with Lohitadas at Ottappalam in 2008

We(myself, my parents,brother,sister-in-law and brother-in-law) stopped at a restaurant in Ottappalam for lunch after visiting some of the famous film locations. After having lunch while coming down to ground floor, my eyes fell on a bearded figure sitting at a table relishing fish fry, simultaneously conversing over mobile. My excitement broke all social barriers and i shouted loudly:LOHITADAS!!!! With shyness and awe i went towards him, stood for a while. Noticing Respecting my presence, he ended the phone call saying: " i will call you back". He gestured me to sit and asked: "Yes, tell me.." I was lost for words. Still i introduced myself and told him how much i liked his films and writings. My brother-in-law was capturing this wonderful meeting with a legend. I told the great writer, "sir, i have written a script for a film. But.." He motivated at once, "then..why don't you go ahead?" i replied,"sir, i don't know the techniques of films and script writing".

Then came out those great words from him which i cherish like a treasure:
"All the techniques are inside us. Go ahead"

I got up thanking him and wishing him the best in future. I was so surprised and awe-struck that i didn't have the guts to ask him his mobile number.

He is a rare writer or a real writer. His body language itself speaks clarity of perception like that of a good teacher or a yogi.

I can't accept that he is physically absent even today. May his soul rest in peace.

SANTHOSH KANA.

LOSING GROUND-Play by Santhosh Kumar Kana

LOSING GROUND is a play scripted and directed by Santhosh Kumar Kana explolring the ongoing disappearance of playgrounds and the dilemma it creates for children. The play also laments the declining interest in football among the new generation. It was first staged as part of ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS of K.V. Donimalai on May 1st, 2009 at Donimalai, Bellary dist. Karnataka.

Kana House-my childhood

KANIKANUM NERAM KAMALA NETRANTE.....this beautiful song still rings in the deep corners of my heart, my grandmother singing it in the evenings and how her voice touched my soul. I miss my grandmother, those good old days.....

at RIMSE, Mysore-a college par excellence

at Bekal Fort

in West Bengal

A Roadside Stand-My views

A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost

-Santhosh Kumar Kana,India.

Stanza-1

The poor people at the roadside stand are seen pathetically requesting to the rich (polished traffic) that pass by to give them their daily bread by buying fruits or vegetables from them.

The flow of money from the villages supports the prosperity of the cities.

If at all the polished traffic stopped at the roadside stand, they would complain about the landscape being marred by the artless way the signs are painted and kept.

The road side stand sells wild berries and crook-necked golden squash.

The poet’s complaint is not about the beauty of the landscape being spoilt but about the trust of the poor people being betrayed.

The ruling party has not kept the promise they made to the poor people.

Stanza-2

The poet says that the govt. is planning to help the poor settle in villages close to the city, and all their needs would be taken care of but it is a false promise. They are “greedy good-doers” who outwardly proclaim to help the poor but indeed exploit them with calculations for their benefit. The poet finds it difficult to tolerate that the poor people still cherish a hope. At every roadside stand, he finds sadness, a prolonged wait for the rich to stop and buy things. Of all the traffic that passes by a few may stop for these:

To enquire the price

To reverse the vehicle

To ask the way

To ask for a gallon of gas

Stanza-3&4

The polished traffic are selfish and the poet says that they should not disturb the poor any more like the politicians by giving them false hopes and promises. They should put an end to it at once. The poem ends with a note of hope where the poet says that next time he could find the poor in a position to help others in trouble.