Sunday, February 7, 2010
a photo
This is another story told by Krishnan Mama. The story is about a photograph .
Tholassery is a small place near to Thiruvalla. It is said that Thukalassery is locally called Tholassery. The legend is that the Lord killed the Asura called Thukala in this place and that is why it is Thukalassery. There were about a dozen of Brahmin families. Krishnan mama’s family was one.
Situated on the banks of River Manimala, life in tholassery revolves around “krishi” (agriculture) and the temple. For the city people this is still a sleepy village. It is about 2or 3 miles from the main town called Thiruvalla (Thiruvalla is a shortened form of Sree Vallabhan –Lord Vishnu)
This happened about a half of century ago. The Ravi studio is situated next to the Transport Bus Stand. This is the only studio in that town and we can imagine his leisure time. As in economics, if the demand exceeds the production, it is sellers market. That simply means that you have no choice. In those days the family photos are taken at the houses (family does not mean the present nucleus family).
To set up a studio is a very difficult thing. One has to first acquire the knowledge of photography from distant places like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and if you graduate from Madras your business is assured.
Somebody in Krishnan mama’s family brought the idea – a family photo. In those days, photos were hanged on the walls in all the houses. In some houses as we enter, we can see pictures of Gods, Goddess. In some others we can see big pictures of Grandpa and Grandma (that says they are no more). Whether the picture is a drawing in canvass – mat finish or a black and white photo depends on the financial capacity of the family and in some houses to tell others of their family lineage – many often linked to high jobs in palace. (My great grandfather was a Peshkar in Poonjar Palace or so). There will also be a line of photos nailed to the long thin piece of wood called “pattiyal”. The photos would framed (in my childhood days, there was a photo frame shop in every street corners. A middle aged man with a spectacle decked on the middle of the nose so that he can look at you straight and at his work through the glasses. He would always seem to be busy framing somebody - a rare thing now a days because one can even take a pic from his mobile and keep it digital) The frame cost would depend on whether it is golden or teak wood or one which has artistic bends and so on.
After many days running between Ravi studio and thukalassery, because there were no phones, a convenient date was fixed for photo and after the long days of waiting, the fixed date has come.
There was tension on everyone’s face. Krishnan mama was afraid that nothing untoward should happen in between. He was afraid of the egoist personalities in the family. He thought in mind “as if they are very handsome and cute”. Each of the family members felt that their photo should be prominent. Some ladies bribed Krishnan mama for buying them fragrant powder to be put on the face already covered by turmeric paste. The black skinned was called as the colour of Krishna !!
The black ambassador car came. The car could not come to the house because from the road, it was a four foot path to the house. The photographer unloaded a big studio itself and it was carried to the front of the house. A bench and one or two chairs were also brought out and arranged.
Though everything was ready, some of them were missing and to utter disappointment, it was because of some rumour that they would not get proper places, some wanted to stand with their hubby some ddidn’t..some wanted the middle and some wanted the end. And Krishnan mama had a tough time in bringing all of them and in between the photographer seemed to be angry at these and once he is gone, you can only imagine when next.
At last everything was in place, the camera was placed on the three legged pod and the whole thing was covered by a black cloth. For the lights, it was only natural sun light. He went into the black cloth and shouted “Ismile” Ismile”. Then he slipped a black slide at the back of the camera. After that , he again came out to adjust the people. You ..the tall one go to the back and the short one to come to the front. He asked jokingly why they were standing miles apart. A long sting at one end was pulled and the shutter n the camera was closed.
It was a sigh of relief.. till the black and white photo was received some days after. Some cries and some happy and some called the photographer a cheat.. and some told that it did not look like them..till all these died down..
But years later Krishnan mama was happy that the photo was taken..many of them were no more..
But he was taken aback when a boy hearing the entire story asked “why did they make a fuss of it when it can click a photo in my mobile!!
Tholassery is a small place near to Thiruvalla. It is said that Thukalassery is locally called Tholassery. The legend is that the Lord killed the Asura called Thukala in this place and that is why it is Thukalassery. There were about a dozen of Brahmin families. Krishnan mama’s family was one.
Situated on the banks of River Manimala, life in tholassery revolves around “krishi” (agriculture) and the temple. For the city people this is still a sleepy village. It is about 2or 3 miles from the main town called Thiruvalla (Thiruvalla is a shortened form of Sree Vallabhan –Lord Vishnu)
This happened about a half of century ago. The Ravi studio is situated next to the Transport Bus Stand. This is the only studio in that town and we can imagine his leisure time. As in economics, if the demand exceeds the production, it is sellers market. That simply means that you have no choice. In those days the family photos are taken at the houses (family does not mean the present nucleus family).
To set up a studio is a very difficult thing. One has to first acquire the knowledge of photography from distant places like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and if you graduate from Madras your business is assured.
Somebody in Krishnan mama’s family brought the idea – a family photo. In those days, photos were hanged on the walls in all the houses. In some houses as we enter, we can see pictures of Gods, Goddess. In some others we can see big pictures of Grandpa and Grandma (that says they are no more). Whether the picture is a drawing in canvass – mat finish or a black and white photo depends on the financial capacity of the family and in some houses to tell others of their family lineage – many often linked to high jobs in palace. (My great grandfather was a Peshkar in Poonjar Palace or so). There will also be a line of photos nailed to the long thin piece of wood called “pattiyal”. The photos would framed (in my childhood days, there was a photo frame shop in every street corners. A middle aged man with a spectacle decked on the middle of the nose so that he can look at you straight and at his work through the glasses. He would always seem to be busy framing somebody - a rare thing now a days because one can even take a pic from his mobile and keep it digital) The frame cost would depend on whether it is golden or teak wood or one which has artistic bends and so on.
After many days running between Ravi studio and thukalassery, because there were no phones, a convenient date was fixed for photo and after the long days of waiting, the fixed date has come.
There was tension on everyone’s face. Krishnan mama was afraid that nothing untoward should happen in between. He was afraid of the egoist personalities in the family. He thought in mind “as if they are very handsome and cute”. Each of the family members felt that their photo should be prominent. Some ladies bribed Krishnan mama for buying them fragrant powder to be put on the face already covered by turmeric paste. The black skinned was called as the colour of Krishna !!
The black ambassador car came. The car could not come to the house because from the road, it was a four foot path to the house. The photographer unloaded a big studio itself and it was carried to the front of the house. A bench and one or two chairs were also brought out and arranged.
Though everything was ready, some of them were missing and to utter disappointment, it was because of some rumour that they would not get proper places, some wanted to stand with their hubby some ddidn’t..some wanted the middle and some wanted the end. And Krishnan mama had a tough time in bringing all of them and in between the photographer seemed to be angry at these and once he is gone, you can only imagine when next.
At last everything was in place, the camera was placed on the three legged pod and the whole thing was covered by a black cloth. For the lights, it was only natural sun light. He went into the black cloth and shouted “Ismile” Ismile”. Then he slipped a black slide at the back of the camera. After that , he again came out to adjust the people. You ..the tall one go to the back and the short one to come to the front. He asked jokingly why they were standing miles apart. A long sting at one end was pulled and the shutter n the camera was closed.
It was a sigh of relief.. till the black and white photo was received some days after. Some cries and some happy and some called the photographer a cheat.. and some told that it did not look like them..till all these died down..
But years later Krishnan mama was happy that the photo was taken..many of them were no more..
But he was taken aback when a boy hearing the entire story asked “why did they make a fuss of it when it can click a photo in my mobile!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)