Chokhi Dhani: Rajasthani Theme Village Near Chennai for Fun, Food and Entertainment

Chokhi Dhani: Collage

Do you want taste the authentic Rajasthani sweet dishes like jalebi and malpuaa or bajre ki roti (millet bread) and Lashun ki chutney (hot garlic paste)? Do you want to capture the spirit of Rajasthan and ensuring the perfect Rajasthani experience like Rajasthani Folk dance combined with rustic music or fun filled camel ride, bullock cart ride as well as games, puppet show or magic show or acrobatics? You will find everything at Chokhi Dhani, a must VIST unique Village Resort to taste the Rajasthani meethais and namkeen as well as watch the entire culture of Rajasthan at one place.

Chokhi Dhani, the one-stop destination combining the elements of ethnic culture and rustic and royal ambiance, brings colorful Rajasthani heritage with fun, food and entertainment. The fun filled theme village is located at NH-4, Near Queensland Theme Park, Kevlur Road, Tandalam, Sriperambudur, Chennai - 602 105, India, and its attractions are spread over 15 acres of land.  Thousand of people including local residents, domestic tourists and corporate clients  congregate  to experience the  right blend of traditions – modern amenities in typical ethnic environment.

Chokhi Dhani, set in ethnic Rajasthani village theme, brings you out the land of Rajasthan and let you to experience a ride on a camel or bullock cart, enjoy the Kalbelia (typical Rajasthani snake) dance. The village is dotted with huge lush green lawn for relaxation and  they have brought everything for you to relish: village bazaar and temple, village style bio scope or photo studio, mehendi art, jyotish and so on.

You Rajasthani food hunt ends at at the village theme restaurant, Sangri. Here you will find authentic Rajasthani vegetarian cuisine fit for royals and include Rajasthani meethai items - Jalebi, malpuaa; Rajasthani namkeen (snacks). There are lot more delicacies to experiment: typical Rajasthani breads - Roti-Gahuyari, Roti-Makkari, Roti-Bajarari; Sauce: churma (Dall), Bati (baked wheat ball), Dal-Chawal, Chawal (rice); Rajasthani famous curries - Sangri, Sag-Gattaro, Sag-Dal Pachhmelri, Sag-Kadi Besanri, Sag-Hariyalo,Chatni Lasna Ri and Chatni Dhana RI; some more items like Bura, Chat-Choulari, Makkhan-Dhani Ro, Ghee-Dhaniro, Chhachh, Papad and sweet or salt Lassi. Rajasthanis claim that their food is cooked using food cooked in desi ghee. 

Quick Facts:

Chokhi Dhani Chennai Address : NH-4, Near Queensland Theme Park, Kevlur Road, Tandalam, Sriperambudur, Chennai – 602 105

Chokhi Dhani Chennai Village Timing : 4pm to 11pm (All Days)

Chokhi Dhani Chennai Package Fee : Rs 600 for adult and Rs 400 for child (3-9 years)

Package includes Welcome Drink, Starter, Chaat, Dinner.

Activities : Flying Kites, Boating, Camel Ride, Cycling, Horse Car Ride, Bullock Cart Ride, Cycle Rickshaw Ride, Playing Marbles, Skill Games, Potter, Magic Show, Mehendi, Puppet Show, Rope Balancing, Snakes & Ladders, Maze, Head Massage, Fire Performers, Cultural Program and Ethnic Dance Activity.

Reference:

1. Chokhi Dhani Dining & Cuisine http://www.chokhidhanimumbai.in/dining-cuisine.php
2. Chokhi Dhani Village Fair and Dining http://www.chokhidhanichennai.com/

YouTube

Chocki Dhani Village Chennai by Suriyan Tv

Star Talkies: Popular Single Screen Theatre in Triplicane, Chennai Shut down Now

Star Talkies, Triplicane High Road, Triplicane - Now Closed

In a cinema crazy city like Chennai single screen theatres are diasppaearing one by one. Maintaining single screen theatres is becoming a tough job due to cinema piracy, the ‘free download’ of movies in many film-related websites, complicated movie distribution system, opearional cost and entertainment taxing system.  Many old theatres in Chennai are shutting down because of this pressues and converted into shopping malls. Few of them keep the exteriors as it is and revamp with latest digital projection system, six-track sound sytem, central airconditioning and xenon lamps.

