Sivaganga Palace

Location: Sivaganga, 40 kms from Madurai
Built In: 1730s
Famous As: Gowri Vilasam

Called "Gowri Vilasam", the palace situated in the heart of Sivaganga about 40 km from Madurai, was the seat of many Marava kings. Now,only the dilapidated portions of the palace remain. Built in the architectural style of Thirumalai Nayak's period and infused with Rajputana arts, which the remains are mute witness to, the palace is said to have been ignored during the period of Rajah Doraisingh Thevar (1898-1941). Citing "bad luck" as the reason, he abandoned this palace to occupy another palace called "European Bungalow" on the Madurai Road. This led to the neglect of the palace and its plundering, mainly by the British.The worst damage is said to have been done during the period of late Vijayaraja Karthik, who sold most of the properties, antiques and wooden carving.

Inside The Palace
» The Temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwari
At the Gowri Vilasam, the only portion intact is the temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwari, the family deity of the royalty. The temple is open for the public in the evenings and on auspicious days. Otherwise, public are not allowed within the palace limits.

South of the temple is a huge hall supported with numerous pillars. All the functions of the royal household are said to have taken place there. But now the hall remains locked. In the front façade of the palace lies a palanquin in a dilapidated condition.

» Nadai Kinaru
Another interesting feature in the palace is a miniature swimming pool called "Nadai Kinaru". The tank is said to have direct connections to provide it with fresh water and provisions to fill two huge tanks beside the tank. This was meant mainly for the women of the royal family. In front of it is an architectural splendor, in a shambles. Paintings on the dome and sides in natural colours are still intact.

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Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai (Tamil: கொல்லி மலை) is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu in Namakkal district of India. The mountains are about 1000 to 1300 m in height and cover an area of approximately 280 km². The Kolli Hills has 72 hair pin bends to reach the top of the hills. The Kolli Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats, which is a mountain range that runs mostly parallel to the east coast of South India. The mountains are relatively untouched by commercial tourism and still retain their natural beauty.


Origin of the name

These mountains were sometimes known as "Kolli Malai", the "Mountains of Death". The reason is that early literature records the existence of an image called Kollippavai on top of these hills. This image was believed to represent the spirit of a maiden who lured wayfarers by her beauty and then killed them.

Historical References

Water falls in Kolli Hills

The Kolli Hills are featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as Silappathigaram, Manimekalai, Purananuru and Ainkurnuru. The region was ruled by Valvil Ori around 200 A.D., who is praised as one of the seven great philanthropists of ancient Tamil Nadu. His valor and marksmanship are sung by several poets, and his exploits are a popular part of folklore. Ori is said to have killed a lion, bear, deer and a boar with a single arrow.

The hills are said to be guarded by Kollipavai also called as "Ettukkai Amman", the local deity. According to legend, the sages chose Kolli hills when they were looking for a peaceful place to do their penance. However, the demons invaded the hills to disrupt the penance when the sages began their rituals. The sages prayed to Kollipavai, who according to the myth, chased away the demons with her enchanting smile. The KolliPavai hills is still worshipped by the people here and her smile is revered. The mountains have several mythological legends associated with them, and often come across as an eerie place in contemporary tales due to the unexplored and less traveled terrain. even at some places one can hear the presence of saptha kannigal. this mountain is full of herbs which retains health and vigour. kolli malai is kollum malai, actually it kills almost all diseases and old age.

Tourism

Two viewpoints - one at Seekuparai and another at Selur Nadu - are being developed to encourage tourism. As of 2007, creation of a park and formation of an approach road to the Seekuparai viewpoint were nearing completion. The government maintains a pineapple research farm where hybrid varieties are created. Research about medicinal plants is also pursued on these mountains.The government holds a tourism festival in August.

Kolli Hills has been the top choice for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, trekking clubs and meditation practitioners among hill stations in Tamil Nadu. In comparison to other hill stations in Tamil Nadu, Kolli Hills is not commercialized, less polluted and offers unique mountain ranges. The district administration has recently developed a botanical garden, Boat house, Cave house, New waterfalls called Masila Falls. The administration also celebrated "Ori festival" with lot of cultural events.

Accommodation

There are a few Resorts/Lodges that are available. A well known resort called "Nallathambi Resorts" has been operating for the last 15 years. It is situated in the highest point of the hills and offers medium and high end budget accommodations. Recently it underwent a thorough renovation/refurbishing.

Arrow Mansion is Located Near Semmedu Bus stand, which is the heart of Kolli Hills. Arrow Mansion is very economic and adjecent to Busstand.


"PA Holiday Inn" is the most preferred star resort located in semmedu providing quality services in kolli hills, operating for more than 15 years. They provide wide range of accommodation options both for family (small, medium or large) and groups (Corporate or private - any size).

