Three Mains: One Degree Course

As the students and parents look forward to the best options for higher studies, Rajagiri Viswajyothi College of Arts and Applied Sciences should be the name coming into one’s mind. This college located within a serene, rural area, becomes the perfect choice to pursue the best courses away from the busy world of concrete and pollution. The town of Vengoor where the college is located is situated around a very old church, Mar Kauma Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, and a large number of temples which also surround the area. The college is part of the Rajagiri Group of institutions run by CMI fathers, and is ten years old now, post the inception in 2014, a newer one among the CMI colleges, but a smart one. The power of the brand should come as no surprise for the people of Kerala with the name “Rajagiri” seen everywhere.

The location is the way to Paniyeli-Poru, one of the most beautiful locations to have a visit, with an ecotourism centre nearby. It could be reached by taking a left turn on the way to Kerala’s greatest hill station, Munnar. Located about seven kilometres from Kuruppampady, eleven kilometres from the nearest big town Perumbavoor and twenty one kilometres from the very next closest town, Kothamangalam and also twenty three kilometres from the towns both Angamaly and Muvattupuzha. The college might seem far away from the major towns, but it is actually not, and the efficient hostel facility makes sure that the things get better for students. At the same time, an opportunity to study in a green campus in the lap of nature is not to be missed, and the courses include BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main), BBA, BCA, BSc Psychology and B.Com (Model I and II Finance and Taxation/Model II Logistics Management).

The green campus of RVCAS remains a source of eternal joy. You walk through its beautiful premises & understand the bliss nature brings us like William Wordsworth would know.

But the course we would be talking about here is BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main), a rare course which has many benefits in this competitive world, where suitable multiple divergences become the key to success. This is very much a misunderstood course, as the three mains coming together would create a feeling that things would be complex, but it is not. The journey through this particular course is smooth, and it also provides a lot of options which others do not. The combination of three mains makes the course not only effective in its implementation, but also useful in going through more than one career option. The deviations that the course allows are much more than one would think it could. The media options can only make the choices better than ever.

As English is the dominant language of communication in journalism and media, the course successfully establishes a strong command of the language to open up opportunities for the students to shift to a global level at a later point of time. The papers like Conversational Skills and Interpersonal Skills focus on the same. There are also strong writing skills being developed through the course. Journalism requires clear, concise and engaging writing to effectively communicate the news, and the same gets focus on multiple journalism-based papers, not just with the fundamentals which are given focus in the first year, but by further focusing on Digital Writing, followed by Business Writing and Writing for Radio and Television, making the package even better with the course.

Creative Writing is another paper which opens a wide set of opportunities for those who are interested in venturing into a world of fiction as much as non-fiction or a mixture of both. With a boost of creativity, who knows one would not end up becoming a world famous blogger or vlogger, who make the impact which nation has never seen before. There is enough inspiration already available within the green campus that surrounds the building. There is a certain amount of versatility that can be associated here, as media and publishing hold hands with literature and communication, a rare sight which blends the intellectual and creative side to inspire students which different kinds of skills.

In the present world where media literacy is very important, the course helps the students to develop better critical thinking skills, enabling them to make a fine analysis of the media content critically, understand existing biases, and also interpret news stories accurately. In today’s digital era, there is a lot of information available, but much of it is not reliable or accurate – here, students also gain the ability to verify sources, and discern credible news from misinformation and fake news. The attempt at reporting with accuracy, fairness and objectivity against sensationalism by learning ethical guidelines leads the students in an ethical path. As the significance of media keeps increasing, so does the value of the course which has journalism with a major place in there. The focus on entertainment and advertising industry are also present, as the course makes the students ready for adventures in entertainment channel floors too.

From the media visit of a few BA English Triple Main students with teachers to Mazhavil Manorama during the shooting of Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri 2.

BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main) at Rajagiri Viswajyothi College is also that kind of a course which brings a lot of media exposure. The last media visits to Manorama News and Mazhavil Manorama proved to be magnificent experiences to the students who got an opportunity to expand their horizons of knowledge. The students are also encouraged to visit literary fests including the grand celebrations hosted by DC Books and Mathrubhumi in the beginning of the year. The visits to libraries and places of cultural importance also serve as significant journeys which enrich their learning experiences as well as leave them with memories to take forward to their next adventures. With an on-the-job training provided in the final year, the students can get opportunities in the media field with ease as an extension of their internship itself.

Visit the Website: http://rajagiriviswajyothi.org

The advance intimation for BA English Triple Main course can also be filled in here: https://rajagiriviswajyothi.org/advance-intimation/

In the preferred course drop-down list, choose BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism

Visit the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rajagiriperumbavoor

Visit the Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/rvcas.live/

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***The images used in this blog post have already been posted on the college social media pages.

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TeNy

In Memoriam: Movie v/s Song

This will not go towards the Victorian Age poetry of In Memoriam A. H. H. by Lord Alfred Tennyson, as this is more about the memories that we have about those beautiful songs which embraced us from those lesser known or less appreciated movies. During these days, people still remember these songs, but not the movies. Some people even have the idea that these songs belong to some other films, and they have visualized them much differently. But we know that these songs had a different feeling during our childhood and youth as we watched and listened to them as if the charm of our lives depended on them like never before. These are the memories that keeps us alive while listening to these songs in a never-ending loop while traveling to distant places.

Oru Nooraashakal – Ennitum (2006)

Ennittum is one movie which is lesser known than many other films which dealt with a topic which feels modern instead of the usual traditional love stories of its time. The time period was indeed known for such innovation, but as a number of other similar films of the same time, the movie also failed in execution, but the same cannot be said about this song which has stood the test of time. The other song “Pada pedich” also made an impact during its release, but has not come that far against the test of time. The song leaves us in a feeling of love. One of Kaniha’s earlier movies, she leaves a mark in the song, and Dinu Dennis was surely better than many other actors who made their debuts during this period of time, but we did not see much from him after this.