While revamping is one way of reviving fortunes, the other was is converting into multiplexes. The multiplexes are the hottest entertainment destination for people from all walks of life. The Chennai multiplexes and cinema houses are now equipped with cinema are equipped with modern amenities like 3D technology and movies and digital projection technology, digital audio sound (sorround system) system.  screens with amazing picture quality as well as  fully air conditioned hall, comfortable seats and online booking.

The list of closed single screen theatres in Chennai is becoming very long: Gaiety, Elphinstone , Globe (a.k.a. Alankar), Wellingdon, Chitra theatres in Mount Road; Pilot theatre in Royapet,  Nataraj, Vasanthi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi theatres in Perambur, Prabhat in Broadway, and Brighton in Royapuram, Uma, Roxy,  Bhuvanwasari, Sayani and Megala theatres in Purasawalkam, Ram and Liberty theatres in Kodambakkam, Nagesh (aka. Rajakumari) in Pondybazaar.

Star Talkies on Triplicane High Road is one such single screen theatre. It was once-successful cinema hall. In those days the film meant that crowds would throng the theatre at least till its 50th day in theatres. At Star Talkies 'Yaadon Ki Baraat' (Hindi)  ran for 100 weeks and Madhumati (Hindi) for 50 weeks.

This movie hall was constructed in 1916 in Triplicane High Road on a site owned by one Venkataramanuja Naidu. The theatre was leased to a Parsi family. When talkies become popular in 1936, this movie hall was named as Star Talkies and Kalidasa, the first talkie was released. In 1950 the Star talkies management came to the site owner Venkataramanuja Naidu and thereafter the movie hall underwent revamping and increased the seating capacity up to 818 seats and started screening number of superhit Bollywood films. Even theatre supported purdah system by allocating separate seating zone for muslim women. The taxi drivers of Chennai viewed the movie 'Taxi Driver' (Hindi) here free of cost and similarly the auto-drivers viewed the Rajanikanth starer movie 'Basha (Tamil) free of cost. Star talkies ceased screening movies from February 29, 1995 (leap year!).

Dr. Annie Besant (Traffic Island) Park at Marina: Chennai Statues

Statue of Dr.Annie Besant at Dr.Annei Besant Park, Marina, Chennai 

Dr.Annie Besant Statue at Dr.Besant Road & Kamarajar Salai Junction, Marina, Chennai

Plaque of Dr.Annie Besant at Dr. Annie Besant Par, Marina, Chennai



Thematic Statue of a Boat Designed by Student of Government College of Arts and Crafts, Egmore, Chennai





The statue of Dr. Annie Besant (1847 – 1933), an Irish woman (who came to India in 1893 to serve for the cause of Indians and was also a social reformer in various spheres after having deeply inspired by the Indian religious tradition and she). is located in the Dr. Annie Besant Park (traffic island or triangular park) at junction of Dr.Besant Road and Kamarajar Salai near Ice House. Dr. Besant has played many roles in her lifetime and all of those activities were revolutionary for a woman to be doing. Besant’s name became a part of the Theosophical Society, Adyar and she spent most of her time on the betterment of society and even towards India’s freedom struggle.

A thematic statue of a boat, designed by the student of Government College of Arts and Crafts, Egmore, Chennai was installed in 2010. The Chennai Corporation has installed this thematic statue at this park as part of city’s beautification drive.

Panagal Raja Statue, Panagal Park, T.Nagar: Chennai Statues

Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar KCIE, Raja of Panagal

Profile of Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar KCIE, Raja of Panagal:

Panagal Raja Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar KCIE, was regarded as an advocate of democracy and a staunch supporter of empowerment of the depressed classes. He was a zamindar of Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), a Justice Party leader and the Chief Minister or Premier of Madras Presidency (July 11, 1921 to 11 September 1923 and 19 November 1923 to 3 December 1926). 

Ramarayaningar was born in Kalahasti on July 9, 1866. He did his schooling in Triplicane High School Madras and obtained degrees in Sanskrit in Presidency College, law, philosophy and Dravidian languages. He started his career as a lecturer in Presidency College before plunging into politics. He was one of the founder-members of the Justice Party. He served as Minister of Local Self Government in Justice Party (1921-1926) and the President of Justice Party (1925 to 1928).

I have captured this picture - the statue of Panagal Raja at Panagal Park, T.Nagar, Chennai - during 61st Chennai Photowalk.  

