Sreekaaram.

Just now watched a movie in Teja TV ,Sreekaram directed by Umamaheswara rao, whose previous film was Ankuram.
 I am really moved by this movie and feeling respect and admiration for the director for his realistic venture.


The story is of women and the state of women in this society. we are not developed country, unless we address these issues in our society.Pouring acid on faces, rapes, daily news.. we go into third page or front page.. we just ignore, or push back..


This is so cinematically shown in this movie..


The father of 4 girls, always asks his girls to close the door, when ever they go out..


The two small children playfully run in and out of the house, not bothering to close the doors, but the father always closes them.. the doors or the gate to his home.. thus seeking protection to his fly. from unwanted elements.


But one day, his married daughter, is raped by 4 younsters, when she is out with her husband at Nagarjuna Sagar.Her protection of father being over, she has been handed to her husband for protection, yet he fails to protect her.


The protagonist of the movie, Jagapathi babu is a sane, good person who views a woman as not a sister, friend or lover but as a fellow humanbeing..


Her parents, her husband desert her, society throws all types of comments, as if it her fault..


Jagapathi Babu stands by her, nurses her back to life, fights with the State in the form of police, courts, and gives her courage to live.


Husband comes back, only to torture her and she kills him..when her patience and kshama gunam as bhudevi has been tested and reaches the peak...


I am adding my comments, but all of you please watch this movie..


What I admire in this movie is the realistic approach.. the closing of doors obsession of father subtlely gives a message.


We are just closing our doors on all evils of the society, by just closing our doors.


We withdraw into our own rooms, feeling safe..


When this safety is threatened , we blame the society..
of which we are a part ,even I am too, no exception..
Where is this society.. we keep questioning ourselves? after watching this movie..


This is the Sreekaram which the director wants and he achieves.. by awakening our chaitanyam..


Why are we silent when girls are shown as adorable ornaments in a movie, rather than a character?


Why do we keep quite, when girls are being teased on roads, when they are disfigured ,for not accepting this rakshasa prema?


Why do we not go on roads and protest against these attrocities?

Locking our doors safely is not the solution.. we are also society.
society begins at home, not from neighbours homes.


The director has given a very direct message in this movie.


Sreekaram..to a new age where stree (woman) is respected..
where she has the freedom to think on her own,
where she is free to etch her own path,
where she can be free to run her own race, with her own milestones,
where she can jump to achieve new heights without fear..
where she can live her own life, without shackles laid by others..
where she can choose her own good and be responsible for it,
where she can walk with her head high in the air, not eyes to the ground,


I know, they say, these are all for the safety of women, why should
woman should  be a threatened species first of all?
She is also a 'being 'evolved along with a man, what makes her
an endagered species, to be protected by men all along.
When this man becomes a predator, then she has to beg for another man's protection,why is this dependence?
This is for your own good..they say.
Let us have our own decision of good or bad laid by us not by others
maaku oka medadu undi, danni alochincha nivvandi,
(we too have a mind, let it think for itself),
maaku oka hrudayam undi, dannini spandin chanivvandi,
(we too have a heart, let it be responsive too),
maaku oka sareeram undi, danini memu rakshinchu kuntam
(we also have a body,we will protect our bodies ourselves),
adi oka sareeram, adi oka alayam, adi oka janmaki punadi,
(that body of ours is a temple ,a birth place),
danini gaura vinchandi..
(Please respect this body of ours),
ani elugethi cheppalani undi, inka chala anubhutalanu tatti lepindi
(I feel like shouting all these,to the world,all these and more)
ee movie sreekaram
(this movie has raised in me, all these emotions, and awoke in me so many feelings)
Be a proud woman.. Be a proud sensitive woman
Be aware of your rights..
Do not let any one  trample on you.
Comparing you with a frail flower..
You are a bold stream, meandering thru heights and falls
with terrific energy, fertilising all those plains, while washing
away all their sins, magnanimously, while giving life to
countless lives, while giving birth to civilizations on your banks,
while giving the coolness and life to the barren lands,
while flowing humbly to be a home for a Goddess, while
evaporating to be back as rains to the parched earths..
you are sacrificial, you are borne to give birth,
Not only life, but endless ideas and untiring efforts
to love with compassion and to give..