Junile Nilaamazhayil – Nammal Thammil (2009)

This is one of those movies of Prithviraj Sukumaran that came at a time when he was establishing himself quickly in the movie field. He plays the typical toxic boyfriend in this movie with one beautiful song that is to be remembered for long. The film would not be remembered for that long though. With Indrajith Sukumaran also added to the cast, we have the brother power, but not in the song. The song with Prithviraj and Geethu Mohandas is a melody that we would remember for long, and I remember this song during my youth to be a remarkable addiction. There could be many more songs which tried to be like this, but this one will stay. The rain of June might have shifted to other months, but we are here to stay with the song’s idea of June’s monsoon rains.

Maaleyam Maarodalinju – Thacholi Vargheese Chekavar (1995)

This Mohanlal movie is one of the most underrated Malayalam movies ever, and if you ask me, this deserves to be a cult classic. The movie also starred the Bollywood sensation Urmila Matondkar whose work will also be remembered, even though this song does not include her. The other song that includes her, “Soorya Nalam”, is also as good as this one when we listen to both. A comparison would only hurt both, as one is not behind the other in quality. As the movie follows the Keralite tradition of Kalaripayattu, the strength is only increased with twists, turns and suspense in one of the best traditional action movies ever. I would not ask many people about this, as my own opinion would stand tall in the quality of this flick.

Poove Poove Paalapoove – Devadoothan (2000)

This movie has been gaining some positive opinion in the last few years even though not that much of a hit at the box-office. Not that suitable for the audience of the time, this one was far ahead of the time. Still, this song has been a hit from early times itself. The visualization of the song has also been different with special feeling. “Karale Nin” song has also gained a certain amount of fan base among Keralites. There is a certain amount of Gothic that runs through the movie along with the usual supernatural feeling. The twists in the movie have kept us going and the song also nicely adds to the same. We actually require this kind of a movie during our times, and we can only imagine how well it can do. Well, we had Athiran, Ezra and other horror thrillers which deviated with Gothic and more will be fine.

Oru Venal Puzhayil – Pranayakalam (2007)

There are not many songs which created the grand impact like this one, especially among the young lovers of the time. It was the time of the cargo pants, a season which had space for love. All those love stories have had special place among successful films, and that applies to the movies which were made with low budget. Nowadays, the same seems to be replaced with those thrillers with serial killers showing no remorse – interesting change here as serial killers are also lovers and closer to reality than true love which is too difficult to find in a materialistic world like this. Ajmal Ameer, the young man from Aluva had quite the rise then, and should have been on the big screen for more movies. The combination with Vimala Raman felt surprisingly too good.

Onapattil Thalam Thullum – Quotation (2004)

Here we have our official Onam song, and it is something which came out of nowhere – we never really knew more about this particular film, and even the title remains rather unknown. It is that kind of movie which makes us feel strange, as the quality is just too low for a full-length feature film starring a number of pretty good performers. But as far as the song is considered, it remains special. We hear the same thing again and again during different Onam celebrations, and there are so many versions of it. Despite the arrival of new Onam songs, we are never really tired of this one, and it is a sweeter one like the one song from Jacobinte Swargarajyam. For the next Onam too, this song will be the one that gets played the most in more locations.

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TeNy

The Rajagirian Opportunity

While looking for the available options for higher studies, many people are not aware of this advanced progeny of the educational institutions under the Rajagiri brand which needs no introduction in the field of education. I would remember this particular group of institutions to be among my favourite choices to learn and improve my skills. The strength of the brand comes as no surprise for Keralites, as everyone know s about the quality. Among the institutions, this newer college has covered some fine ground. Rajagiri Viswajyothi College has the following courses – BA English (Literature, Communication and Journalism), BBA, BCA, BSc Psychology and B.Com (Model I Finance and Taxation, Model II Finance and Taxation and Model II Logistics Management).

It is surprising that many people choose not to go for such degrees in our lands, and instead choose to go abroad. I would not say that it is a bad choice, but the choices in front of us right here also needs our attention. Courses like BA English with three mains could prove to be something special in the career with the right kind of training and some genuine interest in the field. Psychology and Computer Application have been only gaining more supporters among a new generation of students as well as their parents. We are never really short of the opportunities if we look at them. Still, some of us might not have the eyes to see, or are fed up with the system. But if everyone leaves while looking for the green grass on the other side, who can make the difference here?

Leaving the world we know for another always feel like a better choice, as we have been hearing stories about the stylish life there. The YouTube videos and Instagram reels would seem to point to the same, but just going for such an option by hearing or seeing the life of others would feel ridiculous. It is significant to remember that they are not us, and the experience would remain different for everyone, even when the situation and environment is the same. This is why learning from an institution which is run by experienced hands like Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) father remain an interesting choice. They are the largest such congregation in the Syro-Malabar Church, and their experience knows no limits.

CMI fathers manage about 500 institutions including schools, colleges and hospitals. Sacred Heart College at Thevara and Rajagiri School of Social Sciences at Kalamassery have remained in our hearts for a long period of time. Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology at Kakkanad had gained the upper-hand from the time when Engineering and its subdivisions had become the trend, and Rajagiri College of Management and Applied Sciences at the same area had gained further strength with its courses. Rajagiri School of Kalamassery and Vsiwajyothi School of Angamaly have their status among the best of the district. Rajagiri Hospital remains the one place where many of us would trust for different ailments.

The popularity and trust which the brand has gained through the ages would have no match in this part of Kerala. Rajagiri Viswajyothi College which is shortened as RVCAS, the newer educational institution, is located at Vengoor, about seven kilometres from Kuruppampady, and located on the Aluva-Munnar road. It is also located just eleven kilometres from the nearest muncipality of Perumbavoor and twenty one kilometres from the next closest town on the other side, Kothamangalam. Also at twenty three kilometres from both Angamaly and Muvattupuzha, the college has good access to all these towns.

