Malayalam Movie actor Babu Namboothiri is our neighbour in our native place Mannakkanad. He belongs to a big Brahmin Tharavadu (‘Padinjare Mana’ as it is known) in Mannakkanad in Kottayam district.
Babu Nambuthiri attended our wedding and also my cousin’s wedding at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple recently. The photos here are taken at that occasion.
Athachamayam is the spectacular customary procession which marks the beginning of the Onam celebrations in Kerala. It is held in Thripunithura near Ernakulam on the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam. Folk art forms of Kerala, many floats, decorated elephants are all part of this procession. It is a treat to every one’s eyes.
Idea Star Singer on Asianet is one of the top reality shows in Malayalam Television today. It has just finished the Semi Final Rounds today. There were 7 contestants in the Semi Finals.
After the four Rounds Challenge Round (CR), Romance Round (RR), Shruthi Round (SR), and Malayalam Dance Hits Round(MDH), Najim Arshad entered the Finals directly because he scored the highest total in the Semi Finals. All other six contestants are in the Danger Zone. Their entry into the Semi finals depends on the SMS viewers send and also many other criteria we people may never know.
The other contestants are Durga Viswanath, Vani Jayaram, Amrutha Suresh, Arun Gopan, Hesham Abdul Wahab and Thushar. Their marks in the semi finals are as follows:
CR RR SR MDH
1. Hesham – 68 + 74 + 73 + 74 = 289
2. Durga – 74 + 79 + 89 + 74 = 316
3. Amrutha – 89 + 69 + 70 + 74 = 302
4. Vani Jayaram – 61 + 73 + 73 + 71 = 278
5. Najim – 89 + 90 + 87 + 80 = 346
6. Thushar – 71 + 67 + 74 + 74 = 286
7. Arun Gopan – 67 + 78 + 74 + 72 = 291
Ranks after 12th Round:
1 – Najim[346]
2 – Durga[316]
3 – Amrutha[302]
4 – Arun Gopan[291]
5 – Hesham[289]
6 – Thushar[286]
7 – Vani[278]
Because of the low marks, Vani has a chance to go out during the elimination round before the finals. But we cannot say as Idea Star Singer has the history of retaining the contestants with the lowest marks because of the huge number of SMS.
Still Thushar also may go out this time. He escaped in a very narrow manner last two times. So this time he may not escape.
Najim Arshad is the most favorite candidate for the 40 lakh flat sponsored by Confident Group. Durga also has a good chance to win. She and Arun Gopan has got the opportunity to sing in the Music Director Sri. M.S.Viswanathan’s next film. Durga has got a very good modulation of sound.
Arun Gopan and Hesham has got real good voice. Amrutha Suresh is equally competent.
A good number of new recipes are added in Zonkerala’s Recipe Section.
A variety of non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes are included now, for example, Vendakka Kichadi, Ethappazham Pachadi, Olan,Erissery, Theeyal are added into the traditional Kerala dishes section. Different varieties of the South Indian speciality – Sambar is also included in the South Indian Recipes section. The varieties include Onion Sambar, Udupi Sambar, and Araichuvitta Sambar. Recipes for the delicious dishes like Rasavangi, Vegetable Kuruma, Cauliflower stew are also available.
The North Indian Vegetarian dishes like Shahi Paneer Curry, Kadai Paneer, Paneer Makhani, Gobi Adhraki and Mughalai Bhaigan are included.
A lot of Fish and Seafood Dishes are posted in the Zonkerala Recipes section. Different varieties of Prawn preparations, Fish fry, and fish curry are available here.
The Indian Breads section includes different types of Chappathis and Parathas. Another section which had major updates is the Snacks and Savorites Recipes. Recipes for Samosa, Vada’s (Uzhunnu Vada, Onion Vada, Sabudana Vada, Maida Vada etc), and other salty snacks are available here.
Kerala Travel Guide is updated at Zonkerala.com. This section will have information about all the places we have visited in Kerala and photos of all those tourist places. The recent updates in the travel guide are Thenmala, Pathimoonnu Kannara Bridge near Punalur, Ernakulam, Kumarakom and photos of Thenmala dam, Thenmala Adventure Zone, Palaruvi, Kumarakom and Kavanattingara photos etc.
Information about Ernakulam Marine Drive, Bolgatty Island and Palace, Cherai Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Alappuzha house boats, Kodanad and Kaprikkad, Haripad Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple are also available under Kerala Travel Guide.