Pachyderm Tales is a literary consultancy and education company focused on promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education and supporting artists and storytellers. Pachyderm, in association with Ananyas Nana Nani Homes, announced a short story/essay competition in Tamil and English two months ago for writers in all Phases of Nana Nani Homes. The suggested topic was `How the residents faced challenges in life or Unforgettable experiences in their lives`. There was an enthusiastic response from the residents of Nana Nani, many of them writing for the first time. In addition to the prizes given to participating writers, three established writers were chosen for an Honorary Award. Two from Tamil ( Mrs Mythili Narayanan and Mrs Sushi Krishnamurthy from Phase 4) and I had the pleasure of receiving the Honorary Award as a writer in English from Dr. Umamaheshwari Yuvaraj, JMD of Ananya group at a function held on 25th July 2025. The event, attended by a large gathering of residents from all Phases of Nana Nanai, also witnessed the release of two books containing a collection of all entries received from the residents in book form, titled `Pearls of wisdom` in English and `Gnana Muthukkal` in Tamil. My essay titled `A Turning Point`, based on a real-life story, appears in the book containing essays /stories in English. It is a nice feeling to receive two awards as a writer within six months.
RV Rajan - Celebrating Life!
A place to share my views on this and that; then and now and my professional and personal life
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Battle of the Bulge (Revised)
During my morning walks in Chennai,
I would see a friend doing exercises on the parapet wall at the beachfront in
Besant Nagar. He was on all fours with his protruding belly dangling
prominently to the twists and turns that he was attempting. It was a sight to
behold. I stopped and asked him the purpose of the exercise. He said that he
was trying his best to reduce his tummy and look trim. I know that he has been
trying to do this for several years without luck. I wished him good luck and
moved on. It brought back memories of my bulging tummy and my efforts to reduce
it for several decades.
Before I acquired a bulging tummy, also known as a `paunch`, I was a thin guy. My waist was so slim that even a baby belt would not hold my pants. I used to wrap a piece of cloth around my waist
and then pull up my pants to ensure that it did not slip down.
There is a story behind how I acquired the `paunch`. Throughout my student days and the early part of my career, my mother did her best to help me gain weight. She forced me to eat vegetables &
fruits. She would roast a few badam kernels and give it to me every morning with butter. I was also given an extra quantity of milk to consume at night. Nothing worked. What she could not achieve for a decade happened during my stay at Murugan Lodge in Calcutta, where I gorged on the delicious meals they served. I had spent three months in Calcutta undergoing training in advertising at the second-largest advertising agency at that time. During my stay as a trainee, I was also introduced to drinking beer. I was told that as an adman, I would have to do a lot of entertaining and drinking alcohol was a prerequisite for a successful adman. In three months, not only did I learn about the advertising business but also learnt how to gulp down three bottles of beer without any problems. My tryst with the bulging `Madhya Pradesh` started in Calcutta which eventually became an integral part of my body. In the early
years, girls in my office used to call me `roly-poly`. My efforts to reduce the tummy over the years were not successful because of my inability to control my eating and drinking habits.
However, I found that my tummy was a great asset when my four grandchildren through my daughters arrived in this world in quick succession between 1996 to 2003. My `Thoppai` as they would call my
bulging tummy was their playground. All that I had to do was lay still on my back exposing my Thoppai. They would go berserk playing with it. One of them would play drums on it, another one would give it a massage and the third one would give it an imaginary bath using appropriate sound effects. It was a joy beyond compare. For a change, I was happy to possess a Thoppai.
Eventually, my Thoppai` did shrink, after the two hospitalisation experiences I went through about 10 years ago. Thanks to a complete change in my lifestyle since then, I lost about eight kgs in six
months. While I am fighting hard to ensure that I maintain my reduced weight, I
am happy that the smaller bulge in my `Madhya Pradesh` has allowed me to reuse
half a dozen tight-fitting pants that I had stopped wearing.
A small victory in my `Battle of the Bulge`!
