VeyiPadagalu -- A review

VeyiPadagalu a Review:
Veyipadagalau can be viewed as another Dharma Sastra. I cannot call it abridged Dharma Sastra as it is a huge volume and is larger in size. It may be a practical guide to Dharma Sastra.
Characters:
It is impossible to list down all the characters in Veyi padagalu. I will list down few.
Dharma Rao:
He is the key character around whom story revolves. He is a Brahmin and son Rama Sastry (who acted as minister to Jamindar family). Dharma Rao is an embodiment of Dharma. He is a scholar and follows dharma in it spirit. He loses his father when he is young and studies with assistance of old Jamindar Krishnama Naidu. After Naidu’s death his studies were sponsored by Naidu’s Wife. Naidu’s Son Ranga Rao assumes imaginary rivalry with Dharma Rao and defies tradition by not appointing Dharma Rao as his minister. Dharma Rao studies well and works as lecturer in local college. He enlightens many of his students like Harappa Naidu, Girika, Mangamma and Kumara Swamy. He fights with many like Radhapathi by upholding traditional values.
Arundhati:
She is wife of Dharma Rao. She learns some knowledge from Dharma Rao. Dharma Rao and Arundhati pair show by practice how wife and husband should be with each other. She supports Dharma Rao in his times of trouble and provides him a friend, mother, guide and a wife in a single body.
Ranga Rao:
He is the Jamindar heir who defies the authority of the Brahmin family who laid foundation for their history. He assumes rivalry with Dharma Rao and does not help him in his problems. Evne though he did not create any problems for Dharma Rao he by ignoring his duties of King hurts Dharma Rao. He appoints all unfit people in his court and thus ruins him self as well the Zameen. He remarries two English ladies after wife’s death and when he falls ill all those around his betray him. He realizes in the end about greatness of Dharma Rao. Only good deed he does that helps in his transformation is to let his son Harappa Naidu taught by Dharma Rao. He quotes "Harappa is Rama and Dharma Rao is Apara Vasista"
Harappa Naidu:
He is is son of Ranga Rao. If Dharma Rao is Krishna then Harappa is Arjuna. Harappa lives for a short duration he takes over the responsibility when Ranga Rao falls ill and does revival of old glory. His main ambition was to revive the tradition by performing marriage of Lord Venugopala and he dies soon after he achieves it. Ranga Rao quotes about his son after his death that "I am not his father, he is my father"
He helps in transformation of Ranga Rao by impeaching all evil fellows those surround his father. Dharma Rao’s aim of revival of traditions is achieved through Harappa Naidu.
Girika:
Dharma Rao’s sister. Even though not born to same mother; father is same for her, Dharma Rao, Rama Raju and Pasirika. Dharma Rao has great affection for her and used to teach her glories of Lord even though she belongs to devadasi caste. It is through her he achieves the second aim ie., development of Bhakti and she attains Moksha by devoting herself to Lord Venugopala.
Rameswaram:
Evil fellow who develops hatred towards Dharma Rao and tries to ruin him. The evil deeds of him were unlimited. He is primarily responsible for depletion of Dharma during Ranga Rao’s regime. He develops sexual feelings towards Girika and when Dharma Rao protects her he develops rivalry with him. He ruins wife of a school teacher named Mangamma by bribing her for money and taking her innocence to his advantage.
He is also responsible for death of innocent husband of Mangamma. He creates all sorts of problems to Dharma Rao including Financial problems. Ultimately he gets deserved punishment when he was caught for unlawful printing of currency notes and betrayal from Mangamma. Writer portrays here that evil may enjoy success for sometime but it gets deserved punishment in the end.
Mangamma:
An innocent Brahmin wife who falls for money and ruins life herself. She snatches all wealth from Ramanatham and betrays him in the end. She then stays with another evil fellow named Radhapathi. She tranforms herself in the end by the learnings she had from Dharma Rao. She gives all her wealth to Kumara Swamy. She meets a tragic Manghamma’s story depicts the karma philosophy of Hinduism. Karma Philosophy states that you will get the fruits of your actions sooner or later. Mangamma cheated her husband and is indirectly responsible for his death. Even though she transforms herself into a good human being after her association with kumara swamy and Dharma Rao, she still had to face a miserable death as a fruit of bad deeds she has done.
The Snake:
The snake is one key character in the novel. It is a snake with thousand heads and novel gets its name from the same. With disruption of each and every dharma snakes loses all its heads and finally has only two heads. Only Dharma Rao was able to see the real snake. Once Ranga Rao sees the snake in a dream in furious mood and bites him. Most part of novel snake remains with two heads each representing Dharma Rao and Arundhati. In the end Dharma Rao says inviting his new wife Arundhati into his life "This is the strength of my nation/race" Here he alludes to marriage is the only institution that has remained in the end even after all the other dharma’s are tarnished. I guess Writer has the intention to portray that despite all these transformations in the society at least marriage is remaining in full strength.
Kumara Swamy:
He is a student of Dharma Rao and who imbibes all traits of his teacher. He is a pet child of Magamma and inherits her property as well after her death. His wife Syamala is a good partner and the pair supplies good humor to the novel.
Jr. Rama Satry and Jr. Harappa:
Jr Rama Sastry is son of Dharma Rao and has same name a s his Grand Father। He is a smart kid and impresses Ranga Rao better than his father. Ranga Rao quotes "I don’t know about Dharma Rao but I know about his son. His son will grow up to become a better man than his father." Ranga Rao after transformation adopts a kid and names him as a Harappa (name of his deceased son) and get them education by having Kumara Swamy as teacher.

