(www.monsoonjournal.com) By: Raymond Rajabalan
Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine’s cards, or gifting candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine’s Day. The holiday is named after two of the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
[Dark Pink rose in Rozella, Sri Lanka: Pic: HA]
The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of “valentines.” Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.
HISTORY
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine’s Days. The Valentines honoured on February 14 are:
• Valentine of Rome: a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269.
• Valentine of Terni : He became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian).
• The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of 14 February. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.
The evolving legend
According to legend, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.
Early Medieval legend about St.Valentine, still providing no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. In an embellishment to The Golden Legend, on the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote the first “valentine” himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved as the jailer’s daughter whom he had befriended and healed,It was a note that read “From your Valentine.”
In another apparently modern embellishment, while Valentine was imprisoned, people would leave him little notes, folded up and hidden in cracks in the rocks around his cell. He would find them and offer prayers for them
Valentine’s Day and its equivalents in other cultures
IN THE WEST
Valentine’s Day also has regional traditions in the UK. In Norfolk a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.
In Wales many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Day) on 25 January instead of or as well as St Valentine’s Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.
In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine’s Day is known simply as “Saint Valentin”, and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries.
In Denmark & Norway Valentine’s Day (14 Feb) is known as Valentinsdag. It is not celebrated to a large extent, but a lot people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one. In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag (”All Hearts’ Day”) and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry’s commercial interests, and due to influence of American culture. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only bested by those for Mother’s Day.
In Finland, Valentine’s Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into “Friend’s day”. As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.
In Slovenia, a proverb says that “St Valentine brings the keys of roots,” so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine’s Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. The day of love is traditionally 12 March, the Saint Gregory’s day.
In Romania, the traditional holiday for lovers is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24. It is named after a character from Romanian folklore. In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine’s Day, despite already having Dragobete as a traditional holiday. This has drawn backlash from many groups, reputable persons and institutions but also nationalist organizations like Noua Dreaptǎ, who condemn Valentine’s Day for being superficial, commercialist and imported Western kitsch.
In Turkey, Valentine’s Day is called Sevgililer Günü which translates into “Sweethearts’ Day”.
According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - Tu B’Av (usually late August) is the festival of love. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them . In modern Israeli culture this is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.
IN THE AMERICAS
The exchange of chocolates and flowers is traditional on Valentine’s Day.
In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados ( “Day of the enamored”, or “Boyfriend’s/Girlfriend’s Day”) is celebrated on June 12, when couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and flower bouquets. This day was chosen probably because it is the day before the Saint Anthony’s day, known there as the marriage saint, when many single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, in order to find a good husband or a boyfriend.
In Colombia, the Día del amor y la amistad ( “Love and Friendship Day”) is celebrated on the third Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues. In this country the Amigo secreto (”Secret friend”) tradition is quite popular, which consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).
IN ASIA
Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine’s Day has emerged in Japan and Korea as a day on which women, and less commonly men, give candy, chocolate or flowers. It has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. In Japan this is known as giri-choko , from the words giri (”obligation”) and choko, (”chocolate”). This contrasts with honmei-choko ; chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko ; from tomo meaning “friend”.
By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; hence “White Day”. However, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts.
In South Korea, there is also Pepero Day, celebrated on November 11, when young couples give each other romantic gifts. There is an additional day for single people, Black Day, celebrated on April 14.
In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine’s Day, called “The Night of Sevens” ; according to legend the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet in Heaven on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. A slightly different version of this day is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata, on July 7th of the solar calendar.
IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD
In Persian culture (Iran) Sepandarmazgan is a day for love, which is on 29 Bahman in the jalali solar calendar. The corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar is 17 February.
Sepandarmazgan were held in the Great Persian Empire in the 20th century BC hundreds of years before its acknowledgement by western world.
This day is currently celebrated in Iran despite some restrictions made by government, and young Persian boys and girls may be seen on this day going out and buying gifts and celebrating.
[monsoonJournal.com] By: Anand. J
It is really a shocking and boring experience to every fan of Vadivelu who loves the actor for his non-stop comedy. After watched the film it seems like every one laugh on us! The much publicized and expected film is not only fails to make you laugh, and also becomes a big test for your patience for nearly 3 long hours. For the first time the actor fails to recreate the mass even in a single scene!
The story is nothing but the entry of a common man Azhagappan (Vadivelu) to the celestial world of Yama and Indhiran (also plays by Vadivelu) with the help of Rambha (Yamini) who marries Azhagappan accidentally. If the director and actor tried some different treatment to the same one line, it will become a different comedy fair of the year. But poor script and boring dialogues forced the viewers to curse both the director and actor at the end. Some of the fans leave the theater even before the interval.