This article appeared in the Adyar Times issue dated December, 14/06/2019
PS: Since the publication of this article I
have put on weight. My Madhya Pradesh has gone back to its original size. All
the pants I restored have become useless. My `Battle of the Bulge` continues.
Saturday, July 5, 2025
A Farewell visit to Chennai? Not yet!
I was visiting Chennai after three months. Primarily to attend the Upanayanam ceremony of my brother`s grandson on 27th June. As I found I could attend a couple of get-togethers of a few groups with which I am associated, and meet most of my friends, I decided to reach Chennai on 21st June, and return to Coimbatore on 30th June. Though I had invitations to stay with my children, this time I decided to stay at the guest house of the Gandhi Nagar Club because I wanted to be independent and not bother my children. Besides, by staying at the guest house I could entertain my friends and also meet my walking friends at the Bessy, every morning.
While it was a joy to meet all my friends and
relatives during the short visit, the sweltering heat in Chennai hit me badly.
After experiencing the salubrious weather in Coimbatore, when I got out
of the aircraft at Chennai at 3.30 pm, I could not bear the searing heat of the
sun that welcomed me.
After checking into the guest house and spending
a pleasant time with my son`s family, who had come to meet me, I had to rush to
a dinner meeting of the 41 club (an association of ex-Round Tablers with the
motto `May the Hinges of Friendship Never Rust`) at the Cosmopolitan Club. The
next morning I attended the AGM of SHARAN, a Senior Citizen group consisting
mostly of NRI parents, with the motto, `For Mutual Support`, at the Gandhi
Nagar Club. On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of attending the 66th
Installation meeting of the Rotary Club of Madras South( RCMS), held at GRT
Grand Hotel in T.Nagar. I was a member of RCMS for 47 years and the 31st
President ( 90-91). From June 25th
to 27th, I was busy attending family get-togethers associated with
the Upanayanam. In between, I was also visiting a few close friends and
relatives. The trip ended with the Breakfast meeting on 29th at Tag
Centre organised by my good friend R.T. Chari, where I thoroughly enjoyed the
lec dem on `A Pictorial Tour of Mahakumbh 2025 - A Spectacle Once in 144 Years
by Mr V R Ajitkumar. It was a brilliant presentation on Mahakumbh where the
speaker walked us through the Mahakumbh, describing the mind-blogging efforts
that had gone into organizing the mega event by the UP government at Prayagraj.
At the end of the 10-day trip, I felt exhausted.
Apart from the hectic schedule, the humidity in Chennai made me feel miserable.
A few friends quipped," You were living in Chennai for 50 years. Why
are you complaining now?` To which my answer is,”I did not have the opportunity
to experience an alternative. An air-conditioner addict in Chennai, I
have managed two summers ( March to mid-May) in Coimbatore without an air
conditioner in my flat”.
I am not only enjoying its beautiful weather 10
months of the year but also the pollution-free atmosphere in the community
where I am living. Besides the wonderful friends I have made here make me feel
like part of a happy family.
Though I have become a 100% Coimbatorean, I
cannot say goodbye to Chennai yet, as I would have to attend important
functions of family and close friends in the future. However, I have decided
that in future my trips would be only for a day or two to attend specific
functions and return to Coimbatore the next day. I have had enough of Chennai!
Though I still have the enthusiasm to do things,
my energy levels are going down. While the mind says `think young`, the body says,
`enough is enough, respect your age and restrict your activities`. I have
decided to respect my body!
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Importance of smartphones for senior citizens
I have been in touch with an old friend who is an acute patient of arthritis. A nonagenarian with an octogenarian wife, the couple have been living in a small two-bedroom flat in an apartment complex, not far from where their children, a son and a daughter, live in the city. The son is a busy professional, while his daughter-in-law runs a small business outfit, which keeps her busy. With grown-up children studying abroad, both children keep visiting their parents and try to look after all their needs. They also ensure that their parents get the best medical attention.