Kolli Hills and Surrounding Places
Sky Ganges

Under the foot hills of the Kolli Hills there are so many Small and Big Towns existing. From these places the Kolli Hills is visible in a panoramic view and the climatic conditions of these places is influenced by the climatic conditions of the Kolli Hills. Following are the few Towns surrounding the Kolli Hills: --- Namakkal, Sendamangalam, Kalappanaiyakkan Patti, BeluKurichi, SingalandaPuram, Rasipuram, Namagiri Pettai, Thammam Patti, Koppampatty, Thuraiyur, Pulianjolai, Thathaiyankar Pettai and all these places are well connected by frequent bus services.

People of Kolli Hills come down by foot with their produces to the foot hills of Kolli Hills and they sell their produces and go back after buying their required materials. This type of activities take place in few places like, Karavalli, Belukurichi, Thammampatti, Pulionjolai. People from various surrounding places of Tamil Nadu come to Belu Kurichi to buy the products of Kolli Hills.

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K. Balachander (Tamil: கே. பாலசந்தர்; born July 9, 1930) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or writer. In his career, he has mainly contributed to the Tamil film industry and is credited with having introduced hundreds of actors and technicians in Tamil Cinema including Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj and Vivek. He also owns a production house named Kavithalaya Productions. Besides Tamil cinema, he has directed films in Telugu, Hindi and Kannada languages and occasionally worked as an actor and in television as well.

Balachander has won multiple National Film Awards and numerous Filmfare Awards. He was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in 1987, and is also a recipient of the ANR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. In 2011, Balachander was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema for his contribution to arts. He also holds an Honorary doctorate. He is popularly referred to as Iyakkunar Sikaram (English: (lit.) The top director) in Kollywood.

Early life

K. Balachander was born on 9 July 1930 in a Tamil Brahmin family to Saraswati and Dhandapani at Nannilam, Thanjavur District. He completed his B. Sc., (Zoology) in 1949 at Annamalai University. While working in the Accountant General’s Office as a Superintendent in the 1960s, he came to prominence as an amateur playwright with his dynamic plays like Major Chandrakanth, Server Sundaram, Neerkumizhi, Mezhuguvarthi, Naanal and Navagraham. The plays, which were produced and directed by him, were an instant success and enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim. He always directs films in such a way that it should convey a message to the society in some form or other.

Career

K. Balachander is known among actors as a tough taskmaster, K. Balachander was able to extract from these actors some of their finest acting performances for his films. He was capable to infuse from these actors some of their finest acting performances for his films. Anterior to his intimacy in Indian cinema, he worked as a school teacher in Muthupet, Tiruvarur District, and as a playwright.

It was M. G. Ramachandran who had asked him to write dialogues for the film Dheiva Thaai. His famed films were Tamil productions such as Apoorva Raagangal (1975), which deals with a father-son relationship and inter-generational romance that culminates in a complex quandary. Avargal (1977), which follows the life of a divorcee as she traverses various relationships in reverse, from divorce, to marriage, to falling in love. Varumayin Niram Sigappu (1980), a drama that charts the travails and conflict of being unemployed in a bombastic and harsh city. 47 Natkal (1981), which traces the adversities of a newly-wed Indian woman living with an scurrilous, expatriate husband in a Parisian suburb; and Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), about the intellectual collision and subsequent romance between an lofty Carnatic musician and his ardent female critic. Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981, Hindi), about cross-cultural romance in India, for which he received two Filmfare nominations - for direction and best story.

His Telugu films Maro Charithra and Rudraveena are notably among the best movies ever made in Telugu film Industry. He directed the story about a woman breadwinner taking care of her family in several languages, the Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), the Telugu film Anthuleni Katha (1976), and produced the Kannada film Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu (1983).

His later films include Parthale Paravasam (2001) and Poi (2006). To him goes the credit for discovering new talent in acting, direction, and other technical areas, many of whom have made a mark in their respective fields. Rajnikanth, a discovery of Balachandar and Kamal Hassan, whom he moulded into a great actor, prove this.

His serials, Kai Alavu Manasu, Rayil Sneham, Kadhal Pagadai, Premi, Jannal Anni and others have been successful. "This medium helps to reach out to the public. That's why I am into making serials," says Balachandar. He strongly feels that the three different medium of entertainment — theatre, cinema and television are bound to co-exist. One cannot destroy the other and at any given time the public will see what it wants.

After nearly 40 years, and as a homage to his dear friend Nagesh, KB recently returned (and was "Reborn" as he himself claims) to theatre through the play Pournami, Starring Renuka and Poovilangu Mohan among others, the story is about a homemaker whose husband gets caught in Pakistan under the suspicion of being a terorist.