Oh! I am flowing to some new places..
let me come to point..


Sreekaram is a good movie, should be seen by all women.
let us awake and be conscious that we are also normal
human beings, with equal rights, we do not want reservations in buses and elections, we want equality in your thoughts
we are capable of achieving what we want without any reservations.


Sreekaram is a good movie, please watch this movie and Respond..

Our Char Dham Yatra.

It all started, with a message in our inbox..by a tour operator,offering char dham yatra..starting from  the middle of May..we were planning our anual vacation,around the same time..and we thought it was a call from the Himalayas, beckoning us..


We started..to India,and landed in our Capital,New Delhi, before this, we made a hectic shopping, keeping the list of things needed, given by the tour operator, in front of us, but buying some obscure, non needful things too, of course, you can blame it on me..no problem, in the elated mood,I was, I can excuse..


We proceeded to our hotel, which was in East Delhi, quite far from,Delhi air port, but we could get a glimpse of the recently spruced up Delhi, in that one hour travel, crossing Yamuna,and the huge Aksharadham Temple on the shores, and having an idea of the expanse of our Capital..The criss crossing metro rail..tempted us to explore Delhi, the metro way, but there is time and place for everything..I calmed myself.


Along with my son,we had a small ride on metro..and entered one of those Huge Malls dotting every colony now..and had some more last minute shopping..and a sumptuous South Indian meal ..we thought, this may be the last, for few more days to come..


Another day, time well spent with visits and the next morning we proceeded to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station..our meeting place was a Restaurant out side the station..Comesum Restaurant..an unusual name..we landed there with our bags and baggage,and what we found was an utter chaos..


Okay, comforting ourselves, there is order in chaos..it must be..we found our tour operators and other tour members and after an hour or two, of waiting ,we were boarded into two buses of Tourister buses each of 13 seaters.


Buses have started , and we saw that the buses were like mini India,there were tourists from all over India, from different states and all travelling on the pilgrimage of Char Dham..the religious and sacred pilgrimage every Indian, dreams of making..Char Dham..the four Dhams, which are abodes of our sacred Gods, and the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna,and the innumerable tributaries, which keep joining at different places..along the main rivers ..these places are given beautiful names..Prayag.


We keep crossing many such Prayags on our way..it is like our own community living, we keep meeting different cultures, different languages and different people, and we relate to them and accept them as our close friends, as our loved ones, in our journey called life..these are the Prayags of Life ..these were my thoughts..when we started our Chardham yatra.


After a stop over for lunch on the way, we proceeded to Haridwar, which is the holy place where the eternal River Ganga flows ..in its maginficance, touching every Hindu's life as it passes.


We grow up, hearing about the beautiful story of how Bhageerath brought Ganga from the knots of hair of Lord Shiva..and how in the process of touching the land of Bharat, it cleansed the ashes of his ancestors..it keeps cleansing our mis deeds is the most popular opinion, which brings every Hindu,in his life time to dip in the most sacred river on Earth.


That it needs a cleaning ,is an unspoken opinion, from all, watching the rate at which, the swirling waters are polluted by individuals and industries and cities, developed along the river..


Civilisations thrive on the shores of Rivers is the most popular saying, too.. let us hope, this civilisation will strive to live, to upheld this saying and thrive to cleanse this river, were my passing thoughts..on arriving the famous Haridwar.


We arrived at Haridwar on time to watch the most popular and the most beautiful and sacred Arthi ceremony at 7.15 pm.at the famous Har ki Paudi Ghat.


The shore, the ghats, reverberated with Jai Mathaji, Ganga Matha ki Jai, and the Arthi started at the Ganga Mai temple on the shore, and the lakhs of devotees joined with the chanting..in one voice..Jai Mathaji..


This is my Incredible India, this one voice reverberating, chanting with one voice, there is no individuality ,no egos, no asthithva, this is one voice..reaching the abodes of God..the call for the God, asking for redemption..this is one experience, which makes you feel small, your own egos vanish into the huge mass and you become one among the mass.. breathing and chanting in one mass..


