How many folks out there have grown up outside India and remember going back on holiday to our tiny hometowns? The annual vacation which would be marked clearly on those Indian calendars hanging on foreign walls. Weeks in advance the shopping would be done- a gift for the second cousin, sweets for the nephews, medicinal oils and balms for the older uncles, a scent spray for the new couple. And finally the day would come to set out for the home shores.
I was a Gulf kid and our vacations were always during the Middle eastern summers which wonderfully coincided with the monsoon showers of Kerala, India. There are a thousand things I remember about those times. Today I have moved back to India and am a filmmaker making my first feature film soon. The film “Manjadikuru” is about those very impressions. Like the lucky red seeds - they will remain little nuggets of memory that throb every time one smells wet earth or sees a touch-me-not flower or hears “Manjil virinja poove…”- a hit song from early 80s.
This blog was for those memories, those special things that have stuck in our heads but have disappeared from everywhere else. But now it has become about the memories of making this film...
I was a Gulf kid and our vacations were always during the Middle eastern summers which wonderfully coincided with the monsoon showers of Kerala, India. There are a thousand things I remember about those times. Today I have moved back to India and am a filmmaker making my first feature film soon. The film “Manjadikuru” is about those very impressions. Like the lucky red seeds - they will remain little nuggets of memory that throb every time one smells wet earth or sees a touch-me-not flower or hears “Manjil virinja poove…”- a hit song from early 80s.
This blog was for those memories, those special things that have stuck in our heads but have disappeared from everywhere else. But now it has become about the memories of making this film...
18 comments:
Hey, I just love those Manjadikurus.
Couple of yrs back I had taken smriti to Guruvayoor, were she was made to play with the Manjadikuru seeds, saying that the more she takes in her hand the less ill she wud fall. The tiny red seeds look so beautiful in the big gold pot.
So will 'Manajdikuru' also be a malayalam film.Wud love to see it when ready. All the best!
Thanks Vinu,
It will be a Malayalam film. There's an interesting myth about the red seeds. Wl post it on the website.
i am one of the few lucky people who got the privilege to read the script of manjadikuru. it was really wonderful and touching script and took me back to my childhood time. There where so many similar things which is in the script happened in my family also. if was a nostalgic feeling while reading the script.
I still remember the difference in treatment given to the cousins of our age from abroad who comes for holidays to us who is there in kerala only. Still remember the small things we used to fascinate about and one of them is manjadikuru. We used to break it open and eat the dhal inside.
Used to feel that the paddy fields next to house were never ending, and the trees used to be so huge and tall..
Hi Micky/Musafir,
I was surprised to read that you are familiar with the lucky red seeds! I guess it really doesn't make a difference whether you spend your childhood in Guwahati or Calicut... many of us have a collective conscience when it comes to those times!
Anju...........!!! I am reading it again and again"Directed by Anjali Menon..." Hey..wishing you all the very best for "Manjadikuru"..Very happy for you....Now to find out who iam you would need to do bit of an exercise..! Wld u mind going to Providence?? ..!!!
All the best dear....!
Loads of Luv.....
Smitha, thank you for the lovely support. Guess we studied together. But is it Smitha Menon... Smitha Pradeep... Smitha? More clues please :-)
Hey Anjali this is Julia!
the web site looks great!
do get in touch if you could!
take care!
Thanks Julia! Hope ur doing well. Do feel free to write about ur experience on the blog!
Hey Anjali! this is Julia!
and I would love to share my experience with everyone! Well!
First few days- or lets just say the whole time- heeehee "I WAS NERVOUS." but couldn't afford to show it out! But Thanks to Anjali, you really helped me feel at home.
Oh!By the way I play the part of 17 yr old delhi brat! Who is having a hard time adjusting with the huge family; all the norms & beliefs between the 16 days! I would never forget all those good times we had there! It was so much fun. I have never been in such a traditional house, and just to dress up and to sync into the era of the mid 70 was so cool! I could have only dreamt of all those puffed up hair do's in real life! but the crew, the sweet lil kids and everyone out there just made the picture perfect! And just getting to know about all the senior artists who were there! it was fun!
Adenanthera Pavonia ???
Wikipedia says
Pavonina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenanthera_pavonina
/v
hello Anju,
Remember me, I am Sumitha..(Appu,Providence..!!)Just wanted to check in on the latest about your films progress,when i came across another blog with a qoute from ur story about the Guruvayur myth.Heres the link.. waynesword.palomar.edu/plmar97.htm
i was suddenly reminded of a small red box my mother had inherited when her family fortunes were partitioned.The tiny ivory box had 12 small `manjadikuru's in it.The seeds have a miniscule handle on top and when opened there is the carved elephants.Blessed are those hands that made these wonderful carvings.Amma remembers that she was never allowed to handle those little seeds in her childhood. Now i understand its significance..Indeed its something to be treasured..
Thanx Anju,for rekindling those fond memories of childhood...where those little red seeds had a real sweet place..Hope to watch ur film soon..
Thanks Varghese Mathew,for the spellcheck. But I remain confused because there are several sites that refer to it as Pavonia. Perhaps I need t consult a botanist. Shall try to get the right one up there soon.
Hi anjali
I have heard a lot about you and i really enjoyed reading your childhood stories.It reminded me so much about my childhood days and what i really feel bad is that my 2 little daughters will never get to enjoy all the fun and nature's beauty which we have very much enjoyed when we were their age.I am waiting to see your beautiful movie and i have heard that its done very well.Keep up ur good work.All the best for your future projects too.
congragulations anjali madam 4 the awards gets frm iffk.....but i miss dis filim .madam i,m a filim student .me and my frds want 2 c dis filim....can u arange an opertunity 4 c dis filim.......
hi anjali
been reading about you and your film "manjadikuru" a lot these days but never got a chance to watch your film.please send me a link or a festival where i can meet these red seeds
all the best for your future ,take care
my name is lijo , and am a small time film maker
Hi, I would like to purchase the seeds with the tiny elephants inside to sell here in the US...can anyone point me in the right direction? I need the ones with the tiny elephants inside .. the seed is red. Thank you! Linda R. Blazer237@aol.com.
Hi Pratiek. Thank you for writing to me. The seed you were given is of the original quality, before ivory was outlawed. I know the one you mean. I only know of about 12 elephants inside..maybe just a few more. It sounds like someone tried to fit as many as they could from other seeds into the one you have. You are right, they are fragile. Perhaps in trying to squeeze so many into such a tiny spot, they made the removal almost impossible without doing damage.
I have the Lucky Red seeds from India for sale both on my website and on ebay. Each one has a tiny very detailed elephant at the top as a stopper and there are approximately 12 elephants inside. Here in PA, I sell them to people going to the Casino. People love them. I sell them on ebay and on my website for BLAZERS DISCOUNT HOLIDAY LOFT. Check out my website for the Lucky Red Seeds from India AND plenty of gift ideas for home and garden for all occasions. There is something for everyone at BLAZERS DISCOUNT HOLIDAY LOFT.
I will need to replenish my supply of these soon. I know they come from India and have tried looking them up with not much success. If anyone knows of where to get these, please write to me at blazer237@aol.com I would appreciate hearing from you! Linda Richter
Post a Comment