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Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan is regarded as the greatest actor ever in the history of Tamil cinema. Along with MG Ramachandran (MGR), he dominated Tamil Cinema to such an extent that the two automatically demanded Madras distribution rights in their contracts and they had the clout to bankrupt a producer by causing production delays and stalling a film's release if they so desired.

Born Viluppuram Chinnaiah Ganesan in Sirkali, Tamil Nadu in 1927, his father moved to Viluppuram where he spent his early years. When he was seven, a travelling drama troupe came to Viluppuram. Sivaji acted as one of the soldiers in the play. His father was appalled that he had acted in some cheap drama and that too in a white man's part. He was lambasted and punished and ran away from home. He joined a drama troupe touring Tiruchi - Yadharathnam Ponnuswamy and Company. He told the owner he was an orphan and was taken under his wing. It was here that he honed his talents for music and dancing. He learnt Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and even Manipuri and also trained in Carnatic music. As he moved from troupe to troupe, his reputation as an actor grew.

Sivaji acted on the stage when it was scandalous for women to do so. He played several roles of women on the stage. One of his favourites was Noorjehan. To quote him...

"I used to do the Kathak and at every step, I got resounding applause."

He made his reputation as an actor in CN Annadurai's Sivaji Kanda Indhu Rajyam, a historical on the Maratha Emperor Shivaji. He was asked to play the role at the last moment when the lead actor (an unknown MGR!) backed out. It is said he memorized the entire 95 pages of dialogues in a day! Such was his impact that the play also gave him his screen name.

Sivaji followed Annadurai when he started the DMK in 1949. He made his film debut playing the lead role in Parasakthi (1952).The film is one of the most controversial films in the history of Tamil Cinema, replete with assonant monologues. It owed its success in large part to its dialogues written by Karunanidhi who used the film to express his ideas on religion, god and priesthood. It was a sensational debut and the success of the film not only made Sivaji a star, but also the official icon of the DMK party for some years. However in the mid-1950s, a trip to Tirupathi saw him fall from grace as it went against the 'rationalistic message' of the DMK that he propagated in film after film. Also, simultaneously the glorification of MGR had begun. He was now the new propaganda avatar of the DMK. Sivaji moved to EVK Sampath's Tamil Nationalist Party and then the Congress and later it's opposition, the Janata Dal.

As an actor however, he continued to shine. Moving away from the DMK's atheistic politics, he acted in several mythologicals - Sampoorna Ramayan (1958) and Thiruvilayadal (1965), Nationalist historicals - Veerapandya Kattoboman (1959), his most famous film by far, and biographicals - Kappalotiya Thamizhan (1961). He even played nine varied roles most convincingly in Navarathri (1964). Veerapandiya Kattaboman, perhaps his greatest performance ever, won him the Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Festival in Cairo. There were other International honours. Twentieth Century Fox bought over the telecasting rights of one of his best known films - Thillana Mohanambal (1968) and The Washington Post hailed him as India's Clark Gable!

Sivaji was acknowledged as a consummate actor, vastly imitated but never equalled. His eyes had fire and he was cheered for his resounding voice, which the audience called 'simmakural' or a lion's roar. At the same time however, there has been constant criticism that he 'overacts.' But Sivaji always retorted...

"What is acting? It means doing something that is not natural. So then where is the question of overacting? When your mother dies, what do you do? You shout Amma and cry, don't you? Your instant reaction is to cry out loud. Not sit quietly covering your eyes with your hands. That's exactly what I do in my films."

After a long successful career as leading man right through the 1950s and 1960s, with Vietnam Veedu (1970) and Gnana Oli (1972), Sivaji made the transition to elderly but central roles. Since the mid 1970s however, Muthal Mariyathai (1985) is the one major film of Sivaji's that stands out. Not only was the film a commercial success but it also brought Sivaji critical acclaim as well. But by now the attention had shifted to younger heroes like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Among his more recent films, he did give a strong performance as the latter's father in Thevar Magan (1992) getting a Special Jury Mention for the same.

Sivaji was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1982 - 88. It is maintained that Sivaji had a more significant iconic presence among the Tamil middle-class leading to his 1980s - 90s deification, more than MGR could ever acquire. He has won several awards including the Padma Shri in 1966, the Padma Bhushan in 1984 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema in 1997.

His son Prabhu went on to become a major Tamil filmstar in the 1980s and 1990s although Sivaji wanted him to join the Police Force.

Mostly retired and plagued by ill-health through the last few years, Sivaji took each day as it came. To quote him...

"I don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow's problems are for another day."

Sivaji passed away in a hospital in Chennai on July 21, 2001 following a prolonged heart ailment.

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