generate feel good factor.  Accept the fact that there are few takers for your movies now and you need to do better.

The typical malayalee hypocrisy, these stars are no different.  They need to accept the fact that like Mr. Thilakan physically they are also growing old and it puts lot of pressure on the technicians to keep them shining.  The growing popularity of Bollywood, Hollywood and Tollywood in Kerala says something else. Sit down and think, what could be the reason for the low turnout of audience for your movies and Malayalam Cinema as a whole. Can you chalk out any solution to keep this industry going rather than acting nuts on a helpless artist who is seeking his share of honor? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I don’t want to speculate that the days are numbered for these so called superstars, but if they let their ego rule the industry then either one will perish without any sign.  Last but not the least, every dog has a day

To name the ones I know – AMMA, FEFKA, MACTA and the numerous Superstar Fans Associations all seem to be big players in the whole issue. If you try to read up about this in the media you realise there is not much of reporting going on about this problem.

A few questions: Why is the media seeming tied down? Why doesn’t someone report who is doing the arm-twisting here? Why are great actors like Thilakan having to walk out of good roles because of AMMA? Why should an Association decide who acts in what movie and why?

Movie artist associations are, I presume, formed to help co-actors in the field… so why are they the  deciders in an actor’s call-sheet? Why is an association seemingly punishing members and interfering in the business of filmmaking? Why did Thilakan now get a compensation?

A request to the film fraternity, fans and people like you and me who lament the death of great Malayalam cinema – let’s all examine why great movies are not being made.

Also a special request to our superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal, both already producers as well,  to produce all kinds of films and help new talent come in.

Finally to Malayalis everywhere:

What has happened to our sensibilities as film lovers why are we lapping up slap-stick comedies and mannerisms one after the other for years now?

Why don’t we go out to watch smaller films and encourage new talent?

Why are, we, as fans and Fans Associations hampering good cinema?

What can we do? Let’s free art, let’s dismantle power-wielding Associations, Federations and Fans Associations and let’s not patronise movies made to make money alone. Stop laughing at oft-repeated comedy genre movies that seems to be ruling the roost.

I hope I have ruffled a few feathers in case this post gets picked up by the film world and please know that I’m only voicing the angst of a large, a very large number of Malayalis everywhere who took pride in our films.

This post is nothing but a humble protest …but make no mistake, a protest indeed this is.

Conclusion: Let me end by hoping all our Malayalam actors, who by the way are so talented that you can’t actually think of a bad actor in Kerala films, will see that such Associations and Federations are only straight-jacketing art.

And whenever art is not free it is freedom that is being curtailed and this should never happen! Save Malayalam cinema, free art, and foster talent should be our only mantra.

Yesterday evening, as part of our usual wanderings, I and a friend decided to ‘lay siege’ on the apartment of a friend, a Colonel, who has been one of my college-mates and a close friend too. But since he would take some time to reach back home, we first went to a wayside tea-shop, had some chai and snacks and then set off, to our destination.

The shortest way was by crossing a railway gate, which unfortunately was closed. Since this gate is situated close to the Ernakulam South Railway Station, it sometimes remains closed for as long as 30 to 40 minutes, especially when coach-shunting goes on. We waited, remaining seated on my bike and talking, for about 15 minutes. But then, as it was likely to get delayed, we asked another biker and found that there’s another gate about half a kilometre away, which would in all probability be open. We turned around, and following the guy’s instructions, moved along a narrow road parallel to the railway tracks.

We had gone a little distance when we saw three or four cops, led by a Sub Inspector or Asst Sub Inspector (I am in fact a bit poor in detecting the designation from the uniforms), waiting at a corner, as is usually seen in Kochi, in the evenings. One of them, waved his hand, indicating us to stop. I slowed down and pulled up by his side. The guy, with a pleasant look upon his face, came closer.

I was expecting the usual queries, but the question that came from him was funny indeed, “Ningal achchanum monum allallo, aano? Alla, Kandaal angane thonnum” (You guys are not father n’ son, are you? You guys look like you are father and son”. The reference of course was to my bulky frame (I was wearing a helmet, concealing my age) and the medium-built stature of my friend, who was sitting behind. But the way he made the remark didn’t hurt either of us. On the other hand, it made us smile and reply with an emphatic ‘No’. There were no other queries, and he waved his hand, telling us to go ahead. We understood that the purpose of course was to get us to talk and see if we smelled of booze. The constable anyway did his job in so friendly a manner that we liked it, very much. In fact that prompted me to make inquiries with him, addressing him as ‘Chetta’ (Big Brother) about the route and his reply was only too cordial.

How I wish that each and every cop that we come across on the streets behaved in such a friendly, interesting manner, striking chords of friendship with the public. How I wish each and every public servant in ‘God’s own Country’ made us feel that he was our friend and not an enemy; that he was here to help us and serve us.

Thanks, unknown friend, for giving me reasons to smile, at a time when people bother the least about making others smile.

Considering the distinctive environment condition of state’s backwaters and inland-waterways, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has been asked to conduct the study on the possibility of ’sea plane services.

However, the government has no plans to conduct the service directly. It would only provide necessary logistic support to private sector which come forward with proposals, he added.

They are taking into consideration the environmental factors and pollution issues that may crop up with such a project, the minister has assured.

