Wednesday 7 June 2023

"Memoirs of a Geisha"- (Memoirs of a Geisha)


When we hear the name Geisha, we think of Japan. Do we know anything about the lives of those who entertain the men who feed them with their charms and play songs? To say the least. Geisha means a woman who is like a prostitute. In fact, her life is in the middle. After reading this novel called Memoirs of a Geisha, we will go to Nitta Okia in Kyoto area of ​​Japan. After that we know a lot about many cultural and social issues. This 428 page novel is written by an American writer named Arthur Golden. This work, which was published in 1997, became the subject of many controversies.

Ok...and who is a geisha..? She studies arts such as music, literature, dance and painting. She knows how to speak and behave politely, especially the inside of men. And who will teach her all this...? To teach these, there are special schools where there are geishas. There are experienced instructors. And the seniors in the geisha schools teach them all the necessary things. Before an apprentice geisha can become a full-fledged geisha, she must be apprenticed to a senior geisha. She must be accepted as her sister. After becoming a full geisha, the red collar on her kimono is changed to a white collar.

And shall we go into the theme of the novel..? It is a village in Japan, there are fishing families. Its name is Yoroida. A small house by the sea. The owner of the house is Sakamoto Minoru, who lives by fishing. The wife is bedridden, with some incurable disease... there is no need for great treatment. The local doctor is doing the treatment that comes to him. He worries as the doctor says that she will not live long. He is also getting old. His strength is waning. He has two daughters. The elder child's name is Satsu and the child's name is Chio Chan Aya. But her name will be changed to Sayori. That will come later, then we will see.

 He makes his current wife as his second relationship, after his first wife died... There is a company that buys and sells fish near that village. Its chairman's name is Tanaka Ichiro, he hears the story of this family and does a job. He hands over the two girls to Okiya through an intermediary in Kyoto. He does this so that their mother and father are nearing their death days, so that they will live somewhere rather than become orphans. Chiochan likes this chairman very much. He speaks well. In the end, the nine-year-old Chiochan goes to Kyoto with his older sister Satsu, who is taken by a man named Bekko.

On the day of the visit, the old woman (called mother in the novel) saw both of them and saw that the child was beautiful, with good eyes and other charms. She held the body and saw that the water level was good. The percentage is high, Brothal tells them to sell. The nine-year-old girl's name changes from Chiochan to Sayori. Sayori is assigned a room. She is sent to the school for the education needed to become a geisha. There, the girl learns the shamisen, an instrument, among other things. There is a Toji temple near there. The deity inside is Lord Buddha. He visits that place from time to time.

This girl is about nine years old, so she sweeps the house where she lives, goes to the market and brings things etc.  All the room expenses, food expenses and other expenses incurred by her are written in a book so that the mother doesn't lose the money. That means after this girl becomes a geisha, that money All will be charged. Not only that, the girl will get a large amount of money from the person who first looks at her. One thing must be said here. In Japanese there is a word called Mizuage. The meaning of this in our language is the same as Kannerikam. A contract is made with a guardian before a girl can enter the profession of a geisha.

Whoever pays the highest price and gets the girl for the first night is called "Danna". As long as the geisha is alive, he must regularly pay the money required for her food and necessities. However, he does not have any full rights over the geisha. A geisha can be with whomever she likes, marry, or even leave the profession. Danna has no control over the money she earns. In the house where Sayori lives, there is a full-fledged geisha named Hatsumomo.

She is very jealous when she sees this girl. Because when Sayori grows up, she will be blonder than her. Hatsumomo complains that she will be famous and earn money as a geisha, but Mameha, another famous geisha, supports Sayori. No one will approach her. Once when Sumo wrestling was held, Sayori went with Mameha, where she met a big businessman named Nobu. He is a very important partner of Iwamura Electric Company. If it comes to this, the company is Tanaka Ichiro. He is the chairman. That means he will come here from Yorodaina village and do business and reach that stage. She keeps the handkerchief he left when she met him in a drama program as a memory. She dreams of entertaining the chairman after she becomes a geisha.

