Are you one of those privileged Kochiites who know ‘how to drive a car’? Well the term ‘privileged’ was irony. We all know the hardships driving here, which can literally give you a headache by the time you reach your destination. No matter how many cops are available in the city to take care of the traffic menace, there seems to be no ending to the chaos.

Traffic signals in Kochi are often found not working. During wee hours, busses, cars, two-wheelers and vans struggle to fit in between the available gaps. Lack of signals makes it worse. There are no cops here either. Kadavathra Junction, one of the pivotal junctions in Kochi city, faces such instances where signals don’t work. With pedestrians crossing (or literally jumping from medians), drivers often don’t notice them. Maybe switching off the signals after 11 p.m. is a good idea, but definitely not before that. Kochi is growing. Nightlife is in full-swing. Hence roads are always full. Kadavanthra Junction is not the only one. Signals not working are now a common sight to Kochiites, At least appoint cops here who can take over the control of traffic.

All we need to know is why is there such a lack of responsibility especially in these pivotal areas of the city. Is it that unless an accident occurs in one of these junctions, officials would not open their eyes to it? Authorities, are you reading this?!!

 

Malayalam cinema or rather Mollywood is at the threshold of change absolutely first-class. Well, this can be a subjective statement where some finds it hard to nod their heads to. Making Cinema for an audience, who are extremely choosy and ‘knows-what-they-want’, is a task quite tricky and needs some good quality research and hard work. So this whole ‘new-gen’ movies, if I remember, started from ‘Cocktail’, that happened in 2010. Some argue that the movie was purely a cut copy paste of the Canadian flick ‘Butterfly on Wheel’, and does not deserve the laurels which it had got. The director, from Day 1 the movie was released, had said in all public forums that ‘Cocktail’ was inspired from this Canadian flick. The audience has the right to know more about the movies that are being given to them, and Malayali audiences are smart. They judge and criticize right, clap their hands for perfection, and cheers out loud for good movies. You can remake it good or bad. Cocktail showed instances that can happen to you and me in the society. It was clean.

‘Traffic’ amused us. With performances of actors like Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchako Boban at their best, the movie, I would say, was one of the perfectly scripted ones that Malayalam cinema can boast of. I remember how a few movie critic friends of mine could not stop talking tales of glory about how well this movie was made. Well, there are more to the list. It goes on.

Superstars are gods here. I do not differ in admitting that. But we are far away from superstar worship that you may find in our counterpart states like Tamil Nadu. We know what we want. Give us good movies, we will cheer out loud for you. Salt n’ Pepper which is still running successfully (houseful) in all the theatres awed me. Aashiq Abu has come a long way, after his first flick ‘Daddy Cool’. We love style. He gave us style in elegance. From the cast to script, screenplay to songs, everything about S n’ P was perfectly mixed. A complete treat for an ardent cinema-lover! Chaappa Kurish might not have made it big in the box- office. But hat’s off to the director for brining forth such a brave theme to the forefront. The protagonist ‘Sonia’ (played by Remya Nambeesan) can be you and me. The message- know what you do, and be watchful, is said through a good script.

Being a ardent cinema fan (and not just a superstar fanatic), I’am glad that we are witnessing an era in Malayalam cinema where change is inevitable yet great. Directors are gearing up to showcase their best. With such healthy competition on, I must acknowledge the fact that, our cinema is safe and sound.

Travelling during those peak hours over South and North over bridge is horror and chaos (especially for car-drivers) and menace guaranteed. Tales have been already spoken about traffic control systems and regulations that are being worked upon, and various projects including metro rail etc. (which Kochiites are already sick of hearing by now). So until we have a good progress, we cannot stick on to this morning/evening regular chaos. A solution is inevitable! The police tried out a method of blocking one-way of the south bridge (OK,
now this happens in South over bridge alone), and let go all the vehicles from the other side. But this just adds to the commotion every morning. Two- wheelers lose their patience being under the hot sun, and without any mercy our traffic police make them wait for minutes.