Experiencing such once in a life's enchating spectacle of colour and sound, and the floating diyas, with incense sticks ,and flowers, all floating into distant shores, rose our spirits ,as never before and we too got enthralled into religious fervour,with heads bowed and hands joined into a humbled position.


This is Haridwar..This is our ancient spirit of India, this is our calling..vouching, we will return again, and again..


But time is short..haste is the word in tours..we were promised one more glimpse of Ganga, the next morning, we were boarded in  a decent abode for the night.


Early morning, we rose and went in our buses to the Ganga Ghat ..a morning prayer to the Ganga Maa..is so inspiring..


The intense flow of mass of pilgrims..is competing with the flow of immense , swiftly flowing Ganga..both in full spirits, we were just pushed forwarded, no effort to walk is necessary, we just flow with masses,all taking a dip, three times, dipping full into the river, offering flowers, diyas and bowing in front of the mighty Sun God and the flowing Ganga Mai..


Every one were just like an island ,but at the same time into the flow, each woman is changing her wet clothes, with that particular deft,only possible for a lady from India, and as they are returning, another huge mass are flocking, it never ends.. the sacred pilgrims flow is an unending flow..I observed..and bid a good bye to the Maa Ganga..wishing ,I could come again and again and have a personal moment with Ganga Mai, a hope..which may never be fulfilled in my life..this is what life is ..Hope.. live.. hoping ..to see those wishes come reality..


We started to our next stop..from Haridwar..every one exchanging how dissatisfied they are with such short time, in front of Ganga and every one vouching, and wishing for another dip in holy Ganga..It happens for everyone, so ,I am not an exception, I was satisfied.


Our next journey is towards,the sacred Yamunotri, which is quite a distance and we settled for a long journey in our bus.


Our next stop was Barkot, from there,the stop where we would stay is Janakichatti..before reaching this we crossed one Hanuman chatti.


This is the land of Ram,Sita and Hanuman..I was pleased..this is our ancient India..from centuries, we have been hearing about these puranaas..and on these tours, we seem to be having a peek into our ancient times..a time travel into past..


The path started into curves and bends, and in no time ,we were climbing high mountain ranges..cold nip caught in the air, shawls were thrown around, and we passed so many small towns, villages, all nicely lapped in the curves of the mountains, the small shops right on the road offering everything a weary traveller needs.


Night was approaching fast, darkness closing in, and there seems to be no end of our "wandering heights "of travel..we were well behind our schedule and were worried if we could reach our destination, by the night.


The bus travelled precariously, on a curving, bumpy road, one side, deep valleys, from which  we can hear waters flowing at high speeds, making a pleasant sound, and the other side a huge wall of mountain, and every one began their prayers for safe travel.


It started raining suddenly, and hail storms the size of goose berries started hitting our bus ,and we can see them ,in the darkness of the road, as if the road is littered with white flowers..


We reached Hanuman chatti,and we sighed aloud, that we were safe till then, now Ram will help us to reach Janakichatti..was everyone's thought.


Finally we reached about middle of the night, Janaki chatti, which was the starting point for Yanunotri trekking.


The hotel was a simple one, with just enough of comforts ,and the beds were ice cold..hot food, gave us enough strength to go to bed,with a hope for a clear day, on the next morning.


We started, with a short drive up to a certain point, from which the trek to Yamunotri, will start..That place is so crowded, our first meeting with horses, our future transport, started here.


All the toursists collect  here, to start their sacred trek..pilgrims with various coloured woollens, shawls, jackets, wraps, what not we see a myriad of colours..all striking bargains with their horse wallahas, their palki bearing wallahs..and the piggy back riding wallahs, all hale and fit to take the pilgroms up to the Yamunotri temple.


The trek is exactly six km.but it seems to be an endless one ,once we are on the horse. The beautiful greenery filled mountain tops, distant tops filled with snow, and the gurgling waters, walking along side the trek, the gushing water falls, all try to uplift our mood of helplessness, in front of the hardships of trekking.