May Day Park, Chennai: An Iconic Urban Park from Colonial Times

May Day Park, Chennai - Facade

May Day Park, Chennai - Monument

May Day Park, Chennai - Granite Monument

May Day Park, Chennai - imposing fountain - an attraction

May Day Park, Chennai - Statue of Hungerford Tudor Boddam - British Judge, Madras High Court

May Day Park, Chennai - Statue of Hungerford Tudor Boddam - Plaque

The May Day Park, located at Deputy Mayor Kabalamoorthy Road in Chintadripet, originally known as Napier Park, is a good example of a park constructed during the British rule in 1869 and named after Francis Napier, the 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick, KT, PC, the Governor of Madras Presidency (27 March 1866 – 19 February 1872). This park has provided the innovative groundwork and value for park culture in Madras city adhering to its cultural needs. The colonial administrators realized that the development of parks is an important aspect of urbanization. Over the years the Madras Municipality (Colonial rule) and the the Chennai corporation (after independence) strived to augment the green cover in the city. Now the total number of parks have increased to 486.  Urbanization experts consider that this number is still inadequate when comparing with Delhi (15,000), Mumbai (1,300), Bangalore (721) and Hyderabad (709).

This 14 acre land, once used as stables by Messrs. Burghall and Company in Chintadripet, has been converted as an urban park. Messrs. Simpson & Co had an eye over the land for their carriage factory expansion requirements. However Madras Municipality passed a resolution on 28th January 1869 and proposed the need for developing an urban park at this site. The Government of Madras Presidency has approved the proposal and accorded finance sanction and land allotment on 15th April 1869.

This park was used to hold public meetings by political leaders like M.Singaravelar and Periyar. Several rallies and processions including the anti-Hindi agitation during 1960s were flagged off from here by eminent leaders.

At the north eastern corner of the park the statue of of Hungerford Tudor Boddam, the eminent British Judge of Madras High Court stands under the arched canopy.

The Napier Park was later renamed by the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to meet the demands from Communist Party. There is a symbolic 'May Day' monument with two gear wheels, a gun and the word 'May' sculpted in Tamil. Also there is a mound shaped water fountain.

The present park has not only have greenerys, trees and walkways but also equipped with facilities for children’s area with swings  and also space for cricket, football, volleyball and badminton on the eastern and western sides of the park. The park, maintained by Simpson & Co, has given a new meaning for public recreation spaces in Chennai city.

Jafar's: An Iconic Ice cream Parlour in Colonial Madras

Source: The Hindu Jun 25, 2003

M/s  M. Jafar & Co, an ice-cream parlour at Elphinstone Theater, Round Tana, Mount Road, Madras, has a lot of history, dating back to 1938. Some of the rich and delicious ice cream was served at this oldest ice cream Parlour in Madras. It was also  recognized and honoured with The Presidential award in the ice-cream business. Learn all about the seventy five year old Ice-cream parlour history.

Sohrab Modi, (the  `Cecil B. de Mille of Hindi Cinema' ) a film maker from Bombay, inaugurated the New Elphinstone cinema theatre in Round Tana, Mount Road, Madras in 1932. This poshest cinema theatre screened the best Hollywood films and this third cinema hall inculcated the habit of film going among the public in Madras.

Before the inauguration of Elphinstone theatre, this public place was occupied by two different (London based) theatres i.e, 1. Lycaeum Theatre and 2. Vaudeville Theatre as well as the dance hall and the boxing ring at the 'indoor stadium.' The Lycaeum Theatre run a soda fountain (Barney Dorai's Soda Fountain) since from 1910 to attract the gathering. Later it became as Elphinstone Soda Foundation to invite all film goers. 

Barney Dorai handed over his soda fountain to Jafar, one of his fountain keepers. Jafar took possession of the soda fountain in 1938 and  renamed as  Jafar's Ice cream Parlour, a landmark around Round Tana. At Jafar's the blenders whipped cream, fruits and other ingredients to prepare different cocktail varieties of milk shakes and ice-cream as well as colorful sweet menu and the parlour was furnished with  bar style furniture. People spent time in the new ambiance and enjoyed the lip smacking ice cream menu by sitting either on the bar stools or at low height tables with seats along the length of the counter. This parlour was duly recognized and honoured with The Presidential award in the ice-cream business.