Since its inception in 2014, RVCAS has come a long way with a grand improvement which can be seen in the academics as much as the infrastructure. Those who have witnessed the steady growth of the institution will find this as a magnificent achievement during these years. Located twenty three kilometres from the nearest railway station at Angamaly and twenty one kilometres from Cochin Airport, the college is easily accessible as it has been with road transport. The college itself is located a place of beauty, the village of Vengoor. The college’s location within a green world is a beautiful sight to behold.

The much visited tourist destination, Paniyeli-Poru is also close to the college, and it has been a favourite destination among the eco-tourism destinations of South India. The green campus is a reminder of the beauty which can be seen around it, with the serene village having a beautiful church at its centre – Mar Kauma Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. The experienced teachers have made the progress of academics easier and the hostel facility as well as the college bus service has added well to the accessibility factor. The college has always strived for more, and there has been no going back as far as progress is concerned.

Visit the Website: http://rajagiriviswajyothi.org

Visit the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rajagiriperumbavoor

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TeNy

Trivandrum: A Quick Return

I have been to Trivandrum multiple times. The first time goes a long time back, and the most recent one was related to the Airtel 4G launch some time ago. The last journey has been different as the motive was to visit the University of Kerala as part of my PhD studies. As a research scholar, this happens to be one of those interesting library visits, which includes the time spent in the National Library of Kolkata, British Council Library of Kolkata, Calicut University Library of Kozhikode and Kannur University Library of Cannanore. This was not really a visit as a tourist, which means that there were not many places visited, and not that many photos taken. After all, we just cannot have them all during a trip, if there is a specific focus. But during my early journeys, I have visited a lot of tourist attractions in Trivandrum.

This is also my first journey to Trivandrum during which I was driving the car all the way; this makes the journey much different – we took the Perumbavoor-Ramapuram-Palai-Ponkunnam-Ranni route as the route was comfortable to travel. There was always one Indian Coffee House on the way to take a break. If you are a tourist, you know that there are many options in Trivandrum from those churches and temples to the beaches which have remained the classic destinations for such a long time. Kovalam Beach and Padmanabhaswamy Temple have been there as the first priorities for an eternity. On the way to Trivandrum, you are sure to find Jatayu Earth’s Center on the way, where we didn’t stop as there was a certain shortage of time. There was also Museum of the Word, a Bible Museum showing on the map available with a diversion. Well, there is so much more to be seen in Trivandrum and on the way back, but that would be left for another day.

University of Kerala has one peaceful library.

Madre De Deus Church (Vettucaud Church) is legendary.

St. Mary Queen of Peace Basilica of Palayam enlightens.

Palayam Juma Masjid is a place frequenting the films.

St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral features in many movies too.

A beachside church has remained a thing of beauty.

There is the eternity of serenity in these places of worship.

Some places of worship are not to be avoided during any trip.

Why wouldn’t one visit the Indian Coffee House even when there is a choice?

God faces the tides; the eternity of the sea and its waves.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Trivandrum.

TeNy

The World of Biennale

The exhibition of art at Kochi Biennale has always been something that interested us. The largest art exhibition in the nation has never ceased to draw people from not just Kochi or all around the state, but also from different parts of the nation and the world. We have had our journeys to biennale before, and people around Cochin have surely considered it to be a very significant event, something which happens with the Cochin Carnival at times, bringing an even bigger crowd to the area. Fort Cochin has remained the area of such cultural significance which cannot be matched with any other place.

The exhibition continues to be set in areas across Cochin, while using existing galleries, halls, and installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and abandoned structures. Ever since beginning on 12th December 2012, the popularity of the exhibition has only increased, despite the price of the tickets reaching a new high. The cost of the entry has now reached Rs. 150 from the early Rs. 50 which prevailed during the early times of the exhibition. As Fort Cochin is a destination of interest at all times, visiting the main locations of biennale remains a priority for the tourists.

A little bit of environment catches in with biennale every time.

Some scenes at the exhibition is worth being in the camera.

The Aspinwall House serves among the best destinations too.

There are always enough exhibits to explore at the biennale.

The Aspinwall House itself is a place which requires exhibition.

You look at the boats and the backwaters which lies in front of you.

And there is also the cafe, even though expensive and crowded.

There is also the option to travel on the boat towards other areas.

There is also that nice little biennale shop, even though it is expensive.

The old Mattancherry Bridge, also known as the Harbour bridge.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the last biennale at Fort Cochin.

TeNy

Grand Malayattoor Carnival

The mega carnival at Malayattoor set around one of the largest human made fresh water lakes in the Asian Continent is an attraction like no other. This is one other carnival which reminds us of the the Cochin Carnival. This seven day long festival with thousands illuminated stars spread around 110 acres of a lake begins with Christmas and ends with the New Year. This pool is a thing of beauty even without the stars, and it is a celebration like no other, with the crowd increasing further after the corona virus pandemic break. This event, just like Cochin Carnival, includes the burning of Santa Claus in the end.

Malayattoor is a place which was blessed by the work of St. Thomas the apostle who remains the central figure of this particular village community which consists of a large number of churches. Saint Thomas Church at the top of the hill has remained one of the most visited pilgrim centres of the area. As Cochin International Airport is less than twenty kilometres from here. The nearest towns are Angamaly and Perumbavoor which serves the village well, along with Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Sankara. Kanjoor, the nearby town is known for St. Mary’s Forane Church, another popular pilgrim centre.

The beautiful decorations of the lake keeps us interested.

Ferris wheel is the amusement ride that we shall have at all carnivals.

You see the stars, and you see thousands of them here.

The huge star and the even bigger Santa Claus remain charming.

You can keep walking around the lake to enjoy the illuminations and shops.

The number of people who visit the area in the evening is enormous.

The Christmas spirit remains there with the stars hanging around.

The pirate ship which swings back and forth would also be there.

The walk with water on both sides of the road makes a beautiful sight.

The lake and the forest – nature has blessed Malayattoor well enough.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the carnival at Malayattoor.