As long as they were physically fit, my friend
and wife used to attend all social events and had a good time, keeping
themselves busy. Things changed once their health issues led to their having
mobility problems. While my friend and his wife were familiar with the internet
and kept in touch with their near and dear ones using their laptop and a basic
mobile, for some reason, they were not allowed to use a smartphone by their
children. They probably feared that their parents would not be able to handle a
smartphone and would be exposed to irrelevant and sometimes negative messages
on WhatsApp.
When I rang up my friend the other day, he was
sounding depressed. In his feeble voice, he told me that he was taking some
medication for his depression, which is making him feel drowsy and sleepy all
the time. His wife came on the line and told me that though their children are taking
good care of them, after a few friendly neighbours who were giving them
good company every day had moved out, they felt isolated. They started missing
the company of friends. Talking to friends and relatives, they realised that in
the absence of a smartphone with WhatsApp facility, they were missing the
opportunity to get instantly connected to the outside world, which would help
them keep mentally occupied and keep their spirits high. An idle mind is
the devil`s workshop. So the couple is constantly thinking of their health
problems and indulging in self-pity, leading to depression in my friend`s case.
I am aware that depression in old age could lead to dementia and other problems
associated with it. I felt bad for them that the children had not realised the
importance of smartphones for their parents.
As a resident of a popular senior citizen home in
Coimbatore, I have seen the role that smartphones are playing in the lives of
the residents here, many of them living alone, with their children living abroad.
Such children not only connect with their parents on video calls every other
day but also share photos or videos of their activities, making the parents
happy. Besides, smartphones also help such residents stay connected with the
happenings in the community. Those with mobility problems, who are unable to
physically attend popular programmes hosted by the residents, are able to see
the videos of the events the following day. Smartphones keep them busy.
If they have an issue with the phone, they seek the help of a
tech-savvy resident and get their problems resolved.
In the case of my friend, if he or his wife has a
problem with the smartphone, I am sure they could get some bright, tech-savvy
youngster in their apartment complex to solve their problem, without disturbing
their children.
As I have been repeatedly saying, socialising
with friends is very important for senior citizens, however caring the children
might be. Smartphones, particularly WhatsApp, surely make up for the lack of
physical socialising, especially for senior citizens with mobility
problems.
Food for thought for children of elderly parents
who are living alone!
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Simple Solutions to nagging problems
Very often, we suffer from problems without realizing that the solutions are within easy reach. For several months, I would get up from my bed every morning with aches and pains in different parts of the body, especially the back and hip joints. Visits to the doctor, followed by medication, did nothing to improve the situation. Then I saw an advertisement for a Memory Foam mattress. From the time I started using it, the body pain that I would experience in the mornings has vanished. It is another matter that nowadays I do suffer from age-related shifting pains below the waist, which I am learning to live with.
A friend of mine was suffering from
acute arthritis. When all kinds of treatments failed, a doctor friend advised
him to go to a swimming pool, not to swim, but to walk the length of the pool
in the water, up and down a couple of times every day. My friend found that
this unusual treatment gave him some relief, though he still has the problem.
Most of us have experienced
shoe bites caused by ill-fitting footwear or the infection and itching caused
by socks or undergarments made of material that doesn’t suit us. Incorrect
posture at work is a contributing factor to the acute back problems faced by a
growing number of ‘techies’ who sit for hours at a stretch, glued to their
laptops. Maintaining the correct posture and taking regular breaks from work
can help ease the problem
For several years, I suffered from
‘dry cough’, often accompanied by wheezing which sounded like a multi-organ
orchestra. I used to feel miserable. Tests revealed no specific problem. The
doctors attributed it to general pollution in the atmosphere and allergy to
something or other. While trying to identify the cause of my allergy, my son
discovered that every morning and evening, I was in the habit of lighting up
agarbathis in the Puja room as I liked the divine feeling, triggered by their
fragrance. On his suggestion I stopped lighting the agarbathis. Sure enough, my
dry cough and wheezing slowly vanished, and I am now free from the problem that
had plagued me for years.
Whenever you find that you are
suffering from a nagging problem, talk about it to friends. Someone might help
you find a simple solution lying under your nose!
--
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Bombay Kannan- A legend of the Tamil audiobook industry.
