GIVING HALWA

GIVING HALWA

There is a term in Tamil 'alvaa koduththal'.

This means taking somebody for a ride or in simple words - cheating.

How did this term come about.

Long long ago, about sixty years ago, Gemini studios produced a multimillion rupee movie called 'Chandraleka'. Its Hindi version came out as 'Chandra'. The famous 'Dream Virgin' - 'kanavu kanni' TR.Rajakumari acted in it. It was a mammoth production of the times. And it was a box-office hit.

One of the main features of the movie was a circus. For that, a real circus together with everything was rented for a number of months.

The owner of the circus in the movie was Sundari Bai.

You would have been accustomed to see Sundari Bai as a fat short cruel rich mother-in-law with a raucous voice.

But in the picture, you will see a charming ravishing slim beauty with a sweet voice with which she sings 'naattiya kudhirai'. She would be wearing a skirt below the knees. But still with all her full attire as a gypsy girl........, these seminude Nameedha, Shreya are nothing before her. There are several people here who would vouch for what I say.

well..., she is the boss of the circus company. 

Narayana Rao was a famous comedian in those days. At the time that Chandraleka was taken, he was already an old man. He acts as the manager of the circus. He is supposed to keep accounts. 

In one scene, Sundari Bai tells him the expenses are so high and the profits low, 

and then asks Rao to recite the accounts. 

Rao immediately ticks off without any hesitation, "Buying grass bales for the tiger - Rs 5000; Buying halva for the elephant - Rs 10000......."

"Pulikku pulluk kattu - Rs5000. Yaanaikku alvaa vaanggiyadhu Rs 10000....."

Thats how the term started as 'giving halva to the elephant'.

That is a high scale cheating of a naive person.

Now, talking about halva......

Tirunelveli halva is supposed to be famous for halva.

In fact, the great writer Pudhumai Piththan has written a veNba, telling his friend that he will be meeting him in a particular railway station on his way to Chennai; make sure that he brings Tirunelveli Halva to the train.

    

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