Congratulations.. Tamil writers...

Its been a year since i started reading 'more' Tamil books and i should say i was fascinated by Tamil literature as well as the healthy environment of tamil writers now.I read lots of short stories which are available freely in internet and came to knew about many new wonderful Tamil writers.

Congratulations

1)Su.Venkatesan, author of "kaval Kottam" novel received this year's Sahitya Academy award. I bought this book 3 months before, but have not started reading it yet, atleast now i have to start reading it.

2)Poomani - Vishnupuram virudhu

3)Venugopal -Paasha p arishad (Vennilai short story collection)

4)Vannanilavan - Saaral virudhu

5)Vannadhasan -Saaral virudhu

6)Prapanjan -Ilakiyachudar virudhu

7)S.Ramakrishanan - Nalli-Thisai Ettum Ilakiya virudhu (Kaal mulaitha kathaigal)

8)S.Ramakrishanan - Kannadasan virdhu(coimbatore)

9)S.Ramakrishanan-Wisdom International Award

10)S.Ramakrishanan-Tamil Sangam Award (Prabhanjan,Keeranu zahiraja)

11)Devathchan -Vilakku virudhu

Check out their websites  here

The First Grader

What a inspiring story! "The First Grader" tells the real life story of 84 year old Kenyan villager and Maumau fighter Kimani Maruge. Kirmani enrolled in primary school when the Kenyan government announced Universal and free education in 2003.

Initially the staffs of the school rejected his enrollment but due to his persistence and with the help of kind hearted teacher Jane Obinchu,he was accepted. Even though he was ridiculed by the villagers and scorn by the students's parents, Maruge never withdrawn from the school.

The real Maruge

Why Maruge wanted to join the school at the  very old age? what was  the reason behind it? The flashback gives the answer. He was a member of Mau mau group which fought against the British colonial rule.He was one among the fighters who killed an British officers, he was captured and tortured.His wife and child were killed by British military. Many believes this was the starting of freedom fight in Kenya.Maruge received a letter from the government,he wanted to read it himself.Thats the reason for him joining in school.



Maruge with the help of Jane started to read and write slowly.The school  children started liking Maruge and they enjoy his songs and dance.At one point the villagers oppose the school management for wasting one student allotment to an old man, they even attacks the school and Maruge's house.But Maruge sent them out running.This force the authorities to transfer Jane to different place. Maruge sold his goat and travels to the nearby city and argued with the authority and shows his scars of the torture by the Britishers.The authorities sent Jane back to the school.

He failed in reading the letter in home , so he brought it to Jane but Jane asks his colleague who initially opposed Maruge to read it.The film ends with Maruge attending school.There was also an romantic story of Jane and her husband and their struggle.

What a performance by the lead actors! Oliver Litondo as Maruge was outstanding,Naomie Harris as Jane too played her role to perfection.Beautifully directed by Justing Chadwick.The film was shot in Kenyan landscape.

Maruge never stopped  his pursuit of education till his death in 2009.He attended the UN Millennium Development Summit in 2005 and gave a emotional speech. Some of his quotes :

"I want all the children in the world be educated ,that's what I'm longing to see"

     " For me education is the key to liberty."

A film to watch and cherish !  

How to Travel with A Salmon and Other Essays -Umberto Eco

This is my second book of Umberto Eco and i should say that he is really one of the best essayist and novelist.This book is a collection of essays written by him, his wit and encyclopedic knowledge of history and art are visible in many places.I think these essays mostly taken from his personal experiences with different people,organization etc.

I laughed my heart out in many places , i enjoyed most of the essays specially "How to use the taxi driver" ,"How to justify the private library","How to write introduction","How to play Indians" etc..This is one best humor essays i have read lately,simply wonderful.

On the other hand i did not understand these essays "On the possibility of Drawing a Map of the Empire on a scale of 1:1" ,  "Three owls on a chest drawers" and "Stars and stripes ".I have re-read many times but still could not understand these essays fully. Now i'm thinking to read more non-fiction works like this.

Umberto Eco

The last essay "The miracle of San Baudolino" brings the best out him, the author deals with his native Alessandria's history  and its people,- a sort of memoir.Many places in this book,  i realized the world around me and myself , laughed sometimes and grimaced some other time.I will definitely suggest this book to anyone who wants a leisure read and a good laugh.

My first book of Umberto Eco was "The Name of the rose" - a classic novel.It remains one of the best  novel i have read so far.

Read it!

More about the author 

Fly Away Home

This is the story of an young girl who helps the geese to fly and guiding them to their natural habitat.Amy Alden after losing his mother in an accident in New Zealand moves to Ontario to live with her father.Her father Thomas Alden  is an inventor, he introduces his girlfriend ,Susan, to Amy who initially avoid and hate her but latter she grow fond of her.

When the forest was cleared for construction Amy found eggs left by some birds,he brings it to her father's barn and keep it in dresser,when she returns from school she found all the eggs hatched and she is very happy and request her father to keep it ,reluctantly he agrees.

Thomas asks help from the local warden to take care of the birds but when the warden visits his house he says all domestic geese should be clipped and tries to clip a bird.Amy is furious and pushes the warden out,Thomas too warn the warden not to touch the bird anymore and ask him to leave.


The geese follows Amy wherever she goes but they are not flying as they do not know how to fly but to protect them Amy and others should make they fly otherwise the local warden will take them.Thomas being inventor tries to create a homemade aircraft and makes the birds to follow him but the birds never followed him.So they decides Amy should teach them to fly i.e flap their wings and once the birds do that ,Thomas can make the birds to follow the aircraft.

Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin

After making the birds to flap the wings and run , they decides to try with aircraft but unfortunately the birds did not follow Thomas but they followed Amy who is running at the side.Now the only option left is Amy should fly with Thomas in the aircraft so that the birds will follow.But Susan disagrees and he asks Thomas to shelve the idea.since they do not have any other option Thomas and his friends trains Amy to to sit with Thomas and fly. Unfortunately the birds does not follows them,so they decides to allow Amy to fly alone in a aircraft.Thomas teaches her to fly the aircraft.The rest of the story tells how Amy,Thomas and friends made the geese to fly.

Incredible story and it is very inspiring to know that this movie is based on the real life story.The whole film was shot beautifully.All the characters had played their part to perfection including the geese.Anna Paquin as Amy was amazing ,perfect fit.Jeff Daniels as Thomas was also good.Music by Mark Isham was awesome.

Overall a great movie to watch with family and friends..!!

Mahatma Gandhi Kolai Valakku

மகாத்மா காந்தி கொலை வழக்கு

This book is the good introduction for Gandhiji's murder and the court case that followed.Not too detailed but have enough information. The author N.Chokkan had done good research.

Surprised that the Indian police/judiciary took many years to fully complete the court case. So many questions still unanswered. And another controversy,till today, that did Gandhiji uttered " Hey Ram!" when he collapsed after the bullet shot?.

Those who are looking for light reading about the Gandhiji's murder can read this book.