Krishnamachari Kannan more popularly known as Bombay Kannan (74) is a multi-faceted theatre personality who has acted in more than 3000 stage shows, written over 20 plays some of which he directed. He was also active in AIR and Doordarshan early in his stage career. He was running a regular stage troupe called NAADAHAKKAARAN staging plays first in Bombay and later in Chennai. After foraying into telefilms he got into producing audiobooks in 2010.
I asked him how he got `Bombay` prefixed to his
name though he had spent only 8 years in Bombay. His answer: “I went to Bombay
on transfer to the Central Bank of India which I had joined in 1972. After 8
years in Bombay when I came back to Chennai in 1984 there were many
Kannans in the theatre and for easy identification I was called Kannan
from Bombay. One morning I saw in the Hindu engagement column my name
being referred to as Bombay Kannan. Since then I have been known as Bombay
Kannan. Nowadays even my close relatives only identify me over the phone
as Bombay Kannan.”
Kannan`s life story is one of mad pursuit of a
passion for the stage at the cost of a successful career as a banker. He was
born as the youngest of four siblings. His father was working with Parry
& Co. Kannan had his schooling in Nagapattinam and went to Vivekananda
College in Chennai to get a degree in Botany.
“I was interested in acting right from my school
days. My debut on stage took place at the age of 8 when I danced with my
sister as Lord Krishna. My full-fledged stage appearance happened inside a
Perumal Koil in Nagapattinam when I was 12. It ended up sadly as my throat was
choked and I could not utter a single word “
The real break came when he took on the role of
the heroine in a play staged by his college in an inter-collegiate drama
competition held at Guindy Engineering College.
Kannan says, “In Guindy Engineering College some
of the students mistook me to be a girl and were hesitant to shake hands with
me while appreciating my acting. That was the first reward for my acting. Then
came my first stage appearance in public at Puttaparthi before Sathya Sai
Baba on his birthday in 1968. I owe this to T S Narayansamy of Doordarshan fame
who had immense confidence in me to give the title role in his play Krishna
Vijayam when I was only 17. He was my first mentor and guru”
Since then the stage has become his passion. He
joined UAA, the famous troupe of YGP in 1970. His debut play was Flight 172.
His mentors there were YGP and ARS, the director. He acted in many plays of
this troupe before he became a writer.
“My first script was for Doordarshan, Chennai in
1977. The play was titled KANAVU KANDA KAATCHI. A suspense thriller in
which ARS acted in the lead role and Shri Gopalie was the
producer/director”
His first stage play script was SAKTHI PIRAKKUTHU
MOOCHINILEY produced and directed by him and was staged in Bombay in 1981. His
hilarious play IRU VEEDU ORU VAASAL written & directed by him was staged
over 75 times. Kannan got the Best Director award for this play from Mylapore
Academy
Kannan is also proud of his play JUST A
SECOND PLEASE, which was a 50% autobiography in which he portrayed God
differently. This play was appreciated by many stalwarts and won him the Best
Play Award from Mylapore Academy.
While playing Sherlock Sharmaji, a tele serial
won him the `best all-rounder on stage award` `Chakravayugam` a play by
the popular writer K.K.Raman, fetched him the best director award- both from
Mylapore Academy.
While he was busy leading a double life as a
banker and a stage artist, he got married to Subhadra in 1976. She was fresh
out of college and had not taken up any job. Their first daughter was born in
1977 and the second in 1985.
After spending 24 years in the bank, where he was
working as a branch manager, he took voluntary retirement at the age of 45 in
1996 and plunged full-time into the creative field hoping to make it big in his
chosen field.
Kannan stopped acting in stage plays in 2005 and
started producing Teleplays based on his own and other popular stories and sold
them in the market in DVD/VCD formats. He claims to be the first person to
produce exclusively for home video segment teleplays with popular artists like
Delhi Ganesh, Achi Manorama, Kathadi Ramamurthy, Meera
Krishnan, Vaiyapuri, Sonia, Kamlesh, Manager Cheena etc. He also
converted novels of Bhaggiam Ramasami’s `Appusamiyum Africa
Azhagiyuum`, Sujatha’s `Mama Vijayam`, Komal Swaminathan’s `Atchi
Maatram` etc. into teleplays.
