The Kariavattom Outdoor Stadium - What to expect ?

My love for 'Trivandrum' is well known among my friends and relatives. There has been occasions when i have got into arguments with friends who spoke ill of my city. That is how much i love Trivandrum, a place where history and development respects each other. You have to be a Trivandrumite to know that.

The design of the upcoming Greenfield outdoor stadium at Karivattom

I just came across a few articles on the upcoming outdoor stadium at Kariavattom and was mighty impressed with what is on offer. I have been searching every nook and corner of the Internet to gather what i have now. The commencement of work of the Stadium was inaugurated by Chief Minister in September last year. Spread across 37 acres it will be the most advanced outdoor stadium in the country when work is completed in December 2013. The stadium happens to be the first stadium in India to be based on BOT('Build, Operate, and Transfer') policy and is being buily by IL&FS. I feel that Karivattom is the most ideal place in the city for this project as it is just 10kms away from the International Airport, 12Km away from Central Railway Station, KSRTC Bus stand, easily accessible from within the city and the sub-urban area outside the city. Another advantage is that Technopark is just a Kilometre away, Techies will flock in if there is something big happening and i believe the stadium will see packed crowds if there is some International event happening. 

The stadium is being built to both ICC(International Cricket Council) and FIFA(Fédération Internationale de Football Association) standards, which means that it is an ideal venue for International Cricket and Football matches. The stadium will have 3 pitches for Cricket and will be made under guidance of renowned International curators. The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000 and 50% of it will be roofed. 1% of the total capacity will be wheel chair friendly and will be evenly distributed among the seats. It will have two VIP Gallery's, one which has 20 seats meant for VVIP/Corporates and another section with 1000 seats meant for VIP's. A press gallery will also be available for press personnel. The stadium is capable of providing parking to around 2000 cars and will have a four lane road to avoid traffic issues.

  A 3D Illustration of the Stadium.
If you thought that is it, then you are wrong !. Outside the outdoor stadium lies even more. A mall with close to 1,00,000 Sq Ft area which provides space for Retail/ Sports Complexes and Sports Clubs. Gym's and Spa's are also a part of the mall. There is also Indoor sports facilities just outside the stadium and will have,

• 12 Badminton courts.
• 20 Table Tennis courts.
• 3 Basketball courts.
• 2 Volleyball courts.
• 2 Handball courts.

Which means it will be open to people who are interested in playing these sports and will also have matches being conducted. Another major attraction is an Olympic Swimming pool made to Olympic standards along with an aquatic center. A convention center which can pack 2000 people and guest suites are added attractions.

This definitely is an exciting project and i am so proud and happy that it is going to be just 5 KM's away from my home. Negligence is something our city has faced over the years, be it the metro rail project or the development of the Vizhinjam port. One can only hope and pray that this project sees no road blocks on it's way. 

Source: The minimum design guideline and specifications for the Karyavattom outdoor stadium.

Kony 2012: A boon or a curse ?

Ever heard the name ' Joseph Kony ' ?, It was after watching 'Machine Gun Preacher' that i came to know about this deadly Rebel leader of Sudan. It has been 25 long years since the civil war began in Sudan, Ever since Kony and his men known as the LRA(Lord's rebel army) has been killing, torturing, and making children slaves and soldiers. 


 Today i happened to watch the 'Oprah Winfrey' show and came across three people who started the 'Invisible Children' a non-profit organization that aims at collecting funds to build schools and rehabilitation centers for children in Uganda. Even though there have been issues that the money isn't spend entirely on charity, am happy that atleast an effort is being made. Hope this 'Kony 2012' campaign doesn't bring any negative fame to Joseph Kony and LRA, who now is less active in the country. I just wanted you all to know who this dreaded criminal is and to pray for all the needy kids in Uganda, not out of sympathy but as a friend / well wisher.

 Kony 2012 : The Documentary

This movement known as the 'Kony 2012' could bring negative fame for Joseph Kony and Nations worldwide could force their troops to hunt him down, Which might make Kony become more active in Sudan as he would want more soldiers in his LRA army. This could lead him to make more child abductions to add to the strength of his LRA army. If the US troops land on Sudanese soil on a hunt for Joseph Kony, we might happen to see another Iraq or an Afghanistan. I learned from a few news websites that the LRA activities in Sudan have reduced over the past years and one could only hope this campaign doesn't bring anything bad again to the children and people of Sudan.