There has been an instance where all the vehicles (from this one side) honked and ‘asked the police guy to let them go’. This is not as easy as they think. We realized with much pain that there is no point in waiting for metro rails to reach our city; we need to have proper and sensible traffic regulations to make things easier for Kochiites. The increase in the number of vehicles, along with the rise in traffic is not an easy task to manage. What say Kochiites? Does anyone have any recommendations on traffic controlling?

The  havoc  and  dilemma  witnessed  at  the  Kaloor  bus  stand  is  beyond  words. When busses race to reach the destinations, lives of hundreds on the roads are at  stake. The aughtiness of ‘red-killers’ are nothing new to Kochiites. In spite of  the many protest, grievances and complaints lodged neither the bus owners nor  the  authorities  have  taken  required  action  about  anything  for  that  matter.  And  the result being enhanced chaos and disorder. Kaloor bus stand, the major bus  station in the city, is the hub of calumnies. When private busses (plying to other  districts), local busses and KSRTC busses all make a halt here, there should be a  regular and proper means to control the traffic. The amount of people who cross  the  junction  amidst  the  plying  cars  and  other  vehicles  are  huge.  In  the  jiffy  to  cross roads, many miss out the two-wheelers and cars that come in hurry scurry.  Priya K, who stays in a hostel in Kaloor, has to cross the junction to reach her  work place, and that too at the peak hours. “What do I say, It’s nothing less than  scary. Even though I’am extremely careful, I always have that fear inside cos’  that’s how the traffic is. Utter chaos, and no order.” Ain’t this the voice of most  of us who have seen and been through the place? Moreover, there is hardly any  proper traffic patrolling in Kaloor. Now, the Traffic control and the corporation,  along with other government bodies, need to take the necessary actions against this.  The  confused  pedestrians,  fast moving  cars  and  careless  bus  drivers  have  added to the craziness out there. We hope someone concerned reads this, cos’  this is the voice of Kochi. And for us, the common masses, let’s be a bit more  careful and considerate, so that the tension and anxiety when you reach Kaloor  is reduced at a large rate!

Congrats on the incredible triumph of Traffic! Your role as the city Commissioner has been talked about so much. But why did it take you so long to get to the film industry??

I’am someone who does not have mimicry background, or rather do I have a godfather from the industry. These are some of the uncomplicated ways through which you can enter cinema. I came here the hard way, and took the long route. I come from a middle-class family, and did not have an apt career to support me. I must say that there are lot of aspiring actors out there who have not yet made it, in spite of trying real hard. I think I’ am lucky that way. More than instant success, its perseverance that counts. I have never gone behind money or commerce. Just do your work sincerely, money follows. I came into the industry when I was 25 in my first movie ‘Kaatuchembakam’, and now I’ am 33. It has been a long journey, and of course, an enriching experience. I don’t think I’am an actor by birth, it’s all that I acquired through these experiences. At the same time, I look out for mistakes to commit, and that helps me improve. I’ am an uncut actor, and I have a long way to go.

You were a tele serial actor initially, and now you have switched over totally to Cinema. Is it the ‘more money and fame’ factor that makes you cling to cinema when evaluating with cinema?

Definitely not. I used to get a pay of 15,000 per day when I was working for serials. And that means so much of money at the end of the month. But I think serials are short-lived, and the impact on the audience is momentary. It’s just a matter of 20 minutes. But Cinema creates history, they live long. The generations to come will see our movies, and they are recorded for time immemorial. Serials have a lop-sided approach towards acting, and you deal with the character only for maybe like 12 episodes. Hence, cinema gives me more contentment as an actor.

Which role do you prefer? An actor or scriptwriter?

I love Cinema. When I write, I enjoy cinema in the making and when I act, I enjoy the cinema my friends make. And I must tell, it is such a beautiful process. You come up with so many beautiful talents around you. My life revolves around cinema.
Don’t you think we need more flicks in Malayalam like Cocktail and Traffic, rather than the customary humour and commercial flicks?