Hearing about his teleplays Pooram
Sathyamurthy, a literary writer requested him to make an audio version of his
short stories as he had lost his vision and could not read his own
stories. That was the beginning of his reputation as a pioneer in
producing audiobooks in Tamil using multiple voices with music scores and surround
sound effects.
“The appreciation I got for the three volumes of
Pooram's short stories was a catalyst for continuing my audiobook initiative. I
decided to make Kalki`s Sivagamiyin Sabatham into an Audiobook as my
attempt to make it into a Telefilm had failed “ says Kannan.
“Sivagamiyin Sabatham Audiobook was a big hit and
hearing the audio Mr C K Venkataraman of Bangalore, an ardent fan of Kalki,
wanted me to produce Ponniyin Selvan in audiobook form and was willing to
invest his money in the project. Later he joined me as a partner giving birth
to the production house called ` Ponniyin Selvan and Friends` “
Ponniyin Selvan was a marathon project in which
60 popular artists lent their voices. Sathyaseelan was the music director who
tuned 15 songs of Kalki as well as Ilango Adigal to suit the audio
format. It took six months of hard work by Kannan. The audiobook was split into
293 chapters ( episodes) so that the buyers could stop listening to the
story after any chapter and continue listening from the next chapter, later.
Ponniyin Selvan audio book was launched at a mega
function on 14th June 2013 at Narada Gana Sabha with Nalli
Kuppuswamy Chettiar as the chief guest, attended by many other luminaries from
the creative world. The hall was overflowing with enthusiastic readers of Kalki
prompting the Chief Guest to comment “ I have never seen this kind of crowd for
any book launch” The complete set was priced at Rs 600 per set. 150 sets were
sold at the launch function. Since then it has sold over 2000 sets.
“Our major clients are visually challenged people
who cannot read Tamil and others who do not have time to read printed
books”
Motivated by the phenomenal success of PS
audiobooks, Kannan produced audiobooks based on stories of many other popular
writers earning him the reputation as `A Legend of Tamil audiobook
industry`
“ In recent years the audiobook industry has seen
a downward trend. Besides, mine is a one-man show because of which I have no
time or budget to promote the books aggressively. I discontinued producing
audiobooks two years ago” says Kannan.
What made him produce his first documentary
`Arangayanam`, which is receiving wide appreciation from invited audiences to
which it is screened?
“ When I produced the audiobook based on Sri
Venugoplan`s `Thiruvaranga Ula`, the history behind the novel moved me. It
talked about how thousands of people sacrificed their lives over 48 years to
safeguard the idol of Ranaganatha during the invasion of Srirangam by Thuglak
700 years back.I decided to make a full-fledged documentary based on this story
and visited all the places where Ranganatha`s idol was taken to protect it from
the invaders. Extensive research on the subject helped me come up with an
interesting story for my documentary. I funded the entire cost of production
from my savings. This documentary which took 18 months to produce runs for 2
hours and 45 minutes and is shown to invited audiences at Sabhas, Clubs, and
other institutions that have members who are interested in the subject. The
documentary is also available as Pendrives which are sold at the venues
of the shows.”
“ It is interesting that I though I visited Srianagm several times during the
shooting of Aranagayanam, for some reason or the other I could not get the
darshan of Lord Ranganatha, though my wife who accompanied me got
the darshan every time,” says Kannan
“When I quit my job to pursue a creative
career, I was not sure if I was making the right decision. But my wife
encouraged me and was a pillar of strength to me. Without her active
support and tolerance, I would not have been able to face the ups and
downs I went through and achieve whatever I did in the last three
decades. I lost her 2 years back and my confidence & enthusiasm for
my work have been shaken up. However I am continuing to keep myself busy
with new projects,`
Kannan`s next documentary project is on the life
and preachings of Ramanuja, the much revered social reformer, the shooting for
which is almost complete. He is also planning to revisit the tele serial on
Sivagamiyin Sabhatham, a project which he had abandoned earlier.
