PERCEPTIONS REDEFINED

THUDI - REVISITED

2011-08-08T03:21:00.001-07:00

THUDI – The Beat
By Nithil

You must be wondering! Why I have titled this article as THUDI ? May be wondering what it means ?
“Wait let me explain it”.

THUDI means ‘The Beat’.

It was a journey through wilderness in search of an unknown civilization found in The Nilgiris. The Nilgiris is situated at the confluence of three states namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and karnataka. The journey took me to the place were the Western and the Eastern Ghats meet.
This place has been inhabited by indigenous people who have been living here time immemorial. This can be proved by the findings of aborigines in the hilly terrains. They were mostly Cists & Dolmens. Observing these remains you are taken back to a completely new age – probably times when the Dinosours ruled the World. It might look like I am exaggerating a little bit, but believe me its not. I am talking about people who are the descendents of these long lost tradition who have carried the unique features from genealogy to literature and culture.

Finding my way through thick jungles I barely had a clue what was in store for me. It looked like a treasure hunt. Passing through rivulets, escaping the leech bites, listening to the call of the nightingale and following the Malabar Squirrel…. Ummm!!! Finally it was time for me to encounter the ‘REAL PEOPLE’.
Yes, I mean what I said ‘REAL PEOPLE’. They look like the true descendants of the Earth.

The meeting opened up a lot of Questions in my mind. I had a bell ringing in my head questioning the very existence of my life. What am I doing? Were I? What’s happening to the World? Is my existence a hindrance to God’s original plan when he created this Universe!!!

Amazing!!!! May be I am just not getting the right word to express what I felt. The Paniyas for instance look like the direct descendants of the Tribes in Africa (Researchers have traced the first MOMMY to the existing African Tribes), and Yes! Now you guys must be wondering why people look different. The difference in skin texture, color and the different races has been attributed to the climate and ‘The basic theory of USER and NON USER Theory of evolution’.

Now you must be wondering why I am so excited about what I saw. The things that fascinated me most was the simple life they have. They depend on the resources provided by Mother Earth, combined with the physical abilities which are very naturally part of every human being, they make merry living. The thought that crossed my mind when I contemplated on this was “How dependent are we on gadgets”. We need washing machines to wash our clothes, Air Conditioners to pollute the already existing dilapidated air and not to mention our dependence on Cell phones YUCK!!.

I felt very small and weak in front of them. They are the true descendants. They have a peaceful yet satisfied life. No needs except for the basics of existence.
That is what is called THUDI – The Beat. Their everyday existence is managed by the distant sounds of nature, the beautiful environment they have and the unique ways of their life in tune with their surroundings.

Can you in your wildest dreams think about living or rather going back to such a state?
NOOOOO…..
Yes, probably at least once in your lifetime you should to experience the solitude, the peace and happiness in living a life of the ORIGINAL PEOPLE. I have never felt so fruitful in my life when I met these very simple and happy people. I left with the thought of being Born Again like Them!!!!!

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:47:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:45:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:42:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:40:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:37:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:35:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:03:00.001-08:00

NARIKURAVAS

2009-12-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

'FREEZE'

2009-08-29T22:48:00.001-07:00

Single Shot......no retakes

'STAINED BUTTON ?'

2009-08-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

Rugged!!!!!

SAY NO TO PLASTIC

2009-08-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

'PLASTICS KILL'

WILL THE HANDS MATCH THE FACE

2009-08-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

Foreground and background interplay.......

SOME ABSTRACT

2009-08-29T22:44:00.001-07:00

Would not have made a great potrait but........i feel somethin is there......MYSTICAL

GOLDEN GLOW- Is this what is called rim lighting

2009-08-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

Burnt out background can also be aesthetically used in photography

JANA

2009-08-29T22:35:00.001-07:00

Some of my latest pics.......

"MODEL IN THE MAKING"

2009-08-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

"Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest"

2009-08-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

"OF SMOKES & CURLS"

2009-08-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

"FASHION KNEW NO BOUNDARIES"

2009-08-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when there is a model, an old house and a photographer.........

"THE ELIXIR OF LIFE"

2009-08-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

What if this siezes to exsist in this world???????

"HANDS"

2009-08-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

The chemical covered hands of this worker in one of the fire cracker factories in Sivakasi has many dimensions to it.
1. It represents hard work
2. It represents a human community who with their life long commitment/bondage to this profession give life and entertainment to most of our celebrations.
3. It represents poverty
4. It represents unsafe environment to work.
...............and mostly it represents life in its raw form.