TeNy

The Highland Connection

Kerala has always had its natural beauty in its hills, as these are the more preferred destinations in comparison to the beaches during the days when temperature is higher than it used to be. Among all these options, the first choice would always be Munnar, followed by these two special places – Thekkady and Vagamon. Located forty two kilometres, and about one and half kilometres apart, these two were to be combined in our trip. Our original idea was to travel to Thekkady and return after spending some time there, but the tour was rather extended. These two have been among our most visited destinations, with Thekkady being a place visited even when we traveled to the Tamil Nadu side, even though Munnar comes first as the most traveled hill station of all time, but a journey there would have meant eighty six kilometres and three hours, and so Vagamon seemed to be the much better choice.

At Vagamon, we stayed at Chillax Vagamon this time, and it was a simple place very close to the town itself, and the main attraction was a swimming pool at the roof top. During our earlier trip, we had stayed at Fairmount Vagamon Resorts, which was located further away from the town, and had a better view of greenery. At Thekkady, we stayed in Crown Valley Resorts, which was a grand place, a four star hotel which provided some fine facilities. During an earlier trip, we had stayed at Hotel SN International, which was closer to the town. The idea about this journey was more about traveling all the way there, and staying there to enjoy the atmosphere, and sight-seeing was not part of the plan. Well, at times, you need these hill stations for just the same, and not more.

The journey towards the destination always matters.

Reached the Crown Valley Resort, and then I had to take online classes.

Ford Aspire resting at Crown Valley Resort makes a fine view.

Note the route between Thekkady and Vagamon which is one grand sight.

What lies between Thekkady and Vagamon is the treat for the eyes.

Vagamon has its cute little hills at all places for you to see and admire.

There is always the setting sun which has the hills and clouds to hide itself.

Vagamon, even though the smaller among the hill stations, has its special charm.

View of the rooftop swimming pool of Chillax provided something to cheer for.

Some greenery is always there to be seen, from different angles and spaces.

*All the above photos were taken by me during our earlier trip in March 2021.

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TeNy

Waiting for Godot is Real

***A list of Malayalam films we are waiting for, like Vladimir and Estragon waited for Godot!

Thuramukham: Following the much appreciated performance in Moothon, this is another film which has something big to do for Nivin Pauly, as he has moved away from the predictable on only a few occasions. It does remind one of the grandeur that Malik had displayed, and with some of the cast members from that film being present here too, we can surely have a similar experience here. Seemingly a very long movie in comparison to others, and after having its first show at the 2021 International Film Festival Rotterdam, this one will have to wait to have its first show in the theatre, but this is that kind of a movie which should be available for non-Malayalis, and an Amazon Prime release would be the best choice for this one.

Kurup: Based on the life of the most wanted criminal of Kerala in the 1980s, Sukumara Kurup, this one should have something different in store. We do remember the incident, which continued to be popular talk even in the 1990s, and we as children were very much aware of such an incident. As one of the longest standing cases in Kerala history, this one is of significance to many. With Dulquer Salmaan in the leading role, let us hope that there is no glorification of criminal activities, as having a superstar in the lead has that kind of a tendency. Still, if taken well, this has a lot of scope, but it remains to be seen on what element does this particular movie focus on. This is not the first film based on the same though, and I would guess that this is not cent percent connected to it.

Marakkar: Subtitled as Arabikadalinte Simham in Malayalam and as Lion of the Arabian Sea in English, this movie has waited for its release for an eternity, and is still continuing to go through the same trouble in getting the release due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was going to have its grand release in March last year, and had declared the release on August 12th this year, but they seem to have completely avoided the possibility of another wave of the pandemic. They completely neglected the possibility of releasing the same on any OTT platform, maybe because of the high budget and the use of special effects. So, it seems that they are not taking the Drishyam 2 path, and we will have to wait for this one for so long that its graphics might get outdated. Do you think that COVID-19 will end this year? I don’t think so.

Minnal Murali: Tovino Thomas’ superhero film comes as an answer to our requirement to have a superhero film in Malayalam, and even though many other movies seemed to become close to the same, that was never really achieved. Basil Joseph who is best known for two light-hearted entertainers, Godha and Kunjiramayanam has this movie seemingly maintaining the same feeling. Well, we all need our superheroes, and this one should serve really well. We know that Indonesia had a superhero universe with films like Gundala, and I would say that we could have something like this soon enough. After all, we have grown up watching the smart heroes like Shaktimaan, Betaal Pachisi and Captain Vyom, and had the mystery of watching miserable nonsense like Krrish later to move us to disappointment.

Kaaval: This should be the first one among Suresh Gopi’s grand list of films which are to be released soon. It marks the return of the character plays by him in the film, as much as it marks Suresh Gopi’s own return to Malayalam cinema in an action thriller role, the category which suited him the best many years ago. From the trailer, it seems that this could be the one role in which we would love to see him again, even though some people might be doubtful due to the long gap in between. But it is to be noted that we found no such problem when he was there in Varane Aavasyamundu, a family drama film which released just before COVID-19 made its terrifying presence felt. Well, we do know what he is capable of, and I would let him save the day once again in style.

Jana Gana Mana: Prithviraj Sukumaran has already has his time with Kuruthi and Cold Case, two movies I have enjoyed watching on Amazon Prime Video – both of these are also thrillers, and this one also promises to be something similar. The trailer had promised the same earlier and seems to provide a police officer and criminal reasons to go against each other, with Suraj Venjaramoodu seemingly coming up with a role similar to what he did in Driving Licence with the same actor on the other side. I hope that this one would also release on an OTT platform, most probably Amazon Prime Video, like Prithviraj’s earlier movies. Thrillers these days have been best suited for online release, with more audience from outside Kerala giving it a try too. Well, you can’t wait for theatres now, considering the present situation.