A great work always differentiates itself from ordinary by the impression it makes on the reader. I left my writing vocation after reading Veyipadagalu as I felt any book that is not worth the same class as Veyi padagalu is a waste of reader’s time. On a second thought I felt like a book should not only convey entertainment but it should convey knowledge. The reader should become a better man after reading the book. In order to do this I need to learn lot of things before writing. A complete novel of class Veyipadagalu was dictated by Viswanatha while playing cards and in 28 days he completed 1000 full pages. (This is the only occasion I felt playing cards is not a bad vocation) Lectures given by Dharma Rao are doses of knowledge for the reader. I think Dharma Rao embodies Viswanatha himself. He is so called Kavi Samrat. (King of all poets)

Sarve Jana Sukhinobhavantu

Scene: A Gurukul in which Guru has occupied his seat and is ready for clarifying doubts of his students on the lessons taught on earlier day.
The brightest student rose and expressed his doubt.
Student: Master! Yesterday you taught us to always wish for universal peace "Sarve Jana Sukhinobhavantu"

But Sir! If we wish for that it would mean we are wishing that Chora (Thief), Durjana (Bad folks) and kaamis (one with bad desires) also to be happy। If they are happy it would mean they will make others unhappy. How can we wish for everyone's happiness? Please clarify us.

Guru is proud and happy that he raised this question। He clarified it as below।
"We should always wish for "Sarve Janah Sukhinobhavantu". But the catch here is what is "Sukha"? Is the theif who has stolen money really experiencing Sukah or happiness.
Day in day out he will be chased by police. Even during his sleep he will get nightmares of getting punishments for his bad deeds. He cannot eat his food properly, cannot sleep well and cannot live happily with his family out of fear of getting caught. Is this really Sukha? It is not not. He well really attain Sukah prastana only when he quits his bad deeds. When we are wishing we are in reality wishing for change in his profession and wishing that he gets real sukha by quitting burglery.
There is a Kaami who always is pained with desires. His desires are listless. He cannot be at ease with himself until he gets his desire gets fulfilled and once it is fulfrilled he is again troubled by another desire. He also is not very happy. He get some happiness when his desire is getting fulfilled but rest of the time he is suffering either from temptation or disappointment. So we are wishing that he gets relieved of his excessive desires and thus become happy.
Dear Students there are root causes of unhappiness defined in vedas and shastras. They are called Arishadvargas. They are Kama, Krotha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsaras. A man who is really happy is the one with sattva guna and who distances himself from these arishadvargas. When we wish for Sarve Janah Sukhinobhavantu we are essentially wishing that every one in the world gets rid of these six bad traits and attain true happiness. "
Students are satisfied with the xplanation and made ti a point to shred these six enemies that stop men from getting true happiness.