We cross one mountain and climb another, we climb into one other,where is the end for these?? are these the hardships we undergo in our life, like bringing up our children, no ,they seem to be much fun now..climbing these mountains, is the most difficult time in our life..is this a way of learning how life 's path is so riddled with ups and downs..Is this the path to Nirvana..we keep listening about.. no not yet..


The horses stop for a drink, and for some chewing of grass, we really pity them ,how could they carry us..(!)..a heavy weight, with just a little grass to munch, he gives some cool drink, too.saying they love it..so horses also ..want to have it.. yeh dil mange more..drinks..kool ..cool drinks..


How far it is ?? is the question on every one's mind and we do not hesitate to pester the horse walah with this question..it must be his millionth one ,so he answers pretty cool, just one more, one more what mountain range??


Where are we going into Nepal, or into China?? crossing borders?where is this temple??suddenly as if to answer us, a snow filled peak appears in front of us, and a yellow topped temple from far beckons us..here I am..


The way is just beautiful, so much of wild greenery, suddenly we are mystified by the sudden sound and then the sight of a  stream, falling from rocks, like a child jumping in a courtyard, and the next minute, it fiercly falls from a huge rock, mischievously and you miss your heart beat, how daring, an act.. you wonder, river Yamuna is teasingly beckoning you, not so easy to catch a glimpse of me..you forget the hardened seat on the horse and the pains..of a not so cushioned horse gallop.


After some hours, you near the temple, from here one more stage of a flight of steps..water is there around you, pilgrima again collect at this point and start relaxing and pose for photos..a life time of experience to be shown and shared with others, at home.


Hot, hot jilebis are made in a big kadai, along with pakodas, cool drinks, air is filled with a particular smell of savouries, you cannot escape.


From there ,as we alight one more steep flight of stairs ,we get near the Yamunotri temple..hot water springs welcome the tired pilgrims, the actual origin of river Yamuna is still higher up from a glacier..some more trek for the brave and the fit.


Not for us, we have a darshan of the diety, did not dip into the hot springs ,but managed to have a small dip into a secondary trickle, and our trek to the base has started.


I was on the horse, both ways ,but my husband trekked the six km.valiantly, as he prepared well, physically to be in a fit shape.


As we reached down, it started pouring incesently, no cover, no  way to go, the beast is unmindful of the rain ,so is the fellow leading it, but drenched in the downpour, I reached just as if I am personification of a anguished cry..literally.


It was, like a purification of mind and body and soul..why run away from nature and take shelter, every time, you face it, just take it as it comes..seems to be the lesson.


This is our first phase of Chardham.. upto Yamunotri.Some interesting stories about this Yamunotri Temple, we heard,and are popular..


The chief attraction at Yamunotri is the temple devoted to the Goddess Yamuna. The temple of Yamuna, on the left bank of the Yamuna, was constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. The deity is made of black marble.Yamunotri was the home of an ancient sage Asit Muni.Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun just like Yama who is considered his son. It is believed that Yama would not torment any person at the time of death who bathes in Yamuna, his sister. it is Yamuna, who being a holder of infinite love and compassion, can grant us freedom from even death, in the realm of her elder brother.


This is the popular story..related to this Temple and Place.




The next will follow...soon..in the second part.

Malli..our Malli..

deedi, deedi..here enters our Malli, jumping..

she carries along with her a garden of flowers,

jasmine flowers mixed with these Maruvam leaves,

didi..your favourite ,know, I know..

See these leaves,I plucked from Andal Auntie's

garden, just show me once again, how you

make a garland so nicely, so quickly ,show me ..

now, I will make this garland, and this half for

you and the other half for my mother..ammaa..

now where is my mother? where and whose

house she is now?? my sweet mother, do

you know deedi, where is she working now?


just once more, I will see my mother,and come

back, mean while Deedi, take out the thread to

tie these flowers, I am now pouring these

flowers in to one heap..

my mother's smile is also so cool,

like these pure white jasmines..

my mother's body smells just like these

maruvam leaves, so fragrant..promise..

God promise, truth it is..