Paappan and Ottakkomban: Along with Kaaval which was mentioned earlier, Suresh Gopi has two more movies to bring him to the genre which had suited him very well earlier. In one movie, he plays Mathan a.k.a. Pappan who is a retired police officer trying to solve a case, while the latter film has him as Kuruvachan a.k.a. Ottakkomban, an aging plantation owner trying to fight against influential men trying to destroy his family’s reputation. In both cases, he seems to be playing the roles which suit him very well even at this age. The former also has his son Gokul Suresh, as they will be seen together in a movie for the first time. I would personally love to watch Pappan before the others, but with the theatres to remain closed for long, we cannot be sure which one would be coming to us first on which platform.

***The images used in this blog post were taken from the pages related to these movies and the people associated with them.

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TeNy

Just a Little Away from Munnar

Mankulam which is located at about twenty seven kilometres and an hour and a quarter from Munnar was our location of choice when a few months had passed after the end of COVID-19 lock-down last year. We had chosen this place over Munnar because is it is located ten kilometres closer to the midlands than Munnar, even though it will still take the exact same amount of time to reach there due to the bad condition of the roads – but the road is being repaired, and so that can change. We had chosen this area because it was peaceful there in comparison with Munnar, even though the temperature there was lower by three or four degree Celsius. But it was December, and so that ended up okay. It is to be noted that the other hill stations like Thekkady, Vagamon and Nelliyampathy also have lower temperature than Munnar, and so this is not that much of negative at that particular moment.

We really wanted a break at that time because we hadn’t gone for a trip in such a long time, and we were staying at home whenever possible. At Mankulam, we stayed at Treebo Trend Misty Garden Resorts and Spa, a fine place to stay with a swimming pool, and a good variety of food options available if ordered early. There is also some nice areas to visit nearby, even though they are not big tourist destinations. An evening walk in the area was refreshing. The roads which were being repaired at that time, if finished, can make this journey a quick and easy one. If Munnar seems to crowded, or if you don’t want to go that far, you can choose Mankulam, and I have shared ten pictures below for you to remember this particular area. After all, a stay away from the crowd and within nature with hill view can always be refreshing enough.

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***The images used in blog post were taken by me on my Samsung Galaxy A20S.

TeNy

Kumbalangi Nights and Days

There might be many islands which you know for the scenic beauty, but Kumbalangi is different. You will know the same, as I have known it from my childhood itself. It might be the same reason why it was chosen as the perfect setting for Kumbalangi Nights, one of the greatest films of the century, a flick which should have been nominated for multiple awards including international ones. With some fantastic performances to go with that background of Kumbalangi, the movie became the best of India, a thing worthy of sending for Oscars, even though they don’t seem to have considered the same in favour of some lower class films. I guess it was Gully Boy which was nominated during that time, much to the surprise of sensible people.

There, we stayed at the Kallenchery Resort, a place which we have preferred for some peaceful times for some years now. We celebrated my birthday there, and that proved to be the perfect one, with all settings being done there, and we had also ordered customized food – even though the place is known for its great seafood, the Paneer which we ordered was superb too. Kallenchery itself is an island which is connected by a small road to the island of Kumbalangi, thus making it a remote area – – it is the inner area of the village which provides a lot of view. This resort itself is getting more developed during these days, and during the next visit, I would expect things to be even bigger, as hope for a new dawn past COVID-19 is certainly there.

You have to be there for the sunset, every time.

You watch the sun setting in peace, and so do you have serenity.

Ford Aspire had a journey to remember past the city.

They brought one of the best cakes we ever had.

You sit and watch this throughout the dark night.

Always spend some time to happily work from Kumbalangi.

The Chinese Fishing Nets make your perfect reflection of the world.

There is always a lot of space to walk around this resort.

You move around & find that the money spent here is worth it.

Just the random nice shot which you get by looking above.

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TeNy

Kerala Drive: 14-1 Districts

In the last few years, I have driven through thirteen out of fourteen districts of Kerala, along with three districts of Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Theni and Dindigul. The only district in Kerala in which I haven’t driven by myself is Kasargod, where I haven’t tried to travel, and when I had finally had my plan, COVID-19 pandemic came upon us. As the district where I have been living, and where my ancestral home is situated, journeys through Ernakulam have been many. Ernakulam itself is a place with all kinds of tourist destinations, which can be visited again and again. Then, the other districts also follow, and among them, Kottayam and Thrissur have the lead with such drives.

Kottayam: Vagamon’s location in Kottayam itself makes the district a favourite travel destination. Along with the same, I have driven to Ilaveezhapoonchira multiple times, and Illikkal Kallu was also added to the list later. Along with the same, visiting St. Alphonsa Pilgrime Centre and shrine at Bharananganam came naturally to us. Other pilgrim centres like the Kuravilangad Church also comes into the picture, and these have made the district regular driving destinations. Along with the same, there are some relatives’ places out there which made me go through the district early itself. Kottayam should be the most driven through district outside Ernakulam.

Thrissur: It is to be noted that Thrissur is so close to Angamaly that we keep visiting the district’s border areas on regular intervals. There are also some relatives’ places to add to it, and pilgrim centres also exist there, starting from the Koratty Church. Some of the best known tourist destinations, Athirappilly and Vazhachal Waterfalls are there, and it is the district which serves as a border to Tamil Nadu through the Sholayar side, and towards Valparai on the other side. We have also loved traveling to the Shobha City Mall in Thrissur City itself, a mall which is one of the best in Kerala, and having a fine multiplex to go with it. There are some very nice resturants on the way.

Idukki: Having some of the best places of natural beauty, Idukki is a district which provides all the beautiful scenery to the eyes. There is always Munnar and we always have Thekkady out there. Along with the same, when we are crossing the borders, Kumily is always there to have a charming journey through the area. The best of tea is also available there, and just crossing the borders, takes us to those grapes in the vineyards of Cumbum. There are so many places which we have visited in Idukki, and you know Munnar very well in advance. Parunthumpara, Panchalimedu, Kuttikkanam and all have you there, and in the lowlands, there is the town of Thodupuzha which I always come across.