His two daughters, both brilliant students with
successful careers are living with their families- one in the
Australia and another in Chennai who are providing the moral support he badly
needs.
Let us wish Kannan all the best in his new
projects.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Vijaya Rajagopal - A lover of challenges
(An inspiring story)
In almost all modern, well-run, senior citizen Homes that I have visited or stayed in for short durations, I have found some talented members organize programmes using their specific talents. It could be music, dance, plays, antakshari, quiz, tombola, etc. They are the `Movers & Shakers` of such Homes. Phase 4 in Nana Nani where I have settled down for the last year is no exception. This article is about Vijaya Rajagopal and her association with Vasanthi Sampathkumar. The duo is popularly known as V2s in the community, who organize innovative, music-based programmes delighting their audiences. Vijaya is the ideas woman who masterminds the programmes and Vasanthi, her co-host, who helps with her suggestions to make the programmes memorable events. The audience loves the chatty, informal style of compering, in Tanglish ( mixing Tamil with English) by Vijaya, a master storyteller whose knowledge of our history, arts, culture, scriptures, music, and Vedas is amazing. Besides Vasanthi she is ably supported by talented singers, dancers, and actors in the community.
Vijay`s life story is an example of how one can convert
challenges into opportunities and make life meaningful and interesting.
Vijaya spent her early years in Bombay, where her father was
working as a director in the Textile Commissioner's office. The family
was living in a four-room apartment in Matunga. Eldest among four siblings
Vijaya was a bright student. Though she did her schooling in South Indian
Welfare Society`s high school, Wadala , for her college education she was taken
to Trivandrum where her grandfather was staying. He wanted her to become a
doctor.
Vijaya says, “ I was a state rank holder in PUC
and got a seat for medicine with a scholarship. But as my mother was concerned about my health condition in
Trivandrum, she took me back to Bombay. I gave up the idea of pursuing medicine . Instead I got a BSc degree with
distinction from S.I.E.S college. When I was all set to pursue an
MSc fate intervened “
Her
would-be husband Rajagopal, a transport pilot with the Indian Air Force saw her
at a family function. It was love at first sight. He made it clear that
only Vijaya would make an ideal wife for him. With determination, he
overcame all the objections from both families and married Vijaya at a simple
ceremony in their home.
Vijaya
says, “ It was such a hurried affair that they forgot to get a photographer to
cover the event. You know, I don't have any photos of my wedding”
Post-wedding
she was taken to Gwalior where her husband was posted then.
“ Air
Force life was like a bed of roses`` says Vijaya. With her linguistic skills,
she adapted herself to the new life well. She actively participated in many of
the family events. The arrival of a daughter and son also made life more
challenging and interesting. When life was cruising along beautifully, fate
again intervened. Due to health reasons, her husband decided to take voluntary
retirement from service. The family first moved to Chennai and then to Madurai.
In 1986 when her husband died at the age of 52, she was only 39, faced with the
task of bringing up her two teenage children as a single mother.
‘ My
daughter was a pillar of strength to me during those trying times. I acquired a
B Ed degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, managing challenging assignments
in government schools as part of the curriculum” says Vijaya
Then
began her long journey as a school teacher where she had an opportunity to tell
stories to children based on our epics. Both her son and daughter were well
settled by now with their own families- her son living in the USA and her
architect daughter who has a daughter, also an architect, settled in Pune.
Vijaya successfully ran a Play School from her home in Pune where she moved to
be close to her daughter`s home. After 25 years the Covid pandemic prompted its
closure.
Vijaya
says,” My husband used to say that we should help children as long as they want
and then we should live an independent life without responsibilities. When I
decided to act upon this idea, I looked at many senior citizens' Homes. With
help from a relation, I zeroed in on Nana Nani, Phase 4 in Coimbatore. I
moved into the facility in November 2021.
“The
first person I met in the dining hall where I had gone with my granddaughter on
the first day was Vasanthi. She told my granddaughter, “Your Paati
(Grandmother) will be happy here”.