But after Sayori turns sixteen, there is a program for the first night with a doctor. The mother gives the money to her for the expenses she has spent these days. Agadala gets annoyed and Mother sends her out too. Sayori has a military officer as Danna. Nobu gets angry that he can't be chosen.

World War II begins. The government orders the closure of all geisha houses because the government uses every large building to increase the production of various products needed by the soldiers. Sayori passes years. When she comes back to Kyoto, her appearance changes. American soldiers appear. She worries that they have turned geisha tea shops into cabarets. He meets Nobu again, his company eats well during the war. There is no point in meeting a minister to help him, finally Sayori entertains him so much that when he goes to a resort called Amami, he makes him physically comfortable and helps Nobu's company. With that it takes a groove.

A few more twists and turns. In the end, Iwamura tells his mind to the chairman of Iwamura Electric, Tanaka Ichiro. Then the chairman tells some secrets. It turns out that he was the one who helped Sayori through Mameha when she was in trouble. The chairman is her guardian. When the chairman goes to America as part of his business, Sayori goes with him. They are setting up a branch of your company here anyway, so help me build a small hotel. I will stay here in New York. That way, Sayori starts a small hotel that provides geisha services. It provides its services to the Japanese officials and ambassadors who come there. That's how the story ends.

The entire novel takes place in Uttam Purusha. Sayori tells the story from her apartment in New York as memories. By then the chairman also closes his eyes. At the end it says this. I cannot tell you what it is that guides us in this life; but for me, I fell towards the Charman just as a stone must fall towards the earth. When I cut my lip and met Mr. Tanaka, when my mother died and I was cruelly sold, it was all like a stream that falls over rocky cliffs before it can reach the ocean. Even now that he is gone I have him still, in the richness of my memories. I've lived my life again just telling it to you.

There is not much about Sayori's sister Satsu in this novel. The author says that she ran away from the brothel house and married another man. Sayori tries to run away with her sister but it fails. When the person in the place of Danna who plays Mameha comes to her house, the poem of Matsudaira Koichi is hanging on the wall. We understand the Japanese people's love of poetry when they ask what is not seen. Sumo wrestlers are not amused by jokes.

A geisha named Mineko Iwasaki went to court against the author of this book, and the author Arthur Golden gave her some money privately and got out of the case. She alleged that her name was not kept secret after giving a lot of information and also some names were not kept secret. She also wrote a book called Geisha-A Life adding some information to the whole. In the year 2005, a movie was made based on this book written by Arthur Golden. The government of China and Japan expressed objections to the casting of Chinese actors in the main roles. This movie won three Academy Awards. Also received other awards. Although the author Arthur Golden is an American, he himself is proficient in Japanese language. He did post graduation in Japanese history from Columbia University. Also worked for a while in a magazine in Tokyo.


----- Murthy KVVS


#TBRChallenge2023



Thursday 4 May 2023

Invincible Music Composer

 Invincible Music Composer

I am taking this opportunity to write a few words about Ilayaraaja, a great south Indian music composer. He excelled all boundaries with his film music and there are innumerable fans across all India. Of course, he has given concerts on the prestigious platforms like Albert hall in London. At the same time, he has given sizzling music to the films, prominently Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada movies. And few Hindi movies like Sadma. He has great fanbase almost in every south Indian state. It's very rare having such fanbase as a popular film hero usually does have. 

What makes him so special ? With what quality of music composition he gained that iconic position..? Well, his forte is experimentation, newness, variety whatever you say. Ilayaraaja brought that with his very first film, In Tamil Annakili and in Telugu Bhadrakali. In fact, I started listening to Tamil movie songs for enjoying his way of composition. Whatever the instrument, that sounds with his own signature. Orchestration fills with experimentation. Chorus in the songs is heavenly. I can give you number of examples but one post is not sufficient for it only.