Alappuzha and Kollam: There have been many journeys witnessing the beauty of the backwaters of Kerala, and Alappuzha is indeed close enough – we also have some nice beaches to go with the same. Kollam might not be that close, but it also has the beauty of backwaters and those fine beaches. We remember having visiting a good number of them, and going through some interesting journeys on this path. Both the district capitals got their own fine beaches too. Yet, it has been some time since we went through this path, and there is the feeling of such a requirement.

Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram: The former is known for its beauty of nature, which we have quickly gone through, and the latter, is the charming capital of Kerala. The most recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram was for Varkala Beach, but there have been other journeys to that direction earlier. The capital city does have many interesting places to visit, and we have covered most of the beaches. Yet, Pathanamthitta is a district which we require to explore more. With some presence of the relatives, maybe that could happen later at some point of time.

Malabar (Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Malappuram): We keep on traveling through Palakkad whenever there is the need to cross over the border to Coimbatore, and Palakkad Fort is always a charm. The Kozhikode trip was a nice one with Thusharagiri Waterfalls, multiples beaches and others. We had visited Thunchan Parambu and other beaches in Malappuram, and more beaches like Muzhappilangad, as well as multiple forts in Kannur with a fine dose of history. We also had a taste of the natural beauty of Wayanad even though a more detailed trip is needed there, as well as in most of Malabar.

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***The images used in blog post were taken by me during these trips between 2005 and 2019.

TeNy

The Great Jackfruit Family

As most of you might already know, I am not a fan of the television series in Malayalam which have been part of different channels. But there was Thatteem Mutteem which became a show which I regularly watched, and that had changed. With the children in the series growing up to have children, things were never going to be the same again. Then, with the beginning of COVID-19, the episodes stopped, and we were no longer interested in this particular programme. I was never a fan of the much hyped Uppum Mulakum, even though in the beginning, I had found the same to be okay. As of now, one can be pretty sure that it can only live on its past hype and can come up with nothing new.

Then in August, we had another television show focusing on a family and its members at home, and that changed the situation by a long way. After watching television continuously for a long time during the pandemic, we had lost interest in watching anything anymore, and that was evident in the time spent in front of the television in the later stages. Chakkapazham which started its journey on August 10 was quick to catch our attention, and we have been watching the show without fail, every day from Monday to Friday. Even the presence of the WWE-like entertainment like IPL didn’t change that as we were stuck to this show like never before. It is after a long time that a programme has created such an effect.

This show feels that good because of its funny side which works so well, without adding any emotional side in between. Uppum Mulakum and Thatteem Mutteem have the tendency to turn emotional at times, but Chakkapazham manages to be a complete comedy with feel-good elements. The funny moments are all effective, thanks to a group of talented actors and actresses doing a great job. Lead by SP Sreekumar who plays Uthaman, a veterinary compounder who take care of the house which has more members than one would expect. The members of the family include Uthaman, his wife Asha, their three children, his jobless young brother Sumesh, his sister Painkili and her son, his brother-in-law who visits at times, his parents and also his grandmother.

SP Sreekumar is no stranger to us, as we have known him from Marimaayam, and as that villain in Memories. He does a natural job in the series as he has been doing for a long time. Aswathy Sreekanth who plays his wife makes the entry into acting from anchoring here with a touch of comedy, really well. Shruthi Rajnikanth who plays the sister Painkili is a joy to watch, and it is her along with Mohammed Raffi who plays the brother Sumesh that elevates the comedy to the highest level. Both are united by the interest in doing nothing, and if the former’s main interest is in sleeping, the latter spends his time trying to find some way of making the family members fight with each other or find any way of making some quick money without hardwork.

Arjun Somasekhar who plays Painkili’s husband Shivan makes some nice appearances, even though he is not there in all episodes. In his acting debut, he brings some memorable, funny moments. Amal Rajdev plays Kunjunni, the father figure who pretends that he was a pilot in the airforce until retirement, while Sabeeta George plays the mother figure of Lalitha. Both are also interesting characters, and blend in really well. Indira Devi plays the grandmother who is also an integral part of the fun. The children are also really good, and they contribute to the tale so well. Such natural acting from child actors are rarely seen, but they just manage to make the whole thing better.

The fight scenes in the television series are funny, and it is to be noted that there is something very interesting coming up every time. The characters are people whom we fall in love with – they are all simple people, and their life and tales are also really simple, even though strange in a really funny manner as we look at it. I would say that the best thing which started in television during these days is this programme, and telecasted at the same time as Thatteem Mutteem in Mazhavil Manorama, this one is sure to have won the battle. Flowers channel seems to have programmes for all categories of people – even Star Magic and Koodathayi seems to be much loved, while in the case of Mazhavil Manorama, we only have the new and updated Udan Panam, which thrives on its anchors.

At the same time when Koodathayi and Star Magic are running in Flowers, we have Udan Panam in Mazhavil Manorama, a show which has been lifted to the next level, thanks to its new anchors, Meenakshi and Dain. One has to say that other than these, there is not much that can be watched on television these days. There are the movies for sure, like Kilometres and Kilometers being released on Asianet, and we also have those songs which can be watched here and there. Then we only have the sports. Well, with the COVID-19 cases showing no signs of coming down in number, and the number of deaths increasing, we need to stay more at home, but there is not enough entertainment within, and the need to work is also not the same for everyone.

***The images used in this blog post are promotions used by Flowers TV.

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TeNy

The Green Campus Within

These are some of the photos of Rajagiri Viswajyothi College of Arts and Applied Sciences, a college which is located right within the greenery, and stays close to nature by all means. I had written about the same college before, which you can also refer, and these are the news images of the college in its present form. The courses include BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism, BBA, B.Com Finance and Taxation Model I, B.Com Finance and Taxation Model II and B.Com Logistics Management Model II. As we are not sure how the admissions would turn out to be during this year, it is better to have a seat booked for any course of your interest. Due to the same, admissions have been open early, and now, it is your choice to make. A fine green campus in the village of Vengoor near the popular town of Perumbavoor awaits you, as the management admissions are open, while the university admissions will begin sooner or later, and there is not much of time left to think as far as the Post COVID-19 future is concerned. You can go to the website (https://rajagiriviswajyothi.org) and there is an online scholarship exam coming up on July 27th, which will provide the toppers with some fee concession.