Panchamaha patakas

We must have heard Panchamaha patakas – Five unforgivable sins. But what are they?

Brahma Hatya – Murder of a Brahmin
Stealing Gold
Sura Pana – consuming liquor
Guru Talpaka – Sleeping with Guru’s wife
Friendship with a person who committed one of the above.

These are described by Vyasa Maharshi in Devi Bhagavatam

BhajaGovindam

Kama krodhasya Lobhasya
Dehe tistanthi taskarah
Gnana ratnapa haraya
Tasmat jagrata jagrata

Explanation: This seemingly simple sloka from Adi Sankaracharya explains why even all men are born same why only few attain ultimate gnana.

Kama (sensuous desire), krodha (anger) , lobha (greed) are like thieves sitting in our body. Just like the task of thief is to steal the things, these internal thieves steal the precious jewel of gnana from you. In that case when should we be careful abt these thieves? Generally thieves come during nights so we would be carefully guarding our houses. But these internal don’t have such rule. They sit in our body and wait for an opportunity. So we need to be careful about them at all times.

Gnana here is said to be referring to realization of ultimate reality of God and not the bookish knowledge. Every knowledge that does not lead to bhakti and thus towards God is useless. This can be understood by his famous bhajagovindam song which Sankara sangs when he sees a old Brahmin reciting grammar. Int his context sankara says

BhajaGovindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Mooda mate
Samprapte sannihite kale
Nah nahi rakshati dukkam karane

You fool pray to Lord Govinda. When you near your death these grammar rules cant save you from your sins. It may surprise some Sankara talks about Govinda(Vishnu) as Ultimate Reality here, in soundarya Lahari says Sakhti/Durga mata as Ultimate Reality and he himself is treated as Ultimate Reality ie., Lord Shiva. He so put forward Advaita School in which he says there is no duality of God. All the three forms mentioned are nothing but one and the same and they are seen in different forms depending on the function they are performing at that moment. Ultimate Reality is said to form less and is an experience that cant be described.
There are many questions left unanswered and it is up to the person to find the answers.

what should we pray when we enter temple?

Many a times we were asked to visit temples. When we were kids we were taught to pray for our prosperity and education. Now that we are grown out of that and are in no mood for education (J) any more, what should we pray when we enter temple? We ask for some wish which we hope for, but many of us don’t have any. During my last visit to temple, I struggled to come up with something I need to wish for. I could not practically think of something tangible I lack now and to pray for. I could have wished for money, car, lands etc., but I know what their true worth is. I already possess them and am not greedy enough to want more.

This gave rise to a question. What to wish for? We know that what we are granted is not entirely our choice. We did not choose our parents. We chose our friends but we did have a choice on the people we encounter. There is a central controlling force called who wrote the script for us to act. If everything is drafted for us why do we need to pray? Swamy Vivekanda has said “Our today’s actions determine our tomorrow”. There are many instances like Markandeya who were able to alter the script written by their Bhakti.

What about blessed ones like us who have (nearly) everything in life. What can we wish for? What do we need to pray when we enter temple? We can wish for prosperity of the world which in turn determines your prosperity. How ever sages say that there are two definite things to ask for when you come face to face with God.

Anayasena Maranam
VinaDinyena Jeevitam

Blessed are those who leave the world with no problems during death. We suffer for all the bad deeds we do. Death is not a punishment for the bad deeds because even good people die. How we die is going to be determined by our punya from this and past lives. Also how we live on earth is determined by our punya. We should live in such a way that we derive respect not only from others but also one’s own conscience. One may do all bad deeds with out proof but his conscience will tell him every single time he looks in mirror what he truly is.

