Good Bye Star Talkies

Star Talkies, one of the oldest theatres in Chennai is awaiting  demolition. In the 60's and 70's if you wanted to see a Hindi movie in Madras,the only option was Star Talkies (also called Star Theatre) on Triplicane High road. I have seen a couple of movies there, but do not recall which ones. In the later years they started screening  Tamil films too. I understand that the theatre closed down a few years ago. When I walked past the building last week,  it was  set for  complete demolition making way for another concrete and glass monster in this prime area. 

PS: An article in the HIndu says that the original theatre was built in 1916. So, the structure is 99 years old. Adieu Star.

Strikers spare Kalam, the karmayogi

Poster announcing a strike by teachers splashed all over the Chidambaram stadium wall dwarf the lone picture of  Dr Kalam. Thankful for small mercies of sparing this karmayogi.

More from Parthasarathy temple Samprokshanam.

Sreerangathila Siva dharmam? Thiruvallikkenila thiruneeru? A scene from the Samprokshanam at Triplicane Parthasarathy temple. 

A priest in a vantage position taking advantage of the photo opportunity

Framed!

This man was riding a bicycle in a side lane. As soon as he saw me training my camera, he immediately let go of the handlebar and gave this 'namaste' 

Porta potty

Maha Samprokshanam at Sree Parthasarathy temple.

Tomorrow, 12th June is Samprokshanam (Kumbhabhishekam) day at the Sree Parthasarathy temple, Triplicane.

Preparations are going on briskly for the event. Hoards of police personnel are already on duty.

This picture shows a woman constable inspecting the gopuram and surroundings. 

It is appropriate that the police is on the side of the devas during amrit manthan.

Some more views of the devotees and service providers.

Mylapore Festival

The area around Kapali temple is always interesting for the heritage and photography buffs. When the Mylapore Festival is on, it is all the more fun.  I managed to take a peek at the Festival on Saturday evening. 

Nadaswaram and Thavil

Artists at work

Mother egging daughter to pose for the artist

Girl posing in a cutout

Exhibition of Chennai Weekend Artists

Kolam contest -Mylapore Festival

Since the beginning of the Mylapore festival in early part of last decade, I was an avid watcher till 2007 when I moved to Trivandrum. This year, fortunately, I was passing through Madras when the fest was on. I was able to capture the Kolam contest briefly and some of the sidelights on Saturday, the 10th January

A finalist with her work 

The day Emden bombed Madras

It is exactly 100 years (22nd September)  since the German ship Emden made a sporadic bombardment of Madras.  The above picture of the plaque where one shell landed was taken by me 7 years ago. The plaque is on the Eastern wall of the  High Court not far from the Rajaji statue.

In fact, there is an expression in Tamil 'Peria Emden' for braggarts and wannabe dadas.

For more information on the Emden attack, see the link to this blog by Lakshmi Sharath: http://www.lakshmisharath.com/2011/08/13/madras-special-the-bombing-of-madras-by-emden/