***These images can be seen on the Official Facebook Page of the college, and the admission for next academic year is now open.

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Thanks,

TeNy

Kodaikanal: Hills and Us

Kodaikanal has been as much a well-known destination as Ooty has been, during our childhood. There hasn’t been many people from around here who didn’t go to the place, it reminded one of Ooty itself, and the temperature was around eleven. Coming from Cochin, Kodaikanal is almost as the same distance as Ooty, and both becomes perfect destinations for vacation as they have served for a long time to the students and families of Kerala. There are many routes to Kodaikanal, and we decided to go through the one which goes through Kuttikkanam, Kumily, Cumbum and Theni. It was a fine route except for the high traffic of Sabarimala season. Unlike the other hill stations, I have felt that Kodaikanal is not a place of different tourist attractions, but a grand attraction all by itself. We stayed at the TTDC Tamil Nadu Hotel, and that proved to be good too.

Journey through the mist means towards eternity.

One side of TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu located close to the town.

The clouds are never too far away when in Kodaikanal.

The views are grand, and we need to be there again.

Some smaller, but lovely views are yet to be had here.

Always have a look from up above when in Kodaikanal.

You have to stop often, either for tea, or for some fruits.

Some places of spirituality are around when at this hill station.

A foggy morning serves Ford Figo Aspire with tea.

Some roads are divergent, and less traveled, but too good.

***All images here were taken on my Samsung Galaxy J4+

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TeNy

The Two Sides of Kappil

Kerala’s long coastline continues to assure us of the presence of more beaches, and there are a few which are less known, but are more beautiful than most of the other beaches around. One such beach is Kappil, in Trivandrum district, but close enough to Kollam. It is a place which you can visit in combination with the journeys to the beaches of Varkala, Kovalam and Vizhinjam. It is located at around one hundred and fifty kilometres from Cochin, fifty kilometres from Trivandrum and twenty kilometres from Kollam. Varkala Beach itself is just about eight kilometres from there. The places is less crowded in comparison, and there is more than what you see from the roadside, about this beach.

Kappil has lake on side and the beach on the other, separated by a tiny stretch of land full of sand, and on the side of the lake, we can see some jelly fish at times. It makes a beautiful view on both sides, and even better when you see both together. With less crowd, it is enjoyable in a better way. The parking needed to be more though, even as you can choose to park on the side of the road some distance away from the main beach area. On most part it is clean, even though on some areas, some waste thrown here and there can be seen, mostly on the side of the lake. But Kappil is clean as a whole, and the beauty that it provides is to be witnessed and loved, as it stands above many other overrated beaches.

A small, beautiful church of the local people near the sea.

Parking the car near the lake on the sands.

Just the lake being beautiful as usual.

Finding the jelly fish around the place.

Beyond the sands, sea on one side & lake on the other.

Just the usual day at Kappil Beach near Varkala.

Not many people to be seen at the Kappil Beach.

Two worlds, of the lake and the sea – call Aquaman.

Looking towards the lake between the trees.

The path on the side of Kappil Beach.

Click here to read reviews on some of the best movies of the year, Unda, Virus and Uyare.

TeNy

Varkala: The Beach and the Cliff

With its long coastline, Kerala is certainly not short of its beautiful beaches, and the names which everyone knows and is full of visitors at all times might be Kovalam and Cherai. Muzhappilangad is our lovely drive-in beach to remember. On that long list, there is one place which stands tall. Varkala Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches, one which is not to be forgotten. It is the only beach in Kerala with cliffs like these so close to the sea. It is the kind of place which reminds one of Dover Beach, and that wonderful lyric poem by the English poet Matthew Arnold, which we have studied more than once – “the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay”. About 170 km from Cochin, and 35 km from Kollam, the beach is Thiruvananthapuram district, with its capital 45 km from there. The town of Paravur is only 12 km from the place.

Along with its beauty, Varkala also have some places of spirituality with its temples. There are some fine options for food while walking through the cliff. There are some nice shots to be taken both from the beach and the cliff. In comparison with other beaches, this one has its shops opening late in the morning and closing late in the evening. When coming from the North of Kerala, both the Kottayam and the Alappuzha routes can be chosen. There is much to be seen through the latter route, even though both routes can be joined at different places except for certain parts of the low lying areas filled with water. There are some fine choices with food and accommodation, and if it is off-season, the better idea is to book directly from location as rooms should be available, unless some huge event comes up.

You look down from the cliff, and you want to be there right now.

Reached the hotel a little late for lunch, and had to rush through.

As the sunset approaches, you are always hoping to stay on.

Just another side of Varkala Beach which is not that explored.

Spent some time looking at Varkala beach and cliff at night.

The colours of the sunset spreads, and leaves us with a happy feeling.

Not exactly the while cliffs of Dover, but Matthew Arnold won’t mind.

Had some variety food from God’s Own Country Kitchen on the cliffs.

It is happy walking through the Varkala Beach and surroundings at night.

Thiruvambadi Beach Retreat Resort provided some good space.

Also read on the Indonesian Bali journey.

TeNy

Kalopsia 2K19: A Fest of Colours

Please see the promo video and the complete list of programmes for the upcoming inter-college cultural and management fest at Rajagiri Viswajyothi College of Arts and Applied Sciences, Perumbavoor. January 18th is the date for college fest. (school events won’t be there due to university exams falling on the same date)

Click here to go to the Facebook Page

Click here for registrations

 

***Note that all these events are on the 18th only, and for undergraduate students of arts colleges.

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Thanks,

TeNy

The Rock Leaves a Point

Illickal Kallu is one of those tourist attractions in Central Kerala which came into picture quite late, but is bringing a lot of travelers these days. With the closest small town being Teekoy at thirteen kilometres, the place has good access to most places even though the roads are not that good these days just like in the case of Ilaveezhapoonjira. There is quite some distance to cover to reach to the top, and cars go only until a certain point after which you need to go for Mahindra jeep service and quite some climb by foot after that. The view is special here because a part of this rock has fallen off, and the rest remain nicely there. There is a beautiful view of green Kerala visible from the top too. A lot of people will be here during the evenings to take some nice photos of sunset.