We are trying to bring in such a change to Malayalam industry. The attempt of directors like Rajesh Pillai and Arun Kumar to bring in good movies has been successful. At the same time, many directors have failed in their attempt to bring a change. I saw the audience in the theatre giving a standing ovation once the movie (Cocktail and Traffic) got over . And that is something truly laudable. That is the kind of respect the audience gives to these movies. I would say that the filmmakers must make an oath that they would always attempt something new-fangled and novel.

You are the perfect Macho man in the industry and so many girls go gaga over you. So tell us what’s the reason behind you not getting married?

Lots of reasons. I’am yet to find a girl who can share the space with me. I have a bunch of wonderful friends who are great human beings. And I’am so happy with them around, and for this reason I’ve never felt alone. I don’t wanna bringing a girl and make her ‘adjust’. Adjustments are compromises, and I don’t want anyone to adjust for me. And I really don’t wanna spoil another person with my bohemian ways. Right now, I’am blissfully unaware of my solitude.

6.The name Indi Commandos for Kochi IPL?

Definitely not!

And an exclusive message to our Kochivibe readers……..

I’ve been in Kochi since the past two years, even though I travel a lot. This is one of the most beautiful cities. It has such a vitality which no other city has got.So we being a part of this magnificent place, let’s keep it good!!

Come monsoon and the Queen of the Arabian is set to be lashed by the Monsoon rains, in due time perhaps. Considering the way the weather is going, monsoon is as much as a mystery in its coming as is the Smart City. But I would place a fair bet on the monsoon though. Leaving that aside, we look into the bigger picture. Right now our city is besieged by poor traffic planning, ever increasing car numbers (which doesn’t look dwindling anytime), rash and uncontested driving by the private buses, irritating and confusing traffic rules and those cones that just stick out of nowhere. Chaos in short.

Add rain to that equation, what do we have? Motorists and pedestrians will be having a nightmare soon, the city is yet to enforce a transparent system to overcome the possible traffic lock-downs that could be faced by us. Although with roads being fixed slowly and the gutters gutted, it is but the tip of the iceberg yet to be tackled by the city officials. Considering how well manicured Bangalore has managed to run its traffic system, we surely can take a page out of it.

The motorists aren’t the only people to be considered in the equation, pedestrians have equal share in the chaos, with their wanton crossings while a lane gets the green light. Its like one of the 80′s arcade games, you just chance to not hit the person crossing. Why all this bother when people can wait it out? Its not ignorance I would suppose as we have one of the highest literacy rates. Its just how our people have become and its high time we change our attitudes, the common folk and the city officials.

Kochi is remarkably is breaking even for the KSRTC low-floor buses and the A.C volvos, while the ones at Trivandrum are running at a loss. That proves that a lot of people prefer the KSRTC for city travel over the private buses. By increasing traffic routes and slowly curbing the private buses we can at the least hope to have a more better transitional traffic within the city. One where buses aren’t competing to reach stops as though its a scene straight out of one the popular Hollywood movies centered on street racing. And while we are it, Car Pool anyone?
According to urban dictionary

Carpool
When 2 or more individuals share an automobile during a commute to a destination or location.

Carpools are frequently used for fellow employees, students, and/or parents of school children.

By Carpooling, you can save money on gasoline, minimize your impact on the environment, and meet new people.

We have embraced the mall culture and so on of the west why not such practices too? It may be untold to do such a thing to share rides when people have so many stigmas bases on ego and social standings, but face it we have little choice, i.e if we rather slog it like always and enjoy the 1 hour ride on a 10 km stretch. And on the note of saving fuel and being ecologically responsible, how many of us has bothered to turn off our vehicles while stuck at a red light? Let it for a couple of minutes, collectively, that means a considerable amount. Quite some months ago some activists had stood around intersections with signs asking people to switch their engines off and they easily complied, but as a passing fad it was soon forgotten. Simple things like this can totally turn around things for the city in a good way.

