Of patriotism and entertainment

I-DAY '54. SEASON for the familiar bristling-up-goose bumps again. Though patriotism lies deep in our every fibre, August 15 is undeniably an opportunity to make an event of it.

And if you are tired of watching `Roja' or Gandhi for the umpteenth time on television, rest assured. This time Sun gives you the nearly nascent block buster `Hey Ram' and Vijay intends to re-telecast `Bharathi'. That is in the patriotic mode.

But since August 15 is a holiday, channels obviously have to move into the entertainment mode as well. Like Rohit Adya, CEO, Vijay TV says ``The programmes that are to be aired on Independence Day are to impart patriotism mixed with entertainment''. Apart from the regular shows - telecasting patriotic songs, interviews with stars and starlets, Vijay TV also promises to feature songs from films that are being released on Independence Day.

That is for the couch potatoes. Anybody who wants to pack more punch into I-Day '54 can read on.

One option would be to leg it out at the Freedom Run, being organised by Fourth R, a computer training institute for teachers. M. Ramakrishnan, a class seven student of Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore will flag off the run which will begin near Gandhi Statue, Marina Beach and end in a meeting near the Lighthouse. In addition to being a freedom run, this one comes in a double disguise, also promoting the `Say yes for Children' project that the Institute has taken up. Ideally, children of Chennai schools and the Institute have volunteered to participate, but a helping hand is always welcome.

Hotel Residency is turning completely `desi' on Wednesday, in their own style of celebrating I-Day. The lunch and dinner buffet will be drawn from different bowls across the country, covering the more significant ones and popular ones. For the staff of the hotel, it is going to be a literal fancy dress show as they have been instructed to do themselves up in traditional costumes.

For those who want more to do than eat and be merry, there are a couple of events that also want to propagate a message - this one, rainwater harvesting. And can you get more relevant in Chennai, serviced as it is by long lines of trucks carrying water?

The Velammal Matriculation Hr. Secondary School and their matriculation branch have pegged their Independence Day celebrations on `Rainwater Harvesting'. ``We are going to create an awareness on the subject,'' the young Vels (as they call themselves) say. Better Environment for Long Life (BELL) Foundation also aims at creating awareness on `rainwater harvesting' and `vermicomposting'.

The Gandhi Peace Foundation has decided to start a `People's Movement for Peace' on the occasion of Independence Day. An inaugural function which will take place in Karthikeyan Matriculation HSS, Saligramam will be followed by a day-long seminar, in which school students and teachers have been invited to participate in.

Artistically inclined? Thota Tharani inaugurates the `Living Wall' at the British Council. He begins the first of series of painters and artists who will exhibit their creations on the wall of the Council in Anna Salai. `Webber and me...' is an inspirational tribute to the complex, but magical world of music and theatre by Thota Tharani on Wednesday evening.

Is this not sufficient activity for a day? Get dressed and be there - it is time to say Jaya He!

By Ramya Kannan

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Section  : Entertainment