Suruma Writes On...

Till yesterday our world was different; We couldn’t see boats on roads, Nor could we find bodies floating like infernos . Our houses were aloft, And the city looked bright and yellow. Subways and highways we vaunted of Hotels and flats we bragged about. But a flicker of a night Snatched from us everything we had. Leaving us with poor life Begging for tiny drops of mercy. The water swallowed our homes, Our roads and flats, Our food and clothes And our pride as such. Our houses started stinking of sewage That crept in from the sewers outside our gates Engulfing all that we were left of. Until the day a roof became a sight so scarce And food-a luxury. Our arms pleaded for help And our souls drank the pity of the deluge. Darkness became a habit, And the tired voices of lament became feeble and feeble Till we could hear no more. No arc of Noah appeared before us, Deserted we remained; And abandoned we are, That now, we have lea

The Christmas bells are ringing The snowy houses with thatched roofs And mistletoes and honeysuckles, Make this day a blessing!   The hugs and gifts, The shops left ajar, The jars of sugar candies, And the stockings hung low Lives deep in the hearts of the heirs, Of the kingdom of God!   A life time of Joy And a handful of happiness; Those gifts of Christmas, Which washes away the sorrow and grief Like the pure blue waves that sweeps the weeds into itself The shepherds of paradise!   It is the night of Christmas; The eve of joy and contentment, Of love and happiness, With the bells, trees and decors. ‘Oh’ I reckon- “It’s Christmas eve!”

We were fortunate enough to be present for the closing ceremony of the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala ( IFFK ) which concluded 2 days before here in Thiruvananthapuram. Fortunate enough to have got the opportunity to see the film 'Ottal' ,directed by Jayraj which bagged several awards,including the Suvarna Chakoram in the fest. It is a sweet adaptation of Anton Chekhov's short story 'Vanka' set in the agricultural hotspot of Kuttanad in Kerala.                                     It depicts the life of Kuttapayi, a small boy not more than 10, who lives with his grandfather in a tiny bamboo shed, making a living out of selling eggs of ducks. In spite of not being educated,Kuttapayi is a bright boy who weaves intense relationships with nature and its elements. He becomes good friends with Tinku, a boy from a wealthy middle class family and comes to know of the  joy of  going to school and learning. But it is the uneducated Kuttapayi who teaches Tinku man