Deedi, you keep your work aside,

leave your work at hands, I will

come back again, just one minute,



I will have a glimpse of mother,

and come back again, in one minute..

I know, I left mother, this morning only,

and she fed me rice,in mouthfuls..saying,

Malli, Why dont you go to school?

you just run around me, as I move from

house to house, working, in those..

why toil like me? why ?


I am there to look after you, for you,

if only you study ,you will escape these.

hardships,why dont you understand??

she spoke to me this morning only..


But  I like amma..more than letters..a ..aa lu.

I love my mother so much...

if I leave her for one minute,

it is like one long hour to me,

catching hold of my mother's pallu,

I can go any where, she goes, just catching her.

I never get tired..doing so..


my father..ayya..how can he treat

such a good mother like that, he gives

fistfuls on her back, making her bend,

and Amma in return, gives him food,

wiping her eyes, with her pallu.

she says, drying her moist eyes,

it is the fault of that poison he drinks,

she blames it on the foul drink, he gulps,


we come in an auto, my ayya drives

daily,Deedi, do you know, he drops

my brother also at his school,in his auto,

he is also a better father, do you know..Deedi.


until that drop of liqour falls into

his mouth, he is the Best ayya..says my mother.

that is why,I love my mother,

my cool mother,who is as cool as the moon.


But, who doesnt love their mother ,tell me.

Deedi, you tell me..

the other day,for Kasturi deedi's marriage,

amma kept henna to my hands,


she only pluck the leaves and ground them

into paste, and she decorated my hand,

with a moon and stars, and covered finger tips

too like topis, later, amma saw my red

coloured hands, wondered, how red are

my hands, and she kissed them repeatedly.


Do you know Deedi, how good is

my mother's hand..she is so good

natured,so is her hand..my sweet amma..


for who ever,she keeps henna,

their hands turn red..such a sweet

mother, for every one..

I know her mind, my mother's wish..

Kasturi Deedi got married and had gone,

My mother also wants me to be married,

she wants to see me married like Deedi,

she wishes my hands to be decorated

like Kasturi deedi, and be happy ever,

that is my mother's wish, I know deedi..

I only know, Deedi, my mother's wishes.


after some days...

Deedi..do you know, my marriage..

with my bava..(cousin), from Anakapalli,

deedi, my marriage ..my marriage..

he also runs auto like my father,

but I am not ver happy Deedi,

I cannot leave my mother and father,

and How can I be without seeing my mother??


these rajamundry waters are so sweet,

my mother's words are also so sweet,

amma this word itself is so sweet,

my mouth tastes so sweet, when

I hear my mother's words.


When , my mother calls me

Malli,Malli, I dont answer her,

even if I am near her ..around her..

I keep silent, just to hear her

calling me Malli,Malli,Malli,so sweet

is her call..her call for me.


hands shining , red coloured moon,

forehead decorated with sindhoor,

saree holding her figure, as our

Godavari river twists and turns here,

Her black plait surrounded with

white jasmines and maruvam

combination garland, the feet,

which  always floated in air,

a border of red paaraani..(altha),

the marriage in the temple,

all of us are beloved guests..of that marriage.


she tied the knot of her pallu with

her cousin,leaving her mother's anchal..

how young she is? our Malli??

Ganga!! why are you marrying her off,

how could you see her off, when you

love her so much, how could you??


For that reason, only, ammaa..as my

Malli, she is so young for ever, so naive,

that is the reason ammaa..I am giving

her to her mother in law, to take care..

and she has to go  to that house hold,any day,

as it was decided when she was born only,

that she is their daughter in law.


if she is with me here, she just roams

around, along with me,doing nothing.

knowing well that she has to leave,

I adored her so much and made her

the apple of my eye.

she is my life amma..Malli..my life..

when Malli laughs, heartily, it is

like as if moon has shone at noon,

when she calls me..ammaa..ammaa..

it is as if some sugar is poured into

my mouth, she is so pretty, so good ,


from today, everyday is a dark night(amavasya),

and for her in laws, every day it is full moon,

as she stepped into their home,

saying such, as salty tears touching her face,

she took Malli from the sweet watered

Godavaari 's town to the town Anakapalli,

which is near the salty waters ..ocean..

that is her in law's place..


after some more days...