During 1970s Jafar's parlour moved to Royapettai, Chennai. Later the cinema complex was converted into Raheja Complex, a shopping mall and was opened in 1981.

Reference:

1. Cinema at Round Tana The Hindu Jun 25, 2003 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/25/stories/2003062500120300.htm
2. M Jafar & Co  http://www.mjafarco.com/
3. Jaffars: Those were the days when…. By che_david http://chennai.metblogs.com/2006/11/23/jaffars-those-were-the-days-when/

Chennai City (Horse) Mounted Police Patroling Marina Beach, Chennai

Chennai City (Horse) Mounted Police

Chennai is blessed with some awesome beaches, most notably the 'Marina beach.' The beach is a natural urban beach along the Bay of Bengal (part of the Indian Ocean) and it runs a distance of 13 km and it ranks as the longest natural urban beach in India and also ranks as the world's second longest.

Marina beach is a major tourist attraction of the city. People visiting Chennai make a point to visit the beach. It is the most crowded beach in the country and attracts about 30,000 visitors a day during weekdays and 50,000 visitors a day during the weekends and on holidays. During summer months, about 15,000 to 20,000 people visit the beach daily.

The sea is generally rough and waves are strong. Bathing and swimming at the Marina Beach are legally prohibited because of the dangers, as the undercurrent is very turbulent.

I have captured these two cops, belonging to the 'Chennai City Mounted Police,' while patrolling the Marina beach on horse-back. Mounted Police cops are engaged for quick patrolling on the long coastline. Their duty is to ensure that people do not venture into the sea.

Monument - Sivaji Ganesan's Debut Movie Parasakthi - at AVM Studio to Commemorate 50 years since the release of Movie

Monument @ AVM Studio - Sivaji Ganesan Delivered His First Dialogue for Debut Movie Parasakthi in 1952

Vertical Granite Slab. 1. fiberglass medallion bearing the close-up of Sivaji Ganesan (sporting a hat as he appeared in the scene); 2. Brass Plaque
with details about the inauguration of the memorial

Horizontal Granite Pedestal Slab: 1. Names of Dialogue writer; Music Composer; Director; List of Song titles; respective Lyricists; and Singers. 2. Artists' Names and technical crew

"Success!” “Success!!” Success!!!” - the veteran Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan delivered these words as first ever dialogue for the Tamil film Parasakthi at AVM studio, Vadapalani, Chennai. At the same point, where Sivaji Ganesan faced camera, now stands as a monument at AVM Studio, Vadapalani, Chennai.

Parasakthi, a Tamil movie released on 17 October 1952, introduced Sivaji Ganesan into his film career. The screenplay and dialogues for this film were written by Dr.Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi and was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju, under the banner of National Pictures. It was jointly produced by two companies – National Pictures and AVM Productions. Since the film dialogues were criticized  Brahmins and Hindu customs and practices, the then ruling State government even thought of banning the film. However the film, a trendsetter for dialogue and acting (by Sivaji Ganesan),  was a commercial success and had a theatrical run of over 175 days. 

The veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan wished to celebrate the golden jubilee of his film entry. Unfortunately he died in 2001. The autobiography of Sivaji Ganesan (Title: Sivaji Ganesan: Autobiography of an Actor) was released in Tamil on 1^st Octobet 2002 (his birth day) and the  English version was released in 2007.

AVM studios wanted to commemorate 50 years since the release of Parasakthi. Acoordingly the monument was inaugurated in AVM Studios on 17 October 2002 by Tamil actor Kamal Haasan in the presence of Sivaji Ganesan's sons Prabhu and Ramkumar.

The monument has the black granite slab standing vertically with a fiberglass medallion bearing the close-up of Sivaji Ganesan (sporting a hat as he appeared in the scene) uttering his dialogue “success.” The  bottom portion of the vertical slab also bears a rectangular plaque with details about the inauguration of the monument. Another rectangular slab (designed like the pages of open book) is located horizontally at the bottom of the vertical slab. There are two brass plaques, embedded on the open book,  bear the names of the star cast, and technicians and other personalities who worked in the film making.

Ravana in Yakshagana: Music Dance Drama staged at Mylapore Festival 2014

 

KARTHAVEERYARJUNA KALAGA - Yakshagana - music dance drama was staged at Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai on 12th January 2014 at 08.30 pm. by Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali, Keremane Shivananda Hegde troupe as part of Mylapore Festival 2014.

