Chiran Palace Masjid

Masjid Chiran Palace, a design ahead of its time

This building has no support and the roof is suspended.

The Masjid Chiran Palace is in the middle of the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park and is nestled amidst trees.

Yet, it is different, probably because it is like being in a mini-forest, with tiny birds whizzing past, peacocks screeching and dragon flies lazily shimmering over the murky waters of the fountain, where huge fish swim in great companionship.

This mosque is of a very different design. Apparently Mukarram Jah, grandson of the seventh Nizam, wanted to break away from tradition, especially when it came to design.

The cost of building this mosque came from the sale of brass utensils stored at King Koti palace and hence this mosque has another name, the Tamba Masjid. Not a touch of metal here, though. This masjid won the Intach award in 2012. Hyderabad state had a bold new generation of architects. One of the more prolific among them was Eric Marrott and he ran The Studio.

Marrott was chosen to execute the dream of the Nizam to “give a new dimension to religious architecture of the city.” It was a complete break away from tradition when Marrott created a structure which was all modern with new methods and materials, yet managing to interpret the basic tenets of Islam through his architecture.

The first impression is that this building has no support and that the roof is suspended. That could have been true because earlier it was open on the sides. Many devotees did not come here to worship, not much caring for the modern design.

It was literally public opinion which forced the Nizam to add side walls, but even this has been done delicately. The side walls are jalis, intricately carved and designed marble screens, allowing ventilation and light. They contain geometric designs which look like blossoming flowers. These designs are repeated at the ground level, where the entrance is covered with a small barricade, adding a little design to the otherwise blank entrance.

There is a fountain right in the front of the masjid, probably used for ablutions earlier on. The water is now green, and you can see an abundance of fish. 

The wazookhana or ablution place is on the side of the masjid, with granite stools in front of each tap.

Two graceful structures rise from the end of the fountain, representing the minarets of a mosque. There are spouts attached to the structure from where water used to fall in the centre with a tinkling sound, adding to the ambience of the place. The inside of the roof is beautifully designed, with interlacing beams, giving it a unique pattern. Even now, you realise that the roof does not rest on any wall or pillars in the centre. The load is taken by the arches from the ground level, both in the front and the back.

The Three Women!

Knowingly, unknowingly everybody in their life IS surrounded, nourished and inspired by women. However men, thanks to their ego at time, are unaware and don't acknowledge this. But I am not one of them. I am super proud to be known by my 'ladies' to say the least. 

I am dedicating this post to the Three most wonderful women of my life-journey. First and foremost is my mother, then my sister and finally my idol. They all in their own rights taught me many things about life, work, art, dedication and being your own person. Unfortunately today except for their teachings and love, I don't have any thing about them, not even them!

Ammi:

I am because of her. No more explanations needed here. Like everyone else, to me too, my mother was everything. The world. I think a child is more of a mother's part than a fathers, especially when they are still grown-up. I don't remember how and when we became friends or when I started singing and dancing unabashedly in front of her without the fear of being judged or scolded at. I don't remember when I started requesting her (it was more of a demand rather) to put that 'Allah' pendent in my neck every night before sleeping and religiously return it the next morning. I don't remember when I used to give crazy excuses to not to go to school and she would diligently trust them and let me have my way. But one thing I remember very clearly was her love for the family, including me and cinema. Yes my Ammi was crazy about Cinema! As a compensation to any little punishment she used to give me (because in her presence I was a spoilt brat) we would dress and go for a 6pm to 9pm show in Tirumala or Kamal (the nearby theatres in Malakpet, Hyderabad) and that, mind you, happens every third day.  I precisely lost count of how many films we had seen together. The last I think was Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh starrer 'Sunny'.

She introduced me to drama, emotions, music, love, laughter, tears and yes Sridevi.

Mummy was always very well dressed. She had around 150 to 200 sarees only. Or probably much more. She used to throw parties and get together at the drop of a hat. She loves having people around and yes like every mother, feed them. Oh how I miss her rice kheer. I always used to accompany her for grocery shopping before the parties. I clearly remember how she used to buy me a big packet of chocolates or biscuits from the corner shop right at the tip of the market (that will last for good 20 minutes) while she go inside the vegetable market near Gulzar Houz in Hyderabad to buy her stuff and precisely be back in sharp 20 minutes! She never used to take me inside the market fearing I might get lost. Although happy with my chocolates but personally for me those 20 minutes used to feel like a lifetime.

Here she introduced me to people and their needs.

My mother was very particular about maintaining relations. Despite the odds from her in-laws, she was very courteous to them and finally they all adored her to the hilt. She was the 2nd bahu of the house consisting of 5 men and 4 women.  Hailing from a relatively small family, she managed very well until my dad bought a new house and we started to live separately. I was born in 'our house' in Malakpet and my paternal grand parents lived in Bowenpally (precisely 15kms). It was a ritual that every Sunday Mummy, Daddy, Aapi, Asif Bhaiya and myself, sometimes our help Rehana hop into an auto to visit my Dadiyal. Yes you guessed it right it was always a party on Sunday for me meeting all my paternal side aunts and uncles and cousins.

She instilled the tradition of maintaining relationships with everyone oh-so-wonderfully.

Ammi was god-fearing but not religious as such. She always used to recite something and blow on everyone for their safety and good being. I was too young to remember Ramzaan with her but come Eid day and its a real festival. She always used to stitch white kurta-pyjama for Daddy, Asif bhaiya and me, and for herself and aapi get something made by a nearby ladies tailor.