FIRE CRACKER UNIT - SIVAKASI

2009-08-14T04:20:00.001-07:00

This photograph was taken in one amongst the many thousand cracker units in Sivakasi
( A small town in South Tamil Nadu ). This town is believed to be second to China in the production of fire crackers. The workers here are exposed too extreme dangers, ranging from strong chemicals to unlawful practices.

CRACKER UNIT - SIVAKASI

2009-08-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

THis photograph is a

OOTY PANAROMA

2009-08-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

SERENDIPITY

2009-08-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

UNLOCKING LIVES - Promo

2009-08-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

UNLOCKING LIVES

This is a Documentary series in NDTV - Hindu featuring different people from different walks of society and their LivesThe above promo is one of my best works in NDTV - Hindu

PRODUCER : Nithil Dennis

EDITORIAL : Anuradha Ananth

CAMERA : M. Saravanan

EDITING : Subarak, Soundararajan

DEDICATION - MUSIC VIDEO

2009-08-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Producer : Nithil Dennis

TV Channel : NDTV - HINDU

PROGRAMME: Unlocking Lives

2009-07-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

BIKE & MYSEF

2009-07-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

Royal ENFIELD ( 1986)

"BEING THE BEST "

2009-04-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

These are the most influential lines in recent times.......

He was joking on the starting blocks.

He reacted last to the gun.

He ran against the wind.

He didn't tie the laces of his running gear.

He jogged over the finish line.

He broke the world record.

Then he danced.

...and reminded us that being the best should be fun.

- Usain Bolt ( 3 Gold medals, 3 World Records )

IRULAS - Silhouettes in the Forest

2009-03-08T04:22:00.000-07:00

IRULA - The name Irula is believed to have been derived from 'Irul', Tamil for darkness. Some believe this word was applied to this tribe due to their dark complexion, while, others are of the opinion that it was used as the Irulas appeared as dark silhouettes in the forests in the past to other people.

IRULAS - "EDUCATION"

2009-03-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

Will you send your kid to this school........?

IRULAS - A NATIONAL SHAME

2009-03-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

You will not be surprised if i tell you these people work for 19 hrs a day and are paid Rs.14/-

A NATIONAL SHAME

IRULAS - A DEDICATION

2009-03-08T04:04:00.000-07:00

The following photos you are gonna see are a dedication to all the people who are bonded labourers.

"CIRCLE OF LIFE "

2009-02-28T02:40:00.000-08:00

PANIYAS- A tribe found in the remote villages of THE NILGIRIS

'REMBRANT'

2009-02-25T10:30:00.001-08:00

Rembrant is a famous Dutch painter who patronised and found the technique of light and shade in painting. Till his times it was more of just figurative paintings that was prevelant, but he changed his style to more realistic forms and shapes, exploring the depths of reality in the medium of painting.

This Photograph is a dedication to REMBRANT - My favourite Artist

Location : Thekkady

Time : 7:15 am

'DIVINE'

2009-02-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

It is a combination of the Real with the Surreal. But Guess what's What????

A hand which seems so real in this pic is of a statue and the Moon which seems so unreal is the real one.

'DANCE OF THE LIGHT AND SHADE'

2009-02-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

A lonely isolated corridor seen through a iron gate. I was standing behind the iron bars and was wondering how eerie it looked from outside. This is a photograph of a corridor splitting into two at the corners and each alley has store rooms for arms and ammunition storage for the Great Kings who ruled the soil.

'STORAGE - '200BC to 500AD'

2009-02-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

The photograph was taken inside the granaries of 'The Gingee Fort' in a place called Gingee in Tamilnadu. This place is 130 kms from Chennai and can be easily reached by road. You have two imposing forts on two different hills. It has been under various rules ranging from the Jains, Pallavas, Cholas,Pandya, Vijayanagar,Marathas, The Mughals and finally The Foreigners.

'LOOKING THROUGH'

2009-02-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

I have never been able to write anything on ' Looking Through' because the Photograph explains everything.

This Photo was taken in yercaud when i was trekking in the Eastern Hills.

INTROSPECTION

2009-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

“A man,who realizes the potential of his mind by means of introspection and contemplation, he who does not lack in self-confidence,he who has control over his mind will realize life's full potential. "

2002 - VIS COMM - Loyola College

2009-02-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

There can never a time as good as your graduation days......this picture reminds me of my class and the caricatures of each one of us done to match our nick names with our original faces. " Now thats what we did to remember the good ol days "