Azhagappan (Vadivelu-1) runs his own drama troupe with his set of friends (wasting the experienced Thiyagu, Manobala, Alwa Vasu in these roles) and lives with his loving mom (Sumitra). One day celestial beauties- Urvasi, Rambha and Thilothama, visit earth, Rambha loses her way (!!) and become a statue just because of the curse of Indiran (Vadivelu-2). On a fine day Azhagappan garlands the statue due to a compulsion of his mother to remove his bigamy Dhosham in the horoscope. Immediately the statue of Rambha regains live and later takes him to Indiralokam (heaven). Azhagappan is shocked and distressed to find the conditions prevailing in Yamalokam (hell), just placed near Indiralogam and does his best to redeem it from the villain Yaman (Vadivelu-3)!
Oh, God…. Even an illiterate knows who the Lord Yama is and what his duty is (He is the God who always does justice to balance the world as they say in Hindu Puranaas). But Thambi Ramaiya, the poor director tries to establish the God who is responsible for birth and death as a cruel villain! In INA, Yama drinks illicit arrack brought by Azhagappan, beaten by his men Chitraguptan and others, Indiran the God takes care of Heaven and is always trying to strip beautiful girls… Oh, no doubt, the film is really a mad creation.
Mad can be entertaining if it is done intelligently, like what Goundamani - Senthil done in Lucky Man (appears as Yaman-Chitraguptan) or Rajini-VKR-Vinu-Cho combo in Adhisaya Piravi.
But the problem with this film is that it hardly raises any laugh and the script is so weak. Sadly you have no words of praise for Vadivel who can’t rise above the flawed script. He hams it up, is loud, overacts and over-the-top style of delivering dialogues especially in the scenes in hell as Yama. In fact this character recreates the hell to viewers in the hall!
After watching the film, it feels like you’ve been trapped in there for what seems like a lifetime. None of the songs are shot spectacularly, the sets looks artificial (one could see the satin cloths and waste pieces in the floor which used for the sets in many frames!) and Shriya’s much hyped item number is totally unfit in the script (She is coming as a black magician Kodangi Pidary Aatha to cure Vadivelu through her unimpressive item number!).
On the whole, the amateurish, inconvincible and dry narration of the story makes everyone to feel the hell in the earth!
Indiralogathil – Ore Bore
[monsoonJournal.com] By: Anand. J
For the makers, artists and technicians who have worked for Bheemaa, and for eager fans of Chiyan Vikram, all of whom have been eagerly awaiting its grand release - the long wait is over. Now, as the movie joins the Pongal blast, it’s celebration time for all of them! Does Bheemaa meet fans’ expectations? Vehemently, YES!
Chinna (Prakashraj) and Periyavar (Raghuvaran) are local gangsters who operate separate rowdy groups with a power war between them. Chinna was Periyavar’s loyal follower before he was expelled from the group by the then-mighty Periyavar. Chinna does not forget Periyavar’s insults and Periyavar now feels challenged by Chinna’s growth that interferes with his hegemony.
Sekhar (Vikram) relocates to the city from Rameshwaram. With the single-minded plan to join Chinna, he bravely kills two men who are on Chinna’s hit-list. Curious, Chinna enquires from his close aide (Thalaivasal Vijay) about the bold and baffling killer. Soon Chinna and Sekhar meet each other. Sekhar’s flashback reveals the reason for his actions.
In the flashback, Sekhar reveals that Chinna, then a budding rowdy in Rameshwaram, had attacked a goonda who was insulting Sekhar’s father (a police constable). While leaving the crime scene, Chinna had handed over the weapon to young Sekhar. Since that day, Sekhar idolized brave Chinna and wanted to follow his footsteps. Chinna immediately appoints Sekhar as his chief subordinate. With Sekhar by his side, Chinna attains great strength, and rights Periyavar’s wrongs. Sekhar also unites Chinna with his childhood sweetheart Padma (Lakshmi Gopalswamy).
With blind devotion, Sekhar carries out his allotted agenda of terrorizing, beating and killing. Gangster politics flare up when Sekhar kills Periyavar’s sons and some of his key men. The Commissioner of Police (Ashish Vidyarthi) is the leader of ‘Operation Bheemaa’ aimed at stopping the two gangster groups terrorizing the city. The Commissioner has a ’shoot at sight’ order against all members of these groups.
Sekhar’s life takes a sudden turn when he meets Shalini (Trisha). After a string of chance meetings, Shalini and Sekhar begin to like each other. Shalini wants to marry Sekhar at once. But Sekhar sees his profession and family as major minus points. Soon, a decisive moment arrives.
While escorting Chinna to a meeting, Sekhar, smitten by Shalini, gets distracted. Feeling guilty, Sekhar confesses his mistake and gives up his job, but not for long. His devotion to Chinna drives him back to Chinna’s camp. Sekhar waits for the right moment to quit the life of crime to enable him to unite with Shalini. Before that, he has to vanquish Periyavar and his men, has to intelligently elude the wrath of his own group, and also has to survive the police encounter.
