This and That

This and That

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

The other day Nina Daftary called to see if Terry and I would like to join Ashok, her husband, and her, (they are our son Anand’s God Parents) to drive over to Sacramento to see this recently released British movie  “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, Starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Dev Patel.  We couldn’t say no to a movie with such an exotic name, such block-buster cast, and such a special company.
 In the movie, a group of British retirees, many of the them had lost something - their position, their savings, their spouse, their health, their sense of purpose, all of them looking to get away from the past and start a new adventure, travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.  It did turn out to be a sober, yet thoroughly enjoyable movie.Now, the whole point of me talking about this is, there is a personal angle to it!  It turned out that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was located in Jaipur, and the entire movie was filmed there.  This, of course, brought back a flood of memories.  Just a few months ago in February Terry and I were in India.  I go to India every year, and my siblings and I started a tradition of getting away by ourselves – no spouses allowed - to do some sibling bonding.  It is a wonderful tradition I highly recommend to anybody with siblings.  Anyway, this time around, my sisters agreed to make an exception and let Terry join us on a4-day trip to Jaipur.  Needless to say we had a blast.  Now seeing this exceptional movie filmed in Jaipur tuned out to be a wonderful treat to me and Terry.

THE END OF AN ERA

Our ancestral home at 2^nd line, 6^th Cross road, Brodiepet,  in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, was build around the beginning of the 20^th century under the strict and personal supervision of Krishnavenamma Tutupalli.  It was a huge, occupied half of the 6^th cross road, and included several rental properties along with the main three story building, built solid like a fortress with hand-chiseled stones.  Her only son, who happened to be married, passed away at an early age without any children and so she adopted my father as a grandson to carry on the family name.  Most of the Tutupalli children were born in that house; we have the most wonderful memories of growing up there.  I lived and finished my B.Sc. degree from Hindu College, in the room I was born in!!!  Eventually we all spread our wings and moved away from that home, either for further education or because of marriages.  Then my mother had a stroke and suddenly managing that huge house became a night mare.  So in a moment of desperation our father sold the house, literally for a song and moved to Hyderabad.  Over the years, whenever any of us go to Guntur, we drive by, walk in, shed some tears, and relive some of the past.  All of this rudely came to an end this time.  When I visited Guntur in February 2012, the entire building was razed to the ground and they were getting ready to build a  multi-storied Condo building,  One last cry, and that was that.

BAIJU BAWARA

Some time ago Terry bought me a number of storage boxes for my CD / DVD collection.  The other day I was organizing some of those, and happened to come across a CD of songs from Baiju Bawara which stirred up some powerful feelings.

Several years ago, when my sister Bala’s children were all still home, one year I happened to visit Hyderabad.  In those days, there used to be Sunday morning matinees of old Hindi film classics at 10:30am, unfortunately in theaters located in seedy parts of Old Hyderabad. My niece Pramila and I try never to miss those films.  This time we saw an ad in the Deccan Chronicle that Baiju Bawara was going to play that Sunday at Jammurrud (?) threater in Old Hyderabad.  At that time my sister Lalli also happened to be visiting Hyderabad along with 3-year old Mattu. So I asked our driver, Ramjan Ali to take us to see the movie.  He lives in Old Hyderabad, and when I mentioned the theater name, he was horrified and pleaded with us not to go that part of seedy Hyderabad.  Of course, nothing could dissuade us from going to see Baiju.

By the time we got there, it was House-Full with only 4 or 5 tickets left in the most expensive section, Rs.5/-  each!  We bought the tickets, and entered the theater.  We were a little late, the movie already started, and it was dark.  By the time we managed to stumble into our seats, it happened.

One of the most extraordinary things I have ever experienced.  No sooner did we settle in our seats, the familiar music broke out, and Bharat Bhushan started mouthing Rafi’s magnificent song “Tu gunga ki mauz my Jamuna ka dhara”.  As soon as the opening notes of that Naushad and Shakeel’s song started, the entire audience on both sides of the aisle stood up and started singing along and dancing!  In that excitement Mattu got caught up in the spirit, started dancing and started running down the aisle toward the screen, her mother chasing after her, and me chasing after them.  Only in India!  May be only in Hyderabad.  They don’t make films or songs like that anymore.  Whenever I remember that incidence,  my hair still stands up and happy nostalgic tears well up in my eyes.  

Well, until next time, love and best wishes. -----Tutu