In his 45 years of film music life, composed 7000 songs. Folk , classical,  Western and many other traditions have happily blended in his compositions. In my opinion, In Indian film music, his entry influenced many music directors. We better compare it as after and before Ilayaraaja. I won't give the account of my favorite songs here. Because there is nothing I dislike whatever come from him. Anyway I will post a video of some of his ever lasting compositions.

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note: This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Wednesday 26 April 2023

Z.Veerabhadra puram

 Z For Z. Veerabhadra puram

I have surprised when I first heard the name of that village. Z.Veerabhadra puram. Why did the prefix Z get included in the village's name..? That village situated in a remote area of Bhadrachalam division. Before 1959, all this area was in the part of East Godavari district of Andhra pradesh. Later on, which had been a part of Khammam district. With bifurcation, this place got into Telangana state. Inter state border villages have a strange advantage with surfacing two kinds of cultures and accents.



Well, let me tell you about the Z story. In the time of British ruling, say, before 1940s, some villages were auctioned to the public to procure revenue. Only Zamindars who belonged to upper strata could secure such villages by paying auction money. It was then called Zamindar Veerabhadra puram, briefly Z. Veerabhadra puram. Interestingly, there is another village beside it and which is called K.Veerabhadra puram. K is for Koya, the local tribe's name. Here I am giving you two pics that will lead to both the villages.

----- Murthy Kvvs


Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge, 2023

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Tuesday 25 April 2023

YouTube sensation

 

#Y For YouTube

Youtube channel is the easiest way to reach out. Whatever content you are with can be shared by outside world. The visual world in short. How simple it became to shoot your chosen action at your finger tips and spread the content even by putting it in our status of whatsapp. If it's good, it can go to the places where you never think in our wildest dreams. Small time artists achieved big success irrespective of the language the video was made of. 

One such example is "bullettu bandi" video song given in this post. Though the song is in Telugu (Telangana slang), it has been a super hit crashing all language barriers. Singer was Mohana Bhogaraju with base tone entered almost all states in our country by having 368 Millions of views. Comments poured by the viewers tell us many things. If the song and the way it conceived is appealing, every music lover listens it again and again. In fact, the theme of this song is very simple, just describing the dreams of a village girl and the bondage with the place and her parents and relatives.

Go through the song. You just love it.

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023

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Monday 24 April 2023

Xanadu Hotel

 #X for Xanadu 

First, I came across this (Xanadu) word in a novel written by Mario Puzo. Title "Fools Die", published around 1978. Xanadu was a luxurious hotel in Las Vegas where gambling was in full swing. I thought that word Xanadu was derived from some European language. But to my amazement the word belonged to Mangolian background. Xanadu was the summer capital of Kublai Khan's empire in China. Xanadu denotes an  opulent and luxurious place. But got more popular by the writings of Samuel Taylor.


In the novel, Four Gamblers like Cully Cross, John Merlyn, Jordan and other one met  in the hotel and made fortunes in the gambling one night. The same night Jordan committed suicide after having earned more money. His suicide was not of any foul play. There were many twists and all they are worth reading. Xanadu hotel boss Gronovelt was on a different mission to swindle more money from a Japanese business tycoon. He offered Xanadu hotel to his manager on one condition which was in part of his master plan. That's how story would be going on.

----- Murthy Kvvs 


Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023,

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Sunday 23 April 2023

Watermelon

 #W For Watermelon 


Summer arrived. With changing seasons, some fruits follow the law of nature to come in the particular season. If we understand rightly, nature provides us seasonal fruits. They will do good for our body and mind. That's why having the fruits is one sure way to keep up our sound health. Whenever summer comes, I personally like to gorge on watermelon, I love the taste, color and cool quality of the fruit. Watermelon is full of antioxidants and nutrients. Also supports us with variety of vitamins like A and C. 

