Ranganayakamma is a celebrated name in Telugu literature. I was gifted one of her books for my birthday. It is a collection of 5 stories - ప్రేమ కన్నా మధురమైనది! (Sweeter than Love), పల్లెటూరు (Village), ఆండాళమ్మ (Andalamma), చుట్టాలు (Relatives) and గోపాలం ప్రేమ కధ (Gopalam’s Love Story).
I liked the way she was trying to benchmark good behavior through her characters. In చుట్టాలు (Relatives), she attempted to benchmark good behavior of relatives/guests through the character of Narayana. He won’t be a burden to the host (cleans his plates etc), contributes wherever he can etc. Ranganayakamma then leverages this “good character” to benchmark other good behaviors according to her — they are generally egalitarian, read books and rational. Similarly, she tried to benchmark a good friend, lover, mother etc., through her stories. Also liked how she critically analyses her own stories during every re-print and publishes these critiques as epilogues.
I tried to watch her interviews after reading her stories. Didn’t like a few opinions. I think I will limit myself to her books. It’s like books are the best versions of people - a result of some conscious and detailed thought.
I performed another poem of SriSri this week - Chedu Paata (Bitter Song). It seemed like SriSri was going through an existential crisis when he wrote it. I had fun bringing it to screen :) My doggo also featured in it!
This Song can be a good Monday Anthem :p
Hi Sai Krishna !
I went to Hyderabad book fair last month and bought a book of author Ranganayakamma along with other books. It is a collection of two stories - 'chaduvukunna Kamala' and 'pekamedalu'. This is her first book that I bought. I will read it sometime soon.
Going to bookstores, bookfairs, shopping for books,buying and bringing them home, rearranging books in our bookshelves... everything feels so therapeutic and fun until we get overwhelmed and intimidated by just looking at that huge unread stack of books☠️☠️🥲
And when talking of benchmarking good behaviour , it reminds me of a quote that I read recently. It is - " What Susie says of Sally says more of Susie than of Sally. Remember that."
That quote may seem cliche and a regular one but it made me pause and think for a while. It holds true for our behaviour on internet too. Calling other people names, taking out our frustration on other people on internet instead of solving and dealing with our emotions, mocking and bullying other people(be it celebrities, our acquaintance or other strangers) in the name of "just jokes", speaking in a disrespectful manner instead of constructively criticising them - reveals more of who and what kind of a person we are, more than what it reveals about the person whom we are talking about.
I think this quote helps us - in times when we are worried about being wronged and also in being mindful when we gossip about others🤭. It goes both ways!!
No one is perfect(I think so!) and I think timely self reflection helps irrespective of who we think we are.
And Your reel👏👏👏
It feels strange that Iam laughing and sad at the same time while watching it..!
Your doggo is the highlight of your reel😂😍
btw did you read 'The Guide' by RK Narayan?