Does Sekhar fulfill his desire to lead a quiet life with his dear Shalini? Does this film have a ‘happy ending’? What happens in the final climax? Find out when you watch remarkable Bheemaa on the silver screen!
Bheemaa is a gangster film, dealing with underworld life, but it has a new grittiness and edge to it. It is difficult to imagine any artist other than Vikram in such a powerful role. Vikram breathes life and credibility to the character Sekhar and portrays its contemporary overtones convincingly. We get to see Vikram with a tough look - close-cropped hair, dense beard and small ear studs. His physique and body language communicate the character he portrays - vibrant, tough and unpredictable.
Prakashraj’s involvement and acting are glowing, as ever. Raghuvaran appears on screen after a hiatus! He pulls off his role with his usual coolness, to the degree of likeability. Ashish Vidyarthi’s performance is impressive. Trisha is glossy and lovely. The highlight of her role is well-delineated when, with her charming romance and a strong poise, she tames the beast, the tough thug Sekhar.
Antony’s editing, Rajeevan’s art and Harris Jayaraj’s music - all shine through cameraman R.D. Rajasekar’s lens. Though this is RD’s first film with Vikram and Lingusamy, the understanding and planning is evident in each shot. RD has aptly used the action script to display his creative talents too. S. Ramakrishnan’s dialogues have a realistic touch. Kanal Kannan’s stunts deserve special mention.
‘Mudhal Mazhai’ and ‘Ragasiya Kanavugal’ in Harris’s music top the charts. ‘Rangu Rangamma’ is a dance number with glamorous Shirin on a ship, exclusively decorated for the sequence.
Bheemaa is smartly written and stylishly crafted by Lingusamy. It is the outcome of one-and-half years of sweat and slog; the result cannot be anything but positive.
Bheema – ‘Cool’ ma
[monsoonJournal.com] By Siva Sivapragasam
Tamilnadu Chief Minister octogenarian Muthuvelu Karunanithi is a troubled man these days.
He is facing an onslaught from his ally, the Congress party and his arch enemy- convent educated cinematic idol, former Chief Minister Jayalalitha .In a recent outburst he has declared “our self-respect is clearer than the crown of thorns that denotes power. We are ready to lose power if our self-respect is under threat”. The bone of contention that is rocking his boat is divisive politics, family squabble, Sri Lankan ethnic problem and the question of a successor after him.
When Mu Ka (as he is affectionately known by his party cadres) assumed power, he had no absolute majority in the State Assembly and had to depend on the ruling Congress Party at the center and other minority parties to form the Government. Thus, Jayalalitha Jayaram always pokes fun at him by referring to his Government as the “minority government”. Now and then his major allies, the Congress Party and the PMK give him pin-pricks on delicate issues. He also earned the wrath of religious leaders in the North sometime back when he scorned Lord Rama as a mere imaginative epic hero and not of the status of a Hindu God.
Other issues haunting Karunanithi are internal squabble within his family and the problem of a successor after him. Two of his sons-MK. Stalin and MK.Alagiri, born to different mothers are competing for leadership after him. It was Stalin, the “Thalapathi” who had been groomed by party followers all these years as his legitimate successor. But Stalin lacks lustre and charisma that is a sine-qua-non in Tamilnaadu politics. It was film charisma than efficiency that plummeted MGR and Jayalalitha into power. On the other hand Alagiri is a tough-talking “goonda” type politician who rules the roost in Madurai. A third person who has come into the lime-light recently is his sweet smiling daughter, poet Kanimoli .She has been made an M.P. at the centre and perhaps would soon be elevated to the rank of a cabinet minister. She would be the best choice for Karunanithi specially to oppose Jayalalitha.
But the big problem that is plaguing Karunanithi now is the Sri Lankan ethnic strife and the allegation from his allies and opposition parties about LTTE presence and support in Tamilnaadu. Tamil politicians in Tamilnaadu like Nedumaran, Thirumalavan and Vaiko Gopalasamy are protesting against the Centre’s alleged arms support to the Sri Lankan Government and want Karunanithi to take the issue with the Central Government and suspend any such assistance. At the same time, the Congress Party in Tamilnaadu and Jayalalitha are alleging that he is giving a free run to the LTTE in Tamilnaadu, which he has vehemently denied. So, he is caught between the devil and the deep sea.
Against the back drop of complexed problems, the economy in Tamilnaadu is basically sound. The economy is flourishing with foreign investment pouring in and several high-tech and auto industries being setup. The business sector and almost the entire film world which has a big say in Tamilnaadu politics is backing Karunanithi (as evident in a function held sometime back to felicitate him).
As a seasoned politician and a diplomatic personality, the Kalaignar is bound to emerge unscathed from the vexed and complex issues confronting him. Perhaps, in the evening of his political career he would utter the word “Success”which he penned for his onetime friend Sivaji Ganesan in his legendary success film “Parasakthi.