At
that time Vijaya didn`t realize that she would be embarking on a new
action-filled life and that with Vasanthi she would be involved in organising
many memorable programmes in Nana Nani.
Vasanthi
says, “ I was very impressed with Vijaya. She looked very vibrant and
full of life. I knew she would be an asset in our community.”
Vasanthi
was brought up in Srirangam, the temple city. During her student days she
was a keen sportswoman. Badminton & basket ball were her favourite games in
which she had won prizes at the district level. In 1968, she married Sampath Kumar, a brilliant student and a rank
holder who was working then in Bombay. Within two years he started his own
business. The couple spent the next 53
years in Bombay before they moved to Nana Nani in February 2019 after
discharging all their family responsibilities.
“
During my long stay in Bombay, I was never involved in stage activities.
It was Vijaya who discovered me and trained me to be her deputy in
organising events. I have learned a lot from her and continue to do so”
The
first programme the duo organized was Anthakshari. The duo had to persuade the
residents to participate in good numbers. It became a hit. The second
event was a Medley with 15 residents participating. In music, a medley is a collection of
different tunes and songs that are played one after the other as a single piece
of music..The event became so popular in Phase 4 that the team was invited
to repeat it for the benefit of residents in Phase 3 & 5 of Nana Nani.
The
first theme-based programme, a musical drama scripted and produced by Vijaya,
using classical music was, Nandanaar, a Nayanar Saint, who is venerated in
the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eighteenth in the
list of 63 Nayanars. Though
she had not learned Carnatic music, Vijya listens to it every day and believes
there is nothing like Carnatic music.
“In
Aug 23, I had a stroke and foot drop. I didn’t know if I could ever move but I
recovered soon managing with a walker and stayed at home. Thanks to very
supportive and helpful friends I was back in action. I like challenges,
that Is why I keep getting challenges, I think” says Vijaya.
Despite
Vijaya`s mobility problem the duo produced a musical drama on Ramayana
using a unique concept. A rare combination of three storytelling forms to
present the venerated Ramayana story. With a running commentary narrated in her
inimitable style by Vijya, interspersed with 39 short and appropriate
songs based on lyrics from the works of famous saints like Kabir, Kamban,
Tulasidas, Theagaraja, and Mythili Sharan, sung beautifully by a team of 10
talented singers seated on the stage. In addition, the audience witnessed the
enactment of selected scenes from Ramayana going with the flow of the story by
veteran actors from the community, enhancing the impact of the
narration. The repeated applause from the packed audience during the
programme and a standing ovation at the end proved the resounding success of
the programme.
Vijaya
says “I would write the story first. Team members good at music would provide
their expertise. Simultaneously we would decide about the actors who can
perform different roles. Then we would rehearse for several days until I
felt we were ready to go on stage. It was all wonderful team work”
Inspired
by the success of Ramayana, the duo presented a similar show on Lord Ranganatha of
Srirangam fame. The story outline for this was provided by Mythili Narayanan @
Shylaja. This show also became a big hit.
Their
other acclaimed presentations include `Navagrahamum Diskhitarum` featuring the
Navagraha Kritis by composer Muthuswami Dikshitar- tracing the evolution of
Indian music and a Karaoke-based film music programme titled `Monsoon
Magic` featuring rain-related songs. It was interesting that while this show
was going on it was raining heavily outside the Hall.
In
addition to her involvement with music-based shows, Vijaya also started
learning Sanskrit and Rudram (a vedic mantra) after coming to Nana Nani.
Everyday, after lunch she also spends some time playing cards. Recently
she started learning to play Bridge.
Vijaya
says, “ I don`t think I would have got such opportunities anywhere else. I have
no time now. Despite my mobility problem, I am thoroughly enjoying
my life here”
While
Vijaya- Vasanthi duo is popular in the community as organizers of innovative
programmes, Vijaya`s life story proves that age and physical problems are no
bar to taking on challenges in life and living a fun-filled happy life.
Vijaya is certainly a role model among senior citizens in the community.