PROMISING FUTURE……….
As the plane touched down the Kamaraj domestic airport, Chennai, a sense of nostalgia
enveloped me. After more than three
years of eventful stay at the political capital of the country, I was returning
home, a city acknowledged to be the cultural citadel. The threatening weather reports not
withstanding, a fairly clear sky greeted me and the ride back home was
smooth. The city with its skyline of
hoardings, illuminated tastefully, bore the evidence of newfound avenues for
spending money. The lovely teenagers
sporting western dress, with verve and vigour writ largely on their faces were beaming with smile
from the bill boards.
The rain-soaked streets and Adyar river to the brim with
sylvan surroundings beckoned me, a sight so different from the parched roads
with dry environment. The well-known
newspaper of Chennai, a must with morning coffee, heralded the music season
with reviews and special columns, duly capturing the `flowers, magic and
excitement’. I was looking forward to this glorious communion with the world of
music and dance.
The city moves a leisurely pace; the
domestic help is a member of the family.
The street vendors selling vegetables, flowers and Rangoli
powder (Kolappodi as it is known),
start doing their rounds from the dawn.
The home-delivery of newspaper, milk sachets and groceries make life
much more simpler.
I treat myself to the ecstasy of a
musical bonanza on a profound topic of the `Natha Brahmam’, music as the supreme being – through a scholarly
exposition by one of the renowned and young musicians as a part of `Margazhi Utsav’. Ms Sowmya’s masterly rendering of Tyagaraja
Kritis kept the audience spell bound. There is so much life in the city, which
still respects tradition. Devoid of
frills and ostentation, the atmosphere is congenial, lovable and affable. A promising and fulfilling time awaits me!
(Vijayalakshmi Viswanathan)