Saturday, January 28, 2006

STUNT CYCLIST AT THE DOORSTEP

A few days back I heard the familiar whirring, and sure enough the 75-year-old -- can't recall his name -- was right outside the house going through his bicycle routine. A tin can contraption tied to the cycle frame acts like a giant rattle to attract viewers.
I grabbed my camera and started clicking away. After the show, he came up to me and announced - `I do not drink, I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I have married off four of my daughters and lead my own life independently.' I don't know why he felt he had to tell me that. I just managed to stop myself from apologising for having smoked while in college.
He puts in an appearance once in two or three months. Goes through a 5-minute routine, collects some money and cycles away.
As for the captions that go with the pics... I hope they don't fall flat.

(Check out other visitors we have had in archives - October and November 2005.)
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18 comments:

  1. AnonymousSun Jan 29, 01:17:00 PM 2006

    Balaji,
    Great pictures and great sequence.

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  2. R. BalajiSun Jan 29, 09:23:00 PM 2006

    Thank You, Ramki.

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  3. AnonymousMon Jan 30, 04:53:00 PM 2006

    I too have seen a similar act (possibly by the same person) near Vadapalani temple. I vaguely remember him telling his audience about inflation - "when I was young a kilo of rice costed a few paise, etc."

    Captions and sequence added a lot of value to the great pix.

    mohan

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  4. R. BalajiMon Jan 30, 11:26:00 PM 2006

    Thanks Mohan. Glad you liked the captions and sequence.

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  5. ashokWed Feb 01, 11:23:00 AM 2006

    very well captured...and liked ur humorous captions...cheers

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  6. R. BalajiWed Feb 01, 09:37:00 PM 2006

    Ashok, Thanks.

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  7. AnonymousThu Feb 02, 03:01:00 PM 2006

    My immediate reaction was sad the things us humans have to do to make a living. But then again what do I know. I am sure any honest work is good, and the world needs entertainers too. As ramki says great sequence, its kind of like a story board.

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  8. R. BalajiThu Feb 02, 10:21:00 PM 2006

    WA, yes, in a way it was sad.
    But there was so much dignity when the man walked up, mentioned his age and added that he leads an independent life.

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  9. swamiFri Feb 03, 03:28:00 AM 2006

    I just managed to stop myself from apologising for having smoked while in college.

    Nice one! :-)

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  10. APAM NAPATFri Feb 03, 04:07:00 AM 2006

    Great work. I miss Madras more and more nowadays.

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  11. R. BalajiFri Feb 03, 09:57:00 PM 2006

    Thank You Swami and Rajesh Raghupati.

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  12. trisFri Feb 10, 05:15:00 AM 2006

    ashok - i was just about to recommend this site to you. Glad you have already been here! The two of you can put together a book on street visitors in south India.
    Please include a gudu-gudu pandi in it

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  13. AnonymousFri Feb 10, 10:38:00 PM 2006

    Thank You, Tilotamma.

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  14. ashokMon Feb 13, 05:36:00 PM 2006

    Tilo...what an honour that will be for an amature like me to work with a professional like Balaji...

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  15. AnonymousMon Feb 13, 09:37:00 PM 2006

    Ashok sir, indha madhiri ellam galaata pannakudadhu. :) Like I have said earlier me amateur only.

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  16. ashokTue Feb 14, 06:00:00 PM 2006

    no..i meant it seriously....pls no "sir" pattam for me...u r my senior in all sense of the word! :)

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  17. APAM NAPATWed Feb 15, 11:23:00 AM 2006

    In this part of the world, everyone is nice.

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  18. AnonymousThu Feb 16, 09:47:00 PM 2006

    Rajesh Raghupati, kindal pudicha aallu saami neenga. :)

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