Food for thought: Why do people close eyes when they reach temple after seeing God? Despite taking so much time and pain in reaching the temple like Tirupati, people close eyes in the 5 seconds timeslot given to see Lord Venkatesa. (Answers are anticipated)

Ramo Vigrahavan Dharma.

yadâ yadâ hi dharmasya

glânir bhavati bhârata

abhyutthânam adharmasya

tadâtmânam srjâmy aham

Sri Krishna the God himself said the above statement that means when ever Dharma is not followed and Adharma becomes prevalent I manifest myself to end the trend. God has incarnated in many avaratas out of which Dasavataras are important. Out of these 10 Avataras Rama Avatara is the most important one for mankind. As Rama, Lord Vishnu, relinquished all the divine powers and lead life of a normal man.

Rama has shown by practicing in his life how to lead a life. He has given utmost importance to two things – Satya and Dharma. Rama has faced many problems in his life and faced them like a man with out giving in to any temptations. There are instances when Rama could have avoided problem if he chose to relinquish Satya and Dharma. But he did not and remains as an example for the mankind. Rama was described as “Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmaha Satya Dharma Parakramaha” meaning Rama is the embodiment of Dharma and his main strengths are Satya and Dharma. There is no need to mention this if some sage uttered these words as sages are a bit partial towards him. One will be surprised to learn that these words are uttered by a Rakshasa named MAaricha whom Rama defeated when he is still a young boy.

It is not difficult to stand to Dharma when there is no other choice available. But it is phenomenal if one stands to Dharma when there other options and temptations that surrounds him. There are numerous instances when Rama stood for Dharma despite having other choices for him. Here are few to name.

When Rama was offered hand of Sita after he broke Bow of Lord Siva, Rama replied that it is for his father to decide on his marriage. He did not get married until his father King Dasaratha approved Sita as bride.
When he was asked to go for 14 year vanavasa, he knew that if he talks to Bharata entire vanavasa can be written off. But he chose to go for vanavasa. Here the contrast between people and their following of Satya Dharma is clearly seen. Dasaatha ignored Satya (his promise to have Bharata as his successor) and tried to follow Dharma. (It is Dharma to give kingdom to eldest son) Kaikeyi ignored Dharma (by trying to send Rama to forests) and insisted on Satys. (King’s promise to have her as successor) Rama followed Satya and Dharma and showed the world their practice. He went to forest to reinstate his father in satya and by doing so he followed his Dhrama as a son by saving his father from Astya Dosha.
Surpanaka came as a beautiful girl and tried to tempt Rama. But as a devoted husband to Sita he declined her.
Rama knows that Gold Deer is a plot by some Rakshasha but went in hunt of Deer to follow his Dharma as husband to fulfill his wife’s wish.
When he knew that Sita was kidnapped by Ravana he has a choice. He could have relinquished and avoided war with Ravana (who is an accomplished warrior). He could have gone back and remarried. But he chose to get his wife back as protection of his wife is his Dharma.
Rama knows that Vaal is more powerful than Sugriva and has defeated Ravana once. His job of finding coule have become much easy if he made friends with Vali. But Rama Chose Sugriva as friend as he in Dharma.
He subjected Sita to test to prove the world she is as pure as Agni.
He followed Raja Dharma by relinquishing her owing words of a person his in Rajya.
He did not remarry latter and performed all yagnas with help statue of Sita.

There are some controversies Rama is dragged into by citing them as instances of not following Dharma.

When killing Tataki he killed a woman which is against Dharma. He did it only after his Guru Viswamitra asked him to do that. Here he followed Sishya Dharma and Pitru Dharama. (As his father assured Viswamitra that Rama will do anything at command of Guru)
When he killed Vaali he was accused of killing from behind. His explanation for that was this “The forest falls in kingdom of Ayodhya and Rama is the representative of the king Bharata for forest. Vaali did Adharma by taking his brother’s wife and so has to be punished by the king. As king’s representative Rama punished him. Also Vaali is a monkey and so killing animals from behind is not against Dharma”

Laxmana proved that Rama never did anything apart from Dharma when he was tired and shot an arrow at Ravan’s Son instructing it to kill him if Rama followed Dharma. That killed Indrajit and proved Rama followed Dharma all through his life.