In other tourism news, Kerala is following Gujarat and has asked Amitabh Bachchan to be the brand ambassador for tourism in Kerala. Star power to boost tourism is indeed a great idea.

After the Kerala Motif Rajdhani Express and Big B’s mundu appearance, looks like Kerala Tourism is going all out to woo domestic tourists.

Personally as advertisements go the Incredible India ad for Madhya Pradesh was not only creative, it captured the folk side of the region and is aesthetically a delight to watch again and again! Don’t you agree?

For now let’s hope sea planes and Big B can bring in more tourists to our state.

Kunchacko Boban

The last Saturday, as I was waiting for my train to arrive at the Ernakulam railway station, to take me home on my week-end visit, i saw a familiar face appearing from a distance. Yes, it was Kunchacko Boban, our own Chackochan, wheeling his suitcase and moving past the crowd that was waiting impatiently for the train to come. Chackochan, who had become a teenage sensation after his debut movie, the blockbuster ‘Aniyathipraavu’ (1997), is of course not much active in films these days. He does some films as and when they come, but he is still popular among the masses.

Personally speaking, I may have reservations about Chackochan as an actor, but I like him and like him for what he is. He has, in my view, one of the cutest faces that ever appeared on screen in Malayalam Cinema. I like the way he dances and I am sure that many of those who don’t throng to see his films too like his looks. Chackochan, who is the grandson of Kunchacko, the man who started the famous Udaya Studios at Alappuzha, still retains that charm of his, which had made him the heartthrob of many a teenager girls in the 1990’s. I had met him twice or thrice and had interviewed him and he had always appeared to me as a gentleman, calm and very much friendly. That’s what people of Alappuzha say about him; for them he is like a friend than a star.

So there was Chackochan, passing on, wheeling behind him his suitcase. Some people moved aside to let him pass. Some seemed not to notice him. Some women were whispering, pointing to him, as he passed by. Some guys were looking towards him after he had passed by. Some others, I felt, were trying to ignore him, with sort of a scorn on their face. This happens many a time with celebrities here in Kerala. People, mostly educated ones, pretend to ignore the presence of a celebrity or a star amongst them, sometimes with a scorn in their faces and looks. I don’t understand why they can’t look them straight in the face and give them a smile. We know them after all. And they want us to acknowledge their presence, with a smile or a wave of the hand. Of course going after them and disturbing them with a handshake or pinches (some people really pinch stars when they get the chance; in fact I had learnt once, on visiting the sets of a movie, that people who had gathered there had scratched on the actress’ hands with a blade) would of course be bad. But what harm is there in giving them a smile, a smile that conveys some amount of warmth and also says, “Hey, I know you and have recognised you”. Well, a few years back, another actor, the veteran and much popular Balachandra Menon, had commented while speaking to a gathering at Thiruvananthapuram, on this rather strange trend shown by Malayalees. He was saying that just before coming into the auditorium he had gone to the loo and there had met people who were deliberately trying not to look at him. He was saying, “We are also human beings like any of you. So, if you know us, why don’t you look at us and pass a knowing smile as you’d to any of your other acquaintances?” A genuine and much relevant question indeed.

Standing on the platform at the Ernakulam railway station, I was anyway impressed with the fact that a star like Chackochan could at least walk past people so coolly, without being mobbed and without being a victim of the kind of euphoria that’s shown by admirers in other states. (But then, here in Kerala, I had heard of people, especially women running, leaving behind their kids, to catch of glimpse of Mohanlal, when he appeared a few years back to take part in a Children’s Film Fest in Thiruvananthapuram and college students mobbing and even pinching actor Mohan-known popularly as ‘Chattakari’ Mohan- in the early 1970’s after the release of the film ‘Chattakari’). Still, it was a thing of relief to see that stars could travel and walk freely here, of course barring some of the very leading ones. But the question that still remains in my heart is, why can’t we acknowledge their presence with a smile or a cordial look?

I saw the same attitude today morning too, when I found Chackochan and of course another known figure too, an ex-minister and a very leading political figure, travelling in the same train, same coach as mine. While I won’t want people to mob stars, I’d like them to greet them, known figures as they are, with smiles and gestures of warmth and friendliness. I bet they too want people to acknowledge their presence and pass them a smile or a knowing glance.

Mattanchery, home to the Jewish synagogue and various historic edifices holds an important place in the tourist map of Kerala that draws many tourists from far and wide. The special police station will offer all the facilities that any tourist may require. From assisting foreign travelers to clarifying their doubts on passport and visa  and registering complaints and grievances on lost passports and expired visa , this police station has a wide gamut of services- all under one roof!

The police would work in tandem with the  Department of Tourism to set up a helpdesk at the station, where the tourists can get route maps and brochures about different tourist destinations in the State as well. In addition, there are  facilities for tourists to make booking for boating as well as hiring taxis. The State Tourism Department will soon  publish the services  of tourism police in all leading tourism journals in the world to ensure maximum coverage and publicity of this novel scheme.

The Police museum will have a rich display of police uniforms, combat weapons and armoury, arranged in chronological order right from the colonial period to the present day. With the advent of the tourist police station, the tourists can look forward to have a hassle free and enjoyable sight seeing experience in Mattancherry and FortKochi , considered as tourist hot spots.