I was introduced to the religion by her.

I lost her to cancer on 12th January 1984.

Aapi:

I was always fond of her but we actually got very close after we lost our mother. Asif bhaiya was more of 'his friends guy' and Daddy was busy with office and looking after the new house that we were building in Begumet so it was perfect timing for us to bond so much that years later, my niece, Zohra (Aapi's 2nd daughter) said, "you both, brother and sister, talk, think and do things alike'! How true.

I was called the 'shadow' of my sister. No matter where she goes, I am there with her. Shopping, eating, movies, visiting relatives and friends, I am there with her. A lot of Aapi's friends were inspired by us and used to 'force' their younger brothers to accompany them as well, but alas no one could create the bonding we had! She got our mother job in the Govt school as a clerk and I used to accompany her everyday during summer vacation. 

She introduced me to art. She was brilliant with her diagram and pencil shading and saved many of her school-college assignments, especially science for me to learn from them. Man I wasn't even close to 1% of what she use to draw. Her handwriting was something I was highly inspired by. It was just beautiful.

She taught me how to look after the house and Daddy (he really was missing mummy a lot but never showed), Summer holidays used to be fun with everyone. Soon after lunch, all four of us used to watch films on VCR. At times we had seen film till late in the nights. We had numerous variety of plants in the house and used to take turn to maintain them regularly. She was crazy about roses. There was an empty flat next to our house which had a huge jasmine plant. Every morning I used to pluck few and make them into a gajra for her to put in her hair while she leaves for the office. 

There was a local library in our colony to hire magazines for a day. I think thanks to my sister I have laid hands on every magazine from Savvy, Femina, Care, Society, Women's Era to Filmfare, Stardust, Movie, Cine Blitz. She was very good at reading and acquiring knowledge. She used to have a scrap book, which was full of Hema Malini and Rekha pictures and few notes. Obviously later she helped me built my own scarp book dedicated to  Sridevi. 

Then that day came, her marriage. I remember how I was speechless because I was choking with emotions on her wedding day and the thought that she is going to for leave us forever was making me hate her. I was completely lost!

There wasn't anything that she was not aware of when it comes to me. Although after marriage her priorities changed yet she kept tabs on everyones well-being, especially mine as I was growing into this moody teenager. Her love and emotion only grew stronger despite having her own family. I only drifted and moved to Mumbai after our dad's death in 2004. I think it helped all of us to grow individually stronger and independently.

She left all of us shockingly on 20th November 2017 to a sudden heart attack.

I am still coming to terms with this harsh reality. 

Devi:

 'Tohfa' was my first film of hers, which my mother took me to see. It was literally a gift for me from my mom. I was hooked to this magic that I was witnessing on the silver screen. It was love at first sight.

My mother being a movie buff, used to watch all sorts of movies and without saying I was her companion, so there was no escaping from films and mostly of Sridevi as she was dominating in the 80s.  Mawali, Justice Choudhry, Jaani Dost, Suhagaan we have seen them all together before my mother fell ill and left us. 

Sridevi was magic for sure but her real game changer was Nagina released in 1986. Her versatility was captured vastly. Despite being a women centric film it generated highest commercial success across the country. Just like her character in the movie, everyone was hypnotised by the charm of Sridevi turning into a icchadhari nagin with her big blue eyes! I was mesmerised. I remember when I forced Aapi to take to me to see Nagina, screaming all the way for not leaving the house on time and warned my sister that, "if the movie starts then I won't speak to you until you take me to the next show". Fortunately, we reached on time.

I carried a sketch book and painted every scene from the film to show it to my friends and family. They thought I was going crazy. Also during those times, for fans, there used to be something called 'postcards' in the market with your favourite stars picture on it. I had around 2000+ postcards of Sridevi to be precise! I even went ahead and made some 'Sridevi Special Pen Friends' wherein we used to discuss her life, choice of films and rivals!

Once again I was bowled over to see Sridevi as Seema and Seema as Charlie Chaplin in Mr India. I was frustrated with her as a journalist who hate kids, I was laughing with her when she discover Mogambo den, I was shocked with her to discover an invisible man, I was crying with her she she started feeling for those kids, I was dancing with her unabashedly to Hawa Hawai and every possible crazy emotion.

Chandni established her as a superstar and Chalbaaz as a 'no one can compete with her' bracket. I have seen all her films but Lamhe, Khuda Gawah, Gurudev, Gumraah and the fairytale Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari where she played an apsara,  have been on 'repeat' mode for me.

Without fail I used to buy every film magazine which had her on their cover. I remember hunting for this new magazine called 'g' which had her with Amitabh on their inaugural issue. I remember paying Rs 100 for it in 1990 while the shopkeeper stared at me with shock.

When I used to fall sick, Aapi never used to take me to any doctor or get me any medicine. She knew Sridevi was my treatment. She used to hire a VCR and get video cassettes of her  films and needless to say, I would get 'better' in no time.

A lot of actors came and performed well, but I just could not see anything beyond Sridevi. She was like a soulmate, a family member, a role model that I almost worshipped!

It was shocking and beyond belief that she left me on 24th February 2018. So surreal!

Somewhere I have this strong feeling that all these Three ladies have met now and are smiling at me from up there!