This place can be visited on the way to Vagamon because it is only thirty kilometres from there. A Vagamon combo is always great. Among the bigger towns, the closest one is Erattupetta at nineteen kilometres. Both Palai and Thodupuzha are situated at around thirty one kilometres from here. With Ilaveezhapoonjira located only twelve kilometres from here, a trip can actually combine the two places. Kattikayam Waterfalls is also very close from here. There is more than one route to travel in this direction, and it is better to ask the locals and choose the roads which are in the best shape. From Kochi area, the distance varies between eighty five and ninety five kilometres according to the area from where you begin your journey. The distance from the big towns of Ernakulam district are: Muvattupuzha – fifty four, Perumbavoor – seventy two, Aluva – eighty eight, Angamaly – eighty eight, Kothamangalam – sixty two, Piravom – sixty one, Koothattukulam – fourty four.

*All photos of Illickal Kallu shown above were taken by me on my Asus Zenfone Max during my last visit.

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TeNy

Vagamon Revisited

Vagamon is a destination that goes back to childhood, and it was only a developing tourist place at that time. One can say that even now, it is a lesser hill station compared to Munnar and Thekkady. The elevation is surely less, and it might not be as cold as it can be in Munnar. On these days, when the road to Munnar is not that great, we decided to go on another trip to Vagamon, and the result was an interesting one. The shooting of Pranav Mohanlal starrer Irupathionnaam Noottandu was going on at the place, and the number of tourists was low. The traffic was also low, and the roads were not that good. There are some areas where the road is in a pathetic state, thanks to the rain which was continuous and had hammered the state.

Well, the journey this time was still better than the last one, as there was not much of a crowd there, and the options were still there. We saw a new suicide point coming up as an attraction with those usual destinations, and it is certain that it could be something to look out for next time with much more being built around that area. There are not many restaurants here now either, as it used to be then. The town hasn’t really developed that much as Munnar and Thekkady did, and the Kurisumala Farm was closed at that time. But the climate was cooler than ever, and the fog added further beauty to the scenic world. It was the combination of Muharram, Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi, Fourth Saturday and Sunday.

*All photos of Vagamon shown above were taken by me on my Asus Zenfone Max during my last visit.

Click here to go to the latest movie reviews.

TeNy

Kerala Needs You Now

Kerala, the Southern state of India needs your help.

What you see below is a photo taken by me during the floods of Kerala in the year 2013 from the top of the apartments where I lived. But when we consider the situation right now, this doesn’t even come close to being called a flood – this time, water got into most of the areas near Periyar and other water bodies close to Aluva. During those times, Aluva suffered. But these times are different, because it was not restricted to any place. The riverside was no longer the problem. The beautiful town of Aluva suffered the most, with so many parts of Kerala, with no place really considered safe. It became the case of a state suffering without any place or any person spared.

We witness what is happening this year, 2018, a photo taken by one of the residents at the apartments (I don’t live there now). We are looking at the other side of the apartment, which is an elevated area with height a lot more than what is seen on the first picture – it is a place where the water from the river has never entered in history. A few days ago, the water reached this point, and it was still rising. An image with the River Periyar at its strongest point is not available to me, but from what I figured out from the talks, it has reached higher to go through not just the ground floor, but also the first and second floors. From here, water seems to go on to reach the rest of the water-logged areas of Aluva, leaving not much of the ground visible. The main part of the town itself has water coming up at dangerous levels, with boats needed to travel through its major areas. It was one of the most beautiful towns as shown in the movie Premam, and it is in big trouble.

We live at Perumbavoor, a town about 15 kilometres from Aluva, and even as most of the town is doing comparatively better due to its main area at higher grounds (there are low-lying areas of the town which is in trouble), it is currently surrounded by water on most sides, with traffic non-existent on almost all major roads, all water-logged. The road between Aluva and Perumbavoor has been affected for days, and same is the case with the roads to other major towns nearby. Its nearby towns Kalady, Muvattupuzha & Kothamangalam, all suffered, and these are just a few towns in Ernakulam district among those large number of towns and villages which are suffering from continuous rain and shutters of dams being opened. From Trivandrum and Kollam to Kannur and Kasargode, all districts have been in trouble, with no idea where the water will rise and bring death. There are clear photos of terror being shown in the news channels, and the situation at some areas are much worse. There is no chance to go to the friends’ or relatives’ place because you don’t know where is safe! Even the Cochin Airport is closed with operations expected to begin again on a date about which we can’t be that sure. This is where we stay at home and hope.

Almost every place in Kerala is affected directly or indirectly, which is why we need the help of each and everyone in India and outside the nation. All kind of help matters, not just in the form of money. It will take a long time for Kerala to return to normal, and for the same, a lot of help is needed. All Vodafone services at my place is down as of now, and Airtel service was back just yesterday. Most people don’t have access to mobile services or internet, and electricity, food, clean water – all are in shortage. People are caught in isolated areas with much more needed to be done. So many people are living in relief camps after leaving all their possessions behind, and the college where I studied is one of them, and my school in another. More people are being evacuated from their homes as rains haven’t stopped and flood waters continue to cause terror. Even after the waters are gone, there can be diseases, reptiles, broken roads and all kinds of scarcity. We need you. Please help Kerala, for it is water everywhere, with none to drink!

Please help and contribute to the relief efforts by donating to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) ad help Kerala get back to its feet:

The details given at CMO’s Offical Facebook Page is shared below.

Please visit the website below for further details and to contribute in one way or the other.

https://keralarescue.in/

This is the donation portal of the Government of Kerala:

https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/

TeNy