Now Ganga is working in my house,

ammaa..I need two days leave,

my Malli is thinking of me and

not feeling well, and not eating..

no smile on her face..they say.


she doent know how to light

a fire place, what did you teach your

daughter, asking, my sister in law..

her mother in law, wrote a card..

What did I teach her, to make a

garland of flowers, to run along

with me and just help me with

some chores, is all she learnt..



That is all, I taught, what else.

my Malli is so young, what else

can I teach her, saying so,

Ganga..went to bring her Malli.


On the third day, they came back,

mother and daughter..came back.

seeing our Malli,I was aghast.

like the cloud covered moon,

without any shine,a song without

sruthi, as if she is a personification of

sorrow,is it our Malli?? our Malli??


I could smell of burning jasmines

and my stomoch churned..

getting up, I took ker into my hands

and into my heart.. room.. with love.

How are you?? Are you not happy???

these are the questions,I never asked.

As I cannot hear her answer to these

quetions..my ears are deaf to those

answers. when I can see the answer

to my question in her eyes, many ,

many answers, in Malli's eyes. Why ask??


I found answers in her eyes,

with that a deep sorrow and guilt of

not doing enough to stop this.

What could I have done?stopped this,

malli is still a bud, there is still time

to blossom into a flower, give her time,

saying such,I should have convinced Ganga,

Oh, this is just an educated ladies shrug,

thinking,in what way I am connected??


ayyoo..she is just like my own daughter,

Ganga, you keep Malli with you from now,

I ventured..she is not a burden for you,

no,not this time ammaa..you dont understand.

our caste elders ,will not let us live,

she is young, but soon she will mature

to be a young lady, then she will say,

my house, my relatives,..my husband..

I will keep with me for a few days,

teach her some cooking,some kitchen work

and will leave her again at her in law's house.


ammaa..can you adjust for two days,

while I go to leave her?? adjust two days,

I groaned,when Malli has to adjust all her

life, can I complain of adjusting for two days?


When I am feeling so bad, how would Ganga

feel? her heart must be like Ganga now.

my heart felt the sorrow and it was also

in tears along with Ganga..and Malli..


Again started the ceremony of giving off

to Anakapalli, as is the tradition,

the hand dipped in milk,is handed over to

her mother in law, her husband, and Ganga

returned with a heavy heart..to Rajamundry.



The dish filled with food, to be taken by Ganga,

is lying at the door, no fire in their kitchen too,

son..asking ammaa ..feeling hubgry, Ganga answers..

Oh, Malli must be feeling hugry, let me fire the stove,

and cook some food..when son says, ammaa, akka is

not here no..then..Ganga's eyes are filled with

ganga..which our godavari also not able to control..


why did we marry her off?? she is so young??

she is still sixteen, but this is not so young age,

she is eligible to be get married off..

any how, attaa..(milaw) also is a mother,

she will take  my malli into her bosom,


Ganga and Malli took place in my heart.

and in my moist eyes...

one day...

as a cloud bursts without warning,

one bad day..came this news..

our young sweet malli, is no more...

forever we lost the shine of her eyes,

she decided there is no light for her

on this earth ,no more happiness for her

in this world for her..

went as an outing to the sea shore,

and then walked into the depths of the

waters, just like she was in her mother's womb

not long before..


the garland of jasmines and maruvam is

forever a paper flower without smell

for me, for ever for me..

and the sorrow of Ganga ..this godavari

only knows, the furious godavari in floods,

the godavari turned salty, with tears of our Ganga..

this is my ..our malli's story..our mallis' story.


this is in memory of real mallis who end their livesm with no hope in unhappy mariage, my request, be brave, be courageous and take help in leading an independent life, but do not end young lives..

Maruvam..is green leaves with nice smell..

rajamundry..on the banks of godawari.

ganga is still there.. she is still living with grief, and to her

my story or verse.. dedicated  to all gangas and mallis...