 

The Yakshagana troupe Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali Keremane (etd. in 1934) has completed 75 years and steadily striding towards its goal of experimenting and innovating the folk art form without affecting its traditional heritage. Since its inception the troupe has performed more than 8000 shows.

Vibheeshana in Yakshagana: Music Dance Drama staged at Mylapore Festival 2014

 

Karthaveeryarjuna Kalaga - Yakshagana - music dance drama was staged at Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai on 12th January 2014 at 08.30 pm. by Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali, Keremane Shivananda Hegde troupe as part of Mylapore Festival 2014.

Yakshagana (Yaksha Songs) is the musical dance drama (a traditional folk art form) of Karnataka theatre predominant in coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India.

It combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form and portrays class of demigods in Hindu mythology. It usually depicts a story from the Hindu epics and puranas.

The actors wear resplendent costumes, head-dresses, and painted faces which they paint themselves. A Yakshagana artists also wearing pagaDe, one type of head-wear.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=584914684916618&set=pb.510353505706070.-2207520000.1392646352.&type=3&theater

Historic 'Electric Cinema Theatre' turns to 'Philatelic Bureau' in Anna Salai, Chennai

The quaint red and white building stands at the Mount Road (Anna Salai) Post Office premises  has over 100 years  history.  It is learned from the plaque that this building was built in 1900 by Warwick Major and and Reginald Eyre. Later in 1913 these two people converted this as cinema (cinematography) theatre and named it as 'electric theatre.'  There this event makes the year 2013, officially the 100th year of Indian cinema.

Often historically there is a confusion about the first cinema theatre in India. The 'electric theatre' often claimed and even reported in newspaper columns as the first cinema (silent movie) theatre in India as well as in Madras (Chennai). Truly speaking Mrs.Klug was the first one to develop 'permanent cinema theatre' by name “The Broadway Bioscope” or simply “The Bioscope” in April 1911 in the first floor of No. 16, Popham's Broadway in George Town (just south of Loane Square and opposite Harrison and Co.), Madras. However at the initial stages the cinema theatre was not a purpose built one for screening films. After a months interval (May 30, 1911) Mrs.Klug claimed her theatre as permanent one for film shows. The building which housed Mrs. Klug's Bio scope still exists in Broadway, George Town, Chennai. Therefore Mrs.Klug's 'The Broadway Bioscope' at Popham merits as the first permanent cinema theatre.  The Warwick Major's 'electric theatre' could be claimed as the first theatre in Mount Road zone. In the same year (1913) another theatre known by name, the 'Lyric theatre' began screening silent movie at the first floor of the building known as Misquith & Co.”

Two years later, 'electric theatre' was closed down by the owners and the building was sold to Postal and Telegraph Department in 1915 and the brief cinema history came to an end. In recent years, the facade of the building and a part of its interior have been restored and serve, since 1998, as the city's Philatelic Bureau. However its importance is concerned with its historical significance than its architectural features. Chennai has a long and vibrant philatelic tradition and the exhibitions at Philatelic Bureau are becoming the regular feature.

These two theatres led to a gradual rise to few more cinema theatres in the city. Raghupati Venkaiah Naidu was the first Indian to own cinema theatre in Madras. He developed Gaiety Talkies in 1913 on Mount Road as the first Indian-owned cinema theatre. Later he also developed Crown Theatre (1916) on Mint street and Globe Theatre (1917) in Purasaiwakkam (later named as Roxy). The other cinema theatres include Elphinstone (1915), Wellington (1918), Empire cinema later renamed Minerva Theatre (1920), Imperial Cinema - a later renamed as Star Talkies (1924) and Broadway Theatre (1924). 

Reference:

1. Chennai's first cinema house now serves as philatelic bureau http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-31/chennai/46869064_1_postmaster-building-cinema
2. Looking back on Chennai’s first ever Electric Theatre http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1445780.ece?service=print
3.  Madras’s first cinema theatre http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/07/16/stories/2007071650970500.htm
4. Our tryst with celluloid magic http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/our-tryst-with-celluloid-magic/article570403.ece
5. Urban mobility and the history of cinema going by Stephen Hughes. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/11998/1/Hughes_Urban_Mobility.pdf

Artist Makeup for Yakshaganam Dance Drama Mylai Festival 2014