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Saturday 22 April 2023

Varkala station and beyond

Varkala station 

A few months back, When I visited Trivandrum of Kerala, got this Video using my mobile. This place in the video was Varkala and outskirts. I am not a serious vlogger but whenever time permits me ,used to take videos to upload in my channel so that there would be a chance to watch them in the future when needed. I did it during the train journey and the quality is not so bad. Hope you enjoy it.



----- Murthy Kvvs

Note: This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Friday 21 April 2023

U.G. Krishnamurthi

 #U For U.G. Krishnamurthi ( A Philosopher) 


----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2023 ,     Blogchatter Link

Thursday 20 April 2023

Toda's Model Hut

    #T For Toda's model hut


The above is the model of Toda tribe's hut. Taken it when I visited Udagamandalam  or Ooty of Tamil nadu state. There was a large fair in the botanical gardens and it was also a part of that fair. Toda tribal people live in the Nilgiris district. They have their own distinctive culture. Be it handicrafts or cloths or food or in the matter of hut making which is evident as we're seeing in the pic. People were also purchasing some herbal medicines from the stall. This model hut was created by the state government of Tamil nadu to showcase the special entity of Nilgiris.

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2023 ,     Blogchatter Link

Wednesday 19 April 2023

Stray Dog in front of our house

     #S For Stray Dog in front of our house

I don't have any pets for the last three decades. That doesn't mean I hate pets. I grew up a dog in my college days. It was so faithful and loving. Literally, it has become our family member. Sometimes I skipped my journeys to look after the dog, because our Tiger (Name of our dog) wouldn't eat or drink from the hands of others. That's why small sacrifices like that made by me with affection. What a beautiful scene it was our Tiger kept moving it's tail soon after seeing me not only that love plus respect both would get reflected in the kind looking eyes of our Tiger. Clueless to this very day, Our Tiger vanished one morning without making any barking sounds. It was a great mystery where our loving creature had gone. I became tearful for many days. My heart shattered. On that very day, I had taken a decision to have not grown any dogs in the future. Because bonding between the dog and the human being is greater than any other so called love. We can't withstand it's absence or death or missing for any reason.


(Our Bruce taking rest on the sandheap, brought for a wall construction) 

After all these years, a stray dog won my heart with its good behavior and discipline. Two months back (roughly) a dog was wondering in our street and when raining , it was taking a small place from our vehicle parking lot to shelter itself . It keeps aside standing whenever I started my vehicle, created no obstacle to my departure. Not only that, it stood and move aside whenever my vehicle come in. Seeing very kindly towards me. It's purely a stray dog but how gently it behaves when we have a drop of sympathy. With all our busy life, we ignore small and subtle signs of animals. In fact, humans have to learn a lot from them. Love excels all. It reminded me the Bible word.

Amused. One day I thought of its life style. That dog goes out around six o'clock in the morning. Perhaps, to fetch some rotten food somewhere on the streets. At mid day, came here to rest in our parking place (shed). After taking some hours of rest, again goes outside for perhaps meeting his friends. Exactly around seven o'clock in the evening , came back to sleep here in our shed. So leisurely thinking in a carefree posture. On  any small sound made by commuters in the night, our dog keeps sending out warning growls. So it has become a security guard on its own. One day, evening , I brought some mysuru bonda for the dog. It devoured all of them so happily. You should see the feeling of the gratitude in its beaming eyes.

Every evening, I started offering some food and water. Some people wondered when  I have been feeding the stray dog. Our dog may not be a foreign breed but one core quality is there in it. Faithfulness and respecting its feeder. A small boy asked me one day, "uncle what's your dog's name..?", I was really ashamed to have not named it till then. All of a sudden, I stammered "yes, our dog name is Bruce". This dog is a street fighter and just like a  Bruce Lee for me. Don't care what others think of it. Everyday, Our Bruce keep waiting for me for the food and a little talk. It sounds so happily whenever I talk to him. He understands simple Telugu and English words.

There are so many things to write. I keep writing whenever time permits me.

----- Murthy Kvvs


Note : This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2023 ,     Blogchatter Link