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:
Balaji,
Great pictures and great sequence.
Thank You, Ramki.
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
Thanks Mohan. Glad you liked the captions and sequence.
very well captured...and liked ur humorous captions...cheers
Ashok, Thanks.
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.
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.
I just managed to stop myself from apologising for having smoked while in college.
Nice one! :-)
Great work. I miss Madras more and more nowadays.
Thank You Swami and Rajesh Raghupati.
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
Thank You, Tilotamma.
Tilo...what an honour that will be for an amature like me to work with a professional like Balaji...
Ashok sir, indha madhiri ellam galaata pannakudadhu. :) Like I have said earlier me amateur only.
no..i meant it seriously....pls no "sir" pattam for me...u r my senior in all sense of the word! :)
In this part of the world, everyone is nice.
Rajesh Raghupati, kindal pudicha aallu saami neenga. :)
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