There are many things that can be discussed here but if I did then I will end up writing Ramayana all over again. So stopping here.

Gamyam -- A Review

K. Viswanath directed a film called Neramu Siksha in which Krishna played lead role as a son of rich father who was brought up with absolutely no encounter with real people. He thinks his friends who come out with him are only men. He cares not a damn for poor people and thinks their lives bear no value. He looks the world only from window of his AC Car. He once kills a man in an accident and was banished by his father from home. He then encounters many people some of them who are affected by him. He tries for their betterment and works hard to see them happy again. He ultimately takes punishemnet from court at his will for the accident he has caused. There is message, there is comedy, there is romance (with heroin Bharati), there is a villain who obstructs hero and there are fights. It is another complete movie form viswanath.

Context:
Well it makes sense to remember this master piece when talking about Gamyam. The parallel I wish to draw here is pretty much evident. Hero is rich guy who witnesses world only from window of his car. He falls in love with heroin and heroin is somebody who is born and brought up with poor. Even though he helps poor sometimes he does it only for heroin and never means anything in his action. He kills a lady with his car by leaving orphan kids. Heroin leaves him and he starts his first journey into life in search of heroin. He then realizes that life does not mean same thing as seen from his Benz’s window. He encounters a friend in the form of a thief who tries to steal his bike. How ever here there is no villain.

Analysis:
I think it is debut movie for the director. It can definitely be given credit for idea. Movie is drafted like a code book where some things are left cryptic and open to interpretation. Story is not shown as a single episode instead a series of flashbacks. Hero’s feelings for heroin were not closely shown as to if it is true love (if such a thing exists) and what did heroin think when she leaves hero are left open to interpretation. Hero is show n to have undergone a sea change in the end but no clear evidence excepting tears in his eyes and he does not get punished for the accident he has done.

Despite all this we must commend the attempt by a newbie and message that is packaged in it carefully with out showing that rich are bad. It is shown by Rich dad approving his son’s choice gladly after he understands his determination. One of the few movies where dialogues are given the importance that is due to them. Hero says “He is discovering himself when he is trying to find heroin” as an example.

Sarvanand:
I like this guy. While watching the movie I see the character and not the person enacting. This has become a rare quality now-a-days. It is unlike modern heroes where we see every one including their father/uncle/grandfather etc., excepting the character they are portraying. He has done clean acting with proper emotion displayed at right time. I wish he continues doing the same with out getting into star status like his counterparts where there is no bit of acting but lot of boasting.

Allari Naresh:
I was never a fan of his acting. I detested him for certain movies he has done. How ever I make a U turn here and say he is marvelous. He has 101% justification to his character “Gali seenu”. I cant believe that any one else could have done more justice to that character.

Kamalini:
There is not much scope in this character but she did just fine.

Conclusion:
It is worth watch movie in recent times. Clean dialogues, good treatment to subject and some nice acting makes it better one among peers.

(I have seen Balayya’s PanduRangadu Audio release yesterday. I understood everything except music there. It was full of sycophants)

Das Das Kalidas... A Review

Title:- Because movie is named Kalidas, Hero was made illiterate or because of the story itself they named movie so is not known to me. They fit the title to movie. First half hero is shown as illiterate and disconnect with academics. Second half hero fights for academics, mind you, he literally fights.

Storyline :- Another movie with flashback. However some suspense hidden in the flashback was handled well. There are bits and pieces missing in flashback and was completed in a hurry. Kali(Hero), Dev and Ali (sunil) are good friends. Story starts with a flashback of how they became friends. Kali becomes an orphan and at the tender age he kills one who kills his Police father (Nagababu). This part of flashback is unnecessary and as it is no way connected to story line. Kali was brought up by Dev’s mother and works for Ali’s father in stealing cars. Kali sponsors for Dev’s education. Kali finds heroin in a car he steals and she acts mad for entire first half.

