Date:14/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/br/2009/07/14/stories/2009071451131301.htm

TAMIL

Literary miscellany

C. G. RISHIKESH

ILAKKIA CHITHIRANGALUM KONJAM CINEMAVUM: G. Gnanasambandan; Vikatan Prasuram, 757, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Rs. 85.

THIS BOOK is a literary miscellany, a travelogue, a collection of witticisms, and a potpourri of titbits about cinema — all rolled into one. The various strands are woven seamlessly into the narration.

A group of students and their teacher hop from place to place.

The locale and the folklore that goes with it are described. The trip turns out to be a literary excursion as well: the teacher quotes texts from classics and explains their import to his wards.

This bunch of young persons and some accompanying itinerants indulge in a lot of banter; jokes of all kinds are exchanged.

The trippers also draw parallels from film songs for the poems the teacher cites and explicates. There is an old Tamil film song where the lyricist describes the way lovers steal looks of each other. Most people who heard this knew the Kural that the lyrics echoed. That there is more to it than this famous example is proved by the numerous citations that are given not only from old films but also the recent ones. Besides, the professor often gives nuggets of information. The one on classifications of Tamil poets is striking.

The book is copiously illustrated with photographs of places visited, stills from films, and line drawings (which carry captions only where needed).