Let God almighty bless the people of Sudan and let peace prevail. 

Mayakkam Enna - Dhanush and Selvaraghavan's best till date

Dhanush and Richa in Mayakkam Enna

Well as soon as i finished watching the film on my laptop, i cursed myself for not watching it earlier at cinemas. But i did have my excuses in prepartion for semester exams. Well everything about the film moved me.

Photography for some people is a passion, for some it is just a hobby. Karthik Swaminathan(Dhanush) is a serious freelance photographer whose interest is portraits and wildlife photography, Photography is his passion and his life. He aims to make it big and hopes to become an assistant to Madesh Krishnaswamy a very well known proffessional photographer. Karthik is usually seen with his friends in a care free attittude, but when it comes to photography he gets damn serious. Sunder is his best buddy from childhood and it was Sunder's father along with friends who took care of Karthik and his sister Ramya after the death of their parents. Yamini comes to the scene as Sunder's date, Karthik falls for her with time. Yamini too starts to care for him and they soon fall in love. Later Sunder finds out and their friendship goes for a toss, which is saved by Sunder's father and Yamini and Karthik gets married. Meanwhile Madhesh asks Karthik to take some wildlife photos so that he could consider appointing him as an assistant. Karthik is shattered when Madhesh says his photos are waste and he should give up photography. Karthik is hurt, but moves on. Later he finds out that one of the photos he submitted to Madhesh wins the National award with all credit going to him. Karthik soon moves into an abnormal state and Yamini, who now his wife cares for him. Karthik finally gets his break and wins an international photography award beating Madesh Krishnaswamy as well. This forms the plot of the film.

All credit of the film goes to Selvaraghavan, Dhanush and GV Prakash Kumar,they made the film an outstanding piece of Cinema. I appreciate Selvaraghavan for a theme never before tried. Emotions flow through out, and every relation is given due respect, from friendship to love. The guts Selva showed in portraying the love between bestfriend and girlfriend of Sunder deserves mention, and the way Sunder and Karthik patches up after Sunder finds out is too good. Another thing as good as Selva's direction is GV Prakash Kumar's music and background scores, i was totally moved by the bgm's in some scenes. Dhanush as usual comes up with a performance which explains why he deserved the National Award for Aadukalam, If you ask me i would give another one for him as i believe he was at his best in this film. Richa Ganopadhay's character is another one you would fall in love with, One would feel that she ain't all that nice after she loves the friend of her boyfriend, her character and acting skills come out in the second half and especially in the song 'Pirai Thedum'.

There are a few scenes in the film which deserves mention and the first one being Karthik going into the wild to shoot photos, and the joy he receives is portrayed in a scene with no dialogues beautifully and this scene alone describes the film for you, Simply Elegant.

                                 Dhanush Wildlife Photography scene from Mayakkam Enna

Another scene is the one where Yamini feels that Karthik should give up photography and tells him he is not good at it, dejected Karthik walks back home when he meets an old lady and the photographer inside him wakes up. The way he spreads a smile to the old lady and husband, and the way he replies to Yamini is a treat.

                                                Karthik photographs an old lady

There are plenty of other scenes which stands out like the one where Yamini washes blood stains of the floor and Karthik apologizing to her. The final speech Karthik delivers at the International photography award ceremony and few more as well.

Well, to sum it up, This is one of the best Tamil films i saw in life and i am really sad that the film hasn't received its deserved credit. This is the kind of film which moves you and at the same time inspires you to take  up photography and give respect to photographers. If you still haven't watched this film, then i request you to.

Kan Vizhithal / Shauk Hai - An unheard gem from ARR

Madhavan and Vidya Balan in Guru

I recently watched Guru, crafted beautifully by Mani Ratnam. Released back in 2007, I faintly remember watching it in theatre alone. I am not here to write about the film but about a song which featured in the film as a  background score and not in the audio release. The song appears as a background score in a scene where Madhavan's character proposes to Vidya Balan's character. I had heard the hindi version 'Shauk Hai' a long time before and  have it already in my playlist, little did I know that this gem had a tamil version to it. Listen to 'Kan Vizhithal'(still listening as I type this post) , pure bliss.

 

This adds to songs like 'Idhayam Idam'(Jodhaa Akbar), 'Unthan Desathin'(Swades) which are equally good if not better versions of the originals.