Just before second half Ali gets killed by villains (Vinod Kumar and Ajay) when they kidnap heroin. Hero discovers that Dev and Tamanna are friends and villains killed Dev when he fights for Tamanna’s property in court. Then he starts his fight for education of students by saving institutions run by Tamanna. In the process faces problems from villains and minister and finally kills villains.

Item Song:- Unfortunate Nikhita with zero success in Tollywood is trying to test her luck as item song girl. I wish her all luck.

Analysis:- Old story in a new vessel. Changing the background does not make it fresh. Hero is average looking and does not inherit as much of acting skills from his Grand Pa as he has done of wealth. He is okay with routine dances and fights. Heroin has done some skin show in second half. Vinod kumar has got a promotion from a bad hero to a good villain. Direction is not too bad. I was glad to see that he did not create a duet for heo and heroin until they fall in love. How ever he dragged the story in first half so that he can reveal the suspense at interval and that costed him lot of time and had to abruptly end the movie with out any logical conclusion. Also some songs are abruptly started with out any context.

Conclusion:- Not worth it. If he is not Akkineni’s grand son we would not have seen him any where near the camera. (Same applies for many rising stars

Sunya -- A Play I watched in Houston

I went to a play during one weekend. It was a play organized by Indian Cultural Association called Sunya. Sunya means zero or nothing in Sanskrit. I have learnt that it was named so following Buddhist philosophy. According to Buddhist philosophy achievement of nothing is the ultimate goal of life. Also may be because Indians are too proud of zero that has been invented by their forefathers. It might have also been to symbolize that what ever we do to protect our motherlands culture is nothing. I am slightly pessimistic here. Optimists version will be nothing can destroy our own culture and tradition. But sooner my impression fallen out to say that some (I just said some, not all) NRIs are doing nothing to protect our tradition. They are becoming Americanised day after day.

The theme of the play was religious unity and the name is “The Final Solution”. It had drama that shows how Hindus and Muslim fight each other and develop grudges on one another. It said that misrepresentation of traditions and misinterpretation of other people was primarily responsible for riots that happen in India. Some political forces (unnamed though) have utilized both religions to their advantage and were successful in increasing the disparity.

Plot revolves around an old woman, her family and of course her dairy. The old women’s reminiscences and her pathos are accounted for in the dairy. The young girl who played the role of the women in post independence era had very good acting skills. I would have fallen in love with her if the play lasted for some more time. Not that she is very beautiful though. It is just the youthfulness, energy and confidence she has that attracted me. My youth may be another reason for the attraction. The real reason is the Indianness which I was longing for in the west. When I said attraction I don’t mean it the same way others say it. It is faintest in nature and so need not be given much attention.

So for God’s sake I will leave her alone and let’s get back to the play. I was not sure if the kids of NRIs think that Hindus and Muslims fight every morning in India. I am sure if one has not been to India he will definitely think Hindus are born to kill Muslims and vice versa. Of course that was a perspective and one off case projected by the playwright. I would be glad if he writes another play to show how secularism works in India.

When India wanted to adopt secularism people thought that it would be like that of France where one cannot display any religious feelings on a public ground. (Excerpt from Amartya Sen’s Argumenattiove Indian) How ever India was a bit liberal in this respect. Display of religion has proved wonderful in the initial years. In the long run politics has become stinking dirt. Politicians started using religions to their advantage. At this moment no one can say exactly what the real riot is and what is faked by politics. A real progressive Indian would want to segregate politics and religion. It might mean banning interference of religious organizations in politics.

It is Kennedy, former President of United States who made stern remarks against interference of Church in political decisions. He who abolished the role of church in political arena made a wise decision. We need similar thing to happen in India as well.

Beautiful drama, elegant acting by cast made it treat to watch. More often than not I was lost in my own train of thought and when the play ended I felt I had made nice utilization of my 15 dollars.