Traffic, ecology, etiquette, its a long list. But being the foremost city in Kerala and a growing one at that, we need to restructure ourselves and our mentality. In years to come with IT businesses coming and shipping terminals and such also shaping up, investors and people from outside our state and our nation will start coming down in droves to this little city. We should certainly have something worth offering otherwise we are bound to end up as a cess-pool of mediocrity while the rest of India just goes ahead with the new decade. We have a very long way to go, infrastructural-wise, practices-wise etc, it is the hard truth we have to face, but we have to face it nonetheless.

I am not going to end this post with some corny tag-line asking everyone to join their hands and make a better Kochi. But we owe it to the city to make it a better Kochi for generations to come and ourselves.

Feel free to add your views and opinions.

Have you ever gotten the rotten end of a traffic jam? Got honked and cursed at for driving slightly slower than the rest of the traffic? ( like it would even make much difference because the traffic isn’t going anywhere with it deadlocked for a couple of city blocks!) Gotten cut of from the left by private buses of some hot-shot driver who think’s they have the right to way since they are in hurry? Having two wheeler’s and autorickshaw’s take a right and left at will? And of course the pedestrians deciding to cross right when you get a green light? Welcome to Kochi and I guess mostly a lot of other cities where traffic rules are poorly enforced or where they may not even exist at all.

Kochi has a lot to improve in terms of introducing efficient rules and regulations and abandoning ones that are too deplorable. It is literally hell for most commuters trying to survive each day’s of traffic. What most people need’s a class on what not to do and what to do. And this does not only concern people who drive but pedestrians. They have a right to way to too, but there are rules or certain factors to consider too. You can’t cross right at a junction when that road has gotten a green signal, wait till it turns red, if automobiles can wait, I guess pedestrians can too. The authorities must really consider revamping the way people can travel within the city. It is not an impossible feat, unless we still want to be in the stone age while the rest India develops.

Sid and me were testimony to a very unrealistic approach by a 4-wheeler to traverse through traffic near the Shenoy’s Junction. A lot of drivers consider honking wildly with their horn’s ( that too the really-loud-able-to-hear-several-block-away kind) will get them to magically open up space in an otherwise jam-packed road. That was what had happened to us while we were traveling on my Bullet. If there was way to give of course I am always happy to oblige, but when any person with common sense can see that there is physically no way that a route can be charted between the sardine-tin tight traffic. But as a lot of people who drive in Kochi they still blared on,to the amusement of other drivers all we could do was smile and wave at them and wonder what they are getting at.

Its due to multitude of incidents like this where we really need some kind of a solution to the chaos that reigns in the streets. I figure with all the botched up projects by the authorities that redemption is a little way off the horizon.

Feel free to add your experiences and suggestions.

Dont get carried away by the title ..! No , this is not an article about the number of Zebras in the zoo..! Its about the missing Zebra crossing lines in the city..!

The awesome driving skills showcased by private bus drivers have left us with no choice : Pray for our lives while on the bus , and yes , while on the road either walking or driving for that matter..! !

Now , is it just the private buses who are to be blamed ?? Hell No..!! Most roads in Kochi  do not even have proper markings.!

Zebra crossings are considered to be  a must for all major roads, but one wouldn’d find them in Kochi , even at the  busiest of the junctions.! Now , enough with allegations..! What is the PWD doing to solve this issue ?? They are looking into the matter..!! . According to the latest reports submitted by the PWD to the district collector , they have come up with a very samrt answer..! Short of funds..!! Seriously , how much would a tin of white paint cost ?? If you don’t have the money to get the paint , ask us Kochiites , we would be more than happy to help ( who am I kidding.. lol.. )

The District Collector said that she would stress on the need for proper markings on the road during the State Road Safety Council meeting which will be held next week.  Thanks to the ever efficeint Police dept , nearly 100 buses were charged for speeding and reckless driving in the last two days. ! Hope that would serve as a guiding  example for all the wannabe Schumachers..!!  lol…

The motto of the  State Road Safety Council meeting will be “Safety of pedestrians comes first”.
The district administration and the traffic police are stressing on the need for zebra crossings on city roads. But are the authorities concerned listening? Well , we should use better sound systems I guess..!!  lol.