Guardian of the Shore !! நண்டூறுது நரியூறுது .. .

 

The Guardian of the Shore    !!!   Are you around 50 years of age !!  - likely you have heard this song and seen the movie too !!!

 

நண்டூறுது நரியூறுது .. .. நண்டூறுது…….

நான் வளர்த்த செல்லக்கிளி - கண்ணில் ஆடுது

என் கண்ணில் ஆடுது – 

 

நாளுக்கு நாள் உழைத்தேன் நன்றியில்லை அங்கே

நல்லவன் வாழ்வதற்கு நியாயமில்லை இங்கே

ஏழைக்கு உலகம் என்று எழுதியவன் எங்கே…..

எடுப்பதை எடுத்தப்பின்தான் நீதி வரும் இங்கே…..

 

 

A tiny sentinel of the coast Crab (nandu in Tamil)  – this one was pictured at  Marina Beach, perfectly camouflaged against the sand. Built to run sideways, armed with powerful claws, and forever keeping the shoreline alive and clean.

 

Going by its shape of the carapace and the bluish-purple legs with reddish claw tips, this appears to be one of the common swimming crabs (family Portunidae), which are frequently seen along the Chennai coast. During low tide, they often emerge to forage and quickly disappear into the sand or dash towards the surf when disturbed.  

One fascinating fact is that although they seem fearless when facing you, their first instinct is usually to retreat. Raising the claws is more of a defensive display than an invitation to fight!  The low angle, with the crab looking straight at the camera, gives it a surprisingly alert and almost defiant expression. The bluish-purple tint on the legs and claws is especially attractive.     

•          Crabs are masters of sideways movement. Their legs are specially hinged to allow rapid sideways running, making them much faster than moving forward.

•          They are beach cleaners. Many crabs feed on dead fish, decaying plants and other organic matter, helping keep the shoreline clean.

•          Excellent engineers. Most beach crabs dig burrows in wet sand. These burrows provide protection from predators, the hot sun and dehydration.

•          Eyes on stalks. Notice the tiny eyes projecting from the shell. These movable stalks give the crab an almost panoramic view, helping it detect danger while remaining mostly hidden.

•          The greyish shell blends beautifully with the sand, while the bluish and reddish claws are characteristic of several marine crabs found along India's east coast.

•          They grow by shedding their shell. Since the hard shell cannot expand, a crab periodically moults, emerging with a soft new shell that hardens over the next few days.

 

In the song at the start -  "நண்டூறுது" literally refers to a crab crawling or scurrying, while "நரியூறுது" refers to a fox stealthily moving. In folk usage, such expressions evoke a sense of restlessness, playful movement, or subtle excitement rather than being taken literally. The lyricist  Kaviyarasu Kannadasan used  familiar sights from village life to paint an earthy, rhythmic picture.   

The song is from “Bhairavi”   film directed by M. Bhaskar, and produced by Kalaignanam, who also wrote the story and dialogues hit the screens in 1978. It starred Srikanth, Rajinikanth and Sripriya.  Perhaps the first film  featuring Rajini as the hero and he was mentioned as ‘Super Star’ at that time.  Kalaipuli Thanu was a distributor at that time and for the movie Bairavi,  35 ft cut out of the hero was kept before Plaza theatre – there was heavy advertisement through posters too  

This song  sung by TM Soundararajan, to the music of Isaignani Illayaraja was a big hit.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
4.7.2026

"கூடி வாழ்ந்தால் கோடி நன்மை" ~ Tree Birds

 

A  tree with many branches and green foliage is always attractive ! 

.. .. add something more to it – the birds, not simply birds – many in no. and in variety too !!  ~  a photographer’s delight !

 

Thangaraj is an innocent man from a middle-class family, consisting of his wife Meenakshi and daughter Padma. Boxer Krishnan, an irresponsible person with dreams of making it big in politics, is Thangaraj's younger brother and is married to Kanagavalli. Sivaraman is Thangaraj's youngest brother, who is well-educated and works at the same company where Thangaraj works, which is owned by Valluvardasan. They all live in a single house as a joint family. 

In this picture, one can spot : Ardeidae; Pelicandae & Phalacrocoracidae !!!   

 

•       White birds – Ardeidae  - Cattle Egrets. They have the compact egret shape, relatively short necks when perched, and stout yellow bills.  

•       Large bird [seen at the bottom – somewhat hidden] – Pelicandae -  with the long yellow bill and throat pouch (centre-lower part of the tree) – Spot-billed Pelican.

•       Black bird perched prominently on the upper right – Phalacrocoracidae -    an Indian Cormorant based on its relatively slender bill and long-tailed silhouette.   

What makes the photograph particularly interesting is visibility of  different waterbird families sharing the same nesting/perching tree.  It's a lovely "community tree" scene. 

"A tree full of neighbours — Cattle Egrets, a Spot-billed Pelican and a vigilant Cormorant, all sharing the same canopy." 

"கூடி வாழ்ந்தால் கோடி நன்மை" என்பது "மனிதர்கள் அனைவரும் ஒருவருக்கொருவர் இணைந்து, ஒற்றுமையுடன் வாழ்ந்தால் எண்ணற்ற நன்மைகள் கிடைக்கும்" என்ற ஆழமான பொருளை உணர்த்தும் மிகச்சிறந்த தமிழ்ப் பழமொழி 

The plot description at the start is of the movie  -  Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai (transl. Unity is propitious), comedy drama film directed by V. Sekhar released in 2000. The film starred Nassar, Karan, Khushbu, Roja, Vadivelu, Vivek and Kovai Sarala (in her 100th Tamil film).   The film was remade in Kannada as Jenu Goodu. 

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

4.7.2026

Buffalo(es) walk !!! - who is most beautiful ?????

 

Beauty contest !!

அணி அணியாக, அலை அலையாக, ஆர்ப்பாட்டமில்லாமல், அமைதியாக கூட்டம்  – அழகு எருமை தம் குணங்களை போற்றுதும் !!!

 

A leap can change life !! Anil story !!!

 

One leap can change your life. One step back can change someone else's.

Which would you choose?

 

Two brilliant achievers set out in search of wealth. Somewhere along the way, they lose their direction and find themselves stranded in a vast desert. Exhausted, hungry and desperately thirsty, they know they cannot survive much longer.

Then fortune smiles.

 

Ahead stands a steep mountain. From beyond it come the soothing sounds of a waterfall and singing birds. They can see lush green trees, fresh fruits and the promise of life. 

The first traveller summons every ounce of strength, climbs the mountain and reaches the oasis. Safe at last, he begins to enjoy the abundance before him. 

The second climbs the mountain too... but pauses. 

Instead of settling down, he turns around and walks back into the desert—not because he must, but because others are still wandering, unaware that hope lies just beyond the mountain. For him, reaching paradise is only half the journey.  The better half plans to return with a map, helping  others too  find the way.

 

"Paradise is incomplete when there is no one to share it with."

What would you do?:  Would you enjoy the oasis?

Or would you go back to guide others?

 

There is no right or wrong answer. You may admire this choice, disagree with it, or choose differently. After all, every journey—and every conscience—is its own.  

There is no right or wrong answer. Every choice has its own consequences, and every life follows its own calling. 

Afternoon thoughts from Aasami Sirippu Sinthanaiyaan

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
2.7.2026